Northeast Region Fishing Gear Exchange Project, 34552-34555 [E9-16813]

Download as PDF 34552 Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 135 / Thursday, July 16, 2009 / Notices by the ex–vessel value of crab debited from the allocation. Specific details on the Program’s cost recovery provision may be found in the implementing regulations set forth at 50 CFR 680.44. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration [Docket No. 0907021106–91110–01] Fee Percentage Each year, NMFS calculates and publishes in the Federal Register the fee percentage according to the factors and methodology described in Federal regulations at § 680.44(c)(2). The formula for determining the fee percentage is the ‘‘direct program costs’’ divided by ‘‘value of the fishery,’’ where ‘‘direct program costs’’ are the direct program costs for the Program for the previous fiscal year, and ‘‘value of the fishery’’ is the ex–vessel value of the catch subject to the crab cost recovery fee liability for the current year. The fee percentage has declined over time because of a variety of factors including the increasing value of the fishery due to increased total allowable catch limits for various crab species such as Bristol Bay red king crab (Paralithodes camtshaticus) and Bering Sea Snow crab (Chionoecetes opilio), increased ex–vessel price per pound of crab relative to previous years, and decreased management costs relative to previous years primarily due to decreased staff and contract costs. Because by regulation the fee percentage is established in the first quarter of a crab fishery year based on the fishery value and the costs of the prior year, fee collections for any given year may be less than, or greater than, the actual costs and fishery value for that year. Using the fee percentage formula described above, the estimated percentage of costs to value for the 2007/2008 and 2008/2009 crab fishing years was 3.0 percent and 1.05 percent, respectively. These fee levels have resulted in a fee collection greater than the actual management, data collection, and enforcement costs for the 2008/2009 crab fishing year. Therefore, fee revenues remain to cover projected actual costs for 2009/2010. As a result, NMFS has determined that the fee percentage will be 0 percent for the 2009/2010 crab fishing year. erowe on DSK5CLS3C1PROD with NOTICES Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1862 et seq. Dated: July 9, 2009. Kristen C. Koch, Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. E9–16811 Filed 7–15–09; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–22–S VerDate Nov<24>2008 15:08 Jul 15, 2009 Jkt 217001 RIN 0648–ZC09 Northeast Region Fishing Gear Exchange Project AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Notice of funding availability. SUMMARY: Right, humpback and fin whales, which are listed as endangered under the Endangered Species Act, are occasionally injured or killed through incidental entanglement in fishing gear. Based on gear retrieved from entangled whales, interactions can occur with any component of the fishing gear, including buoy lines, groundlines, gillnet floatlines, and surface systems. Provisions of the Atlantic Large Whale Take Reduction Plan (ALWTRP) require that permit holders using trap/pot and gillnet gear comply with requirements designed to reduce the serious injury and mortality of large whales. One such gear modification requires the use of sinking groundlines. Other risk reduction measures include adding weak links to fixed fishing gear which can assist entangled whales in breaking free after an interaction has occurred. NMFS is providing financial assistance in the form of a grant to support the development and implementation of a fishing gear exchange project for Lobster Management Areas 2 and 3 in the Northeast Region. This document describes how to submit proposals for funding and how NMFS will determine which proposals will be funded; this document should be read in its entirety prior to the submission of a proposal. This project will support NOAA’s mission goal to protect, restore, and manage the use of coastal and ocean resources through an ecosystem approach to management. DATES: Applications must be postmarked, provided to a delivery service or received by https:// www.grants.gov by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time on July 30, 2009. Use of U.S. Mail or another delivery service must be documented with a receipt. Please note that it may take Grants.gov up to two business days to validate or reject an application. Please keep this in mind when developing your submission timeline. PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 ADDRESSES: The Full Funding Opportunity (FFO) announcement and application instructions for this grant program are available through the Grants.gov website at https:// www.grants.gov. For applicants without internet access, an application package may be obtained by contacting Amanda Johnson, NOAA’s National Marine Fisheries Service, Northeast Regional Office, 55 Great Republic Drive, Suite 04–400, Gloucester, MA 01930; Phone: 978–282–8463, E–mail: Amanda.Johnson@noaa.gov. Applications should be submitted electronically through the Grants.gov website at https://www.grants.gov. Those applicants without internet access may submit a hard copy (by postal mail or commercial delivery) to: NMFS Northeast Regional Office, Attn: Amanda Johnson, 55 Great Republic Drive, Suite 04–400, Gloucester, MA 01930. No other methods of submission are permissible without explicit NOAA approval. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: If you have any questions regarding this proposal solicitation, please contact Amanda Johnson at the NOAA/NMFS/ Northeast Regional Office, Protected Resources Division, 55 Great Republic Drive, Suite 04–400, Gloucester, MA 01930, by phone at 978–282–8463, or by email at Amanda.Johnson@noaa.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Background The principal objective of the Northeast Region Fishing Gear Exchange Project is to implement a voluntary fishing gear exchange project in which participating fishing industry members regulated by the ALWTRP are provided with financial assistance to comply with the ALWTRP’s sinking groundline and weak link requirements. Another objective of this project is to develop a plan for recycling the collected floating groundline to ensure that none of the lines are returned to the ocean for any purpose, fishing or otherwise. A third objective is to work cooperatively with participating industry members to collect gear configuration information via a gear survey. For a proposal to be competitive, it must demonstrate a clear process for developing and implementing a successful fishing gear exchange project. This includes notifying, registering, and communicating with participating fishing industry members; approximating the amount of floating groundline to be exchanged and determining an assigned price per pound for the delivered groundline; working with gear manufacturers and E:\FR\FM\16JYN1.SGM 16JYN1 Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 135 / Thursday, July 16, 2009 / Notices erowe on DSK5CLS3C1PROD with NOTICES distributors to gain their participation in the project; determining appropriate times and locations for gear collections based on industry needs and responses; determining the appropriate methods to collect, handle, and recycle the collected floating groundline; and determining the appropriate methods to assist in the purchase of weak links. A number of floating groundline buyback and recycling projects have been completed or are on–going along the East Coast of the U.S. These have taken place in Maine, Massachusetts, and New York, as well as in the Mid–Atlantic region (including the states of New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, and a portion of North Carolina) and have been administered by a variety of groups, including non–profit organizations, state and federal government agencies. A successful proposal will incorporate the successful components of these projects. In addition, competitive proposals must demonstrate the applicant’s good rapport with the fishing industry in the Northeast Region and ability to handle a project of this magnitude. Proposals must also demonstrate the ability to maximize the percentage of the award funding that is spent assisting fishermen in complying with the ALWTRP requirements, based on the differences in costs of floating versus sinking line and on the costs of complying with weak link requirements. This includes gauging potential participation by eligible fishermen and, based on this and other costs of the project, determining the appropriate figure for reimbursing fishermen for the floating groundline they have brought forward to exchange (e.g., providing $1.50 per pound of line turned in, etc.). It also includes determining the most appropriate methods for providing assistance for participating fishermen to comply with weak link requirements. The project will also incorporate recordkeeping and information collection. Information must be collected related to participating fishermen to document the amount of line exchanged, among other components. Additionally, the project will include a gear survey that will help NMFS better quantify information about vertical lines. This information will assist in the management of fishing gear interactions with large whales. Electronic Access The full text of the Full Funding Opportunity announcement for this program can be accessed via the Grants.gov web site at https:// www.grants.gov. The announcement will also be available by contacting the VerDate Nov<24>2008 15:08 Jul 15, 2009 Jkt 217001 program officials identified under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT. Applicants must comply with all requirements contained in the Full Funding Opportunity announcement. Statutory Authority The statutory authority for this project can be found at 16 U.S.C. 661 and 16 U.S.C. 1881c. Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) The Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance program number for this solicitation is 11.452, Unallied Industry Projects. Funding Availability NOAA anticipates that up to $3 million may be available for this project in the NMFS fiscal year 2009 budget. A grant will be awarded for the amount of funding in its entirety to the successful applicant. Therefore, all proposals should be developed to request the entire $3 million. The exact amount of funds that may be awarded will be determined during pre–award negotiations between the applicant and NOAA representatives. Publication of this notice does not oblige NOAA to award any specific grant proposal or to obligate any available funds. If an application for a financial assistance award is selected for funding, NOAA has no obligation to provide any additional funding in connection with that award in subsequent years. Eligibility Eligible applicants are institutions of higher education, other nonprofits, commercial organizations, and state, local and Indian tribal governments. Federal agencies or institutions are not eligible to receive Federal assistance under this notice. Cost Sharing Requirements No cost sharing or matching is required for this project. Evaluation and Selection Procedures The general evaluation criteria and selection factors that apply to applications to this funding opportunity are summarized below. Further information about the evaluation criteria and selection factors can be found in the Full Funding Opportunity announcement. Evaluation Criteria for Projects The proposals will be evaluated and scored based on the following weighted criteria (each proposal can receive a total score between 1 and 5 points): 1) Importance and/or relevance and applicability of the proposed project to PO 00000 Frm 00005 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 34553 the program goals (weight=30%): This criterion ascertains whether there is intrinsic value in the proposed work and/or relevance to NOAA, Federal, regional, State, or local activities. For this competition, the proposal should demonstrate that the applicant has a clear knowledge and understanding of the purpose and relevance of the proposed work. It should also demonstrate an ability to provide economic assistance to the Northeast Region’s commercial fishing industry affected by the ALWTRP, while providing benefits to large whale species. For this criterion, reviewers will base their assessments on the following scoring system: 1 = lack of importance/relevance; 3 = intermediate level importance/relevance; 5 = very important/relevant. 2) Technical/scientific merit (weight=35%): This criterion assesses whether the approach is technically sound and/or innovative, if the methods are appropriate, and whether there are clear project goals and objectives. The proposal should clearly address the program priorities and components that were discussed earlier in this document, including designing a gear survey in conjunction with NMFS. For this criterion, reviewers will base their assessments on the following scoring system: 1 = completely unsound, unlikely to meet the project’s objectives; 3 = intermediately sound, reasonably likely to meet the project’s objectives; 5 = extremely sound and likely to meet the project’s objectives. 3) Overall qualifications of applicants (weight=10%): This ascertains whether the applicant possesses the necessary education, experience, training, facilities, and administrative resources to accomplish the project. For this competition, the proposal should demonstrate coordination with other agencies and groups that have conducted gear exchange projects in the past or are currently implementing such projects. For this criterion, reviewers will base their assessments on the following scoring system: 1 = lack of qualification and/or resources to accomplish project; 3 = intermediate level of qualification and/or resources to accomplish project; 5 = extremely qualified and able to accomplish project. 4) Project costs (weight=15%): The budget is evaluated to determine if it is realistic and commensurate with the project needs and time–frame. For this competition, one project will be awarded the entire amount of available funding. Therefore, the budget should reflect the ability of the work to be completed with the funding amount and E:\FR\FM\16JYN1.SGM 16JYN1 34554 Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 135 / Thursday, July 16, 2009 / Notices erowe on DSK5CLS3C1PROD with NOTICES timing proposed. Additionally, the budget should maximize to the fullest extent possible the amount of financial assistance that is being provided to the fishermen who participate in the project. For this criterion, reviewers will base their assessments on the following scoring system: 1 = lack of information and detail provided, unrealistic; 3 = sufficient amount of information and detail provided, realistic; 5 = extremely informative, detailed, and realistic. 5) Outreach and education (weight=10%): NOAA assesses whether this project provides a focused and effective education and outreach strategy regarding NOAA’s mission to protect the Nation’s natural resources. For this competition, the proposal should describe how outreach and education for this project will be conducted to maximize the number of gear exchange participants from the fishing industry. Collaborations with other agencies and partners to accomplish this component should also be described. The applicant should provide a draft gear survey with the proposal for evaluation and final approval by NMFS. For this criterion, reviewers will base their assessments on the following scoring system: 1 = insufficient outreach/education; 3 = adequate outreach/education; 5 = extremely effective outreach/education. Review and Selection Process Screening, review, and selection procedures will take place in 3 steps: initial evaluation, merit review, and final selection by the Selecting Official (i.e., the NMFS Regional Administrator in the Northeast). Initial evaluation of applications will be conducted to ensure that the submitted application packages contain the required forms and application elements and meet the eligibility criteria. Applications meeting the requirements of this solicitation will then undergo merit review. Each application will be reviewed by a minimum of three reviewers, who will independently evaluate and score proposals using the evaluation criteria provided in the ‘‘Evaluation Criteria for Projects’’ section. Merit reviewers will be federal employees with appropriate subject–matter expertise. The reviewers’ ratings will be used to produce a rank order of the proposals. After applications have undergone merit review, the Selecting Official will make the final decision regarding which applications will be recommended to the NOAA Grants Officer for funding based upon the numerical rankings and evaluations of the applications by the merit reviewers, as well as the selection VerDate Nov<24>2008 15:08 Jul 15, 2009 Jkt 217001 factors set forth in the ‘‘Selection Factors for Projects’’ section. Selection Factors for Projects The Selecting Official shall award in the rank order of the review ratings unless the proposal is justified to be selected out of rank order based upon the following factors, where applicable: 1. Availability of funding. 2. Balance/distribution of funds: a. Geographically. b. By type of institutions. c. By type of partners. d. By research areas. e. By project types. 3. Whether this project duplicates other projects funded or considered for funding by NOAA or other Federal agencies. 4. Program priorities and policy factors. 5. Applicant’s prior award performance. 6. Partnerships and/or participation of targeted groups. 7. Adequacy of information necessary for NOAA staff to make a NEPA determination and draft necessary documentation before recommendations for funding are made to the Grants Officer. Classification Executive Order 12373 Applications under this program are subject to Executive Order 12372, ‘‘Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs.’’ Any applicant submitting an application for funding is required to complete item 16 on SF–424 regarding clearance by the State Single Point of Contact (SPOC) established as a result of EO 12372. To find out about and comply with a State’s process under EO 12372, the names, addresses and phone numbers of participating SPOC’s are listed on the Office of Management and Budget’s home page at: https:// www.whitehouse.gov/omb/grants/ spoc.html. Limitation of Liability In no event will NOAA or the Department of Commerce be responsible for proposal preparation costs if these programs fail to receive funding or are cancelled because of other agency priorities. Publication of this announcement does not oblige NOAA to award any specific project or to obligate any available funds. National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) Review NOAA must analyze the potential environmental impacts, as required by the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), for applicant projects or PO 00000 Frm 00006 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 proposals which are seeking NOAA federal funding opportunities. Detailed information on NOAA compliance with NEPA can be found at the following NOAA NEPA website: https:// www.nepa.noaa.gov/, including our NOAA Administrative Order 216–6 for NEPA, https://www.osec.doc.gov/bmi/ daos/216–6.htm, and the Council on Environmental Quality implementation regulations, https://ceq.eh.doe.gov/nepa/ regs/ceq/toclceq.htm. Consequently, as part of an applicant’s package, and under their description of their program activities, applicants are required to provide detailed information on the activities to be conducted, locations, sites, species and habitat to be affected, possible construction activities, and any environmental concerns that may exist (e.g., the use and disposal of hazardous or toxic chemicals, introduction of non– indigenous species, impacts to endangered and threatened species, aquaculture projects, and impacts to coral reef systems). In addition to providing specific information that will serve as the basis for any required impact analyses, applicants may also be requested to assist NOAA in drafting of an environmental assessment, if NOAA determines an assessment is required. Applicants will also be required to cooperate with NOAA in identifying feasible measures to reduce or avoid any identified adverse environmental impacts of their proposal. The failure to do so shall be grounds for not selecting an application. In some cases if additional information is required after an application is selected, funds can be withheld by the Grants Officer under a special award condition requiring the recipient to submit additional environmental compliance information sufficient to enable NOAA to make an assessment on any impacts that a project may have on the environment. The Department of Commerce Pre– Award Notification Requirements for Grants and Cooperative Agreements The Department of Commerce Pre– Award Notification Requirements for Grants and Cooperative Agreements contained in the Federal Register notice of February 11, 2008 (73 FR 7696), are applicable to this solicitation. Paperwork Reduction Act This document contains collection– of–information requirements subject to the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA). The use of Standard Forms 424, 424A, 424B, and SF–LLL and CD–346 has been approved by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) under the respective control numbers 0348–0043, 0348–0044, 0348–0040, 0348–0046, and 0605–0001. E:\FR\FM\16JYN1.SGM 16JYN1 Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 135 / Thursday, July 16, 2009 / Notices Notwithstanding any other provision of law, no person is required to, nor shall a person be subject to a penalty for failure to comply with, a collection of information subject to the requirements of the PRA unless that collection of information displays a currently valid OMB control number. Executive Order 12866 This notice has been determined to be not significant for purposes of Executive Order 12866. Executive Order 13132 (Federalism) It has been determined that this notice does not contain policies with Federalism implications as that term is defined in Executive Order 13132. Administrative Procedure Act/ Regulatory Flexibility Act Prior notice and an opportunity for public comment are not required by the Administrative Procedure Act or any other law for rules concerning public property, loans, grants, benefits, and contracts (5 U.S.C. 553(a)(2)). Because notice and opportunity for comment are not required pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553 or any other law, the analytical requirements for the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601 et seq.) are inapplicable. Therefore, a regulatory flexibility analysis has not been prepared. Dated: July 9, 2009. Gary Reisner, Director, Office of Management and Budget, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. E9–16813 Filed 7–15–09; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–22–S DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Hydrographic Services Review Panel Membership Solicitation erowe on DSK5CLS3C1PROD with NOTICES AGENCY: National Ocean Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Department of Commerce. ACTION: Notice of extension of membership solicitation for Hydrographic Services Review Panel; correction. SUMMARY: The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration published a document in the Federal Register of June 29, 2009, entitled Hydrographic Services Review Panel Meeting. The title of the notice is incorrect. The correct title is Hydrographic Services Review Panel Membership Solicitation. VerDate Nov<24>2008 15:08 Jul 15, 2009 Jkt 217001 The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is soliciting nominations for membership on the Hydrographic Services Review Panel (the Panel), a Federal advisory committee. NOAA is extending the time period for submission of membership applications from Friday, June 26, 2009, to Friday, July 24, 2009. This notice responds to the Hydrographic Services Improvement Act Amendments of 2002, Public Law 107–372, which requires the Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere to solicit nominations for Panel membership. The Panel will advise the Under Secretary on matters related to the responsibilities and authorities set forth in section 303 of the Hydrographic Services Improvement Act of 1998 and such other appropriate matters as the Under Secretary refers to the Panel for review and advice. To apply for membership on the Panel, applicants should submit a resume as indicated in the ADDRESSES section. DATES: As noted in the June 26, 2009, Federal Register, resumes should be sent to the address, e-mail, or fax specified and must be received by July 24, 2009. ADDRESSES: Submit applications for membership on the Panel to Rebecca Arenson via mail, fax, or e-mail at: (1) Mail: Rebecca Arenson, Office of Coast Survey, National Ocean Service, NOAA (N/CS), 1315 East West Highway, Room 6126, Silver Spring, MD 20910, Fax: 301–713–4019, E-mail: Hydroservices.panel@noaa.gov. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Rebecca Arenson, Office of Coast Survey, National Ocean Service (NOS), NOAA (N/CS), 1315 East West Highway, Room 6126, Silver Spring, Maryland 20910; Telephone: 301–713–2780 x158, Fax: 301–713–4019; E-mail: Rebecca.Arenson@noaa.gov. Under 33 U.S.C. 883a, et seq., NOAA’s National Ocean Service (NOS) is responsible for providing nautical charts and related information for safe navigation. NOS collects and compiles hydrographic, tidal and current, geodetic, and a variety of other data in order to fulfill this responsibility. The Hydrographic Services Review Panel provides advice on topics such as ‘‘NOAA’s Hydrographic Survey Priorities,’’ technologies relating to operations, research, and development of data pertaining to: (a) Hydrographic surveying; (b) Nautical charting; (c) Water level measurements; (d) Current measurements; SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: PO 00000 Frm 00007 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 34555 (e) Geodetic measurements; and (f) Geospatial measurements. The Panel has 15 voting members appointed by the Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere in accordance with section 105 of Public Law 107–372. Members are selected on a standardized basis, in accordance with applicable Department of Commerce guidance. The Co-Directors of the Joint Hydrographic Center and two other employees of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration serve as nonvoting members of the Panel. The Director, Office of Coast Survey, serves as the Designated Federal Official (DFO). This solicitation is to obtain candidate applications for one current voting vacancy on the Panel, and for five voting members whose terms expire January 1, 2010, and candidates for voting members who might resign at any time during 2009. Be advised that some voting members whose terms expire January 1, 2010, may be reappointed for another full term if eligible. Voting members are individuals who, by reason of knowledge, experience, or training, are especially qualified in one or more disciplines relating to hydrographic surveying, tides, currents, geodetic and geospatial measurements, marine transportation, port administration, vessel pilotage, and coastal or fishery management. An individual may not be appointed as a voting member of the Panel if the individual is a full-time officer or employee of the United States. Any voting member of the Panel who is an applicant for, or beneficiary of (as determined by the Under Secretary) any assistance under the Act shall disclose to the Panel that relationship, and may not vote on any other matter pertaining to that assistance. Voting members of the Panel serve a four-year term, except that vacancy appointments shall be for the remainder of the unexpired term of the vacancy. Members serve at the discretion of the Under Secretary and are subject to government ethics standards. Any individual appointed to a partial or full term may be reappointed for one additional full term. A voting member may serve until his or her successor has taken office. The Panel selects one voting member to serve as the Chair and another to serve as the Vice Chair. The Vice Chair acts as Chair in the absence or incapacity of the Chair but will not automatically become the Chair if the Chair resigns. Meetings occur at least twice a year, and at the call of the Chair or upon the request of a majority of the voting members or of the Under Secretary. Voting members receive E:\FR\FM\16JYN1.SGM 16JYN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 135 (Thursday, July 16, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 34552-34555]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-16813]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[Docket No. 0907021106-91110-01]
RIN 0648-ZC09


Northeast Region Fishing Gear Exchange Project

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.

ACTION: Notice of funding availability.

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

SUMMARY: Right, humpback and fin whales, which are listed as endangered 
under the Endangered Species Act, are occasionally injured or killed 
through incidental entanglement in fishing gear. Based on gear 
retrieved from entangled whales, interactions can occur with any 
component of the fishing gear, including buoy lines, groundlines, 
gillnet floatlines, and surface systems. Provisions of the Atlantic 
Large Whale Take Reduction Plan (ALWTRP) require that permit holders 
using trap/pot and gillnet gear comply with requirements designed to 
reduce the serious injury and mortality of large whales. One such gear 
modification requires the use of sinking groundlines. Other risk 
reduction measures include adding weak links to fixed fishing gear 
which can assist entangled whales in breaking free after an interaction 
has occurred.
    NMFS is providing financial assistance in the form of a grant to 
support the development and implementation of a fishing gear exchange 
project for Lobster Management Areas 2 and 3 in the Northeast Region. 
This document describes how to submit proposals for funding and how 
NMFS will determine which proposals will be funded; this document 
should be read in its entirety prior to the submission of a proposal.
    This project will support NOAA's mission goal to protect, restore, 
and manage the use of coastal and ocean resources through an ecosystem 
approach to management.

DATES: Applications must be postmarked, provided to a delivery service 
or received by https://www.grants.gov by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Daylight 
Time on July 30, 2009. Use of U.S. Mail or another delivery service 
must be documented with a receipt. Please note that it may take 
Grants.gov up to two business days to validate or reject an 
application. Please keep this in mind when developing your submission 
timeline.

ADDRESSES: The Full Funding Opportunity (FFO) announcement and 
application instructions for this grant program are available through 
the Grants.gov website at https://www.grants.gov. For applicants without 
internet access, an application package may be obtained by contacting 
Amanda Johnson, NOAA's National Marine Fisheries Service, Northeast 
Regional Office, 55 Great Republic Drive, Suite 04-400, Gloucester, MA 
01930; Phone: 978-282-8463, E-mail: Amanda.Johnson@noaa.gov.
    Applications should be submitted electronically through the 
Grants.gov website at https://www.grants.gov. Those applicants without 
internet access may submit a hard copy (by postal mail or commercial 
delivery) to: NMFS Northeast Regional Office, Attn: Amanda Johnson, 55 
Great Republic Drive, Suite 04-400, Gloucester, MA 01930. No other 
methods of submission are permissible without explicit NOAA approval.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: If you have any questions regarding 
this proposal solicitation, please contact Amanda Johnson at the NOAA/
NMFS/Northeast Regional Office, Protected Resources Division, 55 Great 
Republic Drive, Suite 04-400, Gloucester, MA 01930, by phone at 978-
282-8463, or by email at Amanda.Johnson@noaa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    The principal objective of the Northeast Region Fishing Gear 
Exchange Project is to implement a voluntary fishing gear exchange 
project in which participating fishing industry members regulated by 
the ALWTRP are provided with financial assistance to comply with the 
ALWTRP's sinking groundline and weak link requirements. Another 
objective of this project is to develop a plan for recycling the 
collected floating groundline to ensure that none of the lines are 
returned to the ocean for any purpose, fishing or otherwise. A third 
objective is to work cooperatively with participating industry members 
to collect gear configuration information via a gear survey.
    For a proposal to be competitive, it must demonstrate a clear 
process for developing and implementing a successful fishing gear 
exchange project. This includes notifying, registering, and 
communicating with participating fishing industry members; 
approximating the amount of floating groundline to be exchanged and 
determining an assigned price per pound for the delivered groundline; 
working with gear manufacturers and

[[Page 34553]]

distributors to gain their participation in the project; determining 
appropriate times and locations for gear collections based on industry 
needs and responses; determining the appropriate methods to collect, 
handle, and recycle the collected floating groundline; and determining 
the appropriate methods to assist in the purchase of weak links. A 
number of floating groundline buyback and recycling projects have been 
completed or are on-going along the East Coast of the U.S. These have 
taken place in Maine, Massachusetts, and New York, as well as in the 
Mid-Atlantic region (including the states of New Jersey, Delaware, 
Maryland, Virginia, and a portion of North Carolina) and have been 
administered by a variety of groups, including non-profit 
organizations, state and federal government agencies. A successful 
proposal will incorporate the successful components of these projects.
    In addition, competitive proposals must demonstrate the applicant's 
good rapport with the fishing industry in the Northeast Region and 
ability to handle a project of this magnitude. Proposals must also 
demonstrate the ability to maximize the percentage of the award funding 
that is spent assisting fishermen in complying with the ALWTRP 
requirements, based on the differences in costs of floating versus 
sinking line and on the costs of complying with weak link requirements. 
This includes gauging potential participation by eligible fishermen 
and, based on this and other costs of the project, determining the 
appropriate figure for reimbursing fishermen for the floating 
groundline they have brought forward to exchange (e.g., providing $1.50 
per pound of line turned in, etc.). It also includes determining the 
most appropriate methods for providing assistance for participating 
fishermen to comply with weak link requirements.
    The project will also incorporate recordkeeping and information 
collection. Information must be collected related to participating 
fishermen to document the amount of line exchanged, among other 
components. Additionally, the project will include a gear survey that 
will help NMFS better quantify information about vertical lines. This 
information will assist in the management of fishing gear interactions 
with large whales.

Electronic Access

    The full text of the Full Funding Opportunity announcement for this 
program can be accessed via the Grants.gov web site at https://www.grants.gov. The announcement will also be available by contacting 
the program officials identified under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT. 
Applicants must comply with all requirements contained in the Full 
Funding Opportunity announcement.

Statutory Authority

    The statutory authority for this project can be found at 16 U.S.C. 
661 and 16 U.S.C. 1881c.

Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA)

    The Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance program number for this 
solicitation is 11.452, Unallied Industry Projects.

Funding Availability

    NOAA anticipates that up to $3 million may be available for this 
project in the NMFS fiscal year 2009 budget. A grant will be awarded 
for the amount of funding in its entirety to the successful applicant. 
Therefore, all proposals should be developed to request the entire $3 
million. The exact amount of funds that may be awarded will be 
determined during pre-award negotiations between the applicant and NOAA 
representatives. Publication of this notice does not oblige NOAA to 
award any specific grant proposal or to obligate any available funds. 
If an application for a financial assistance award is selected for 
funding, NOAA has no obligation to provide any additional funding in 
connection with that award in subsequent years.

Eligibility

    Eligible applicants are institutions of higher education, other 
nonprofits, commercial organizations, and state, local and Indian 
tribal governments. Federal agencies or institutions are not eligible 
to receive Federal assistance under this notice.

Cost Sharing Requirements

    No cost sharing or matching is required for this project.

Evaluation and Selection Procedures

    The general evaluation criteria and selection factors that apply to 
applications to this funding opportunity are summarized below. Further 
information about the evaluation criteria and selection factors can be 
found in the Full Funding Opportunity announcement.

Evaluation Criteria for Projects

    The proposals will be evaluated and scored based on the following 
weighted criteria (each proposal can receive a total score between 1 
and 5 points):
    1) Importance and/or relevance and applicability of the proposed 
project to the program goals (weight=30%): This criterion ascertains 
whether there is intrinsic value in the proposed work and/or relevance 
to NOAA, Federal, regional, State, or local activities. For this 
competition, the proposal should demonstrate that the applicant has a 
clear knowledge and understanding of the purpose and relevance of the 
proposed work. It should also demonstrate an ability to provide 
economic assistance to the Northeast Region's commercial fishing 
industry affected by the ALWTRP, while providing benefits to large 
whale species. For this criterion, reviewers will base their 
assessments on the following scoring system: 1 = lack of importance/
relevance; 3 = intermediate level importance/relevance; 5 = very 
important/relevant.
    2) Technical/scientific merit (weight=35%): This criterion assesses 
whether the approach is technically sound and/or innovative, if the 
methods are appropriate, and whether there are clear project goals and 
objectives. The proposal should clearly address the program priorities 
and components that were discussed earlier in this document, including 
designing a gear survey in conjunction with NMFS. For this criterion, 
reviewers will base their assessments on the following scoring system: 
1 = completely unsound, unlikely to meet the project's objectives; 3 = 
intermediately sound, reasonably likely to meet the project's 
objectives; 5 = extremely sound and likely to meet the project's 
objectives.
    3) Overall qualifications of applicants (weight=10%): This 
ascertains whether the applicant possesses the necessary education, 
experience, training, facilities, and administrative resources to 
accomplish the project. For this competition, the proposal should 
demonstrate coordination with other agencies and groups that have 
conducted gear exchange projects in the past or are currently 
implementing such projects. For this criterion, reviewers will base 
their assessments on the following scoring system: 1 = lack of 
qualification and/or resources to accomplish project; 3 = intermediate 
level of qualification and/or resources to accomplish project; 5 = 
extremely qualified and able to accomplish project.
    4) Project costs (weight=15%): The budget is evaluated to determine 
if it is realistic and commensurate with the project needs and time-
frame. For this competition, one project will be awarded the entire 
amount of available funding. Therefore, the budget should reflect the 
ability of the work to be completed with the funding amount and

[[Page 34554]]

timing proposed. Additionally, the budget should maximize to the 
fullest extent possible the amount of financial assistance that is 
being provided to the fishermen who participate in the project. For 
this criterion, reviewers will base their assessments on the following 
scoring system: 1 = lack of information and detail provided, 
unrealistic; 3 = sufficient amount of information and detail provided, 
realistic; 5 = extremely informative, detailed, and realistic.
    5) Outreach and education (weight=10%): NOAA assesses whether this 
project provides a focused and effective education and outreach 
strategy regarding NOAA's mission to protect the Nation's natural 
resources. For this competition, the proposal should describe how 
outreach and education for this project will be conducted to maximize 
the number of gear exchange participants from the fishing industry. 
Collaborations with other agencies and partners to accomplish this 
component should also be described. The applicant should provide a 
draft gear survey with the proposal for evaluation and final approval 
by NMFS. For this criterion, reviewers will base their assessments on 
the following scoring system: 1 = insufficient outreach/education; 3 = 
adequate outreach/education; 5 = extremely effective outreach/
education.

Review and Selection Process

    Screening, review, and selection procedures will take place in 3 
steps: initial evaluation, merit review, and final selection by the 
Selecting Official (i.e., the NMFS Regional Administrator in the 
Northeast). Initial evaluation of applications will be conducted to 
ensure that the submitted application packages contain the required 
forms and application elements and meet the eligibility criteria.
    Applications meeting the requirements of this solicitation will 
then undergo merit review. Each application will be reviewed by a 
minimum of three reviewers, who will independently evaluate and score 
proposals using the evaluation criteria provided in the ``Evaluation 
Criteria for Projects'' section. Merit reviewers will be federal 
employees with appropriate subject-matter expertise. The reviewers' 
ratings will be used to produce a rank order of the proposals.
    After applications have undergone merit review, the Selecting 
Official will make the final decision regarding which applications will 
be recommended to the NOAA Grants Officer for funding based upon the 
numerical rankings and evaluations of the applications by the merit 
reviewers, as well as the selection factors set forth in the 
``Selection Factors for Projects'' section.

Selection Factors for Projects

    The Selecting Official shall award in the rank order of the review 
ratings unless the proposal is justified to be selected out of rank 
order based upon the following factors, where applicable:
    1. Availability of funding.
    2. Balance/distribution of funds:
     a. Geographically.
     b. By type of institutions.
     c. By type of partners.
     d. By research areas.
     e. By project types.
    3. Whether this project duplicates other projects funded or 
considered for funding by NOAA or other Federal agencies.
    4. Program priorities and policy factors.
    5. Applicant's prior award performance.
    6. Partnerships and/or participation of targeted groups.
    7. Adequacy of information necessary for NOAA staff to make a NEPA 
determination and draft necessary documentation before recommendations 
for funding are made to the Grants Officer.

Classification

Executive Order 12373

    Applications under this program are subject to Executive Order 
12372, ``Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs.'' Any applicant 
submitting an application for funding is required to complete item 16 
on SF-424 regarding clearance by the State Single Point of Contact 
(SPOC) established as a result of EO 12372. To find out about and 
comply with a State's process under EO 12372, the names, addresses and 
phone numbers of participating SPOC's are listed on the Office of 
Management and Budget's home page at: https://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/grants/spoc.html.

Limitation of Liability

    In no event will NOAA or the Department of Commerce be responsible 
for proposal preparation costs if these programs fail to receive 
funding or are cancelled because of other agency priorities. 
Publication of this announcement does not oblige NOAA to award any 
specific project or to obligate any available funds.

National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) Review

    NOAA must analyze the potential environmental impacts, as required 
by the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), for applicant projects 
or proposals which are seeking NOAA federal funding opportunities. 
Detailed information on NOAA compliance with NEPA can be found at the 
following NOAA NEPA website: https://www.nepa.noaa.gov/, including our 
NOAA Administrative Order 216-6 for NEPA, https://www.osec.doc.gov/bmi/daos/216-6.htm, and the Council on Environmental Quality implementation 
regulations, https://ceq.eh.doe.gov/nepa/regs/ceq/toc_ceq.htm. 
Consequently, as part of an applicant's package, and under their 
description of their program activities, applicants are required to 
provide detailed information on the activities to be conducted, 
locations, sites, species and habitat to be affected, possible 
construction activities, and any environmental concerns that may exist 
(e.g., the use and disposal of hazardous or toxic chemicals, 
introduction of non-indigenous species, impacts to endangered and 
threatened species, aquaculture projects, and impacts to coral reef 
systems). In addition to providing specific information that will serve 
as the basis for any required impact analyses, applicants may also be 
requested to assist NOAA in drafting of an environmental assessment, if 
NOAA determines an assessment is required. Applicants will also be 
required to cooperate with NOAA in identifying feasible measures to 
reduce or avoid any identified adverse environmental impacts of their 
proposal. The failure to do so shall be grounds for not selecting an 
application. In some cases if additional information is required after 
an application is selected, funds can be withheld by the Grants Officer 
under a special award condition requiring the recipient to submit 
additional environmental compliance information sufficient to enable 
NOAA to make an assessment on any impacts that a project may have on 
the environment.

The Department of Commerce Pre-Award Notification Requirements for 
Grants and Cooperative Agreements

    The Department of Commerce Pre-Award Notification Requirements for 
Grants and Cooperative Agreements contained in the Federal Register 
notice of February 11, 2008 (73 FR 7696), are applicable to this 
solicitation.

Paperwork Reduction Act

    This document contains collection-of-information requirements 
subject to the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA). The use of Standard Forms 
424, 424A, 424B, and SF-LLL and CD-346 has been approved by the Office 
of Management and Budget (OMB) under the respective control numbers 
0348-0043, 0348-0044, 0348-0040, 0348-0046, and 0605-0001.

[[Page 34555]]

    Notwithstanding any other provision of law, no person is required 
to, nor shall a person be subject to a penalty for failure to comply 
with, a collection of information subject to the requirements of the 
PRA unless that collection of information displays a currently valid 
OMB control number.

Executive Order 12866

    This notice has been determined to be not significant for purposes 
of Executive Order 12866.

Executive Order 13132 (Federalism)

    It has been determined that this notice does not contain policies 
with Federalism implications as that term is defined in Executive Order 
13132.

Administrative Procedure Act/Regulatory Flexibility Act

    Prior notice and an opportunity for public comment are not required 
by the Administrative Procedure Act or any other law for rules 
concerning public property, loans, grants, benefits, and contracts (5 
U.S.C. 553(a)(2)). Because notice and opportunity for comment are not 
required pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553 or any other law, the analytical 
requirements for the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601 et seq.) 
are inapplicable. Therefore, a regulatory flexibility analysis has not 
been prepared.

    Dated: July 9, 2009.
Gary Reisner,
Director, Office of Management and Budget, National Marine Fisheries 
Service.
[FR Doc. E9-16813 Filed 7-15-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S
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