credit: Fast Co Exist

To provide technical and financial assistance to implement the highest priority actions in order to protect and restore the Great Lakes.

Priority actions are to: identify, protect, conserve, manage, enhance or restore habitat or species on both public and private lands within the Great Lakes Basin.

Selected Recipients for this Program

Fiscal Year 2010: Implemented more than 130 high priority on-the-ground projects in FY2010 that address aquatic invasive species, environmental contaminants, and protection and restoration of fish and wildlife and habitats. Signed multiple cooperative agreements with States, Tribes and non-governmental organizations to control aquatic invasive species, conserve native lake trout and lake sturgeon populations, and protect rare coastal and island habitat in the Great Lakes. Fiscal Year 2011: Projects not yet selected for funding. Anticipate continuing to fund projects to address aquatic invasive species, environmental contaminants, and protection and restoration of fish and wildlife and habitats for the protection of rare coastal and island habitat in the Great Lakes. Fiscal Year 2012: Projects not yet selected for funding. Anticipate continuing to fund projects to address aquatic invasive species, environmental contaminants, and protection and restoration of fish and wildlife and habitats for the protection of rare coastal and island habitat in the Great Lakes.

Uses and Use Restrictions

This funding, in conjunction with other Great Lakes federal agency funding opportunities under the Great Lakes Restoration Program, will be used to address the most significant Great Lakes Basin ecosystem problems.

Efforts will be made in five major focus areas:
• Toxic Substances and Areas of Concern, including pollution prevention and cleanup of
the most polluted areas in the Great Lakes.
• Invasive Species, including efforts to institute a "zero tolerance policy" toward new
invasions.
• Nearshore Health and Nonpoint Source Pollution, including a targeted geographic focus
on high priority watersheds and reducing polluted runoff from urban, suburban and,
agricultural sources.
• Habitat and Wildlife Protection and Restoration, including comprehensive assessment of Great Lakes coastal wetlands for the purpose of strategically targeting restoration
and protection efforts in a science-based manner.
• Accountability, Education, Monitoring, Evaluation, Communication and Partnerships,
including the implementation of goal- and results-based accountability measures, learning initiatives, outreach and strategic partnerships.

For further information, please contact the regional office.

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Eligibility Requirements

Applicant Eligibility

Program-specific.

Beneficiary Eligibility

Program-specific.

Credentials/Documentation

43 CFR Part 12 establishes administrative and audit requirements for assistance awarded by bureaus of the U.S. Department of Interior. 43 CFR 2 also applies to this program. OMB Circular No. A-87 applies to this program.

Aplication and Award Process

Preapplication Coordination

Preapplication coordination is not applicable.

Environmental impact information is not required for this program.

This program is excluded from coverage under E.O.

12372.

Application Procedures

OMB Circular No. A-102 applies to this program. This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-110. The application procedures are specified on www.grants.gov. At minimum, the applicant must submit a project proposal along with the completed SF 424 Application for Federal Assistance.
An applicant must complete the Standard Form (SF) 424, and the appropriate Budget and Assurances forms (SF 424A and SF 424B - Non-construction; or SF 424C and SF 424D - Construction)

Award Procedures

Program requirements are specified in the announcements of the individual financial assistance programs. More information on Great Lakes Restoration Initiative programs is available at http://greatlakesrestoration.us/action/?p=161.

Deadlines

Contact the headquarters or regional office, as appropriate, for application deadlines.

Authorization

Anadromous Fish Conservation Act (16 U.S.C. 757a); Bald Eagle Protection Act (16 U.S.C. 668); Coastal Wetlands Planning, Protection and Restoration Act (16 U.S.C. 3951); Clean Water Act (33 U.S.C. 1254(b)(3)); Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (42 U.S.C. 103); Emergency Wetlands Resources Act (16 U.S.C. 3901); Endangered Species Act (16 U.S.C. 1561); Fish and Wildlife Act (16 U.S.C. 742a); Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act (16 U.S.C. 2901); Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act (16 U.S.C. 661) Great Lakes Fish and Wildlife Restoration Act (Public Law 109-326); Great Lakes Fishery Act (16 U.S.C. 931) ; Lacey Act (16 U.S.C. 3371-3378); Migratory Bird Treaty Act (16 U.S.C. 703); Non-indigenous Aquatic Nuisance Prevention and Control Act (16 U.S.C. 4701); North American Wetlands Conservation Act (16 U.S.C. 4401); Partners for Fish and Wildlife Act (16 U.S.C. 3771.

Range of Approval/Disapproval Time

Not Applicable.

Appeals

Not Applicable.

Renewals

Not Applicable.

Assistance Considerations

Formula and Matching Requirements

Statutory formulas are not applicable to this program.
Matching requirements are not applicable to this program.
MOE requirements are not applicable to this program.

Length and Time Phasing of Assistance

The Great Lakes Restoration Initiative places restrictions on the time permitted to spend the funds awarded. The Regional Office Contact Person can further explain the restrictions placed on the time period in which to fully expend the funds awarded under the project. See the following for information on how assistance is awarded/released: Funds are disbursed to recipients as requested and in accordance with the payment methods prescribed in 43 CFR Part 12, or as otherwise prescribed in program-specific legislation.

Post Assistance Requirements

Reports

Program reports are not applicable.

Cash reports are not applicable.

Projects funded under the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative will have performance and financial reporting requirements as described in the award terms and conditions and announcement packages available on www.grants.gov and www.greatlakesrestoration.us.

At a minimum, the recipient is required to submit a final SF-425, Federal Financial Report within 90 days of the end of the award period of performance.

Projects funded under the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative will have additional performance reporting requirements as described in the award terms and conditions; and announcement packages available on www.grants.gov and www.greatlakesrestoration.us.

Audits

In accordance with the provisions of OMB Circular No. A-133 (Revised, June 27, 2003), "Audits of States, Local Governments, and Non-Profit Organizations," nonfederal entities that expend financial assistance of $500,000 or more in Federal awards will have a single or a program-specific audit conducted for that year. Nonfederal entities that expend less than $500,000 a year in Federal awards are exempt from Federal audit requirements for that year, except as noted in Circular No. A-133.

Records

Cost records must be maintained separately for each awarded cooperative agreement. Records, accounts and supporting documents must be retained for 3 years after submission of final financial and performance reports. If questions, such as those raised as the results of audits, remain following the 3-year period, recipients must retain records until all matters are resolved.

Financial Information

Account Identification

14-1611-0-1-302; - TAS Fund Code 1010.

Obigations

(Cooperative Agreements (Discretionary Grants)) FY 10 $69,000,000; FY 11 $47,000,000; FY 12 $54,000,000

Range and Average of Financial Assistance

Projects may range from $1,000 to $1,000,000, or greater.

Regulations, Guidelines, and Literature

Not Applicable.

Information Contacts

Regional or Local Office

See Regional Agency Offices. Please visit http://greatlakesrestoration.us/action/?p=161 to locate the appropriate Regional Office Great Lakes program contacts, or visit www.fws.gov/midwest.

Headquarters Office

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Department of the Interior, 1849 C Street, N.W., Washington, District of Columbia 20240 Phone: 202-208-6394 Fax: 202-208-4674

Criteria for Selecting Proposals

Program criteria are specified in the announcements of the individual financial assistance programs.