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

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 (703) 358-2156, fax (703) 358-1837.

[[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