# Cancellation of Federal Aid in Sport Fish and Wildlife Restoration Administrative Project Funding > Briefs, arguments, decisions, and more. URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/documents/fr%3A99-19040 ## Record - **Collection:** Federal Register - **Document type:** Notice - **Published:** July 26, 1999 - **Citation:** 64 FR 40386 ## Text DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Fish and Wildlife Service Cancellation of Federal Aid in Sport Fish and Wildlife Restoration Administrative Project Funding AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior. ACTION: Notice. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: The Service is canceling funding for Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration and Sport Fish Restoration administrative projects. Existing grants for projects approved for funding in Fiscal Year 1999, or prior years, will not be affected by this notice. DATES: This action takes effect July 26, 1999. ADDRESSES: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Chief, Division of Federal Aid. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Robert E. Lange, Jr., Chief, Division of Federal Aid, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, MS 140 ARLSQ, 4401 North Fairfax Drive, Arlington, Virginia, 22203: (703) 358-2156. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Administrative funds are authorized by the Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration and Federal Aid in Sport Fish Restoration Acts to pay expenses incurred by the Fish and Wildlife Service in administering these programs. We may deduct up to eight percent for the Wildlife Restoration program and up to six percent for the Sport Fish Restoration program, with remaining funds apportioned to State fish and wildlife agencies for fish and wildlife restoration and management projects. We have used our discretionary authority to disperse some of the funds deducted for administration to support important national fish and wildlife projects, within the scope of the Acts, that provide collective benefits for a majority of the States. In the past, we have published an annual notice in the Federal Register announcing a deadline for project proposals, the amount of administrative funds available for Sport Fish and Wildlife Restoration projects, and procedures to be followed for submitting proposals. States, local governments, charitable organizations, educational institutions, and other authorized groups have applied for grants according to those procedures. On September 16, 1998, we published alternatives to Federal Aid Administrative Grants in the Federal Register. That notice identified five alternative procedures for administering those grants. Public comments were invited through November 16, 1998. Twenty-two of the twenty-five comments received identified Alternative 3 (enhance existing program without Federal Register Notice) as the preferred alternative. However, subsequent to the analysis of comments, we determined that increased costs for administering the Wildlife Restoration and Sport Fish Restoration programs precludes further funding of administrative grants. The increased costs arise from three pressing needs. First, the costs of automating the grants delivery system are more than expected--much greater than two years ago when the process began. Second, the audits of State systems by the Defense Contract Audit Agency are a substantial cost that was not present several years ago. Third, the cost of administering the small grants programs, created by amendments to the Sport Fish Restoration Act (Clean Vessel Act Pumpout Program, the Boating Infrastructure Program, and the Coastal Wetlands Planning, Protection and Restoration Program) must be assessed against the Sport Fish Restoration Program. One of the actions being taken to balance the administrative expenses budget is to cancel the Federal Aid in Sport Fish and Wildlife Restoration administrative project funding effective in Fiscal Year 2000. Projects approved for funding in Fiscal 1999 will not be affected by this decision. [[Page 40387]] Dated: July 19, 1999. John G. Rogers, Acting, Director. [FR Doc. 99-19040 Filed 7-23-99; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310-55-M --- Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/documents/fr%3A99-19040. Public record. Not legal advice.