Financial Assistance: Wildlife Restoration, Sport Fish Restoration, Hunter Education and Safety, 43120-43130 [E8-16829]

Agencies

• Fish and Wildlife Service
• DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 143 (Thursday, July 24, 2008)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 43120-43130]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-16829]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

50 CFR Part 80

[FWS-R9-WSR-2008-0035; 91400-5110-0000-7B]
RIN 1018-AV99


Financial Assistance: Wildlife Restoration, Sport Fish 
Restoration, Hunter Education and Safety

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Final rule.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, are revising certain 
provisions of the regulations governing the Wildlife Restoration, Sport 
Fish Restoration, and Hunter Education and Safety financial assistance 
programs. These revisions: (a) Address changes in law and regulation; 
(b) clarify rules on license certification to address a greater number 
of licensing choices that States have offered hunters and anglers; (c) 
delete provisions on audits and records that are addressed in other 
regulations broadly applicable to financial assistance programs managed 
by the Department of the Interior; and (d) reword the regulations to 
make them easier to understand. The revisions will improve the 
regulations by making them more current and clear.

DATES: This rule is effective August 25, 2008.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Joyce Johnson, Wildlife and Sport Fish 
Restoration Program, Division of Policy and Programs, U.S. Fish and 
Wildlife Service, 703-358-2156.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background

    The U.S. Department of the Interior's Fish and Wildlife Service 
(Service) manages 40 financial assistance programs, 14 of which are 
managed, in whole or in part, by the Service's Wildlife and Sport Fish 
Restoration Program. This final rule will revise title 50, part 80, of 
the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), which contains the regulations 
that govern three programs: Wildlife Restoration, Sport Fish 
Restoration, and Hunter Education and Safety. These programs provide 
financial assistance to the fish and wildlife agencies of States and 
other eligible jurisdictions to manage fish and wildlife and provide 
hunter education and safety programs. The Catalog of Federal Domestic 
Assistance at https://www.cfda.gov describes these programs under 
15.611, 15.605, and 15.626.
    The Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration Act of September 2, 1937, 
and the Federal Aid in Sport Fish Restoration Act of August 9, 1950, as 
amended, established the programs affected by this rule. These Acts are 
more commonly known as the Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration Act 
(50 Stat. 917; 16 U.S.C. 669-669k) and the Dingell-Johnson Sport Fish 
Restoration Act (64 Stat. 430; 16 U.S.C. 777-777n). They established a 
user-pay and user-benefit system in which the fish and wildlife 
agencies of the States, Commonwealths, and territories receive formula-
based funding from a continuing appropriation. The District of Columbia 
also receives such funding, but only for managing fish resources. 
Industry partners pay taxes on equipment and gear purchased by hunters, 
anglers, boaters, archers, and recreational shooters. Taxes on fuel for 
motor boats and small engines are also a source of revenue. The Service 
then distributes these funds to the fish and wildlife agencies of 
States and other eligible jurisdictions. States must match these 
Federal funds by providing at least a 25-percent cost share. In fiscal 
year 2008, the States and other eligible jurisdictions received $310 
million through the Wildlife Restoration and Hunter Education and 
Safety programs and $398 million through the Sport Fish Restoration 
program.
    The Service revised two sections of 50 CFR 80 in 2001, but we have 
not reviewed other sections for revision

[[Page 43121]]

since the 1980's. Consequently, some provisions do not reflect:
    (a) 43 CFR 12, subpart C ``Uniform Administrative Requirements for 
Grants and Cooperative Agreements to State and Local Governments'';
    (b) The Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century (1998) (Pub. 
L. [P.L.] 105-178);
    (c) The Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Programs Improvement 
Act of 2000 (Pub. L. 106-408);
    (d) The Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation 
Equity Act: a Legacy for Users (2005) (Pub. L. 109-59); and
    (e) The Presidential memorandum of June 1, 1998, that required the 
use of plain language in Government writing.
    In addition, we must clarify 50 CFR 80.10 on certification of 
hunting and fishing licenses to address the greater number of licensing 
choices that some States and other jurisdictions have offered hunters 
and anglers in recent years.
    On May 5, 2008, we published a proposed rule (73 FR 24524) to 
revise the regulations governing 50 CFR 80. We accepted public comments 
that we received or were postmarked during a 30-day period that ended 
on June 4, 2008. This final rule adopts the changes we proposed on May 
5, 2008, with additional changes described below.

Updates of the Regulations

    We are making nonsubstantive administrative changes in 50 CFR 80 to 
ensure that its provisions reflect changes in law and regulation over 
the past 20 years. An important change was the Wildlife and Sport Fish 
Restoration Programs Improvement Act of 2000, which amended the legal 
authorities that established the affected programs. We are updating the 
U.S. Code citations in 50 CFR 80.1 for the Pittman-Robertson Wildlife 
Restoration Act and Dingell-Johnson Sport Fish Restoration Act to 
reflect this amendment. The 2000 amendment also allows us to refer to 
the Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration Act of September 2, 1937, and 
the Federal Aid in Sport Fish Restoration Act of August 9, 1950, by 
their more common names, ``Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration Act'' 
and ``Dingell-Johnson Sport Fish Restoration Act.'' We are changing the 
collective name of all activities associated with the affected 
financial assistance programs from ``Federal Aid'' to ``Wildlife and 
Sport Fish Restoration Programs,'' which is consistent with the 2000 
amendment.
    We are deleting the definition and references to the Federal Aid 
Manual in Sec.  80.1 and Sec.  80.11 because it is no longer an 
official publication, and its successor document, the Service Manual, 
addresses Service employees and not the general public.
    We are also replacing the reference in Sec.  80.14 to Office of 
Management and Budget (OMB) Circular A-102's Attachment N with 43 CFR 
12.71 and 12.932 as sources of guidance on the use and disposition of 
unneeded real property. We are changing ``aquatic education'' to 
``aquatic resource education'' in Sec.  80.15 to reflect more 
accurately the language of the Dingell-Johnson Sport Fish Restoration 
Act.
    The provisions of Sec.  80.19 on records and Sec.  80.22 on audits 
refer to subject matter that was in the 1971 version of A-102. We are 
deleting all the contents of these sections because 43 CFR 12.82 and 
12.66 are applicable to the affected programs and they address these 
subjects adequately.
    We are deleting the estimates of time to fill out forms in Sec.  
80.27. This information will change over time and is not appropriate 
for regulations.
    We have applied plain language principles to those provisions where 
we have to change or clarify the content of the regulations. This 
conversion to plain language makes the affected provisions clearer as 
well as complies with the Service's plain language policy. More 
specifically, we are replacing words that are susceptible to different 
meanings with words that are more precise, e.g., we are changing 
``shall'' to ``must.''
    We refer to the territories, Commonwealths, and the District of 
Columbia in a consistent way throughout 50 CFR 80. Finally, we are 
alphabetizing the definitions in Sec.  80.1 for ease of reference.

Clarifying the Requirements

    We are adding the territory of American Samoa to the jurisdictions 
in Sec.  80.2(b) that are eligible to participate in the benefits of 
the Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration Act. This is consistent with 
section 4(c) and 8A of the Act.
    We are making administrative changes in Sec.  80.10 to ensure that 
the process for certifying the number of hunter and angler licenses 
provides accurate data that are comparable among the States (``States'' 
includes Commonwealths, territories, and the District of Columbia in 
the context of license certification.). This change is important 
because we apportion funds to the States based in part on the numbers 
of these licenses. We are clarifying this process because, as States 
offered more licensing options, they began to use different approaches 
in counting the individuals who purchased licenses. We are making 
several changes to resolve these differences. We are clarifying the 
timeframe during which a State's license year must occur for the State 
to use it as the State-specified license certification period. We are 
establishing a common approach for States to assign single-year license 
holders to a license year. Under this approach, States will assign 
single-year license holders only to the period in which they purchased 
the license instead of having the option of assigning them to the 
period in which their licenses are legal. Finally, we are clarifying 
that, under certain conditions, States may assign a person who 
purchases a multiyear license to each license period in which the 
license is legal.
    We are revising Sec.  80.12 to add the District of Columbia to the 
three territories and two Commonwealths subject to the cost-sharing 
requirements of that section. This revision will make Sec.  80.12 
consistent with section 12 of the Dingell-Johnson Sport Fish 
Restoration Act, which authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to 
cooperate with the six jurisdictions on fish restoration and management 
projects under terms and conditions that the Secretary finds fair, 
just, and equitable. The Act also states that the Secretary may not 
require these jurisdictions to pay an amount that exceeds 25 percent of 
any project. The current version of Sec.  80.12 authorizes Regional 
Directors to waive non-Federal cost sharing at their discretion for the 
jurisdictions listed in the section. The final rule continues to 
provide Regional Directors with discretionary waiver authority.
    We are revising Sec.  80.24 to make it consistent with the 
following provisions of the Dingell-Johnson Sport Fish Restoration Act: 
(a) A State must allocate 15 percent of each annual apportionment for 
recreational boating access facilities; (b) a State may allocate more 
or less than 15 percent in a fiscal year provided that the total 
regional allocation averages 15 percent over a 5-year period; (c) any 
portion of a State's 15-percent set aside for recreational boating 
access that remains unexpended or unobligated after 5 years must revert 
to the Service for apportionment among the States. To ensure that the 
total regional allocation averages 15 percent, we are requiring that a 
State obtain the approval of the Service's Regional Director to 
allocate more or less than 15 percent of each annual apportionment 
under the Dingell-Johnson Sport Fish Restoration Act. We changed Sec.  
80.8 to indicate that the 5-year obligation period for recreational 
boating access funds is an exception to the general rule

[[Page 43122]]

of 2 years for the obligation or expenditure of funds.

Response to Public Comments

    We published the proposed rule in the May 5, 2008, Federal Register 
(73 FR 24524) and invited public comments. We reviewed and considered 
all comments that were delivered to the Service's Division of Policy 
and Directives Management from May 5 to June 4, 2008, and all comments 
that were entered on https://www.regulations.gov or postmarked during 
that period. We received 29 comments from 27 State agencies, 2 comments 
from nonprofit organizations, and 3 comments from individuals. Most 
commenters addressed several issues, many of which were also addressed 
by other commenters. We classified these issues and the general 
expressions of support or nonsupport into 29 comments that follow the 
order of the subject matter of 50 CFR 80.

General

    Comment 1: Three commenters expressed unqualified support for the 
proposed rule or major elements of it. They did not suggest any 
additions, deletions, or modifications.
    Response 1: We did not change the proposed rule as a result of 
these comments.
    Comment 2: Two commenters recommended that we withdraw the proposed 
rule to allow further consultations with State fish and wildlife 
agencies. Both listed specific provisions that they opposed.
    Response 2: We did not accept the recommendation that we withdraw 
the proposed rule. We are responding to an urgent need to clarify how 
States can count individuals who purchased licenses under options that 
have become available in recent years. We are also updating 50 CFR 80 
to reflect changes in law, regulatory format, and style. We addressed 
the commenters' specific issues in our responses below, and we accepted 
some of their recommendations on changing the proposed rule.
    Comment 3: A commenter recommended that most funding for these 
programs should go to the State agencies that achieve the highest 
quality of hunter education and safety training.
    Response 3: The Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration Act and 
Dingell-Johnson Sport Fish Restoration Act provide formulas for 
apportioning funds among the States. The commenter's recommendation is 
not an option under these formulas. We did not change the proposed rule 
as a result of this comment.

Section 80.1 Definitions

    Comment 4: A commenter recommended that we delete the definition of 
``resident hunter'' from proposed Sec.  80.1 because the term does not 
occur in 50 CFR 80.
    Response 4: We changed the proposed rule to delete ``resident 
hunter'' from Sec.  80.1.

Section 80.2 Eligibility

    Comment 5: Several commenters recommended that we add programs on 
outreach and communications and aquatic resource education to Sec.  
80.5 on eligible undertakings.
    Response 5: The Dingell-Johnson Sport Fish Restoration Act clearly 
authorizes these programs, and Sec.  80.5 is not in conflict with the 
law as stated. Therefore, we will defer consideration of this issue to 
a future rulemaking process so that we can invite the public to review 
the proposed language and provide comments.

Section 80.10 State Certification of Licenses

    Comment 6: Several commenters recommended that we replace the word 
``accounting period'' in Sec.  80.10(a)(1) with ``license certification 
period'' or ``enumeration period.'' One commenter recommended that we 
strike ``12-month'' between ``State-specified'' and ``period'' in 
several places in Sec.  80.10(b).
    Response 6: We replaced ``accounting period'' with ``license 
certification period'' in Sec.  80.10(a)(1). We also replaced ``State-
specified period'' in Sec.  80.10(a)(2) (redesignated as Sec.  
80.10(a)(3) by Response 9) and ``State-specified 12-month period'' in 
Sec.  80.10(b) with ``State-specified license certification period.''
    Comment 7: A commenter recommended that we change Sec.  
80.10(a)(1)(ii) from ``corresponds with or includes the State's fiscal 
year or license year'' to ``must be the State's fiscal year or license 
year.''
    Response 7: We changed the rule so that Sec.  80.10(a)(1)(ii) now 
reads, ``is either the State's fiscal year or license year,'' which 
closely follows the language of the Pittman-Robertson Wildlife 
Restoration Act and Dingell-Johnson Sport Fish Restoration Act.
    Comment 8: A commenter stated that the certification period is too 
complicated, and recommended that we request data for the most recently 
completed license year (as defined by the State, but not to exceed 1 
year) when the Service annually requests certified license numbers.
    Response 8: Our ability to provide a less complicated license 
certification period is limited by the apportionment formulas in the 
Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration Act and the Dingell-Johnson 
Sport Fish Restoration Act. These formulas require that we use the 
number of paid license holders of each State ``in the second fiscal 
year preceding the fiscal year for which such apportionment is made, as 
certified to said Secretary by the State fish and game departments. * * 
* '' The Acts clarify that the license certification period must be 12 
consecutive months and ``shall be a State's fiscal or license year.'' 
We did not change the proposed rule as a result of this comment.
    Comment 9: A commenter expressed support for proposed Sec.  
80.10(a)(1), which requires that each director of a State fish and 
wildlife agency specify a 12-month license certification period. 
Another commenter stated that States should select the 12-month license 
certification period and it should be consistent from year to year. 
Another commenter recommended that the Service approve changes in the 
license certification period. Another commenter recommended that States 
notify the Service before any change in the license certification 
period and provide justification.
    Response 9: The proposed rule provides that each director of a 
State fish and wildlife agency specify an accounting period within the 
timeframe provided by the Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration Act 
and the Dingell-Johnson Sport Fish Restoration Act. We redesignated 
proposed Sec.  80.10(a)(1)(iii) as Sec.  80.10(a)(1)(iv) and added a 
new Sec.  80.10(a)(1)(iii) that reads, ``Is consistent from year to 
year; and.'' We also redesignated proposed Sec.  80.10(a)(2) as Sec.  
80.10(a)(3) and added a new Sec.  80.10(a)(2) that states, ``Obtain the 
Director's approval before changing the State-specified license 
certification period; and''.
    Comment 10: Nine commenters recommended that we allow the use of 
the most recent calendar year as the license certification year.
    Response 10: We analyzed the wording necessary to implement the 
suggestion. Our review indicated that some State license certification 
periods are such that these States would not have sufficient time to 
obtain the license data, analyze it, and certify their numbers to the 
Director. Therefore, we did not make any changes in the proposed rule 
as a result of these comments.
    Comment 11: Eight commenters recommended that we replace the term 
``purchased licenses'' with ``paid licenses'' to conform to the term 
used in the Pittman-Robertson Wildlife

[[Page 43123]]

Restoration Act and the Dingell-Johnson Sport Fish Restoration Act.
    Response 11: We accepted the recommendation and replaced 
``purchased licenses'' with ``paid licenses'' in Sec.  80.10(a) and (b) 
of the proposed rule.
    Comment 12: Several commenters stated that the proposed timeframe 
for the license certification period and the transition from ``year-
valid'' licenses to ``year-sold'' licenses will: (a) Cause 
inconsistencies with past reporting; (b) require the re-use of data 
during the transition year; or (c) significantly affect the certified 
numbers of license holders in the transition year.
    Response 12: The commenters' assessments may apply to some States 
and are the unavoidable results of making this transition to uniform 
certification standards. Their comments substantiated the need to bring 
a consistent timeframe to this process. We did not change the proposed 
rule as a result of these comments.
    Comment 13: A commenter recommended that we rewrite Sec.  
80.10(a)(2) believing that it is awkward and inconsistent with Sec.  
80.10(b)(3). Another commenter stated that Sec.  80.10(a)(2)'s 
reference to ``The number of people in that State * * * '' may 
unintentionally exclude nonresident license holders.
    Response 13: We accepted the recommendations and changed the 
proposed rule by rewriting Sec.  80.10(a)(2)(i) and (ii) (redesignated 
as Sec.  80.10(a)(3)(i) and (ii) by Response 9) as follows:
    ``(i) The number of persons who hold paid licenses that authorize 
an individual to hunt in the State during the State-specified license 
certification period; and
    (ii) The number of persons who hold paid licenses that authorize an 
individual to fish in the State during the State-specified license 
certification period.''
    Comment 14: Several commenters recommended that we change Sec.  
80.10(b)(1) to indicate that a State may count (a) trapping licenses 
that also permit licensees to hunt furbearers and (b) commercial 
fishing licenses that also permit recreational fishing.
    Response 14: We accepted the recommendation. We changed the 
proposed rule by changing the second sentence of Sec.  80.10(b)(1) to: 
``The State may not count persons holding a license that allows the 
licensee only to trap animals or only to engage in commercial 
activities.''
    Comment 15: Two commenters specifically supported the proposed 
requirement that States count only those persons who possess a license 
that produced net revenue, which is an amount of at least $1 per year 
returned to the State fish and wildlife agency. Another commenter 
supported it for single-year licenses, but expressed concern about 
differences among the States in how they quantify annual net revenue 
for lifetime licenses. Another commenter recommended the removal of the 
$1 minimum net revenue requirement and recommended that States be 
allowed to count licenses that produce any net revenue.
    Response 15: Although the amount of net revenue would vary from 
State to State, we settled on $1 as a reasonable, consistent benchmark 
amount to determine that net revenue accrues to a State. We did not 
change the proposed rule as a result of these comments.
    Comment 16: Four commenters recommended changes in Sec.  
80.10(b)(2). Two of the four recommended that we not require that a 
license produce net revenue to be returned to the State fish and 
wildlife agency because this would allow a State to buy licenses to 
enhance the fish and wildlife agency's apportionment. One stated that 
this could have unforeseen consequences, and the other stated that 
allowing the State to buy licenses was against Federal law. Two other 
commenters recommended that we clarify Sec.  80.10(b)(2), and one 
recommended specific language indicating that the States may deduct 
average direct sales costs to arrive at a net revenue amount but may 
not deduct indirect sales costs.
    Response 16: We accepted the first two commenters' recommendation 
and deleted the words ``fish and wildlife agency'' from proposed Sec.  
80.10(b)(2). We did not accept the specific language offered by one 
commenter on average direct sales costs and indirect sales costs. 
However, we replaced the language of proposed Sec.  80.10(b)(2) with: 
``The State may count only those persons who possess a license that 
produced net revenue of at least $1 per year returned to the State 
after deducting costs directly associated with issuance of the license. 
Examples of such costs are agents' or sellers' fees and the cost of 
printing, distribution, and control.'' We also changed ``people'' to 
``persons'' wherever it occurs in Sec.  80.10(b) for purposes of 
consistent usage.
    Comment 17: A commenter recommended that we clarify the proposed 
rule to ensure that hunters and anglers who have free licenses, but 
also have revenue-generating game tags, bird stamps, or fish tags/
harvest cards will count as persons possessing paid licenses for 
license certification.
    Response 17: We will request a Solicitor's interpretation on this 
State-specific issue and distribute it to the affected States. We did 
not change the proposed rule as a result of this comment.
    Comment 18: Three commenters disagreed with or had concerns about 
proposed Sec.  80.10(b)(3). This provision would allow State fish and 
wildlife agencies to count only those persons possessing a single-year 
license in the license certification year in which it was purchased. 
One of the three commenters stated that the proposed rule goes beyond 
the law on this point because the Pittman-Robertson Wildlife 
Restoration Act and Dingell-Johnson Sport Fish Restoration Act refer to 
``paid license holders,'' but do not refer to when the license holders 
purchased their licenses. This commenter also stated that the proposed 
rule was arbitrary by applying one set of conditions to persons 
possessing licenses valid for less than 2 years and a different set of 
conditions to persons possessing licenses valid for more than 2 years. 
One of the three commenters stated that reporting license sales in the 
year sold would require a separate tracking process. Two other 
commenters stated that this proposed requirement would not allow States 
to count licensees who renew their licenses immediately before 
expiration. Finally, two other commenters specifically supported the 
proposed requirement that States count only those persons possessing a 
single-year license in the license certification year in which it was 
purchased.
    Response 18: We do not believe that proposed Sec.  80.10(b)(3) is 
inconsistent with the language of the Pittman-Robertson Wildlife 
Restoration Act and Dingell-Johnson Sport Fish Restoration Act. This 
effort to reduce inconsistencies among the States may affect some 
States more than others during the transition period. However, we do 
not believe that any losses that may result from this final rule will 
be significant. We did not change the proposed rule as a result of 
these comments.
    Comment 19: Three commenters supported the proposed requirement in 
Sec.  80.10(b)(4) to count only those persons who possess multiyear 
licenses and who would otherwise be required to have a license. Another 
commenter supported the proposed requirement, but only if the license 
revenues from persons not counted as certified license holders are 
protected by Sec.  80.4 on diversion of license fees. Twelve commenters 
did not agree with the proposed requirement. Two of the 12 stated that

[[Page 43124]]

by counting only those persons who possess multiyear licenses and who 
would otherwise be required to have a license, we would negatively 
affect efforts to get seniors and young people to buy licenses to 
support wildlife conservation. One of the 12 commenters stated that the 
proposed requirement would cause many hunters and anglers to be 
excluded from the certified number of license holders. This would 
result in a loss of funds for the agency. The same commenter also 
stated that trying to determine if a multiyear license holder would 
otherwise be required to have a license would be a burdensome new 
compliance cost. Several commenters recommended that we remove 
``anywhere'' from Sec.  80.10(b)(4)(i-iii). Most expressed concern 
about the implications of the use of ``anywhere'' for counting fishing 
licenses specific to freshwater or saltwater. Finally, several 
commenters recommended that we clarify the meaning of ``commensurate'' 
in Sec.  80.10(b)(4)(ii) on multiyear licenses.
    Response 19: In response to the expressed concerns, we removed the 
requirement that a multiyear licensee would otherwise be required to 
have a paid license to hunt or fish anywhere in the State. We also 
replaced ``commensurate'' in proposed Sec.  80.10(b)(4)(ii) with ``in 
close approximation.'' To make the final rule reflect these changes, we 
deleted proposed Sec.  80.10(b)(4)(i), redesignated proposed Sec.  
80.10(b)(4)(ii) as Sec.  80.10(b)(4)(i), and redesignated proposed 
Sec.  80.10(b)(4)(iii) as Sec.  80.10(b)(4)(ii). We changed the 
redesignated Sec.  80.10(b)(4)(i) to read, ``The net revenue from the 
license is in close approximation with the number of years in which the 
license is legal.'' We changed ``valid'' to ``legal'' in Sec.  
80.10(b)(3) for purposes of consistency with the change in the 
redesignated Sec.  80.10(b)(4)(i). For the same reason, we changed the 
introductory statement of Sec.  80.10(b)(4) to read, ``The State may 
count persons possessing a multiyear license (one that is legal for 2 
years or more) in each State-specified license certification period in 
which the license is legal whether it is legal for a specific or 
indeterminate number of years.'' Finally, we changed the redesignated 
Sec.  80.10(b)(4)(ii) to read, ``The State fish and wildlife agency 
uses statistical sampling or other techniques approved by the Director 
to determine whether the licensee remains a license holder.'' (See 
Response 20 on the use of ``other techniques approved by the 
Director.'')
    Comment 20: Several commenters said that the ``statistical sampling 
or other appropriate techniques'' required in Sec.  80.10(b)(4)(iii) 
(redesignated as Sec.  80.10(b)(4)(ii) by Response 19) and Sec.  
80.10(c) is either unnecessary, too expensive, or vague. One commenter 
recommended the use of life expectancy tables. Another recommended that 
a joint Federal/State committee be charged with developing a fair and 
simple technique for determining license status that would include 
clarifying or replacing ``statistical sampling or other appropriate 
techniques.''
    Response 20: We do not agree that statistically valid samples are 
unnecessary or too expensive. We agree that ``other appropriate 
techniques'' may be too vague. We replaced ``other appropriate 
techniques'' in proposed Sec.  80.10(b)(4)(iii) (redesignated as Sec.  
80.10(b)(4)(ii) by Response 19) and proposed Sec.  80.10(c) with 
``other techniques approved by the Director.'' Under this change, 
States may seek the Director's approval for the use of life expectancy 
tables.
    Comment 21: A commenter expressed support for Sec.  80.10(b)(5) on 
combination licenses. Another commenter recommended that we count a 
combination license to fish or hunt only if the State provides an 
option to purchase a less-expensive license to hunt or fish. If a 
separate less-expensive license is not available, a State would, by 
design, force persons who might not hunt or fish to be counted as 
hunters or anglers, in effect giving this privilege free to those who 
might not want or need it. If there is not an option to purchase a 
less-expensive separate hunting or fishing license, the State would 
have to use a survey or other means to determine what proportion bought 
the license to fish and what proportion bought the license to hunt.
    Response 21: We reviewed the hunting, fishing, and combination 
license fees for several States. Based on that review, we have not seen 
any indication that a State is using combination licenses to increase 
the numbers of hunters or anglers for license certification purposes. 
Until we determine that this practice is occurring, we will not address 
this issue through regulation. We did not change the proposed rule as a 
result of this comment.
    Comment 22: A commenter recommended that we add language to ensure 
that the Service remains the lead in initiating the certification 
process.
    Response 22: We deleted proposed Sec.  80.10(d) and changed Sec.  
80.10(c) to the following: ``The director of the State fish and 
wildlife agency must provide the certified information required in 
paragraphs (a) and (b) of this section to the Service by the date and 
in the format that the Director specifies. If the Director requests it, 
the director of the State fish and wildlife agency must provide 
documentation to support the accuracy of this information. The director 
of the State fish and wildlife agency is responsible for eliminating 
multiple counting of single individuals in the information that he or 
she certifies and may use statistical sampling or other techniques 
approved by the Director for this purpose.'' The above change required 
the redesignation of proposed Sec.  80.10(e) as Sec.  80.10(d).
    Comment 23: A commenter recommended that the Service adjust the 
certified information on persons holding hunting and fishing licenses 
if the Service made an error.
    Response 23: We accepted the recommendation and added this sentence 
to the redesignated Sec.  80.10(d): ``However, the Director may correct 
an error made by the Service.''

Section 80.14 Application of Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration 
Program Funds

    Comment 24: A commenter recommended that we revise the first 
sentence in proposed Sec.  80.14(b)(1) so that it would read: ``When 
such property passes from management control of the State fish and 
wildlife agency, the control must be fully restored to the State fish 
and wildlife agency or the real property must be replaced using non-
Federal funds not derived from license revenues.''
    Response 24: We changed the proposed rule as recommended.
    Comment 25: A commenter asked that we change the proposed rule to 
add language referenced in a 2002 Director's memorandum on revenues 
generated by timber sales on lands acquired under financial assistance 
awards in the Wildlife Restoration and Sport Fish Restoration programs.
    Response 25: The proposed rule did not address this issue. We will 
defer it to a future rulemaking process so that we can invite the 
public to review the proposed language and provide comments.

Section 80.15 Allowable Costs

    Comment 26: A commenter stated that the question-and-answer format 
of Sec.  80.15 on allowable costs is inconsistent with other sections 
of 50 CFR 80.
    Response 26: The proposed rule did not address this issue. We will 
defer consideration of a format change to a future rulemaking process 
so that we can invite the public to review the

[[Page 43125]]

proposed changes and provide comments.

Section 80.24 Recreational Boating Access Facilities

    Comment 27: Eight commenters recommended that we add to Sec.  
80.24, ``The State may fund access facilities for nonmotorized boats 
where use of power boats is restricted or sites for power boats are not 
available.'' Another commenter indicated that the proposed rule had 
moved away from the language and intent of the Dingell-Johnson Sport 
Fish Restoration Act by limiting funding to power boats. Another 
commenter stated that we should allow funding for non-motor boats and 
replace the last sentence of Sec.  80.24 with, ``Any portion of the 15-
percent set aside for the above purposes that remains unexpended or 
unobligated after 2 years be allowed for the State to obligate for 
nonmotorized projects that support recreational sport fishing.'' 
Another commenter recommended that we rewrite Sec.  80.24 to reflect 
the requirements of the Act and how these requirements are administered 
by the Service and the States. This same commenter recommended that a 
new version of Sec.  80.24 be reviewed again through public comment 
before being finalized. Another commenter recommended that we address 
only the time-sensitive and noncontroversial issues, such as State 
certification of licenses, and withdraw Sec.  80.24 and Sec.  80.28. 
The commenter recommended that we refer these issues to the Joint 
Federal/State Task Force on Federal Assistance Policy for further 
review.
    Response 27: The language on power boats has been in 50 CFR 80 
since 1985. We will defer consideration of any changes in the 
recreational and power boating language to a future rulemaking process. 
This will allow us to consult with others on the proposed language and 
invite the public to review the proposed language and provide comments.
    Comment 28: One commenter stated that the first sentence of Sec.  
80.24 in the proposed rule is incorrect. It reads, ``The State must 
allocate at least 15 percent of each annual apportionment under the 
annual apportionment under the Dingell-Johnson Sport Fish Restoration 
Act for recreational boating access facilities.'' The commenter 
suggested that we change the proposed rule to make it consistent with 
the following language of section 8(b)(1) of the Dingell-Johnson Sport 
Fish Restoration Act, ``States within a United States Fish and Wildlife 
Service Administrative Region may allocate more or less than 15 percent 
in a fiscal year, provided that the total regional allocation averages 
15 percent over a 5-year period.'' Nine commenters also pointed out 
that the last sentence of proposed Sec.  80.24 should specify 5 years 
instead of 2 years to be consistent with the Dingell-Johnson Sport Fish 
Restoration Act.
    Response 28: In response to the comments, we added the following 
sentence immediately after the first sentence of proposed Sec.  80.24, 
``However, a State may allocate more or less than 15 percent of its 
annual allocation with the approval of the Service's Regional 
Director.'' We replaced the last sentence of proposed Sec.  80.24 with 
the following: ``Any portion of a State's 15-percent set aside for the 
above purposes that remains unexpended or unobligated after 5 years 
must revert to the Service for apportionment among the States.'' We 
also added ``except as provided in Sec.  80.24'' to the end of the 
first sentence in Sec.  80.8, which will now read, ``Funds are 
available for obligation or expenditure during the fiscal year for 
which they are apportioned and until the close of the succeeding fiscal 
year except as provided in Sec.  80.24.'' Finally, we changed the 
second sentence of Sec.  80.8 to read, ``For the purposes of this 
section, funds become available when the Regional Director approves the 
grant.'' We made this change because the wording of that sentence in 
the current regulations does not adequately describe when obligation 
occurs, and the term ``project agreement'' is not a standard term.

Section 80.28 Exceptions

    Comment 29: Eleven commenters recommended that we withdraw proposed 
Sec.  80.28, which would allow the Director to authorize exceptions to 
any provisions of 50 CFR 80 that are not explicitly required by law. 
Two commenters recommended that we withdraw Sec.  80.28 to allow for 
further discussion. Five commenters recommended that we modify the 
exception authority with one or more of the following: (a) Add specific 
qualifiers; (b) limit and specify circumstances in which the Director 
can make exceptions; (c) include standards and triggering events that 
would establish parameters for exercising this authority; (d) indicate 
which provisions of 50 CFR 80 that the Director's exception authority 
would apply to and which are required by law; and (e) include the 
process and criteria to be followed for making exceptions including 
feedback from the States and the process for notifying States of 
exceptions. Three commenters expressed unqualified support for proposed 
Sec.  80.28.
    Response 29: We deleted proposed Sec.  80.28 in response to the 
expressed concerns.

Changes of the Proposed Rule

    We are making 25 changes in this final rule as a result of the 
public comments that we summarized in the preceding section:
    1. Delete ``(U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service)'' from the definition 
of ``Director.'' and replace it with ``Service.'' in Sec.  80.1.
    2. Delete ``Resident hunter. One who hunts within the same State 
where legal residence is maintained.'' in Sec.  80.1. (Response 4)
    3. Add ``Service. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.'' to Sec.  
80.1.
    4. Change Sec.  80.8 to read ``Funds are available for obligation 
or expenditure during the fiscal year for which they are apportioned 
and until the close of the succeeding fiscal year except as provided in 
Sec.  80.24. For the purposes of this section, funds become available 
when the Regional Director approves the grant.'' (Response 28)
    5. Change the section heading of Sec.  80.10 from ``State 
Certification of Licenses.'' to ``State certification of licenses.''
    6. Replace ``accounting period'' with ``license certification 
period'' in Sec.  80.10(a)(1). (Response 6)
    7. Replace ``State-specified period'' in Sec.  80.10(a)(2) 
(redesignated as Sec.  80.10(a)(3) by Response 9) and ``State specified 
12-month period'' in Sec.  80.10(b) with ``State-specified license 
certification period.'' (Response 6)
    8. Change Sec.  80.10(a)(1)(ii) from ``corresponds with or includes 
the State's fiscal year or license year'' to ``Is either the State's 
fiscal year or license year.'' (Response 7)
    9. Delete ``and'' at the end of Sec.  80.10(a)(1)(ii); redesignate 
Sec.  80.10(a)(1)(iii) as Sec.  80.10(a)(1)(iv); and add a new Sec.  
80.10(a)(1)(iii) that reads, ``Is consistent from year to year; and''. 
(Response 9)
    10. Delete ``and'' at the end of the redesignated Sec.  
80.10(a)(1)(iv); redesignate Sec.  80.10(a)(2) as Sec.  80.10(a)(3); 
and add a new Sec.  80.10(a)(2) that reads, ``Obtain the Director's 
approval before changing the State-specified license certification 
period; and''. (Response 9)
    11. Replace ``purchased licenses'' with ``paid licenses'' in Sec.  
80.10(a) and (b). (Response 11)
    12. Change redesignated Sec.  80.10(a)(3)(i) and (ii) to:
    ``(i) The number of persons who hold paid licenses that authorize 
an individual to hunt in the State during

[[Page 43126]]

the State-specified license certification period; and
    (ii) The number of persons who hold paid licenses that authorize an 
individual to fish in the State during the State-certified license 
certification period.'' (Response 13)
    13. Change ``people'' to ``persons'' in the introductory statement 
of Sec.  80.10(b) and in Sec.  80.10(b)(5).'' (Response 16)
    14. Change the second sentence of Sec.  80.10(b)(1) to: ``The State 
may not count persons holding a license that allows the licensee only 
to trap animals or only to engage in commercial activities.'' (Response 
14)
    15. Delete the words ``fish and wildlife agency'' from Sec.  
80.10(b)(2). (Response 16)
    16. Replace Sec.  80.10(b)(2) with: ``The State may count only 
those persons who possess a license that produced net revenue of at 
least $1 per year returned to the State after deducting costs directly 
associated with issuance of the license. Examples of such costs are 
agents' or sellers' fees and the cost of printing, distribution, and 
control.'' (Response 16)
    17. Change ``valid'' to ``legal'' in Sec.  80.10(b)(3). (Response 
19)
    18. Replace that part of the introductory sentence before the colon 
in Sec.  80.10(b)(4) with, ``The State may count persons possessing a 
multiyear license (one that is legal for 2 years or more) in each 
State-specified license certification period in which the license is 
legal whether it is legal for a specific or indeterminate number of 
years.'' (Response 19)
    19. Delete Sec.  80.10(b)(4)(i). Redesignate Sec.  80.10(b)(4)(ii) 
as Sec.  80.10(b)(4)(i). Redesignate Sec.  80.10(b)(4)(iii) as Sec.  
80.10(b)(4)(ii). Change redesignated Sec.  80.10(b)(4)(i) to read, 
``The net revenue from the license is in close approximation with the 
number of years in which the license is legal; and''. Change 
redesignated Sec.  80.10(b)(4)(ii) to read, ``The State fish and 
wildlife agency uses statistical sampling or other techniques approved 
by the Director to determine whether the licensee remains a license 
holder.'' (Response 19)
    20. Delete proposed Sec.  80.10(d) and change Sec.  80.10(c) to the 
following: ``The director of the State fish and wildlife agency must 
provide the certified information required in paragraphs (a) and (b) of 
this section to the Service by the date and in the format that the 
Director specifies. If the Director requests it, the director of the 
State fish and wildlife agency must provide documentation to support 
the accuracy of this information. The director of the State fish and 
wildlife agency is responsible for eliminating multiple counting of 
single individuals in the information that he or she certifies and may 
use statistical sampling or other techniques approved by the Director 
for this purpose.'' Redesignate Sec.  80.10(e) as Sec.  80.10(d). 
(Responses 20 and 22)
    21. Delete ``State fish and wildlife'' after ``other than the'' in 
redesignated Sec.  80.10(d) and add this sentence to the end of Sec.  
80.10(d): ``However, the Director may correct an error made by the 
Service.'' (Response 23)
    22. Add to the first sentence in Sec.  80.14(b)(1) ``not derived 
from license revenues.'' (Response 24)
    23. Add the following sentence immediately after the first sentence 
of proposed Sec.  80.24, ``However, a State may allocate more or less 
than 15 percent of its annual allocation with the approval of the 
Service's Regional Director.'' (Response 28)
    24. Replace the last sentence of Sec.  80.24 with the following, 
``Any portion of a State's 15-percent set aside for the above purposes 
that remains unexpended or unobligated after 5 years must revert to the 
Service for apportionment among the States.'' (Response 28)
    25. Delete Sec.  80.28, Exceptions. (Response 29)

Required Determinations

Regulatory Planning and Review (Executive Order 12866)

    OMB has determined that this rule is not a significant regulatory 
action under the criteria in Executive Order (E.O.) 12866. These 
criteria are:
    (a) Whether the rule will have an annual effect of $100 million or 
more on the economy or adversely affect an economic sector, 
productivity, jobs, the environment, or other units of the government.
    (b) Whether the rule will create inconsistencies with other Federal 
agencies' actions.
    (c) Whether the rule will materially affect entitlements, grants, 
user fees, loan programs, or the rights and obligations of their 
recipients.
    (d) Whether the rule raises novel legal or policy issues.

Regulatory Flexibility Act

    Under the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601 et seq., as 
amended by the Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act 
(SBREFA) of 1996 (Pub. L. 104-121)), whenever an agency is required to 
publish a notice of rulemaking for any proposed or final rule, it must 
prepare and make available for public comment a regulatory flexibility 
analysis that describes the effect of the rule on small entities, i.e., 
small businesses, small organizations, and small government 
jurisdictions. However, no regulatory flexibility analysis is required 
if the head of an agency certifies the rule will not have a significant 
economic impact on a substantial number of small entities.
    The SBREFA amended the Regulatory Flexibility Act to require 
Federal agencies to provide the statement of the factual basis for 
certifying that a rule will not have a significant economic impact on a 
substantial number of small entities. We have examined this rule's 
potential effects on small entities as required by the Regulatory 
Flexibility Act and have determined that the rule will not have a 
significant economic impact on small entities because the changes we 
are making are intended to: (a) Address changes in law and regulation; 
(b) clarify rules on license certification to address a greater number 
of licensing choices that States and other jurisdictions have offered 
hunters and anglers; (c) delete provisions on audits and records that 
are addressed in other regulations; and (d) reword the regulations to 
make them easier to understand. No costs are associated with this 
regulatory change. Consequently, we certify that, because this rule 
will not have a significant economic effect on a substantial number of 
small entities, a regulatory flexibility analysis is not required.
    This rule is not a major rule under SBREFA (5 U.S.C. 804(2)). It 
will not have a significant impact on a substantial number of small 
entities.
    (a) This rule will not have an annual effect on the economy of $100 
million or more.
    (b) This rule will not cause a major increase in costs or prices 
for consumers; individual industries; Federal, State, or local 
government agencies; or geographic regions.
    (c) This rule will not have significant adverse effects on 
competition, employment, investment, productivity, innovation, or the 
ability of U.S.-based enterprises to compete with foreign-based 
enterprises.

Unfunded Mandates Reform Act

    In accordance with the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act (2 U.S.C. 1501 
et seq.), we have determined the following:
    (a) This rule will not ``significantly or uniquely'' affect small 
governments. A small government agency plan is not required. The 
programs governed by the current regulations assist small governments 
financially, and this rule will simply improve these regulations.
    (b) This rule will not produce a Federal mandate of $100 million or 
greater in any year, i.e., it is not a

[[Page 43127]]

``significant regulatory action'' under the Unfunded Mandates Reform 
Act.

Takings (E.O. 12630)

    In accordance with E.O. 12630, this rule will not have significant 
takings implications because it does not contain a provision for taking 
private property. Therefore, a takings implication assessment is not 
required.

Federalism (E.O. 13132)

    This rule will not have sufficient Federalism effects to warrant 
preparation of a Federalism assessment under E.O. 13132. It will not 
interfere with the States' ability to manage themselves or their funds. 
We work closely with the States in administration of these programs. 
The rule will benefit recipients in three grant programs by 
establishing a common approach and clarifying the rules applicable to 
grant recipients' legally required annual certification of the number 
of hunters and anglers who purchased licenses.

Civil Justice Reform (E.O. 12988)

    In accordance with E.O. 12988, the Office of the Solicitor has 
determined that the rule will not unduly burden the judicial system and 
meets the requirements of sections 3(a) and 3(b)(2) of the Order. The 
rule will also benefit grantees by eliminating unnecessary or outdated 
elements of the regulations governing the affected programs and by 
making the regulations easier to understand.

Paperwork Reduction Act

    We examined the rule under the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. 
3501 et seq.). We may not collect or sponsor, nor is a person required 
to respond to, a collection of information unless it displays a 
currently valid OMB control number. The rule will clarify 50 CFR 80.10, 
which requires States to submit information on the number of persons 
holding hunting and fishing licenses. On January 25, 2007, OMB approved 
our collection of information from States based on the requirements of 
50 CFR 80.10. OMB approved this information collection on forms FWS 3-
154a and 3-154b under control number 1018-0007. The rule will not 
change the information items required on forms FWS 3-154a and 3-154b. 
It will only establish a common approach for States to assign license 
holders to a license year for purposes of the information collection. 
The rule will also remove outdated information in 50 CFR 80.27.

National Environmental Policy Act

    We have analyzed this rule in accordance with the National 
Environmental Policy Act, 42 U.S.C. 432-437(f), and part 516 of the 
Departmental Manual. This rule does not constitute a major Federal 
action significantly affecting the quality of the human environment. An 
environmental impact statement/assessment is not required due to the 
categorical exclusion for administrative changes provided at 516 DM 2, 
Appendix 1, section 1.10.

Government-to-Government Relationship With Tribes

    In accordance with the President's memorandum of April 29, 1994, 
``Government-to-Government Relations with Native American Tribal 
Governments'' (59 FR 22951), E.O. 13175, and 512 DM 2, we evaluated 
potential effects on federally recognized Indian Tribes and determined 
that there are no potential effects. This rule will not interfere with 
the Tribes' ability to manage themselves or their funds.

Energy Supply, Distribution, or Use (E.O. 13211)

    On May 18, 2001, the President issued E.O. 13211 addressing 
regulations that significantly affect energy supply, distribution, and 
use. E.O. 13211 requires agencies to prepare Statements of Energy 
Effects when undertaking certain actions. This rule is not a 
significant regulatory action under E.O. 12866, and will not 
significantly affect energy supplies, distribution, or use. Therefore, 
this action is not a significant energy action and no Statement of 
Energy Effects is required.

List of Subjects in 50 CFR Part 80

    Aquatic resource education, Boating access, Fish, Grant programs--
natural resources, Hunter education and safety, License certification, 
Reporting and recordkeeping requirements, Signs and symbols, Wildlife.

Final Regulation

0
For the reasons stated in the preamble, we amend part 80 of subchapter 
F, chapter I, title 50 of the Code of Federal Regulations, as follows:

Subchapter F--Financial Assistance--Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration 
Program

0
1. Revise the heading of subchapter F to read as set forth above.

PART 80--ADMINISTRATIVE REQUIREMENTS, PITTMAN-ROBERTSON WILDLIFE 
RESTORATION AND DINGELL-JOHNSON SPORT FISH RESTORATION ACTS

0
2. The authority citation for part 80 is revised to read as follows:

    Authority: 16 U.S.C. 777-777n; 16 U.S.C. 669-669k; 18 U.S.C. 
701.


0
3. Revise the heading of part 80 to read as set forth above.
0
4. Revise Sec.  80.1 to read as follows:


Sec.  80.1  Definitions.

    As used in this part, the following terms have these meanings:
    Common horsepower. Any size motor that can be reasonably 
accommodated on the body of water slated for development.
    Comprehensive fish and wildlife management plan. A document 
describing the State's plan for meeting the long-range needs of the 
public for fish and wildlife resources, and the system for managing the 
plan.
    Director. The Director of the Service, or his or her designated 
representative. The Director serves as the Secretary's representative 
in matters relating to the administration and execution of the Wildlife 
and Sport Fish Restoration Acts.
    Project. One or more related undertakings necessary to fulfill a 
need or needs, as defined by the State, and consistent with the 
purposes of the appropriate Act.
    Regional Director. The regional director of any region of the 
Service, or his or her designated representative.
    Resident angler. One who fishes within the same State where legal 
residence is maintained.
    Secretary. The Secretary of the Interior or his or her designated 
representative.
    Service. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
    State. Any State of the United States and the Commonwealths of 
Puerto Rico and the Northern Mariana Islands, the District of Columbia, 
and the territories of Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and American 
Samoa. References to ``the 50 States'' pertain only to the 50 States of 
the United States and do not include these other six areas.
    State fish and wildlife agency. The agency or official of a State 
designated under State law or regulation to carry out the laws of the 
State in relation to the management of fish and wildlife resources of 
the State. Such an agency or official also designated to exercise 
collateral responsibilities, e.g., a State

[[Page 43128]]

Department of Natural Resources, will be considered the State fish and 
wildlife agency only when exercising the responsibilities specific to 
the management of the fish and wildlife resources of the State.
    Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Acts or the Acts. Pittman-
Robertson Wildlife Restoration Act of September 2, 1937, as amended (50 
Stat. 917; 16 U.S.C. 669-669k), and the Dingell-Johnson Sport Fish 
Restoration Act of August 9, 1950, as amended (64 Stat. 430; 16 U.S.C. 
777-777n).
    Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Program Funds. Funds provided 
under the Acts.

0
5. Amend Sec.  80.2 by revising paragraphs (a) and (b) to read as 
follows:


Sec.  80.2  Eligibility.

* * * * *
    (a) Dingell-Johnson Sport Fish Restoration--Any of the States as 
defined in Sec.  80.1.
    (b) Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration--Any of the States as 
defined in Sec.  80.1, except the District of Columbia.


Sec.  80.4  [Amended]

0
6. Amend paragraph (a)(4) of Sec.  80.4 by removing the words ``Federal 
Aid project'' and adding in their place the word ``Project''.


Sec.  80.5  [Amended]

0
7. Amend Sec.  80.5 by:
0
a. In paragraph (a), removing the words ``Federal Aid in'' and adding 
in their place the words ``Pittman-Robertson''; and
0
b. In paragraph (b), removing the words ``Federal Aid in'' and adding 
in their place the words ``Dingell-Johnson''.
0
8. Revise Sec.  80.8 to read as follows:


Sec.  80.8  Availability of funds.

    Funds are available for obligation or expenditure during the fiscal 
year for which they are apportioned and until the close of the 
succeeding fiscal year except as provided in Sec.  80.24. For the 
purposes of this section, funds become available when the Regional 
Director approves the grant.


Sec.  80.9  [Amended]

0
9. Amend paragraph (b) of Sec.  80.9 by removing the words ``Federal 
Aid'' and adding in their place the words ``Wildlife and Sport Fish 
Restoration Program''.
0
10. Revise Sec.  80.10 including the section heading to read as 
follows:


Sec.  80.10  State certification of licenses.

    (a) To ensure proper apportionment of Federal funds, the Service 
requires that each director of a State fish and wildlife agency:
    (1) Specify a license certification period that:
    (i) Is 12 consecutive months in length;
    (ii) Is either the State's fiscal year or license year;
    (iii) Is consistent from year to year; and
    (iv) Ends no less than 1 year and no more than 2 years before the 
beginning of the Federal fiscal year that the apportioned funds first 
become available for expenditure;
    (2) Obtain the Director's approval before changing the State-
specified license certification period; and
    (3) Annually provide to the Service the following data:
    (i) The number of persons who hold paid licenses that authorize an 
individual to hunt in the State during the State-specified license 
certification period; and
    (ii) The number of persons who hold paid licenses that authorize an 
individual to fish in the State during the State-specified license 
certification period.
    (b) When counting persons holding paid hunting or fishing licenses 
in a State-specified license certification period, a State fish and 
wildlife agency must abide by the following requirements:
    (1) The State may count all persons who possess a paid license that 
allows the licensee to hunt or fish for sport or recreation. The State 
may not count persons holding a license that allows the licensee only 
to trap animals or only to engage in commercial activities.
    (2) The State may count only those persons who possess a license 
that produced net revenue of at least $1 per year returned to the State 
after deducting costs directly associated with issuance of the license. 
Examples of such costs are agents' or sellers' fees and the cost of 
printing, distribution, and control.
    (3) The State may count persons possessing a single-year license 
(one that is legal for less than 2 years) only in the State-specified 
license certification period in which the license was purchased.
    (4) The State may count persons possessing a multiyear license (one 
that is legal for 2 years or more) in each State-specified license 
certification period in which the license is legal, whether it is legal 
for a specific or indeterminate number of years, only if:
    (i) The net revenue from the license is in close approximation with 
the number of years in which the license is legal, and
    (ii) The State fish and wildlife agency uses statistical sampling 
or other techniques approved by the Director to determine whether the 
licensee remains a license holder.
    (5) The State may count persons possessing a combination license 
(one that permits the licensee to both hunt and fish) with:
    (i) The number of persons who hold paid hunting licenses in the 
State-specified license certification period, and
    (ii) The number of persons who hold paid fishing licenses in the 
same State-specified license certification period.
    (6) The State may count persons possessing multiple hunting or 
fishing licenses (in States that require or permit more than one 
license to hunt or more than one license to fish) only once with:
    (i) The number of persons who hold paid hunting licenses in the 
State-specified license certification period, and
    (ii) The number of persons who hold paid fishing licenses in the 
same State-specified license certification period.
    (c) The director of the State fish and wildlife agency must provide 
the certified information required in paragraphs (a) and (b) of this 
section to the Service by the date and in the format that the Director 
specifies. If the Director requests it, the director of the State fish 
and wildlife agency must provide documentation to support the accuracy 
of this information. The director of the State fish and wildlife agency 
is responsible for eliminating multiple counting of single individuals 
in the information that he or she certifies and may use statistical 
sampling or other techniques approved by the Director for this purpose.
    (d) Once the Director approves the certified information required 
in paragraphs (a) and (b) of this section, the Service must not adjust 
the numbers if such adjustment would adversely impact any apportionment 
of funds to a State fish and wildlife agency other than the agency 
whose certified numbers are being adjusted. However, the Director may 
correct an error made by the Service.

0
11. Revise Sec.  80.11 to read as follows:


Sec.  80.11  Submission of proposals.

    A State may apply to use funds apportioned under the Acts by 
submitting to the Regional Director either a comprehensive fish and 
wildlife management plan or grant proposal.
    (a) Each application must contain such information as the Regional 
Director may require to determine if the proposed activities are in 
accordance with the Acts and the provisions of this part.

[[Page 43129]]

    (b) The State must submit each application and amendments of scope 
to the State Clearinghouse as required by Office of Management and 
Budget (OMB) Circular A-95 and by State Clearinghouse requirements.
    (c) Applications must be signed by the director of the State fish 
and wildlife agency or an official delegated to exercise the authority 
and responsibilities of the State director in committing the State to 
participate under the Acts. The director of each State fish and 
wildlife agency must notify the Regional Director, in writing, of the 
official(s) authorized to sign the Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration 
Program documents, and any changes in such authorizations.

0
12. Amend Sec.  80.12 by revising the introductory paragraph and 
paragraph (b) as follows:


Sec.  80.12  Cost sharing.

    Federal participation is limited to 75 percent of eligible costs 
incurred in the completion of approved work or the Federal share 
specified in the grant, whichever is less, except that the non-Federal 
cost sharing for the Commonwealths of Puerto Rico and the Northern 
Mariana Islands, the District of Columbia, and the territories of Guam, 
the U.S. Virgin Islands, and American Samoa must not exceed 25 percent 
and may be waived at the discretion of the Regional Director.
* * * * *
    (b) The non-Federal share of project costs may be in the form of 
cash or in-kind contributions.
* * * * *

0
13. Revise Sec.  80.14 to read as follows:


Sec.  80.14  Application of Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Program 
funds.

    (a) States must apply Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Program 
funds only to activities or purposes approved by the Regional Director. 
If otherwise applied, such funds must be replaced or the State becomes 
ineligible to participate.
    (b) Real property acquired or constructed with Wildlife and Sport 
Fish Restoration Program funds must continue to serve the purpose for 
which acquired or constructed.
    (1) When such property passes from management control of the State 
fish and wildlife agency, the control must be fully restored to the 
State fish and wildlife agency or the real property must be replaced 
using non-Federal funds not derived from license revenues. Replacement 
property must be of equal value at current market prices and with equal 
benefits as the original property. The State may have up to 3 years 
from the date of notification by the Regional Director to acquire 
replacement property before becoming ineligible.
    (2) When such property is used for purposes that interfere with the 
accomplishment of approved purposes, the violating activities must 
cease and any adverse effects resulting must be remedied.
    (3) When such property is