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Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance

Program Descriptions

15.978:  Upper Mississippi River System Long Term Resource Monitoring Program

Popular Name:  LTRMP

Objectives:  The mission of the LTRMP is to provide decision makers with information needed to maintain the Upper Mississippi River System (UMRS) as a sustainable large river ecosystem given its multiple-use character. Congress has declared the UMRS to be both a nationally significant ecosystem and a nationally significant commercial navigation system. The long-term goals of the LTRMP are to: (1) understand the UMRS ecosystem, (2) monitor trends and effects with respect to selected resources, (3) develop resource management alternatives, (4) manage information, and (5) develop useful products.

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

15.978 ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS:

Applicant Eligibility:  States, local governments, intrastate/interstate agencies, sponsored organizations, private nonprofit institutions/organizations for the purposes stated in the Water Resources Development Act of 1986.

Beneficiary Eligibility:  UMRS State, Federal, and private natural resource managers, users, and the general public.

Credentials/Documentation:  Proposals must furnish evidence of the applicant's qualifications for performance of the proposed activity. Costs will be determined in accordance with OMB Circular No. A-87 for State and local governments; OMB Circular No. A-21 for educational institutions; OMB Circular No. A-122 for nonprofit organizations; and Federal Acquisition Regulation Subpart 31.2 for private firms, individuals, and other nonprofits excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-122.

15.978 APPLICATION AND AWARD PROCESS:

Preapplication Coordination:  Limited discussions regarding funding availability and program interest are permitted. This program is excluded from coverage under E.O. 12372.

Application Procedure:  Application form Standard Form (SF) 424, 424-A, 424-B, and Department of the Interior Certifications and Representations must be used. The States of Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri, and Wisconsin; the Upper Mississippi River Basin Association; or any other agency established under paragraph (d)(1) of the Water Resources Development Act of 1986, Public Law 99-662 are exempt from the application procedures by virtue of the Act.

Award Procedure:  Notification of an award is by a cooperative agreement document signed by a contracting officer.

Deadlines:  None.

Range of Approval/Disapproval Time:  Up to 3 months.

Appeals:  Not applicable except that application may be revised and resubmitted.

Renewals:  The LTRMP is a 15 (15) year program; the current Congressional authorization extends through the year 2002. Agreements may be renewed on an annual basis through 2002 dependent upon funding availability.

Criteria for Selecting Proposals:  The States of Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri, and Wisconsin, and their institutions and agencies; States, universities, and others having expertise and experience conducting monitoring and research of the Upper Mississippi River System; States, universities, and others having expertise and experience conducting monitoring and research of large, impounded river systems.

Examples of Funded Projects:  The LTRMP is permanent program. To date, cooperative agreements and amendments in the amount of about $26,735,016 have been granted to States, universities, and other recipients to conduct resource (fisheries, water quality, invertebrate, vegetation) monitoring and research of the Upper Mississippi River System.

Range and Average of Financial Assistance:  $5,717 to $783,349; $250,965.

15.978 RELATED PROGRAMS:

None.

15.978 PROGRAM ACCOMPLISHMENTS:

In fiscal year 1999, 12 cooperative agreement amendments were made to support the LTRMP. The number of agreements for fiscal year 2000 is expected to be 9.

15.978 FINANCIAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE INFO:

Federal Agency:  GEOLOGICAL SURVEY, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Type of Assistance:  Project Grants (Cooperative Agreements).

Obligations:  (Cooperative Agreements) FY 99 $2,760,616; FY 00 est $2,597,100; and FY 01 est $2,600,000.

Budget Account Number:  14-0804-0-1-300.

Authorization:  Upper Mississippi River Management Act of 1986, Public Law 99-662, Section 1103, 33 U.S.C. 652.

Regulations, Guidelines, and Literature:  Public Law 99-662, Section 1103, as amended. Information regarding LTRMP publications may be found at the following web site address: www.emtc.nbs.gov.

15.978 INFO CONTACTS:

Regional or Local Office:  Inquiries regarding the LTRMP may be addressed to the Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center, 2630 Fanta Reed Road, La Crosse, Wisconsin 54603, POC: Dr. Leslie Holland-Bartels, Center Director, (608) 781-6221, FAX (608) 783-6066, e-mail Leslie_Holland-Bartels@usga.gov; Robert L. Delaney, LTRM Program Manager, (608) 783-7550, extension 51, FAX (608) 783-8058, e-mail Robert_Delaney@usgs.gov; or Thomas S. Kelly, Management Analyst, (608) 783-7550, extension 42, FAX (608) 783-8058, e-mail Tom_Kelly@usgs.gov.; UMESC web sit address, www.umesc.usgs.gov.

Headquarters Office:  None.

(See Appendix IV for more contact info.)

15.978 ASSISTANCE CONSIDERATIONS:

Formula and Matching Requirements:  No statutory requirement.

Length and Time Phasing of Assistance:  Cooperative Agreements will be awarded in 12-month budget periods. Funds are released as required.

Uses and Use Restrictions:  Cooperative Agreements are entered into for the purpose of conducting resource monitoring and research as specified in the LTRMP Operations Plan and for other activities to carry out the purposes of the Water Resources Development Act of 1986.

15.978 POST ASSISTANCE REQUIREMENTS:

Reports:  Annual and final technical and financial reports are required.

Audits:  Covered awardees are responsible for obtaining audits in accordance with the Single Audit Act Amendments of 1996 (31 U.S.C. 7501 et. seq.). Audits for any particular awardee are governed by one or more of the following: OMB Circular No. A-110, Uniform Administrative Requirements for Grants and Agreements with Institutions of Higher Education, Hospitals, and other Nonprofit Organizations; OMB Circular No. A-102, Uniform Administrative Requirements for Grants and Cooperative Agreements to State and Local Governments. In accordance with the provisions of OMB Circular No. A-133 (Revised, June 24, 1997), "Audits of States, Local Governments, and Non-Profit Organizations", nonfederal 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. Nonfederal entities that expend less than $300,000 or more in Federal awards are exempt from Federal audit requirements for that year, except as noted in Circular No. A-133.

Records:  All records must be maintained for 3 years after submission of the final financial report.