Request for Applications: The Community Forest and Open Space Conservation Program, 17139-17142 [2018-08051]

Download as PDF 17139 Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 75 / Wednesday, April 18, 2018 / Notices Jersey County lines; the northern Madison County line; the western Montgomery County line north to a point on this line that intersects with a straight line, from the junction of State Route 111 and the northern Macoupin County line to the junction of Interstate 55 and State Route 16 (in Montgomery County); from this point southeast along the straight line to the junction of Interstate 55 and State Route 16; State Route 16 east-northeast to a point approximately 1 mile northeast of Irving; a straight line from this point to the northern Fayette County line; the northern Fayette, Effingham, and Cumberland County lines. In Indiana Bartholomew, Blackford, Boone, Brown, Carroll (south of State Route 25), Cass, Clinton, Delaware, Fayette, Fulton (bounded on east by eastern Fulton County line south to State Route 19; State Route 19 south to State Route 114; State Route 114 southeast to eastern Fulton County line), Grant, Hamilton, Hancock, Hendricks, Henry, Howard, Jay, Johnson, Madison, Marion, Miami, Monroe, Montgomery, Morgan, Randolph, Richmond, Rush (north of State Route 244), Shelby, Tipton, Union, and Wayne Counties. In Michigan Bounded on the west by State Route 127 at the Michigan-Ohio State line north to State Route 50; bounded on the north by State Route 50 at State Route 127 east to the Michigan State line; the Michigan state line south to the Michigan-Ohio State line. In Minnesota Koochiching, St. Louis, Lake, Cook, Itasca, Norman, Mahnomen, Hubbard, Cass, Clay, Becker, Wadena, Crow Wing, Aitkin, Carlton, Wilkin, and Otter Tail Counties, except those export port locations within the State, which are serviced by AMS. In North Dakota Bounded on the north by the northern Steele County line from State Route 32 east; the northern Steele and Trail County lines east to the North Dakota State line; bounded on the east by the eastern North Dakota State line; bounded on the south by the southern North Dakota State line west to State Route 1; and bounded on the west by State Route 1 north to Interstate 94; Interstate 94 west to State Route 1; State Route 1 north to State Route 200; State Route 200 east to State Route 45; State Route 45 north to State Route 32; State Route 32 north. In Ohio The northern Ohio State line east to the to the Ohio-Pennsylvania State line; bounded on the east by the OhioPennsylvania State line south to the Ohio River; bounded on the south by the Ohio River south-southwest to the western Scioto County line; and bounded on the west by the western Scioto County line north to State Route 73; State Route 73 northwest to U.S. Route 22; U.S. Route 22 west to U.S. Route 68; U.S. Route 68 north to Clark County; the northern Clark County line west to Valley Pike Road; Valley Pike Road north to State Route 560; State Route 560 north to U.S. 36; U.S. 36 west to eastern Miami County Line; eastern Miami County line to Northern Miami County line; Northern Miami County line west to Interstate 75; Interstate 75 north to State Route 47; State Route 47 northeast to U.S. Route 68 (including all of Sidney, Ohio); U.S. Route 68 north to the southern Hancock County line; the southern Hancock County line west to the western Hancock, Wood and Lucas County lines north to the MichiganOhio State line; the Michigan-Ohio State line west to State Route 127; plus all of Darke County. North Dakota’s assigned geographic area does not include the export port locations inside the State of Ohio area which are serviced by AMS. The following grain elevators are not part of this geographic area assignment and are assigned to Titus Grain Inspection, Inc.: The Andersons, Delphi, Carroll County; Frick Services, Inc., Leiters Ford, Fulton County; and Cargill, Inc., Linden, Montgomery County, Indiana. Interested persons may obtain official services by contacting these agencies at the following telephone numbers: Designation start Official agency Headquarters location and telephone Jamestown ....................................... Lincoln .............................................. Midsouth .......................................... North Dakota .................................... Jamestown, ND, 701–252–1290 ............................................................... Lincoln, NE, 402–435–4386 ...................................................................... Memphis, TN, 901–942–3216 ................................................................... Fargo, ND, 701–293–7420 ........................................................................ Section 7(f) of the USGSA authorizes the Secretary to designate a qualified applicant to provide official services in a specified area after determining that the applicant is better able than any other applicant to provide such official services (7 U.S.C. 79 (f)). DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Dated: April 13, 2018. Greg Ibach, Under Secretary, Marketing and Regulatory Programs. AGENCY: amozie on DSK30RV082PROD with NOTICES [FR Doc. 2018–08102 Filed 4–17–18; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3410–02–P VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:31 Apr 17, 2018 Jkt 244001 Forest Service Request for Applications: The Community Forest and Open Space Conservation Program Forest Service, Department of Agriculture. ACTION: Request for applications. The U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, State and Private Forestry, Cooperative Forestry staff, requests applications for the Community Forest and Open Space Conservation Program (Community Forest Program or CFP). This is a competitive grant program whereby local governments, qualified nonprofit SUMMARY: PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 4/1/2018 4/1/2018 4/1/2018 1/1/2016 Designation end 3/31/2023 3/31/2023 3/31/2023 12/31/2020 organizations, and Indian tribes are eligible to apply for grants to establish community forests through fee simple acquisition of private forest land from a willing seller. The purpose of the program is to establish community forests by protecting forest land from conversion to non-forest uses and provide community benefits such as sustainable forest management, environmental benefits including clean air, water, and wildlife habitat; benefits from forest-based educational programs; benefits from serving as models of effective forest stewardship; and recreational benefits secured with public access. Eligible lands for grants funded under this program are private forest that is at least five acres in size, suitable to E:\FR\FM\18APN1.SGM 18APN1 17140 Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 75 / Wednesday, April 18, 2018 / Notices sustain natural vegetation, and at least 75 percent forested. The lands must also be threatened by conversion to nonforest uses, must not be held in trust by the United States on behalf of any Indian Tribe, must not be Tribal allotment lands, must be offered for sale by a willing seller, and if acquired by an eligible entity, must provide defined community benefits under CFP and allow public access. Interested local government and nonprofit applicants must submit applications to the State Forester. Tribal applicants must submit applications to the appropriate Tribal government officials. All applications, either hardcopy or electronic, must be received by State Foresters or Tribal governments by June 29, 2018. State Foresters or Tribal government officials must forward applications to the Forest Service Region, Northeastern Area, or International Institute of Tropical Forestry by July 27, 2018. DATES: All local government and qualified nonprofit organization applications must be submitted to the State Forester of the State where the property is located. All Tribal applications must be submitted to the equivalent Tribal government official. Applicants are encouraged to contact and work with the Forest Service Region, Northeastern Area or International Institute of Tropical Forestry, and State Forester or equivalent Tribal government official when developing their proposal. Applicants must consult with the State Forester and equivalent Tribal government official prior to requesting technical assistance for a project. The State Forester’s member roster may be found on www.stateforesters.org/about/ who-we-are. All applicants must also send an email to communityforest@ fs.fed.us to confirm an application has been submitted for funding consideration. State Foresters and Tribal government officials shall submit applications, either electronic or hardcopy, to the appropriate Forest Service Regional/ Area/Institute contact noted below. ADDRESSES: amozie on DSK30RV082PROD with NOTICES Northern and Intermountain Regions (ID, MT, ND, NV, UT) Janet Valle, U.S. Forest Service, 324 25th St., Ogden, UT 84401, 801–625– 5258 (phone), 801–625–5716 (fax), jvalle@fs.fed.us. 17:31 Apr 17, 2018 Northeastern Area Region 2 (CT, DC, DE, IA, IL, IN, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, NH, NJ, NY, OH, PA, RI, VT, WI, WV) (CO, KS, NE, SD, WY) Claire Harper, U.S. Forest Service, 740 Simms Street, Golden, CO 80401, 303–895–6157 (phone), 303–275– 5754 (fax), claireharper@fs.fed.us. Southwestern Region Region 3 (AZ, NM) Alicia San Gil, U.S. Forest Service, 333 Broadway SE, Albuquerque, NM 87102, 505–842–3289 (phone), 505– 842–3165 (fax), agsangil@fs.fed.us. Pacific Southwest Region Region 5 (CA) Miranda Hutten, U.S. Forest Service, 1323 Club Drive, Vallejo, CA 94592, 707–562–9025 (phone), 707- 562– 9054 (fax), mlhutten@fs.fed.us. (Hawaii, Guam, American Samoa, Federated States of Micronesia and other Pacific Islands) Katie Friday, 60 Nowelo St. Hilo, HI 96720, 808–854–2620 (phone), 503– 808–2469 (fax), kfriday@fs.fed.us. Pacific Northwest, and Alaska Regions Regions 6 and 10 (AK, OR, WA) Brad Siemens, U.S. Forest Service, 120 Southwest 3rd Ave, Portland, OR 97204, 503–808–2353 (phone), 503– 808–2469 (fax), btsiemens@fs.fed.us. Jkt 244001 Neal Bungard, U.S. Forest Service, 271 Mast Road, Durham, NH 03824–4600, 603–868–7719 (phone), 603–868– 7604 (fax), nbungard@fs.fed.us. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For questions regarding the grant application or administrative regulations, contact Scott Stewart, Program Coordinator, 202–205–1618, sstewart@fs.fed.us. Individuals who use telecommunication devices for the deaf (TDD) may call the Federal Relay Service (FRS) at 1–800–877–8339 twenty-four hours a day, every day of the year, including holidays. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: CFDA number 10.689: To address the goals of Section 7A of the Cooperative Forestry Assistance Act of 1978 (16 U.S.C. 2103d) as amended, the Forest Service is requesting proposals for community forest projects that protect forest land that has been identified as a national, regional, or local priority for protection and to assist communities in acquiring forestland that will provide public recreation, environmental and economic benefits, and forest-based educational programs. Detailed information regarding what to include in the application, definitions of terms, eligibility, and necessary prerequisites for consideration can be found in the final program rule, published October 20, 2011 (76 FR 65121–65133), which is available at https://www.fs.fed.us/managing-land/ private-land/community-forest/ program. Southern Region Grant Application Requirements Region 8 1. Eligibility Information (AL, AR, FL, GA, KY, LA, MS, NC, OK, SC, TN, TX, VA) a. Eligible Applicants. A local governmental entity, Indian Tribe (including Alaska Native Corporations), or a qualified nonprofit organization that is qualified to acquire and manage land (see § 230.2 of the final rule at https://www.fs.fed.us/managing-land/ private-land/community-forest/ program. Individuals are not eligible to receive funds through this program. b. Cost Sharing (Matching Requirement). All applicants must demonstrate a 50 percent match of the total project cost. The match can include cash, in-kind services, or donations, which shall be from a nonFederal source. For additional information, please see § 230.6 of the final rule. Mike Murphy, U.S. Forest Service, 1720 Peachtree Rd. NW, Suite 700B 850S North, Atlanta, GA 30309, 404–347– 5214 (phone), 404–347–2776 (fax), mwmurphy@fs.fed.us. International Institute of Tropical Forestry (PR, VI) Regions 1 and 4 VerDate Sep<11>2014 Rocky Mountain Region Magaly Figueroa, U.S. Forest Service, Jardin Botanico Sur, 1201 Calle Ceiba, San Juan, PR 00926–1119, 787–764– 7718 (phone), 787–766–6263 (fax), mafigueroa@fs.fed.us. PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\18APN1.SGM 18APN1 Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 75 / Wednesday, April 18, 2018 / Notices amozie on DSK30RV082PROD with NOTICES c. DUNS Number. All applicants shall include a Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number in their application. For this requirement, the applicant is the entity that meets the eligibility criteria and has the legal authority to apply for and receive the grant. For assistance in obtaining a DUNS number at no cost, call the DUNS number request line 1–866–705–5711 or register on-line at https:// fedgov.dnb.com/webform. d. System for Award Management. All prospective awardees shall be registered in the System for Award Management prior to award, during performance, and through final payment of any grant resulting from this solicitation. Further information can be found at www.sam.gov. For assistance, contact Federal Service Desk 1–866–606–8220. 2. Award Information Funds have been appropriated for CFP in FY 2018. Individual grant applications may not exceed $600,000, which does not include technical assistance requests. The Federal Government’s obligation under this program is contingent upon the availability of appropriated funds. No legal liability on the part of the Government shall be incurred until funds are committed by the grant officer for this program to the applicant in writing. The initial grant period shall be for two years, and acquisition of lands should occur within that timeframe. Lands acquired prior to the grant award are not eligible for CFP funding. The grant may be reasonably extended by the Forest Service when necessary to accommodate unforeseen circumstances in the land acquisition process. Written annual financial performance reports and semi-annual project performance reports shall be required and submitted to the appropriate grant officer. Technical assistance funds, totaling not more than 10 percent of all funds, may be allocated to State Foresters and equivalent officials of the Indian tribe. Technical assistance, if provided, will be awarded at the time of the grant. Applicants shall work with State Foresters and equivalent officials of the Indian Tribe to determine technical assistance needs and include the technical assistance request in the project budget. As funding allows, applications submitted through this request may be funded in future years, subject to the availability of funds and the continued feasibility and viability of the project. 3. Application Information Application submission. All local governments and qualified nonprofit VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:31 Apr 17, 2018 Jkt 244001 organizations’ applications must be submitted to the State Forester where the property is located by June 29, 2018. All Tribal applications must be submitted to the equivalent Tribal officials by June 29, 2018. Applications may be submitted either electronic or hardcopy to the appropriate official. The State Forester’s contact information may be found at: https://www.fs.fed.us/ managing-land/private-land/ community-forest/program. All applicants must also send an email to communityforest@fs.fed.us to confirm an application has been submitted to the State Forester or equivalent Tribal official for funding consideration. All State Foresters and Tribal government officials must forward applications to the Forest Service by July 27, 2018. 4. Application Requirements The following section outlines grant application requirements: a. The application can be no more than eight pages long, plus no more than two maps (eight and half inches by eleven inches in size), the grant forms specified in (b), and the draft community forest plan specified in (e). b. The following grant forms and supporting materials must be included in the application: (1) An Application for Federal Assistance (Standard Form 424); (2) Budget information (Standard Form SF 424c—Construction Programs); and (3) Assurances of compliance with all applicable Federal laws, regulations, and policies (Standard Form 424d— Construction Programs). c. Documentation verifying that the applicant is an eligible entity and that the land proposed for acquisition is eligible (see § 230.2 of the final rule). d. Applications must include the following, regarding the property proposed for acquisition: (1) A description of the property, including acreage and county location; (2) A description of current land uses, including improvements; (3) A description of forest type and vegetative cover; (4) A map of sufficient scale to show the location of the property in relation to roads and other improvements as well as parks, refuges, or other protected lands in the vicinity; (5) A description of applicable zoning and other land use regulations affecting the property; (6) A description of the type and extent of community benefits, including to underserved communities (see selection criteria); PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 17141 (7) A description of relationship of the property within and its contributions to a landscape conservation initiative; and (8) A description of any threats of conversion to non-forest uses, including any encumbrances on the property that prevent conversion to non-forest uses. e. Information regarding the proposed establishment of a community forest, including: (1) A description of the benefiting community, including demographics, and the associated benefits provided by the proposed land acquisition; (2) A description of community involvement to-date in the planning of the community forest acquisition and of community involvement anticipated long-term management; (3) An identification of persons and organizations that support the project and their specific role in establishing and managing the community forest; and (4) A draft community forest plan. The eligible entity is encouraged to work with the State Forester or equivalent Tribal government official for technical assistance when developing or updating the Community Forest Plan. In addition, the eligible entity is encouraged to work with technical specialists, such as professional foresters, recreation specialists, wildlife biologists, or outdoor education specialists, when developing the Community Forest Plan. f. Information regarding the proposed land acquisition, including: (1) A proposed project budget not exceeding $600,000 and technical assistance needs as coordinated with the State Forester or equivalent Tribal government official (section § 230.6 of the final program rule); (2) The status of due diligence, including signed option or purchase and sale agreement, title search, minerals determination, and appraisal; (3) Description and status of cost share (secure, pending, commitment letter, etc.) (section § 230.6 of the final rule); (4) The status of negotiations with participating landowner(s) including purchase options, contracts, and other terms and conditions of sale; (5) The proposed timeline for completing the acquisition and establishing the community forest; and; (6) Long term management costs and funding source(s). g. Applications must comply with the Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards also referred to as the Omni Circular (2 CFR 200). E:\FR\FM\18APN1.SGM 18APN1 17142 Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 75 / Wednesday, April 18, 2018 / Notices amozie on DSK30RV082PROD with NOTICES h. Applications must also include the forms required to process a Federal grant. Section 6 Grant Requirements references the grant forms that must be included in the application and the specific administrative requirements that apply to the type of Federal grant used for this program. A sample grant outline and scoring guidance can be found on the CFP website at https://www.fs.fed.us/ managing-land/private-land/ community-forest/program. 5. Forest Service’s Project Selection Criteria a. Using the criteria described below, to the extent practicable, the Forest Service will give priority to applications that maximize the delivery of community benefits, as defined in the final rule (see section § 230.2 of the final rule); and b. The Forest Service will evaluate all applications received by the State Foresters or equivalent Tribal government officials and award grants based on the following criteria: (1) Type and extent of community benefits provided, including to underserved communities. Community benefits are defined in the final program rule as: (i) Economic benefits, such as timber and non-timber products; (ii) Environmental benefits, including clean air and water, stormwater management, and wildlife habitat; (iii) Benefits from forest-based experiential learning, including K–12 conservation education programs; vocational education programs in disciplines such as forestry and environmental biology; and environmental education through individual study or voluntary participation in programs offered by organizations such as 4–H, Boy or Girl Scouts, Master Gardeners, etc.; (iv) Benefits from serving as replicable models of effective forest stewardship for private landowners; and (v) Recreational benefits such as hiking, hunting, and fishing secured through public access. (2) Extent and nature of community engagement in the establishment and long-term management of the community forest; (3) Amount of cost share leveraged; (4) Extent to which the community forest contributes to a landscape conservation initiative; (5) Extent of due diligence completed on the project, including cost share committed and status of appraisal; (6) Likelihood that, unprotected, the property would be converted to nonforest uses; and VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:31 Apr 17, 2018 Jkt 244001 (7) Costs to the Federal Government. 6. Grant Requirements a. Once an application is selected, funding will be obligated to the grant recipient through a grant adhering to the Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards also referred to as the Omni Circular (2 CFR 200). d. Forest Service must approve any amendments to a proposal or request to reallocate funding within a grant proposal. If negotiations on a selected project fail, the applicant cannot substitute an alternative site. e. The grant recipient must comply with the requirements in section § 230.8 in the final rule before funds will be released. f. After the project has closed, as a requirement of the grant, grant recipients will be required to provide the Forest Service with a Geographic Information System (GIS) shapefile: a digital, vector-based storage format for storing geometric location and associated attribute information, of CFP project tracts and cost share tracts, if applicable. g. Any funds not expended within the grant period must be de-obligated and revert to the Forest Service. h. All media, press, signage, and other documents discussing the creation of the community forest must reference the partnership and financial assistance by the Forest Service through the CFP. Additional information may be found in section § 230.9 of the final rule. Dated: March 22, 2018. Jaelith Hall-Rivera, Acting Associate Deputy Chief, State and Private Forestry. [FR Doc. 2018–08051 Filed 4–17–18; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3411–15–P DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE Foreign-Trade Zones Board [B–23–2018] Foreign-Trade Zone 29—Louisville, Kentucky; Application for Reorganization Under Alternative Site Framework An application has been submitted to the Foreign-Trade Zones (FTZ) Board by the Louisville & Jefferson County Riverport Authority, grantee of FTZ 29, requesting authority to reorganize the zone under the alternative site framework (ASF) adopted by the FTZ Board (15 CFR 400.2(c)). The ASF is an option for grantees for the establishment PO 00000 Frm 00005 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 or reorganization of zones and can permit significantly greater flexibility in the designation of new subzones or ‘‘usage-driven’’ FTZ sites for operators/ users located within a grantee’s ‘‘service area’’ in the context of the FTZ Board’s standard 2,000-acre activation limit for a zone. The application was submitted pursuant to the Foreign-Trade Zones Act, as amended (19 U.S.C. 81a–81u), and the regulations of the Board (15 CFR part 400). It was formally docketed on April 11, 2018. FTZ 29 was approved by the FTZ Board on May 26, 1977 (Board Order 118, 42 FR 29323; June 8, 1977) and expanded on January 31, 1989 (Board Order 429, 54 FR 5992; February 7, 1989), December 15, 1997 (Board Order 941, 62 FR 67044; December 23, 1997), July 17, 1998 (Board Order 995, 63 FR 40878; July 31, 1998), December 11, 2000 (Board Order 1133, 65 FR 79802; December 20, 2000), January 15, 2002 (Board Order 1204, 67 FR 4391; January 30, 2002), November 20, 2003 (Board Order 1305, 68 FR 67400; December 2, 2003), January 27, 2005 (Board Order 1364, 70 FR 6616; February 8, 2005), and January 31, 2012 (Board Order 1808, 77 FR 6058; February 7, 2012). The current zone includes the following sites: Site 1 (1,643 acres)— Riverport Industrial Complex, Louisville; Site 4 (2,149 acres)— Louisville International Airport, Grade Lane, Louisville; Site 5 (69 acres)— Marathon Ashland Petroleum LLC, 4510 Algonquin Parkway, Louisville; Site 6 (43 acres)—Amazon.com.KYDC LLC, 271 Omega Parkway and 376 Zappos Boulevard, Sheperdsville; Site 7 (191 acres)—Henderson County Riverport Authority, 6200 Riverport Rd., Henderson; Site 8 (182 acres)— Owensboro Riverport Authority, 2300 Harbor Rd., Owensboro; Site 9 (778 acres)—4 Star Regional Industrial Park, Southern Star Way, Robards; Site 11 (261 acres)—Outer Loop, 116 acres at Stennett Lane, 44 acres at 8100 Air Commerce Drive and 101 acres at 1900 Outer Loop Road, Louisville; Site 13 (6 acres)—Workwell Industries, Inc., 3401 Jewell Ave, Louisville; Site 14 (3.95 acres)—Yellow Banks River Terminal, 6133 U.S. Highway 60, East Owensboro; and, Site 15 (302.3 acres)—Cedar Grove Business Park, Highway 480, near Interstate 65, Sheperdsville. The grantee’s proposed service area under the ASF would be Anderson, Boyle, Breckinridge, Bullitt, Butler, Carroll, Crittenden, Daviess, Fayette, Franklin, Gallatin, Hancock, Henderson, Henry, Hopkins, Jefferson, Jessamine, Larue, Marion, McLean, Meade, Mercer, Muhlenberg, Nelson, Ohio, Oldham, Owen, Scott, Shelby, Spencer, Trimble, E:\FR\FM\18APN1.SGM 18APN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 75 (Wednesday, April 18, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 17139-17142]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-08051]


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

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


Request for Applications: The Community Forest and Open Space 
Conservation Program

AGENCY: Forest Service, Department of Agriculture.

ACTION: Request for applications.

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

SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, State and 
Private Forestry, Cooperative Forestry staff, requests applications for 
the Community Forest and Open Space Conservation Program (Community 
Forest Program or CFP). This is a competitive grant program whereby 
local governments, qualified nonprofit organizations, and Indian tribes 
are eligible to apply for grants to establish community forests through 
fee simple acquisition of private forest land from a willing seller. 
The purpose of the program is to establish community forests by 
protecting forest land from conversion to non-forest uses and provide 
community benefits such as sustainable forest management, environmental 
benefits including clean air, water, and wildlife habitat; benefits 
from forest-based educational programs; benefits from serving as models 
of effective forest stewardship; and recreational benefits secured with 
public access.
    Eligible lands for grants funded under this program are private 
forest that is at least five acres in size, suitable to

[[Page 17140]]

sustain natural vegetation, and at least 75 percent forested. The lands 
must also be threatened by conversion to non-forest uses, must not be 
held in trust by the United States on behalf of any Indian Tribe, must 
not be Tribal allotment lands, must be offered for sale by a willing 
seller, and if acquired by an eligible entity, must provide defined 
community benefits under CFP and allow public access.

DATES: Interested local government and nonprofit applicants must submit 
applications to the State Forester. Tribal applicants must submit 
applications to the appropriate Tribal government officials. All 
applications, either hardcopy or electronic, must be received by State 
Foresters or Tribal governments by June 29, 2018. State Foresters or 
Tribal government officials must forward applications to the Forest 
Service Region, Northeastern Area, or International Institute of 
Tropical Forestry by July 27, 2018.

ADDRESSES: All local government and qualified nonprofit organization 
applications must be submitted to the State Forester of the State where 
the property is located. All Tribal applications must be submitted to 
the equivalent Tribal government official. Applicants are encouraged to 
contact and work with the Forest Service Region, Northeastern Area or 
International Institute of Tropical Forestry, and State Forester or 
equivalent Tribal government official when developing their proposal. 
Applicants must consult with the State Forester and equivalent Tribal 
government official prior to requesting technical assistance for a 
project. The State Forester's member roster may be found on 
www.stateforesters.org/about/who-we-are. All applicants must also send 
an email to [email protected] to confirm an application has 
been submitted for funding consideration.
    State Foresters and Tribal government officials shall submit 
applications, either electronic or hardcopy, to the appropriate Forest 
Service Regional/Area/Institute contact noted below.

Northern and Intermountain Regions

Regions 1 and 4

(ID, MT, ND, NV, UT)
Janet Valle, U.S. Forest Service, 324 25th St., Ogden, UT 84401, 801-
625-5258 (phone), 801-625-5716 (fax), [email protected].

Rocky Mountain Region

Region 2

(CO, KS, NE, SD, WY)
Claire Harper, U.S. Forest Service, 740 Simms Street, Golden, CO 80401, 
303-895-6157 (phone), 303-275-5754 (fax), [email protected].

Southwestern Region

Region 3

(AZ, NM)
Alicia San Gil, U.S. Forest Service, 333 Broadway SE, Albuquerque, NM 
87102, 505-842-3289 (phone), 505-842-3165 (fax), [email protected].

Pacific Southwest Region

Region 5

(CA)
Miranda Hutten, U.S. Forest Service, 1323 Club Drive, Vallejo, CA 
94592, 707-562-9025 (phone), 707- 562-9054 (fax), [email protected].
(Hawaii, Guam, American Samoa, Federated States of Micronesia and other 
Pacific Islands)
Katie Friday, 60 Nowelo St. Hilo, HI 96720, 808-854-2620 (phone), 503-
808-2469 (fax), [email protected].

Pacific Northwest, and Alaska Regions

Regions 6 and 10

(AK, OR, WA)
Brad Siemens, U.S. Forest Service, 120 Southwest 3rd Ave, Portland, OR 
97204, 503-808-2353 (phone), 503-808-2469 (fax), [email protected].

Southern Region

Region 8

(AL, AR, FL, GA, KY, LA, MS, NC, OK, SC, TN, TX, VA)
Mike Murphy, U.S. Forest Service, 1720 Peachtree Rd. NW, Suite 700B 
850S North, Atlanta, GA 30309, 404-347-5214 (phone), 404-347-2776 
(fax), [email protected].

International Institute of Tropical Forestry

(PR, VI)
Magaly Figueroa, U.S. Forest Service, Jardin Botanico Sur, 1201 Calle 
Ceiba, San Juan, PR 00926-1119, 787-764-7718 (phone), 787-766-6263 
(fax), [email protected].

Northeastern Area

(CT, DC, DE, IA, IL, IN, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, NH, NJ, NY, OH, PA, 
RI, VT, WI, WV)
Neal Bungard, U.S. Forest Service, 271 Mast Road, Durham, NH 03824-
4600, 603-868-7719 (phone), 603-868-7604 (fax), [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For questions regarding the grant 
application or administrative regulations, contact Scott Stewart, 
Program Coordinator, 202-205-1618, [email protected].
    Individuals who use telecommunication devices for the deaf (TDD) 
may call the Federal Relay Service (FRS) at 1-800-877-8339 twenty-four 
hours a day, every day of the year, including holidays.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    CFDA number 10.689: To address the goals of Section 7A of the 
Cooperative Forestry Assistance Act of 1978 (16 U.S.C. 2103d) as 
amended, the Forest Service is requesting proposals for community 
forest projects that protect forest land that has been identified as a 
national, regional, or local priority for protection and to assist 
communities in acquiring forestland that will provide public 
recreation, environmental and economic benefits, and forest-based 
educational programs.
    Detailed information regarding what to include in the application, 
definitions of terms, eligibility, and necessary prerequisites for 
consideration can be found in the final program rule, published October 
20, 2011 (76 FR 65121-65133), which is available at https://www.fs.fed.us/managing-land/private-land/community-forest/program.

Grant Application Requirements

1. Eligibility Information

    a. Eligible Applicants. A local governmental entity, Indian Tribe 
(including Alaska Native Corporations), or a qualified nonprofit 
organization that is qualified to acquire and manage land (see Sec.  
230.2 of the final rule at https://www.fs.fed.us/managing-land/private-land/community-forest/program. Individuals are not eligible to receive 
funds through this program.
    b. Cost Sharing (Matching Requirement). All applicants must 
demonstrate a 50 percent match of the total project cost. The match can 
include cash, in-kind services, or donations, which shall be from a 
non-Federal source. For additional information, please see Sec.  230.6 
of the final rule.

[[Page 17141]]

    c. DUNS Number. All applicants shall include a Data Universal 
Numbering System (DUNS) number in their application. For this 
requirement, the applicant is the entity that meets the eligibility 
criteria and has the legal authority to apply for and receive the 
grant. For assistance in obtaining a DUNS number at no cost, call the 
DUNS number request line 1-866-705-5711 or register on-line at https://fedgov.dnb.com/webform.
    d. System for Award Management. All prospective awardees shall be 
registered in the System for Award Management prior to award, during 
performance, and through final payment of any grant resulting from this 
solicitation. Further information can be found at www.sam.gov. For 
assistance, contact Federal Service Desk 1-866-606-8220.

2. Award Information

    Funds have been appropriated for CFP in FY 2018. Individual grant 
applications may not exceed $600,000, which does not include technical 
assistance requests. The Federal Government's obligation under this 
program is contingent upon the availability of appropriated funds.
    No legal liability on the part of the Government shall be incurred 
until funds are committed by the grant officer for this program to the 
applicant in writing. The initial grant period shall be for two years, 
and acquisition of lands should occur within that timeframe. Lands 
acquired prior to the grant award are not eligible for CFP funding. The 
grant may be reasonably extended by the Forest Service when necessary 
to accommodate unforeseen circumstances in the land acquisition 
process. Written annual financial performance reports and semi-annual 
project performance reports shall be required and submitted to the 
appropriate grant officer.
    Technical assistance funds, totaling not more than 10 percent of 
all funds, may be allocated to State Foresters and equivalent officials 
of the Indian tribe. Technical assistance, if provided, will be awarded 
at the time of the grant. Applicants shall work with State Foresters 
and equivalent officials of the Indian Tribe to determine technical 
assistance needs and include the technical assistance request in the 
project budget.
    As funding allows, applications submitted through this request may 
be funded in future years, subject to the availability of funds and the 
continued feasibility and viability of the project.

3. Application Information

    Application submission. All local governments and qualified 
nonprofit organizations' applications must be submitted to the State 
Forester where the property is located by June 29, 2018. All Tribal 
applications must be submitted to the equivalent Tribal officials by 
June 29, 2018. Applications may be submitted either electronic or 
hardcopy to the appropriate official. The State Forester's contact 
information may be found at: https://www.fs.fed.us/managing-land/private-land/community-forest/program.
    All applicants must also send an email to [email protected] 
to confirm an application has been submitted to the State Forester or 
equivalent Tribal official for funding consideration.
    All State Foresters and Tribal government officials must forward 
applications to the Forest Service by July 27, 2018.

4. Application Requirements

    The following section outlines grant application requirements:
    a. The application can be no more than eight pages long, plus no 
more than two maps (eight and half inches by eleven inches in size), 
the grant forms specified in (b), and the draft community forest plan 
specified in (e).
    b. The following grant forms and supporting materials must be 
included in the application:
    (1) An Application for Federal Assistance (Standard Form 424);
    (2) Budget information (Standard Form SF 424c--Construction 
Programs); and
    (3) Assurances of compliance with all applicable Federal laws, 
regulations, and policies (Standard Form 424d-- Construction Programs).
    c. Documentation verifying that the applicant is an eligible entity 
and that the land proposed for acquisition is eligible (see Sec.  230.2 
of the final rule).
    d. Applications must include the following, regarding the property 
proposed for acquisition:
    (1) A description of the property, including acreage and county 
location;
    (2) A description of current land uses, including improvements;
    (3) A description of forest type and vegetative cover;
    (4) A map of sufficient scale to show the location of the property 
in relation to roads and other improvements as well as parks, refuges, 
or other protected lands in the vicinity;
    (5) A description of applicable zoning and other land use 
regulations affecting the property;
    (6) A description of the type and extent of community benefits, 
including to underserved communities (see selection criteria);
    (7) A description of relationship of the property within and its 
contributions to a landscape conservation initiative; and
    (8) A description of any threats of conversion to non-forest uses, 
including any encumbrances on the property that prevent conversion to 
non-forest uses.
    e. Information regarding the proposed establishment of a community 
forest, including:
    (1) A description of the benefiting community, including 
demographics, and the associated benefits provided by the proposed land 
acquisition;
    (2) A description of community involvement to-date in the planning 
of the community forest acquisition and of community involvement 
anticipated long-term management;
    (3) An identification of persons and organizations that support the 
project and their specific role in establishing and managing the 
community forest; and
    (4) A draft community forest plan. The eligible entity is 
encouraged to work with the State Forester or equivalent Tribal 
government official for technical assistance when developing or 
updating the Community Forest Plan. In addition, the eligible entity is 
encouraged to work with technical specialists, such as professional 
foresters, recreation specialists, wildlife biologists, or outdoor 
education specialists, when developing the Community Forest Plan.
    f. Information regarding the proposed land acquisition, including:
    (1) A proposed project budget not exceeding $600,000 and technical 
assistance needs as coordinated with the State Forester or equivalent 
Tribal government official (section Sec.  230.6 of the final program 
rule);
    (2) The status of due diligence, including signed option or 
purchase and sale agreement, title search, minerals determination, and 
appraisal;
    (3) Description and status of cost share (secure, pending, 
commitment letter, etc.) (section Sec.  230.6 of the final rule);
    (4) The status of negotiations with participating landowner(s) 
including purchase options, contracts, and other terms and conditions 
of sale;
    (5) The proposed timeline for completing the acquisition and 
establishing the community forest; and;
    (6) Long term management costs and funding source(s).
    g. Applications must comply with the Uniform Administrative 
Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal 
Awards also referred to as the Omni Circular (2 CFR 200).

[[Page 17142]]

    h. Applications must also include the forms required to process a 
Federal grant. Section 6 Grant Requirements references the grant forms 
that must be included in the application and the specific 
administrative requirements that apply to the type of Federal grant 
used for this program.
    A sample grant outline and scoring guidance can be found on the CFP 
website at https://www.fs.fed.us/managing-land/private-land/community-forest/program.

5. Forest Service's Project Selection Criteria

    a. Using the criteria described below, to the extent practicable, 
the Forest Service will give priority to applications that maximize the 
delivery of community benefits, as defined in the final rule (see 
section Sec.  230.2 of the final rule); and
    b. The Forest Service will evaluate all applications received by 
the State Foresters or equivalent Tribal government officials and award 
grants based on the following criteria:
    (1) Type and extent of community benefits provided, including to 
underserved communities. Community benefits are defined in the final 
program rule as:
    (i) Economic benefits, such as timber and non-timber products;
    (ii) Environmental benefits, including clean air and water, 
stormwater management, and wildlife habitat;
    (iii) Benefits from forest-based experiential learning, including 
K-12 conservation education programs; vocational education programs in 
disciplines such as forestry and environmental biology; and 
environmental education through individual study or voluntary 
participation in programs offered by organizations such as 4-H, Boy or 
Girl Scouts, Master Gardeners, etc.;
    (iv) Benefits from serving as replicable models of effective forest 
stewardship for private landowners; and
    (v) Recreational benefits such as hiking, hunting, and fishing 
secured through public access.
    (2) Extent and nature of community engagement in the establishment 
and long-term management of the community forest;
    (3) Amount of cost share leveraged;
    (4) Extent to which the community forest contributes to a landscape 
conservation initiative;
    (5) Extent of due diligence completed on the project, including 
cost share committed and status of appraisal;
    (6) Likelihood that, unprotected, the property would be converted 
to non-forest uses; and
    (7) Costs to the Federal Government.

6. Grant Requirements

    a. Once an application is selected, funding will be obligated to 
the grant recipient through a grant adhering to the Uniform 
Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements 
for Federal Awards also referred to as the Omni Circular (2 CFR 200).
    d. Forest Service must approve any amendments to a proposal or 
request to reallocate funding within a grant proposal. If negotiations 
on a selected project fail, the applicant cannot substitute an 
alternative site.
    e. The grant recipient must comply with the requirements in section 
Sec.  230.8 in the final rule before funds will be released.
    f. After the project has closed, as a requirement of the grant, 
grant recipients will be required to provide the Forest Service with a 
Geographic Information System (GIS) shapefile: a digital, vector-based 
storage format for storing geometric location and associated attribute 
information, of CFP project tracts and cost share tracts, if 
applicable.
    g. Any funds not expended within the grant period must be de-
obligated and revert to the Forest Service.
    h. All media, press, signage, and other documents discussing the 
creation of the community forest must reference the partnership and 
financial assistance by the Forest Service through the CFP.
    Additional information may be found in section Sec.  230.9 of the 
final rule.

    Dated: March 22, 2018.
Jaelith Hall-Rivera,
Acting Associate Deputy Chief, State and Private Forestry.
[FR Doc. 2018-08051 Filed 4-17-18; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3411-15-P
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.