Hunter Education and Safety Program

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Program Accomplishments

About $8 million is available for 2008 to help States, Commonwealths, and territories enhance their Hunter Education and Safety program. Specific 2006 accomplishments funded by Section 10 Hunter Education and Safety include enhancements to 284 shooting ranges, education facilities, etc.; construction of six shooting ranges; funding to the National Archery in the Schools program accross the United States; and operation and maintenance of 56 shooting ranges.

Uses and Use Restrictions

Section 10 funds supplement Section 4(c) Hunter Education funds, thereby enhancing Hunter Education.

The Congressional Record affirms that Section 10 funds should be used to: hire additional staff for Hunter Education programs; provide additional materials for Hunter Education courses; enhance and modernize materials as needed; investigate new technologies and delivery methods; develop and evaluate home study courses; create advanced hunter education courses; perform programmatic evaluations and monitoring of hunter education classes; and improve and enhance training for Hunter Education instructors.

This policy is consistent with what Congress intended when they passed the Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration Act.

It provides States, Commonwealths and territories with flexibility, while enhancing hunting and shooting activities and projects.

Again, these funds may be used for the enhancement of hunter education programs and construction of ranges until the State, Commonwealth, or territory obligates all of their Section 4(c) Hunter Education funds apportioned to them for hunter education and safety as stated in 16 U.S.C.

669c.

Ineligible activities include law enforcement and public relation.

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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 hunter safety programs.)

Credentials/Documentation

States, Commonwealths, or territories must notify the Secretary the desire to participate annually. The State, Commonwealth, or territorial fish and wildlife Director must furnish a certification of the number of 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 requires 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 the 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 Fish and Wildlife Service or his or her 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. 669h-l.

Range of Approval/Disapproval Time

Approximately 30 days.

Appeals

Regional Directors will consider the differences of opinion about eligibility of proposals. Final determination rests with the Director of the U.S. 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

One-half of the 11 percent manufacturer's excise tax on bows, arrows, and archery equipment and 10 percent manufacturer's excise tax on handguns, pistols, and revolvers makeup the funding for the Hunter Education program. The other one-half of the manufacturer's excise tax are for wildlife restoration purposes including the 11 percent manufacturer's excise tax on firearms and ammo. Formula-based apportionment; based on State population compared to the total U.S. populations using last census figures; No State may receive more than 3 percent on less than 1 percent of the total Hunter Education funds apportioned; and the 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 the 2000 Census of Population; (2) States' percentage share of the number paid hunting license holders, from the source annually certified by each State's fish and wildlife agency; (3) States' 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, the territories of Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the 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 one year. Balances remaining un-obligated after one year are returned to be reapportioned to States, Commonwealths, and territories that obligate all of the funds apportioned to them under section 4(c) and section 10 of the Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration Act for hunter safety related activities. For more information, see the Hunter Education Guide at http://wsfrprograms.fws.gov/subpages/toolkitfiles/toolkit.pdf.

Post Assistance Requirements

Reports

A Performance Report and Financial Status Report SF-269 are required for each grant or grant proposals annually within 90 days after the anniversary date 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 a 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 $8,000,000; FY 08 $8,000,000; and FY 09 est $8,000,000.

Range and Average of Financial Assistance

$13,300 to $240,000; $145,000.

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://wsfrporgrams.fws.gov/subpages/toolkitfiles/toolkit.pdf.

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. Contact: Policy and Programs, Telephone: (703) 358-2156.

Criteria for Selecting Proposals

The State, Commonwealth, or territory agency having responsibility for the management of the States, Commonwealth's, or territory's wildlife resources must submit the projects. The State, Commonwealth's, or territory'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.