Sportfishing and Boating Safety Act

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Program Accomplishments

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has awarded $72,000,000 for improving boating infrastructure facilities throughout the States, Commonwealth, and territories.

Uses and Use Restrictions

This program authorizes matching funds on a competitive basis for constructing, renovating, or maintaining tie-up facilities for transient, recreational boats 26 feet or more in length and to produce and distribute information and educational materials about the program.

Prohibited activities include; law enforcement, construct, renovate, or maintain tie up facilities for boats less than 26 feet in length and any activity that does not provide public benefits.

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Eligibility Requirements

Applicant Eligibility

Available to all States, Commonwealths, and territories.

Beneficiary Eligibility

General Public, specifically owners and/or users of transient, recreational boats more than 26 feet in length, and municipalities and private marinas within those eligible States, Commonwealths, and territories.

Credentials/Documentation

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.

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 the State, Commonwealth, or territory requires when applying for assistance, if the State, Commonwealth, or territory selected the 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," must be used. For further instructions and forms go to http://wsfrprograms.fws.gov/subpages/toolkitfiles/toolkit.pdf or www.grants.gov.

Award Procedures

The Director of the Fish and Wildlife Service will select projects for funding based on established criteria. Regional Offices make awards to approved applicants.

Deadlines

50 CFR 86.50 provides the guidelines for this program.

Authorization

Sportfishing and Boating Safety Act, Title VII, Subtitle D, Section 7404, Public Law 105-178, 16 U.S.C. 777g-l, and the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act, Public Law 109-059.

Range of Approval/Disapproval Time

Approximately 120 days.

Appeals

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

Renewals

None.

Assistance Considerations

Formula and Matching Requirements

The Federal share of the project costs cannot exceed 75 percent.

Length and Time Phasing of Assistance

Projects are normally funded through annual proposals.

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 final submission of the final Financial Status Report.

Financial Information

Account Identification

14-8151-0-7-303.

Obigations

(Grants) FY 07 $12,200,000; FY 08 est $13,400,000; and FY 09 est $17,100,000.

Range and Average of Financial Assistance

Tier 1 grants average at $100,000; Tier 2 range from $100,000 to $1,500,000; $500,000.

Regulations, Guidelines, and Literature

50 CFR Part 86.

Information Contacts

Regional or Local Office

See Catalog Appendix IV for addresses of Regional 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. Telephone: (703) 358-2156.

Criteria for Selecting Proposals

The designated State, Commonwealth, or territorial agency must submit proposals to partcipate in this program. The purpose of these projects must be consistent with the purpose and conditions of the Act. The criteria for selecting proposals are based upon the extent the project will contribute to constructing tie-up facilities according to the State's, Commonwealth's, or territory's approved plan; contribute to public/private partnerships; innovative approaches to increasing availability and use of tie-up facilities; that include private, local, or other State, Commonwealth, or territorial funds in addition to the 25 percent match; that are cost efficient; provide a significant link to prominent destination way points such as those near cultural or natural sites; provide access to recreational, historic, cultural, natural, or scenic opportunities of local, regional, or national significance; that provide significant economic impacts to a community; and include multistate efforts that result in coordinating location of tie-up facilities.