Success With Species at Risk Initiative

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Success With Species at Risk Initiative

AGENCY: National Biological Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of availability.

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SUMMARY: The National Biological Service (NBS), Office of Inventory and

Monitoring, is establishing a Success With Species at Risk Initiative

to develop scientific information on the status and trends of sensitive

species and ecosystems, particularly with respect to the relationship

of habitats to abundance and distribution, and with special emphasis on

producing information needed by or useful to public and private land

managers.

The goal of the initiative is to fund projects, on a wide range of

taxa, that will generate information and alternatives that lead to the

stabilization of declining populations of sensitive species, and

special attention will be focused on the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Category 2 species list compiled under the authority of the Endangered

Species Act. Information will be shared with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife

Service for use in listing determinations. Information may also lead to

removal of species from the candidate list.

DATES: Completed project proposals and Federal Assistance forms

(Standard Form 424, etc.) must be received by the NBS within 45 days

after publication of this notice in the Federal Register. Notification

of project selection and funding will be made as early as April 26,

1995.

ADDRESSES: Parties interested in this initiative should request an

information package from: National Biological Service, Mail Stop 3660-

MIB, 1849 C Street NW, Washington, D.C. 20240, attn. John Mosesso or

Wendy Kuhne.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: John Mosesso or Wendy Kuhne, Mail Stop

3660-MIB, 1849 C Street NW, Washington, D.C. 20240, E-Mail:

[email protected] or [email protected], or telephone 202-482-

3774.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

A. Purpose

Notice is hereby given that the National Biological Service (NBS),

Office of Inventory and Monitoring, is establishing a Success With

Species at Risk Initiative to develop scientific information on the

status and trends of sensitive species and ecosystems, particularly

with respect to the relationship of habitats to abundance and

distribution, and with special emphasis on producing information needed

by or useful to public and private land managers.

This notice is to provide an opportunity for scientists,

conservationists and land managers from academia, State agencies,

private organizations and industry, and Native American Tribes and

Nations to participate in this initiative through research, inventory

and monitoring activities. The initiative involves short-term projects

that generate information on sensitive species and particularly those

presently listed on the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Category 2

species list.

The goal of the initiative is to fund projects, on a wide range of

taxa, that will generate information and alternatives that lead to the

stabilization of declining populations of sensitive species, and

special attention will be focused on the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Category 2 species list compiled under the authority of the Endangered

Species Act. Information will be shared with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife

Service for use in listing determinations. Information may also lead to

removal of species from the candidate list.

This initiative is conducted in furtherance of the Secretary's

obligations under the Fish and Wildlife Act of 1956 (16 USC 742a-742j,

as amended) and the Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act (16 USC 661-

667e, as amended).

B. Background

The NBS is an independent science bureau in the Department of the

Interior (DOI) that gathers and analyzes biological information and

serves as an information clearinghouse, providing broad access to the

widest possible range of factual data on the status and trends of the

Nation's biota and the potential effects of land management choices.

The Secretary of the Interior issued Order No. 3185 on January 5,

1995, changing the name of the ``National Biological Survey'' to the

``National Biological Service'' to more accurately reflect the mission

of the agency. Sec. 4 of Order No. 3185 reads: ``The primary role of

the NBS is to meet the biological research needs of other organizations

within the Department of the Interior, other Federal agencies, States,

local entities, Tribes, and private and nonprofit users.'' The

initiative addresses the role of NBS by gathering scientific

information on sensitive species and their habitats. This information

serves public and private landowners who are interested in sustaining

biological resources. It also provides understanding to help avoid

conflicts that can both stymie development and degrade natural

habitats.

The Success With Species at Risk Initiative will develop scientific

information and alternatives to assist Federal, State, and other land

managers in their decisions regarding the protection of sensitive

species and habitats and to allow the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to

remove Category 2 species which do not merit further consideration.

C. Availability of Funds

Through this initiative, the NBS invites proposals for funding for

Fiscal Year 1995. The total funding available for the fiscal year is up

to $1 million. Monies will be provided to successful applicants on a

competitive basis. In order to maximize the number of proposals there

is no minimum project cost. The maximum project cost will be $100,000.

When the biology of the study species dictates, monies awarded in

Fiscal Year 1995 may be carried over into FY 1996, for the purposes of

completing on-going field research.

D. Eligibility Requirements

The NBS will accept project proposals for this initiative from

State agencies, private and industry groups, academic institutions, and

Native American Tribes and Nations. Proposals will be evaluated by NBS

scientists with respect to their scientific merit, partnership

opportunities, quality of investigators and institutions, potential for

providing useful information to resource managers, ecosystem and

landscape benefits, potential for conservation agreements,

possibilities for cost sharing, and demonstration of progress or

successful completion in 1995.

E. Application Process

Parties interested in participating in this initiative should

request an information package which will include detailed application

forms, Federal Assistance forms (Standard Form 424, etc.), proposal

format requirements, etc. from: [[Page 7789]]

Mail: National Biological Service, Mail Stop 3660-MIB, 1849 C. Street

NW, Washington, D.C. 20240, attn. John Mosesso or Wendy Kuhne, or E-

Mail: [email protected] [email protected] or Telephone: 202-482-

3774.

F. Dates

Completed project proposals and Federal Assistance forms (Standard

Form 424 etc.) must be received by the NBS on or before March 27, 1995.

Notification of project selection and funding will be made as early

as April 26, 1995.

F. Eugene Hester,

Deputy Director, National Biological Service.

[FR Doc. 95-3160 Filed 2-8-95; 8:45 am]

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