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Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance

Program Descriptions

15.910:  National Natural Landmarks Program

Objectives:  To identify and recognize nationally significant natural areas throughout the United States of America and to encourage their continued preservation.

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

15.910 ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS:

Applicant Eligibility:  Anyone may suggest a natural area for possible inclusion on the National Registry of Natural Landmarks.

Beneficiary Eligibility:  Anyone may suggest a natural area for possible inclusion on the National Registry of Natural Landmarks. Land ownership is not a criterion. However, landowners or administrators are notified and involved in considering sites for possible designation.

Credentials/Documentation:  None.

15.910 APPLICATION AND AWARD PROCESS:

Preapplication Coordination:  None. This program is excluded from coverage under E.O. 12372.

Application Procedure:  Contact a regional office or the Washington office of the National Park Service to suggest a site which should be considered for possible natural landmark designation.

Award Procedure:  The National Park Service has conducted natural region studies to identify potential natural landmarks. In addition, sites may be suggested by any individual or organization as described above. If a decision is made to make an evaluation of a potential National Natural Landmark site owners are contacted prior to beginning an evaluation. No site visits are made without the permission of owners except when the land is publicly owned. Evaluations are made by qualified scientists. If the Director of the National Park Service determines an area meets the criteria for national significance, owners are notified for a second time, provided with a copy of the evaluation, and the opportunity to comment. National Park Service will review all documentation including, but not limited to, evaluation reports, peer reviews, and received comments. If some but not all of the property owners within a potential National Natural Landmark object to designation, the National Park Service will exclude the objecting properties and proceed with the process only if enough area remains of non-objecting properties to allow sufficient representation of the significant natural features. The Secretary of the Interior reviews the materials that the Director of the National Park Service submits and makes a decision on national natural landmark designation. If the Secretary designates an area, a third notification is made to landowners. Owners of designated sites are eligible to receive a bronze plaque and a certificate recognizing their voluntary commitment to preserve the landmark's nationally significant features.

Deadlines:  None.

Range of Approval/Disapproval Time:  Depends on status of information on area, and availability of staff and funds.

Appeals:  Not applicable.

Renewals:  Not applicable.

Criteria for Selecting Proposals:  Not applicable.

Examples of Funded Projects:  Not applicable.

Range and Average of Financial Assistance:  Not applicable.

15.910 RELATED PROGRAMS:

15.910 PROGRAM ACCOMPLISHMENTS:

15.910 FINANCIAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE INFO:

Federal Agency:  NATIONAL PARK SERVICE, DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Type of Assistance:  Provision of Specialized Services; Dissemination of Technical Information.

Obligations:  (Salaries and expenses) FY 99 $943,000; FY 00 est $956,000; and FY 01 est $980,000.

Budget Account Number:  14-1042-0-1-303.

Authorization:  Historic Sites Act of 1935, Public Law 74-292, 16 U.S.C. 461; General Authorities Act of 1970, Public Law 94-458, 16 U.S.C. 1a-5; Mining in National Parks Act of 1976, Public Law 94-429, 16 U.S.C. 1908.

Regulations, Guidelines, and Literature:  Final Rule for administering the National Natural Landmarks Program was published on May 12, 1999 (36 CFR Part 62). The procedures include the criteria for listing areas on the National Registry of Natural Landmarks and call for extensive public notice and review in the landmark evaluation process. A listing of designated natural landmarks is available from the National Park Service.

15.910 INFO CONTACTS:

Regional or Local Office:  See Catalog Address Appendix IV.

Headquarters Office:  Natural Landmarks Program, Natural Systems Management Office (2320), National Park Service, Washington, DC 20013-7127. Phone: (202) 219-8934. Use same number for FTS.

(See Appendix IV for more contact info.)

15.910 ASSISTANCE CONSIDERATIONS:

Formula and Matching Requirements:  Not applicable.

Length and Time Phasing of Assistance:  Not applicable.

Uses and Use Restrictions:  Information on national natural landmarks is made available to Federal agencies, State and local governments, private organizations, and individuals on request to assist in planning and decision making. No financial assistance accompanies designation of an area as a natural landmark. NPS may withhold certain information on specific landmarks because of the fragility of the resources.

15.910 POST ASSISTANCE REQUIREMENTS:

Reports:  The National Park Service maintains periodic contacts with the owners of designated natural landmarks to determine whether the landmarks retain the values that qualified them for landmark designation. The Service prepares an annual report for the Secretary of the Interior to submit to the Congress. This report identifies those designated natural landmarks that exhibit known or anticipated damage or threats to the integrity of their nationally significant resouraces.

Audits:  Not applicable.

Records:  Not applicable.