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Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance

Program Descriptions

15.615:  Cooperative Endangered Species Conservation Fund

Objectives:  To provide Federal financial assistance to any State, through its appropriate State agency, which has entered into a cooperative agreement to assist in the development of programs for the conservation of endangered and threatened species.

PROGRAM AND AWARD	FINANCIAL AND INFORMATION CONTACTS
ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS	FINANCIAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE INFO.
APPLICATION AND AWARD PROCESS	INFORMATION CONTACTS
RELATED PROGRAMS	ASSISTANCE CONSIDERATIONS
PROGRAM ACCOMPLISHMENTS	POST ASSISTANCE REQUIREMENTS

15.615 ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS:

Applicant Eligibility:  Participation limited to State agencies that have a cooperative agreement with the Secretary of the Interior. Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, the Northern Marianas and the Virgin Islands are also eligible to enter into cooperative agreements.

Beneficiary Eligibility:  All States and territories that have entered into a cooperative agreement with the Secretary of the Interior.

Credentials/Documentation:  A current cooperative agreement(s) between the Secretary of the Interior and the State Conservation agency(s) concerning endangered and threatened species is necessary. Costs will be determined in accordance with 43 CFR Part 12, Subpart C, "Uniform Administrative Requirements for Grants and Cooperative Agreements to State and Local Governments." Section 12.62 (of the common rule), identifies Federal cost principles for determining allowable costs. Separate agreements for animals and plants are normally made with each State's responsible agency.

15.615 APPLICATION AND AWARD PROCESS:

Preapplication Coordination:  The standard application forms furnished by the Federal agency and required by 43 CFR Part 12, Subpart C, "Uniform Administrative Requirements for Grants and Cooperative Agreements to State and Local Governments," must be used for this program. This program is eligible for coverage under E. O. 12372, "Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs." An applicant should consult the office or official designated as the single point of contact in his or her State for more information on the process the State requires to be followed in applying for assistance, if the State has selected the program for review.

Application Procedure:  A standard application for Federal assistance is submitted which will cover the entire endangered species plans for one State. Funds are obligated by signature on a project agreement. This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-110.

Award Procedure:  Project approval or disapproval is generally made by notification means of a signed application and project agreement.

Deadlines:  None.

Range of Approval/Disapproval Time:  None specified.

Appeals:  Decisions can be appealed to the Fish and Wildlife Service. Final determination rests with the Secretary of the Interior.

Renewals:  Renewals can be made through submission and approval of a project agreement.

Criteria for Selecting Proposals:  Projects for grant funding must be submitted by the State fish and wildlife agency. The State must have an approved cooperative agreement with the Secretary of the Interior which provides for sharing responsibilities for endangered species. The project must involve research, protection or management of a State or federally listed endangered species that is in need of protection. Individual projects must compete with other State submissions for funding.

Examples of Funded Projects:  Small-headed pipewort fire management study. Several Black-footed ferret projects including: reintroduction surveys, mapping, captive propagation facility, monitoring and protection. Cowbird control to protect Least Bell's Vireo. Reintroduce the Oregon chub in Oregon. Several Colorado River fish projects including: maintain propagation and genetic stocks at refugia, standardize population monitoring, evaluation of Gunnison River flow manipulation on nursery habitat, surveys. Swift fox surveys. American burying beetle surveys. Western prairie fringed orchid pollination biology. Least tern and piping plover surveys. Ute ladies'-tresses surveys. Dakota buckwheat survey and status report. Blowout penstemon high priority ecology/biology studies. Pallid sturgeon population status studies.

Range and Average of Financial Assistance:  $1,000 to $235,000; $100,000.

15.615 RELATED PROGRAMS:

• 15.605 Sport Fish Restoration;
• 15.611 Wildlife Restoration;
• 15.618 Administrative Grants for Federal Aid in Sport Fish and Wildlife Restoration.

15.615 PROGRAM ACCOMPLISHMENTS:

15.615 FINANCIAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE INFO:

Federal Agency:  U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE, DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Type of Assistance:  Project Grants.

Obligations:  (Grants) FY 99 $13,520,000; FY 00 est $22,520,000; and FY 01 est $62,173,000.

Budget Account Number:  14-5143-0-2-303.

Authorization:  Endangered Species Act of 1973, 16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq., as amended by Public Law 100-478.

Regulations, Guidelines, and Literature:  Endangered Species Act, 50 CFR 81, and Program Information in the Federal Aid Manual.

15.615 INFO CONTACTS:

Regional or Local Office:  See Catalog Appendix IV for addresses.

Headquarters Office:  Fish and Wildlife Service, Department of the Interior, 1849 C St., NW, Washington DC 20240. Contact: Chief, Division of Endangered Species. Phone: (703) 358-2171. Use the same number for FTS.

(See Appendix IV for more contact info.)

15.615 ASSISTANCE CONSIDERATIONS:

Formula and Matching Requirements:  States may receive up to 75 percent of the program costs except when two or more States have a common interest in one or more endangered species and enter into a joint agreement whereupon the Federal share is 90 percent.

Length and Time Phasing of Assistance:  Any amount obligated to any State for any fiscal year remaining unused at end of the year is available to that State until the close of the succeeding fiscal year. Any amount obligated to any State that remains unused at the end of the succeeding fiscal year is available to the Service as reverted funds to conduct other section 6 programs.

Uses and Use Restrictions:  The assistance provided to the State fish and wildlife agency for endangered and threatened species, can include animal, plant, and habitat surveys, research, planning, monitoring, management, land acquisition, protection, and public education. Assistance is restricted to those State agencies with which the Fish and Wildlife Service has a current cooperative agreement for the species involved.

15.615 POST ASSISTANCE REQUIREMENTS:

Reports:  A performance report is required for each project segment within 90 days following the close of the segment.

Audits:  In accordance with the provisions of OMB Circular No. A-133 (Revised, June 24, 1997, "Audits of States, Local Governments, and Non-Profit Organizations," non-federal entities that receive financial assistance of $300,000 or more in Federal Awards will have a single or a program-specific audit conducted for that year. Non-federal entities that expend less than $300,000 a year in Federal awards are exempt from Federal audit requirements for that year, except as noted in Circular No. A-133.

Records:  Records must be maintained for 3 years following the submission of request for final reimbursement.