98-13923. Notice of Intent To Reconsider Procedures for Administration of Funding for National Conservation Priorities Under the Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration Act and the Federal Aid in Sport Fish Restoration Act

[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 100 (Tuesday, May 26, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 28514-28515]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-13923]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service


Notice of Intent To Reconsider Procedures for Administration of 
Funding for National Conservation Priorities Under the Federal Aid in 
Wildlife Restoration Act and the Federal Aid in Sport Fish Restoration 
Act

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Fish and Wildlife Service will reconsider procedures for 
administration of national projects funded from Federal Aid in Wildlife 
Restoration Act and Federal Aid in Sport Fish Restoration Act 
administrative funds. The Service intends to publish a full range of 
options for funding future national conservation priorities in the 
Federal Register for public review and comment. Interested persons 
should contact the Service to receive a copy of the options.

DATES: The Service intends to publish these options in the Federal 
Register on or about September 1, 1998.

ADDRESSES: Requests to receive copies of the proposed options should be 
sent to Mr. Tom Taylor, Division of Federal Aid, U.S. Fish and Wildlife 
Service, 4401 N. Fairfax Drive, Room 140, Arlington, Virginia 22203.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Tom Taylor, Division of Federal Aid, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; 
telephone [phone], fax [phone].


[[Page 28515]]


SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration Act 
(16 U.S.C. 669) and the Federal Aid in Sport Fish Restoration Act (16 
U.S.C. 777) make funds available to states for qualifying grants on a 
three-to-one-matching basis. Provisions of both Acts authorize the 
Secretary to utilize a certain percentage of the funds available for 
each program for expenses in administering the Federal Aid program. 
Specifically, the Secretary is authorized to utilize up to 8 percent of 
funds available under the Wildlife Restoration Act for necessary 
administration of the program while the Sport Fish Restoration Act 
allows the Secretary to utilize up to 6 percent of available funds for 
administrative purposes. The Service has utilized much of this 
authorized funding by awarding grants for projects that have been 
identified by states collectively as national priorities.
    The Service has identified specific focus areas in soliciting 
proposals for this year's funding. (63 FR 17882 published April 10, 
1998). Grants will be awarded by the Service after reviewing proposals 
for eligibility and receiving priority rankings by the Grants-in-Aid 
Committee of the International Association of Fish and Wildlife 
Agencies, an organization representing state fish and wildlife 
agencies.
    This notice advises the public that the Service will develop a full 
range of options for funding future national conservation priorities 
pursuant to the Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration Act and Federal Aid 
in Sport Fish Restoration Act. The Service intends to publish these 
options in the Federal Register on or about September 1, 1998, for a 
60-day period of public review and comment. Interested persons 
contacting the Service will be put on a mailing list to receive a copy 
of the options which will be developed for the aforementioned public 
review and comment.
    Each request should include a complete mailing address to which the 
proposed options will be sent.

    Dated: May 15, 1998.
Jamie Rappaport Clark,
Director.
[FR Doc. 98-13923 Filed 5-22-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-M