The Act provides funding for the selection, restoration, rehabilitation, and improvement of wildlife habitat; wildlife management research; wildlife population surveys and inventories; land acquisition, coordination; development of facilities; facilities and services for conducting a hunter education

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and safety program; and provisions for public use of wildlife resources.

Some eligible activities include planting food plots for wildlife; posting boundaries on wildlife management areas; building roads and trails; controlling noxious vegetation; and providing public access to wildlife-related recreation opportunities.

Section 4(c) Hunter Education program could include training in the safe handling and use of firearms and archery equipment; hunter responsibilities and ethics; construction, operation, and maintenance of public shooting ranges; and basic wildlife management and identification.

The Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration Act grant programs contribute significantly to the nation's wildlife conservation and hunter education efforts annually. Already successful, the programs' accomplishments will continue to increase in the coming years because of the increased funding that is resulting. Some specific accomplishnmentts by State, Commonwealth, and territorial fish and wildlife agencies in FY 2006 include: Operations and maintenance of State facilities and wildlife management areas encompassing more than 30.3 million acres; 3.5 million acres of habitat improvements for wildlife species; 3,680 scientific research projects for wildlife species - including propagation, biology, utilization, and habitat needs; technical assistance for wildlife management provided to 47,872 private landowners; 209,237 acres of waterfowl impoundment improvements conducted for waterfowl management, and 553,788 students certified in Hunter Education.

Uses and Use Restrictions

Approved activities include selection, restoration, rehabilitation, and improvement of wildlife habitat; wildlife management reserach; wildlife population surveys and inventories; land acquisition; coordination; development of facilities; facilities and services for conducting a hunter safety program; and provisions for public use of wildlife resources.

Prohibited activities are law enforcement and public relations.

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Eligibility Requirements

Applicant Eligibility

Participation is limited to State, Commonwealth, or territorial agencies with lead management responsibility for fish and wildlife resources.

States, Commonwealths, and territories must pass laws (assent legislation) for the conservation of wildlife, which include a prohibition against diversion of license fees paid by hunters for purposes other than the administration of the State, Commonwealth, or territorial fish and wildlife agency.

Beneficiary Eligibility

General Public (While direct participation is limited to fish and wildlife agencies, the general public will ultimately benefit from these wildlife conservation measures.)

Credentials/Documentation

States, Commonwealths, or territories must notify the Secretary of the desire to participate annually. The State, Commonwealth, or territorial fish and wildlife Director must furnish a certification of the number paid hunting-license holders. Allowable costs are determined in accordance with 43 CFR Part 12, Subpart C, "Uniform Administrative Requirements for Grants and Cooperative Agreements to State and Local Governments."

Aplication and Award Process

Preapplication Coordination

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, Commonwealth, or territory for more information on the process required by the State, Commonwealth, or territory when applying for assistance, if the State, Commonwealth, or territory selected a program for review.

Application Procedures

Grantees will submit a grant proposal that includes a narrative statement describing the need, objectives, benefits, approach, and estimated cost for the proposed grant along with 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" and Fish and Wildlife Service Manual. For further instructions and forms go to http://wsfrprograms.fws.gov/subpages/toolkitfiles/toolkit.pdf or www.grants.gov.

Award Procedures

The Regional Director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service or his designee approves or disapproves proposed grants. Regional Offices are responsible for notification of grant approval to the grantee.

Deadlines

None.

Authorization

Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration Act of 1937, 50 Stat. 917 as amended; 16 U.S.C. 669-669k.

Range of Approval/Disapproval Time

Average 30 days.

Appeals

Regional Directors will consider differences of opinion concerning the eligibility of proposals. Final determination rests with the Director of the Fish and Wildlife Service.

Renewals

Grantees may renew projects on an annual basis if justified and if funds are available.

Assistance Considerations

Formula and Matching Requirements

Formula-based apportionment; 50 percent based on land area of the State, Commonwealth, or territory and 50 percent based on paid hunting license holders; no State may receive more than 5 percent or less than one-half of 1 percent of the total apportionment; the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico is apportioned up to one-half of 1 percent; and Guam, U.S. Virgin Islands, American Samoa, and the Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands each receive up to one-sixth of 1 percent of the total apportionment. One-half of the 11-12.4 percent excise tax on archery equipment and 10 percent excise tax on handguns, pistols, and revolvers makeup the funding for Hunter Education program. The other one-half of the excise tax collected are for wildlife restoration purposes. Hunter Education funds are formula-based apportionment based on population of the States. No State may receive more than 3 percent or less than 1 percent of the total Hunter Education funds apportioned. Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Guam, U.S. Virgin Islands, American Samoa, and the Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands receive up to one-sixth of 1 percent of the total apportionment. Statistical factors used for fund allocation are (1) States' percentage share of land area from 2000 Census of Population; (2) States' percentage share of number of paid hunting license holders, from the source annually certified by each State's fish and wildlife agency; (3) State's percentage share of population (hunter education) from the source 2000 Census of Population. Statistical factors used for eligibility do not apply for this program. States may be reimbursed up to 75 percent of the total project cost. Commonwealths of Puerto Rico and the Northern Mariana Islands, and the territories of Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and American Samoa must not exceed 25 percent and may be waived at the discretion of the Regional Director. The non-Federal share could come from license fees paid by hunters. Matching and cost-sharing requirements are discussed in 50 CFR 80.12, 43 CFR 12.64 and 43 CFR 12.923.

Length and Time Phasing of Assistance

Apportioned funds are available for obligation for a period of two years. Balances remaining unobligated after the period of availability revert to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Any funds not obligated within two years by a State, Commonwealth, or territorial fish and wildlife agency revert to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and will be spent under the provision of the Migratory Bird Conservation Act. Also, under the provisions of the Wildlife Restoration Act, the interest accumulated by Wildlife Restoration account is available to the North American Wetland Conservation program.

Post Assistance Requirements

Reports

A Performance Report and Financial Status Report are required for each grant award annually within 90 days after the anniversary date and/or end of the grant.

Audits

In accordance with the provisions of OMB Circular No. A-133 (Revised, June 27, 2003), "Audits of States, Local Governments, and Nonprofit Organizations," nonfederal entities that receive financial assistance of $500,000 or more in Federal awards will have a single or program-specific audit conducted for that year. Nonfederal entities that expend less than $500,000 a year in Federal awards are exempt from Federal audit requirements for that year, except as noted in Circular No. A-133.

Records

Cost records must be maintained separately for each grant. Records, accounts, and supporting documents must be retained for three years after submission of the final Financial Status Report.

Financial Information

Account Identification

14-5029-0-2-303.

Obigations

(Grants) FY 07 $241,310,443; FY 08 $301,686,579; and FY 09 est $310,000,000.

Range and Average of Financial Assistance

$268,000 to $7,187,000; $2,750,000.

Regulations, Guidelines, and Literature

50 CFR 80, Hunter Education Guide, Fish and Wildlife Service Manual, Matching and cost-sharing requirements are discussed in 50 CFR 80.12, 43 CFR 12.64, and 43 CFR 12.923. Applicants can visit these regulations and guidelines at http://wsfrprograms.fws.gov/subpages/toolkitfiles/toolkit.pdf.

Information Contacts

Regional or Local Office

See Catalog Appendix IV for addresses of Regional U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Offices.

Headquarters Office

Fish and Wildlife Service, Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Programs - Policy and Programs, 4401 North Fairfax Drive, FA-4020, Arlington, VA 22203. Contact: Policy and Programs, Telephone: (703)358-2156.

Criteria for Selecting Proposals

The State, Commonwealt, or territorial agency having lead responsibility for the management of the State's Commonwealth's, or territorial's wildlife resources must submit the projects. The State, Commonwealth, or territorial agency selects those projects submitted for funding under the program. If approved, projects must meet the basic criteria outlined in the regulations and the Fish and Wildlife Service Manual.