Pacific Coastal Salmon Recovery Fund, 14135-14138 [2010-6544]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 56 / Wednesday, March 24, 2010 / Notices the diversion site. Daily sampling at each diversion site will be performed from April 1 through December 31, in 2010, and April 1 through December 31, 2011. NRS requests authorization for an estimated total take of 1,886 juvenile Sacramento River winter-run Chinook salmon, 194 juvenile Central Valley spring-run Chinook salmon, and 112 juvenile Central Valley steelhead and 250 juvenile North American green sturgeon. CDFG requests a 5-year permit (14808) for an estimated annual take of 200 natural and 50 hatchery juvenile Sacramento River winter-run Chinook salmon, 700 natural juvenile Central Valley spring-run Chinook salmon and 28 natural and 112 hatchery juvenile Central Valley steelhead, associated with monitoring and research activities at Knights Landing (RM 88.5) on the mainstem Sacramento River, Central Valley, CA. The project will provide annual estimates of species abundance and migration run-timing to best address critical water management affecting salmonid out-migration routes. CDFG proposes to collect juvenile fish by paired rotary screw traps fishing continuously 24 hours per day, 7 days per week, from October 1 through June 30. Fish will be sampled for identification to species and life stage, counted, measured and weighed. All steelhead and non-adipose fin-clipped Chinook salmon will be released back into the river. Chinook salmon having an adipose fin-clip will be sacrificed for coded-wire tag collection. Collected data will be summarized to provide seasonal run-timing, abundance, and size distribution of salmonids in the Sacramento River before they enter the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta. CDFG requests authorization for an estimated total take of 1,000 natural and 250 hatchery winter-run Chinook salmon juveniles, 3,500 natural spring-run Chinook salmon juveniles, and 140 natural and 560 hatchery Central Valley steelhead juveniles. srobinson on DSKHWCL6B1PROD with NOTICES Dated: March 18, 2010. Angela Somma, Chief, Endangered Species Division, Office of Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 2010–6539 Filed 3–23–10; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–22–S VerDate Nov<24>2008 16:24 Mar 23, 2010 Jkt 220001 DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE International Trade Administration U.S. Travel And Tourism Advisory Board: Meeting of the U.S. Travel and Tourism Advisory Board International Trade Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce. ACTION: Notice of an open meeting. AGENCY: The U.S. Travel and Tourism Advisory Board (Board) will hold a meeting to discuss topics related to the travel and tourism industry. DATES: April 8, 2010 at 1 p.m. (ET). ADDRESSES: Department of Commerce, 1401 Constitution Avenue, NW., Room 4830, Washington, DC 20230. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: J. Marc Chittum, U.S. Travel and Tourism Advisory Board, Room 4043, 1401 Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20230, telephone: 202–482–4501, email: Marc.Chittum@trade.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Background: The Board was rechartered on September 3, 2009, to advise the Secretary of Commerce on matters relating to the travel and tourism industry. Topics to be considered: The agenda for the April 8, 2010, meeting is as follows: 1. Welcome & introduction of new members. 2. Discussion of topics related to the travel and tourism industry. Public Participation: The meeting will be open to the public and the room is disabled-accessible. Public seating is limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis. Members of the public wishing to attend the meeting must notify J. Marc Chittum at the contact information above by 5 p.m. Eastern Time on April 5, 2010, in order to preregister for clearance into the building. Please specify any requests for reasonable accommodation at least five business days in advance of the meeting. Last minute requests will be accepted, but may be impossible to fill. No time will be available for oral comments from members of the public attending the meeting. Any member of the public may submit pertinent written comments concerning the Board’s affairs at any time before and after the meeting. Comments may be submitted to J. Marc Chittum, Executive Secretary, at the contact information indicated above. To be considered during the meeting, comments must be received no later than 5 p.m. Eastern Time on April 5, 2010, to ensure transmission to the Board prior to the meeting. Comments SUMMARY: PO 00000 Frm 00013 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 14135 received after that date will be distributed to the members but may not be considered at the meeting. Copies of Board meeting minutes will be available within 90 days of the meeting. Dated: March 18, 2010. J. Marc Chittum, Executive Secretary, U.S. Travel and Tourism Advisory Board. [FR Doc. 2010–6403 Filed 3–23–10; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–DR–P DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration RIN 0648–ZC16 Pacific Coastal Salmon Recovery Fund AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Notice of funding availability. SUMMARY: NOAA announces the availability of Pacific Coastal Salmon Recovery Funding (PCSRF), as authorized in the Northern Boundary and Transboundary Rivers Restoration and Enhancement Fund and Southern Boundary Restoration and Enhancement Fund, to support the restoration and conservation of Pacific salmon and steelhead populations and their habitat. The program makes funding available to the States of Alaska, Washington, Oregon, Idaho, California and Nevada and Federally-recognized tribes of the Columbia River and Pacific Coast for projects necessary for conservation of salmon and steelhead populations that are listed as threatened or endangered, or identified by a State as at-risk or to be so-listed; for maintaining populations necessary for exercise of tribal treaty fishing rights or native subsistence fishing; or for conservation of Pacific coastal salmon and steelhead habitat. This announcement outlines the guidelines that will be used to distribute funding to eligible entities. DATES: Pre-Applications are not mandatory, but highly encouraged. They must be received no later than April 23, 2010 if the applicant expects to receive any feedback from NMFS on completeness of package and initial determination of compliance with minimum requirements. Final Applications should be submitted via www.grants.gov and must be received no later than 11:59 p.m. PST on May 10, 2010. No facsimile or electronic mail applications will be accepted. Paper E:\FR\FM\24MRN1.SGM 24MRN1 srobinson on DSKHWCL6B1PROD with NOTICES 14136 Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 56 / Wednesday, March 24, 2010 / Notices applications must be postmarked by May 10, 2010. Any application transmitted or postmarked, as the case may be, after the deadline will be considered non-responsive and will not be considered for funding in this competition. Applications submitted through Grants.gov will have a date and time indication on them. Hard copy applications will be date and time stamped when they are received. Note: It may take Grants.gov up to two (2) business days to validate or reject the application. Please keep this in mind in developing your submission timeline. ADDRESSES: All application materials can be found at the grants.gov portal at https://www.grants.gov. If an applicant does not have internet access, applications can be received from the following address: Nicolle Hill, NMFS Northwest Region Building #1, 7600 Sand Point Way, Seattle, WA 98115. NMFS’ Internet website at https:// www.nwr.noaa.gov contains additional information on PCSRF. For further information on PCSRF, please contact Scott Rumsey, NMFS Northwest Region PCSRF Program Coordinator at (503) 872–2791. Questions regarding this announcement should be directed to Nicolle Hill, NMFS Northwest Region PCSRF Federal Program Officer, at (206) 526–4358 or Nicolle.Hill@noaa.gov. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For further information on PCSRF, please contact Scott Rumsey, NMFS Northwest Region PCSRF Program Coordinator, at (503) 872–2791. Questions regarding this announcement should be directed to Nicolle Hill, NMFS Northwest Region PCSRF Federal Program Officer, at (206) 526–4358 or Nicolle.Hill@noaa.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The PCSRF was established in Fiscal Year 2000 to address the need to protect, restore and conserve Pacific Chinook, chum, coho, pink and sockeye salmon and steelhead, and their habitat. Authorization of PCSRF was in response to the Endangered Species Act (ESA) listings of Pacific salmon and steelhead in Washington, Oregon, Idaho and California as well as the effects of the harvest restrictions placed on Southeast Alaska fishers through the 1999 Pacific Salmon Treaty agreement between the United States and Canada. The PCSRF supplements existing state, tribal and Federal programs to foster development of Federal-state-tribal-local partnerships in salmon recovery and conservation by providing grants to the eligible states, tribal commissions, and tribes. Under this solicitation, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) seeks applications for VerDate Nov<24>2008 16:24 Mar 23, 2010 Jkt 220001 projects from individual eligible Indian tribes, eligible States, and representative Tribal commissions so that it can allocate the FY 2010 Federal funds for PCSRF grants on a merit basis. An applicant can only submit one application to the Federal Government for PCSRF program funding. Application submissions, requesting any funding from both the representative Tribal Commission and a Tribe represented by that Commission will not be accepted. 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 16 U.S.C. 3645 (d)(2) and The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2010, P.L. 111–117 CFDA 11.438, Pacific Coast Salmon Recovery - Pacific Salmon Treaty Program Funding Availability Up to $80,000,000 may be available for fiscal year (FY) 2010 for projects. There are no restrictions on minimum funding request, but there is a limit of $30,000,000, on a maximum amount requested by any recipient. Award periods may extend to a maximum of five years. Eligibility Eligible state applicants are the States of Alaska, Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Nevada and California. Eligible tribal applicants are any federally recognized Pacific Coastal or Columbia River tribes. Cost Sharing Requirements State applicants are required to match or document in-kind contributions of at least 33% of received Federal funds. Indian tribes are exempt from any cost share requirement. Matching funds consist of PCSRF projects funded totally or partially by state appropriated funds; PCSRF projects that are funded totally or partially by sub-recipient or contractor funds; or PCSRF projects funded partially by other pre-approved sources of Federal funding. In-kind contributions must be applied directly to a PCSRF project in order to be considered match. PO 00000 Frm 00014 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 Evaluation and Selection Procedures The general evaluation criteria and selection factors that apply to full 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 NOAA standardized the evaluation and selection process for its competitive assistance programs. All proposals submitted in response to this notice shall be evaluated and selected in accordance with the process set out below. In considering the funding allocation for projects and program applications, all proposals will be evaluated on the following criteria with the maximum weighted values for each category listed below for a total of 100 points maximum: 1. Importance and/or relevance and applicability of proposed project to the program goals [30 Points]: This ascertains whether there is intrinsic value in the proposed work and its relevance to the PCSRF authorized activities and program priorities. Proposals will be evaluated based on how relevant and applicable their projects or program missions are to the authorized activities and program priorities listed at I.B. Successful applicants will be those that demonstrate their proposal directly addresses the PCSRF authorized activities and program priorities. 2. Technical/scientific merit [30 Points]: This assesses whether the approach is technically sound and/or innovative, if the methods are appropriate, and whether there are clear project goals and objectives. Proposals will be evaluated on whether there is a technically sound approach to manage and implement proposed projects; whether there is sufficient information to evaluate the project or program technically; and, if so, the strengths and/or weaknesses of the project or program approach to securing productive results. Successful program and project proposals will include: a. A description of how the applicant organization will ensure that funded projects are part of a larger program plan. b. A description of the proposed methods used for monitoring, measuring and evaluating the success or failure of the projects funded by the program. c. A quantified amount of dedicated funding to monitoring activities, including salmon status and trend and habitat monitoring. d. A description of how project details will be reported in order to track E:\FR\FM\24MRN1.SGM 24MRN1 srobinson on DSKHWCL6B1PROD with NOTICES Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 56 / Wednesday, March 24, 2010 / Notices performance including: information detailing the project reporting mechanisms, the staffing resources that will be dedicated to reporting, and the specific information that will be reported. e. A description of how the organization will communicate results of projects to target audiences. Successful program proposals (states and tribal commissions) will describe the organization’s selection evaluation method and allocation and implementation process for proposed projects; set forth selection priorities reflecting PCSRF authorized activities and program priorities, detail decision processes and allocation timelines; and describe how technical merit is defined and determined and how project feasibility is evaluated. Successful project proposals (tribes) will describe the specified approaches to achieving the project objectives, including timelines, geographic areas and methods. 3. Overall qualifications of applicants [15 Points]: This ascertains whether the applicant possesses the necessary education, experience, training, facilities, and administrative resources to accomplish the project. The organization and its management will be evaluated. The principal investigator and other personnel, including subcontractors and consultants participating in the project or program will be evaluated in terms of related experience and qualifications. Successful applications will include the following: a. Details about the organization’s administrative resources, credibility, financial stability, business management systems, capability to comply with Federal requirements, history of strong performance in the management of Federal funds, and knowledge and demonstrated history of Federal cost principles compliance and sub-recipient fiscal monitoring (if applicable). b. Applicants should illustrate that their organization has the appropriate management authority to implement actions identified in the proposal. c. Applicants should describe how they adhered to past reporting requirements including reporting data into the PCSRF database, and how they resolved database reporting issues, inconsistencies or missing metrics, if applicable. 4. Project costs [25 Points]: Proposals will be evaluated on their budget to determine if it is realistic and commensurate with the program or project needs and time-frame. Successful proposals will include: VerDate Nov<24>2008 16:24 Mar 23, 2010 Jkt 220001 a. A needs statement which summarizes the extent, severity or prevalence of funding needed in the serving geographical area to meet the PCSRF program priorities. The needs statement should be supported by evidence and described quantitatively (i.e. miles/acres of habitat needing restoration; number or extent of ESA listed Pacific salmon or Pacific salmon at risk; stocks important for tribal treaty fishing rights or native subsistence fishing, etc.). The needs statement will also address the recipients other source of funding for proposed programs and projects. b. A detailed budget by program or project level which also itemizes the proposal level and overall level of administrative and overhead costs. c. A budget detail identifying a minimum of 10% proposed budget for monitoring, either comprehensive project effectiveness monitoring or status and trend monitoring, as part of a comprehensive program. Individual project proposals should specify costs for monitoring project-level implementation and effectiveness. d. State applications must provide a budget detail which identifies the minimum matching or in-kind requirements of 33% of Federal funds requested. 5. Outreach and education [0 Points]: Outreach and education, as defined in section IV.B.4.g. (States and Tribal Commissions) and IV.B.4.f. (Tribes), will be evaluated under section V.A.2.e. Review and Selection Process. Upon receipt of an application, an initial administrative review will be conducted to determine compliance with requirements and completeness of the application. The application will need to meet the following minimum requirements to be considered for funding: 1. Applicant is eligible to apply 2. Received application by deadline 3. Application is complete and includes all mandatory forms 4. Matching requirements are met (State Only) 5. Administrative programmatic costs are not exceeded (State and Commissions Only) Individual evaluations comprised of at least three (3) or more private and public experts will independently evaluate the applications and score them using the evaluation criteria set forth above. No consensus advice will be given. The reviewer’ ratings will be averaged to produce a rank order of the proposals. Technical reviewers will be required to certify that they do not have a conflict of interest and that they will maintain confidentiality of the applications. PO 00000 Frm 00015 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 14137 Panel Review: After the projects have been evaluated and ranked, the Agency will solicit comments and input on funding recommendation from a panel of at least three (3) Federal full-time employees comprised of the NMFS Alaska Region, Northwest Region and Southwest Region. The Agency will provide the panelists with a summary of the technical review evaluations, and, the rank order of the proposals. Selection Factors for Projects The Assistant Administrator for NMFS will be the Selecting Official. The Selecting Official will review the rank order, funding recommendations and comments from the Panel Review Committee and determine the recipients to be funded and how much funding shall be awarded to each selected recipient. In making the final selections, the Selecting Official will award in rank order unless the proposal is justified to be selected out of rank order based upon one of the selection factors below: 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 as set forth in the Full Funding Opportunity Sections I.A. and B. 5. Applicant’s prior award performance. (Accomplishments related to PCSRF goals.) 6. Partnerships and/or Participation of targeted groups Intergovernmental Review Applications under this program from state or local governments are subject to the provisions of Executive Order 12372, ‘‘Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs.’’ 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) NOAA must analyze the potential environmental impacts, as required by the National Environmental Policy Act E:\FR\FM\24MRN1.SGM 24MRN1 14138 Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 56 / Wednesday, March 24, 2010 / Notices (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.nepa.noaa.gov/ NAO216l6lTOC.pdf, 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 nonindigenous 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. srobinson on DSKHWCL6B1PROD with NOTICES The Department of Commerce PreAward Notification Requirements for Grants and Cooperative Agreements The Department of Commerce PreAward 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-ofinformation 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 VerDate Nov<24>2008 16:24 Mar 23, 2010 Jkt 220001 control numbers 0348–0043, 0348–0044, 0348–0040, 0348–0046, and 0605–0001. 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: March 18, 2010. Gary C. Reisner, Chief Financial Officer, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 2010–6544 Filed 3–23–10; 8:45 am] Import Administration, International Trade Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce, 14th Street and Constitution Avenue, N.W., Washington, DC 20230; telephone: 202– 482–5047 or 202–482–1394, respectively. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Background The Department’s regulations provide that the Secretary will publish in the Federal Register a list of scope rulings on a quarterly basis. See 19 C.F.R. 351.225(o). Our most recent notification of scope rulings was published on September 29, 2009. See Notice of Scope Rulings, 74 FR 49859 (September 29, 2009). This current notice covers all scope rulings and anticircumvention determinations completed by Import Administration between July 1, 2009, and September 30, 2009, inclusive, and it also lists any scope or anticircumvention inquiries pending as of June 30, 2009. As described below, subsequent lists will follow after the close of each calendar quarter. Scope Rulings Completed Between July 1, 2009, and September 30, 2009: Multiple Countries A–570–922 and C–570–923: Raw Flexible Magnets from the People’s Republic of China; A–583–842: Raw Flexible Magnets from Taiwan Requestor: Direct Innovations; certain decorative retail magnets are within the scope of the antidumping and countervailing duty orders; July 13, 2009. Notice of Scope Rulings Norway A–403–801 and C–403–802: Fresh and Chilled Atlantic Salmon from Norway Requestor: Changing Seas; its whole salmon steaks are within the scope of the antidumping and countervailing duty orders; August 5, 2009. AGENCY: Import Administration, International Trade Administration, Department of Commerce. DATES: Effective Date: March 24, 2010. SUMMARY: The Department of Commerce (‘‘Department’’) hereby publishes a list of scope rulings completed between July 1, 2009, and September 30, 2009. In conjunction with this list, the Department is also publishing a list of requests for scope rulings and anticircumvention determinations pending as of September 30, 2009. We intend to publish future lists after the close of the next calendar quarter. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jennifer Moats or Julia Hancock, AD/ CVD Operations, China/NME Group, People’s Republic of China A–570–886: Polyethylene Retail Carrier Bags from the People’s Republic of China Requestor: Majestic International, LLC; 120 gift bags are outside the scope of the antidumping duty order; July 7, 2009. A–570–886: Polyethylene Retail Carrier Bags from the People’s Republic of China Requestor: Care Line Industries, Inc.; certain bags designed for hospital use, which are not printed with store names or logos and packed in consumer packaging with printing indicating specific end–uses other than packaging or carrying merchandise from retail establishments, are outside the scope of BILLING CODE 3510–22–S DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE International Trade Administration PO 00000 Frm 00016 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\24MRN1.SGM 24MRN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 56 (Wednesday, March 24, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 14135-14138]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-6544]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-ZC16


Pacific Coastal Salmon Recovery Fund

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

ACTION: Notice of funding availability.

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

SUMMARY: NOAA announces the availability of Pacific Coastal Salmon 
Recovery Funding (PCSRF), as authorized in the Northern Boundary and 
Transboundary Rivers Restoration and Enhancement Fund and Southern 
Boundary Restoration and Enhancement Fund, to support the restoration 
and conservation of Pacific salmon and steelhead populations and their 
habitat. The program makes funding available to the States of Alaska, 
Washington, Oregon, Idaho, California and Nevada and Federally-
recognized tribes of the Columbia River and Pacific Coast for projects 
necessary for conservation of salmon and steelhead populations that are 
listed as threatened or endangered, or identified by a State as at-risk 
or to be so-listed; for maintaining populations necessary for exercise 
of tribal treaty fishing rights or native subsistence fishing; or for 
conservation of Pacific coastal salmon and steelhead habitat. This 
announcement outlines the guidelines that will be used to distribute 
funding to eligible entities.

DATES: Pre-Applications are not mandatory, but highly encouraged. They 
must be received no later than April 23, 2010 if the applicant expects 
to receive any feedback from NMFS on completeness of package and 
initial determination of compliance with minimum requirements. Final 
Applications should be submitted via www.grants.gov and must be 
received no later than 11:59 p.m. PST on May 10, 2010. No facsimile or 
electronic mail applications will be accepted. Paper

[[Page 14136]]

applications must be postmarked by May 10, 2010. Any application 
transmitted or postmarked, as the case may be, after the deadline will 
be considered non-responsive and will not be considered for funding in 
this competition. Applications submitted through Grants.gov will have a 
date and time indication on them. Hard copy applications will be date 
and time stamped when they are received.
    Note: It may take Grants.gov up to two (2) business days to 
validate or reject the application. Please keep this in mind in 
developing your submission timeline.

ADDRESSES: All application materials can be found at the grants.gov 
portal at https://www.grants.gov. If an applicant does not have internet 
access, applications can be received from the following address: 
Nicolle Hill, NMFS Northwest Region Building 1, 7600 Sand 
Point Way, Seattle, WA 98115. NMFS' Internet website at https://www.nwr.noaa.gov contains additional information on PCSRF. For further 
information on PCSRF, please contact Scott Rumsey, NMFS Northwest 
Region PCSRF Program Coordinator at (503) 872-2791. Questions regarding 
this announcement should be directed to Nicolle Hill, NMFS Northwest 
Region PCSRF Federal Program Officer, at (206) 526-4358 or 
Nicolle.Hill@noaa.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For further information on PCSRF, 
please contact Scott Rumsey, NMFS Northwest Region PCSRF Program 
Coordinator, at (503) 872-2791. Questions regarding this announcement 
should be directed to Nicolle Hill, NMFS Northwest Region PCSRF Federal 
Program Officer, at (206) 526-4358 or Nicolle.Hill@noaa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The PCSRF was established in Fiscal Year 
2000 to address the need to protect, restore and conserve Pacific 
Chinook, chum, coho, pink and sockeye salmon and steelhead, and their 
habitat. Authorization of PCSRF was in response to the Endangered 
Species Act (ESA) listings of Pacific salmon and steelhead in 
Washington, Oregon, Idaho and California as well as the effects of the 
harvest restrictions placed on Southeast Alaska fishers through the 
1999 Pacific Salmon Treaty agreement between the United States and 
Canada. The PCSRF supplements existing state, tribal and Federal 
programs to foster development of Federal-state-tribal-local 
partnerships in salmon recovery and conservation by providing grants to 
the eligible states, tribal commissions, and tribes. Under this 
solicitation, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 
(NOAA), National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) seeks applications for 
projects from individual eligible Indian tribes, eligible States, and 
representative Tribal commissions so that it can allocate the FY 2010 
Federal funds for PCSRF grants on a merit basis. An applicant can only 
submit one application to the Federal Government for PCSRF program 
funding. Application submissions, requesting any funding from both the 
representative Tribal Commission and a Tribe represented by that 
Commission will not be accepted.

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

    16 U.S.C. 3645 (d)(2) and The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 
2010, P.L. 111-117
    CFDA
    11.438, Pacific Coast Salmon Recovery - Pacific Salmon Treaty 
Program

Funding Availability

    Up to $80,000,000 may be available for fiscal year (FY) 2010 for 
projects. There are no restrictions on minimum funding request, but 
there is a limit of $30,000,000, on a maximum amount requested by any 
recipient. Award periods may extend to a maximum of five years.

Eligibility

    Eligible state applicants are the States of Alaska, Washington, 
Oregon, Idaho, Nevada and California. Eligible tribal applicants are 
any federally recognized Pacific Coastal or Columbia River tribes.

Cost Sharing Requirements

    State applicants are required to match or document in-kind 
contributions of at least 33% of received Federal funds. Indian tribes 
are exempt from any cost share requirement. Matching funds consist of 
PCSRF projects funded totally or partially by state appropriated funds; 
PCSRF projects that are funded totally or partially by sub-recipient or 
contractor funds; or PCSRF projects funded partially by other pre-
approved sources of Federal funding. In-kind contributions must be 
applied directly to a PCSRF project in order to be considered match.

Evaluation and Selection Procedures

    The general evaluation criteria and selection factors that apply to 
full 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

    NOAA standardized the evaluation and selection process for its 
competitive assistance programs. All proposals submitted in response to 
this notice shall be evaluated and selected in accordance with the 
process set out below. In considering the funding allocation for 
projects and program applications, all proposals will be evaluated on 
the following criteria with the maximum weighted values for each 
category listed below for a total of 100 points maximum:
    1. Importance and/or relevance and applicability of proposed 
project to the program goals [30 Points]: This ascertains whether there 
is intrinsic value in the proposed work and its relevance to the PCSRF 
authorized activities and program priorities. Proposals will be 
evaluated based on how relevant and applicable their projects or 
program missions are to the authorized activities and program 
priorities listed at I.B. Successful applicants will be those that 
demonstrate their proposal directly addresses the PCSRF authorized 
activities and program priorities.
    2. Technical/scientific merit [30 Points]: This assesses whether 
the approach is technically sound and/or innovative, if the methods are 
appropriate, and whether there are clear project goals and objectives. 
Proposals will be evaluated on whether there is a technically sound 
approach to manage and implement proposed projects; whether there is 
sufficient information to evaluate the project or program technically; 
and, if so, the strengths and/or weaknesses of the project or program 
approach to securing productive results. Successful program and project 
proposals will include:
    a. A description of how the applicant organization will ensure that 
funded projects are part of a larger program plan.
    b. A description of the proposed methods used for monitoring, 
measuring and evaluating the success or failure of the projects funded 
by the program.
    c. A quantified amount of dedicated funding to monitoring 
activities, including salmon status and trend and habitat monitoring.
    d. A description of how project details will be reported in order 
to track

[[Page 14137]]

performance including: information detailing the project reporting 
mechanisms, the staffing resources that will be dedicated to reporting, 
and the specific information that will be reported.
    e. A description of how the organization will communicate results 
of projects to target audiences. Successful program proposals (states 
and tribal commissions) will describe the organization's selection 
evaluation method and allocation and implementation process for 
proposed projects; set forth selection priorities reflecting PCSRF 
authorized activities and program priorities, detail decision processes 
and allocation timelines; and describe how technical merit is defined 
and determined and how project feasibility is evaluated. Successful 
project proposals (tribes) will describe the specified approaches to 
achieving the project objectives, including timelines, geographic areas 
and methods.
    3. Overall qualifications of applicants [15 Points]: This 
ascertains whether the applicant possesses the necessary education, 
experience, training, facilities, and administrative resources to 
accomplish the project. The organization and its management will be 
evaluated. The principal investigator and other personnel, including 
subcontractors and consultants participating in the project or program 
will be evaluated in terms of related experience and qualifications. 
Successful applications will include the following:
    a. Details about the organization's administrative resources, 
credibility, financial stability, business management systems, 
capability to comply with Federal requirements, history of strong 
performance in the management of Federal funds, and knowledge and 
demonstrated history of Federal cost principles compliance and sub-
recipient fiscal monitoring (if applicable).
    b. Applicants should illustrate that their organization has the 
appropriate management authority to implement actions identified in the 
proposal.
    c. Applicants should describe how they adhered to past reporting 
requirements including reporting data into the PCSRF database, and how 
they resolved database reporting issues, inconsistencies or missing 
metrics, if applicable.
    4. Project costs [25 Points]: Proposals will be evaluated on their 
budget to determine if it is realistic and commensurate with the 
program or project needs and time-frame. Successful proposals will 
include:
    a. A needs statement which summarizes the extent, severity or 
prevalence of funding needed in the serving geographical area to meet 
the PCSRF program priorities. The needs statement should be supported 
by evidence and described quantitatively (i.e. miles/acres of habitat 
needing restoration; number or extent of ESA listed Pacific salmon or 
Pacific salmon at risk; stocks important for tribal treaty fishing 
rights or native subsistence fishing, etc.). The needs statement will 
also address the recipients other source of funding for proposed 
programs and projects.
    b. A detailed budget by program or project level which also 
itemizes the proposal level and overall level of administrative and 
overhead costs.
    c. A budget detail identifying a minimum of 10% proposed budget for 
monitoring, either comprehensive project effectiveness monitoring or 
status and trend monitoring, as part of a comprehensive program. 
Individual project proposals should specify costs for monitoring 
project-level implementation and effectiveness.
    d. State applications must provide a budget detail which identifies 
the minimum matching or in-kind requirements of 33% of Federal funds 
requested.
    5. Outreach and education [0 Points]: Outreach and education, as 
defined in section IV.B.4.g. (States and Tribal Commissions) and 
IV.B.4.f. (Tribes), will be evaluated under section V.A.2.e. Review and 
Selection Process. Upon receipt of an application, an initial 
administrative review will be conducted to determine compliance with 
requirements and completeness of the application. The application will 
need to meet the following minimum requirements to be considered for 
funding:
    1. Applicant is eligible to apply
    2. Received application by deadline
    3. Application is complete and includes all mandatory forms
    4. Matching requirements are met (State Only)
    5. Administrative programmatic costs are not exceeded (State and 
Commissions Only) Individual evaluations comprised of at least three 
(3) or more private and public experts will independently evaluate the 
applications and score them using the evaluation criteria set forth 
above. No consensus advice will be given. The reviewer' ratings will be 
averaged to produce a rank order of the proposals. Technical reviewers 
will be required to certify that they do not have a conflict of 
interest and that they will maintain confidentiality of the 
applications.
    Panel Review: After the projects have been evaluated and ranked, 
the Agency will solicit comments and input on funding recommendation 
from a panel of at least three (3) Federal full-time employees 
comprised of the NMFS Alaska Region, Northwest Region and Southwest 
Region. The Agency will provide the panelists with a summary of the 
technical review evaluations, and, the rank order of the proposals.

Selection Factors for Projects

    The Assistant Administrator for NMFS will be the Selecting 
Official. The Selecting Official will review the rank order, funding 
recommendations and comments from the Panel Review Committee and 
determine the recipients to be funded and how much funding shall be 
awarded to each selected recipient. In making the final selections, the 
Selecting Official will award in rank order unless the proposal is 
justified to be selected out of rank order based upon one of the 
selection factors below:
    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 as set forth in the Full 
Funding Opportunity Sections I.A. and B.
    5. Applicant's prior award performance. (Accomplishments related to 
PCSRF goals.)
    6. Partnerships and/or Participation of targeted groups

Intergovernmental Review

    Applications under this program from state or local governments are 
subject to the provisions of Executive Order 12372, ``Intergovernmental 
Review of Federal Programs.''

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)

    NOAA must analyze the potential environmental impacts, as required 
by the National Environmental Policy Act

[[Page 14138]]

(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.nepa.noaa.gov/NAO216_6_TOC.pdf, 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.
    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: March 18, 2010.
Gary C. Reisner,
Chief Financial Officer, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2010-6544 Filed 3-23-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S
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