REGION 7 SPORT FISH RESTORATION GRANT PROGRAM

added new provisions to the Act by extending the excise tax to previously untaxed items of sport fishing equipment. The Sport Fish Restoration Program provides funding to restore, conserve, manage, or enhance sport fish populations and the public use and benefits from these resources; and to provide boating access to public waters. Additional information about the Sport Fish Restoration Grant Program is on the web at http://wsfrprograms.fws.gov/Subpages/GrantPrograms/SFR/SFR.htm. I. Funding Opportunity Description: The Sport Fish Restoration program provides Federal grant funding to the 50 States, Commonwealths, and territories (State(s)) for land acquisition, boating access development, research projects, operations and maintenance of public fishing areas, hatchery and lake construction and maintenance, sport fish population management, fishing habitat improvements, coordination projects, and aquatic resource education. These activities restore or manage sport fish populations and provide public access to these resources. Ineligible activities include law enforcement of fish and game regulations and public relation activities to promote the fish and wildlife agency. II. Award Information: The final SFR apportionments are on the web at http://wsfrprograms.fws.gov/Subpages/GrantPrograms/SFR/SFR_Funding.htm. III. Eligibility Information: A. Eligible Applicants: Participation is limited to State, Commonwealth, or territorial agencies with lead management responsibility for fish and wildlife resources. States, Commonwealths, and territories (State(s)) must pass laws (assent legislation) for the conservation of fish and wildlife. The law must include a prohibition against the diversion of license fees paid by anglers for purposes other than the administration of the fish and wildlife agency. The public benefits from these fisheries conservation measures. B. Formula and Matching Requirements: 1. Sport Fish Restoration Act funding is based 60 percent on its number of licensed anglers and 40 percent on its land and water area. No State, Commonwealth, the District of Columbia, or territory may receive more than 5 percent or less than 1/3 of 1 percent of each year's total apportionment. The Commonwealth of Puerto Rico receives 1 percent, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, the District of Columbia, and the territories of American Samoa, Guam, and the U.S. Virgin Islands each receive one-third of 1 percent. 2. The State fish and wildlife agency must furnish a certification of the number of paid fishing license holders on an annual basis. 3. The program is a cost-reimbursement program: the State covers the full amount of an approved project then applies for reimbursement through the WSFR and can be reimbursed up to 75 percent of project costs through the program. The State must provide at least 25 percent of the project costs from a non-Federal source. The non-Federal match for the Commonwealths of Puerto Rico and the Northern Mariana Islands, and the territories of American Samoa, Guam, and the U.S. Virgin Islands must not exceed 25 percent and may be waived at the discretion of the Regional Director. According to 48 U.S.C. 1469(a), the Regional Director must waive the first $200,000 of match for each project from the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands and the territories of Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and American Samoa. The non-Federal share could come from license fees. Matching and cost-sharing requirements are discussed in 50 CFR 80, 43 CFR 12.64 and 43 CFR 12.923. In addition, 43 CFR 12.62 identifies Federal cost principles for determining allowable costs. C. Other: Sport Fish Restoration program funds are available for a period of two years. Any funds not obligated within two years by a fish and wildlife agency revert to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) and are returned to the Sport Fish Restoration and Boating Trust Fund for obligation to States in the following year¿s apportionment. Although only State agencies can apply for and receive grants under this program, the program encourages partnering with local governments and non-governmental organizations (NGOs).