80_FR_56623 80 FR 56442 - Notice of Availability of Community-Based Restoration Program Guidelines

80 FR 56442 - Notice of Availability of Community-Based Restoration Program Guidelines

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 181 (September 18, 2015)

Page Range56442-56444
FR Document2015-23503

NOAA's National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) is seeking comment on revised guidelines for the Community-based Restoration Program (Program). Since guidelines were first issued in 2000, the Program has not only evolved alongside the field of habitat restoration but has been designed to more effectively support sustainable fisheries and contribute to the recovery and conservation of protected resources. These goals are aligned with NMFS' core mandates, the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act and Endangered Species Act. The Program has built a strong foundation of technical and financial assistance capabilities that enables NOAA to proactively identify and develop priority habitat restoration projects, build community-based partnerships to leverage resources, and implement technically sound restoration actions that have maximum impact on coastal and marine species and the ecosystems on which they depend. This document replaces previous guidelines and describes the Program's goals and scope of implementation for FY 2016 and beyond. This is not a solicitation of project proposals.

Federal Register, Volume 80 Issue 181 (Friday, September 18, 2015)
[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 181 (Friday, September 18, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 56442-56444]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2015-23503]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XE173


Notice of Availability of Community-Based Restoration Program 
Guidelines

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

ACTION: Notice of availability of Community-based Restoration Program 
Guidelines; request for comments.

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

SUMMARY: NOAA's National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) is seeking 
comment on revised guidelines for the Community-based Restoration 
Program (Program). Since guidelines were first issued in 2000, the 
Program has not only evolved alongside the field of habitat restoration 
but has been designed to more effectively support sustainable fisheries 
and contribute to the recovery and conservation of protected resources. 
These goals are aligned with NMFS' core mandates, the Magnuson-Stevens 
Fishery Conservation and Management Act and Endangered Species Act. The 
Program has built a strong foundation of technical and financial 
assistance capabilities that enables NOAA to proactively identify and 
develop priority habitat restoration projects, build community-based 
partnerships to leverage resources, and implement technically sound 
restoration actions that have maximum impact on coastal and marine 
species and the ecosystems on which they depend. This document replaces 
previous guidelines and describes the Program's goals and scope of 
implementation for FY 2016 and beyond. This is not a solicitation of 
project proposals.

DATES: Comments are due October 19, 2015.

ADDRESSES: Additional information about the Program is available at: 
http://www.habitat.noaa.gov/restoration/programs/crp.html. Interested 
parties that wish to send comments may send an email to 
[email protected]. Interested parties that wish to send comments 
through regular mail may use the following mailing address: NOAA 
Restoration Center (F/HC3), ATTN: CRP Guidelines, 1315 East West 
Highway, RM 14853, Silver Spring, MD 20910.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Tisa Shostik at [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background

    NMFS started the Community-based Restoration Program (Program) in 
1996 to provide technical and financial assistance to support the 
implementation of community-driven habitat restoration. The Program 
collaborates with partners to restore coastal wetlands, coral reef, 
shellfish, estuarine, and riverine habitat to benefit coastal and 
marine species under NMFS jurisdiction. Restoration implemented under 
the Program include projects such as dam removal and fish passage 
projects, hydrologic reconnection projects, shellfish and coral reef 
restoration projects. To date, the Program has implemented more than 
1,700 habitat restoration projects in 37 states. It has restored more 
than 55,000 acres of habitat and opened 2,500 miles of rivers and 
streams.
    The Program is housed within the NMFS Office of Habitat 
Conservation's Restoration Center and was authorized in the Magnuson-
Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Reauthorization Act of 
2006. Prior guidelines for the Program were provided at 65 FR 16890, 
March 30, 2000, and then revised at 73 FR 55816, September 26, 2008. 
Since the guidelines were last updated in 2008, base funding for the 
Program has

[[Page 56443]]

remained relatively level, with the exception of several specific 
initiatives such as the Coastal and Marine Habitat Restoration Grants 
funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 and the 
Open Rivers Initiative (2007-2010).

Program Guidelines

a. Purpose of These Guidelines

    These guidelines provide information to the public and partnering 
organizations regarding the Program's scope and focus. The guidelines 
describe the broad range of the Program's activities and influence 
including, but not limited to, technical and financial assistance 
capabilities that are managed in a manner to most effectively advance 
the goals established under NMFS' core mandates. Previous published 
guidelines included more information on financial assistance mechanisms 
and procedures. These discussions have been removed from these updated 
guidelines in order to focus on the Program's goals, scope, and 
capabilities, rather than administrative process.

b. Program Overview

    NMFS' primary goals under its core mandates include ensuring the 
productivity and sustainability of fisheries and recovering and 
conserving protected resources. Healthy ecosystems and the availability 
of habitat are critical to these resources and therefore restoring 
coastal, marine, and riverine habitat is an essential element of NMFS' 
strategy to achieve its primary goals. To support this strategy, the 
Program provides technical and financial assistance to identify, 
develop, implement, and evaluate community-driven habitat restoration 
projects that yield the greatest benefit to the resources under NMFS' 
jurisdiction. Program staff leads coordination efforts across NOAA and 
other Federal and non-Federal partners to identify shared habitat 
priorities and focus resource investments to increase the impact of 
habitat conservation and restoration actions. The Program's restoration 
specialists, including fish biologists, ecologists, and engineers, 
located throughout the country, provide comprehensive expertise to 
facilitate effective habitat restoration. To support project 
implementation through financial assistance, the Program primarily 
establishes cooperative agreement funding awards with non-Federal 
partners. Competitive solicitations are issued as Federal funding 
announcements on Grants.gov. Non-Federal partners may include non-
governmental organizations, tribes, states, and local government 
agencies and communities.
    Habitat restoration projects implemented through the Program are 
developed in partnership with the communities in which they are based 
and reflect the needs and interests of local stakeholders. As 
restoration is conducted using a collaborative, ecosystem approach, 
projects such as dam removal, floodplain reconnection, and coastal 
wetland restoration often result in multiple benefits beyond the 
Program's primary goals. These benefits may include increased coastal 
resiliency, improved infrastructure, enhanced public safety, increased 
recreational opportunities, and strengthened coastal economies. The 
Program also fosters natural resource stewardship and local community 
engagement by supporting outreach, education, or volunteer 
opportunities as restoration project components.

c. Program Activities and Priorities

    The Program will continue to support projects featuring all aspects 
of coastal habitat restoration, conservation, and protection that 
recover threatened and endangered species listed under the Endangered 
Species Act, sustain or help rebuild fish stocks managed under the 
Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, or benefit 
other coastal and marine species with a connection to NMFS management. 
Within this broad authority, the Program is focusing its efforts to 
more effectively achieve NMFS' species recovery and fisheries 
sustainability goals, as well as demonstrate the results and multiple 
benefits of the Program's investments. Focused and coordinated 
approaches are critical because funding for coastal habitat restoration 
remains insufficient to fully address the needs of all habitat-limited 
coastal and marine species. To help set priorities and inform strategic 
decisions on where and how the Program targets its efforts, Program 
staff coordinates across NOAA and develops key partnerships with other 
Federal agencies, tribes, states, counties, local communities, and 
other non-governmental organizations. This leadership and collaboration 
helps set shared priorities and goals, and increases the impact of the 
Program's coastal restoration funding by leveraging resources and 
coordinating investments from multiple habitat restoration and 
conservation organizations and programs involved in habitat 
conservation and restoration.
    To execute the Program's targeted habitat restoration goals, the 
Program may focus its technical assistance and funding on specific 
geographic areas, habitats, restoration techniques, actions identified 
in protected species recovery plans or fishery management plans, or 
where NOAA and partner resources are aligned to yield a greater 
collective impact. The Program will provide restoration project funding 
to non-Federal partners through open, competitive solicitations 
announced through Federal Funding Opportunities (FFOs). The Program's 
targeted goals and priorities will be explicitly outlined within each 
FFO and applications will be evaluated on how well the proposed 
activity meets those priorities. Funding may be provided through 
cooperative agreements for restoration planning and feasibility 
studies, engineering and design, implementation and construction, and 
monitoring and evaluation efforts.
    In addition to providing funds for restoration projects, the 
Program provides leadership and technical expertise to foster the 
development and implementation of habitat restoration actions that 
support the recovery of protected species and sustainability of 
fisheries. To most effectively meet these core mandate goals, Program 
staff proactively identifies restoration opportunities, coordinates 
with other entities to help drive investments towards the highest 
priorities, and develops solutions to overcome obstacles to restoration 
success. Program staff provides technical expertise to ensure that 
restoration partners have the necessary support to successfully carry 
out complex habitat restoration activities such as dam removals and 
large-scale hydrologic reconnection projects. The technical assistance 
that Program staff provides to restoration project partners includes 
guidance on project feasibility assessments, engineering and design, 
project implementation oversight, regulatory compliance, and monitoring 
planning. The Program also accelerates the delivery of resources and 
implementation of restoration by streamlining permitting and 
environmental compliance processes when possible through the 
development and use of programmatic approaches. These core technical 
and financial assistance capabilities enable the Program to efficiently 
support the implementation of other targeted habitat conservation and 
restoration initiatives within NOAA.
    As the practice of habitat restoration has developed, the Program 
has contributed to its advancement through targeted implementation and 
effectiveness monitoring and technology

[[Page 56444]]

transfer. Monitoring carried out by the Program has supported science-
based decision making and led to improvements in the design and 
implementation of habitat restoration projects. To evaluate the 
effectiveness of restoration actions in a cost-effective way, the 
Program is establishing consistent processes for monitoring and 
evaluating the performance of individual and collective restoration 
actions. The Program collects and reports this information in a manner 
that will inform future projects and investments, and ultimately 
improve the performance of the Program. The Program also facilitates 
increased public access to monitoring and evaluation data by 
implementing NOAA's Data Sharing Policy for Grants and Cooperative 
Agreements issued in 2012 which requires that all NOAA grantees share 
data produced under NOAA grants and cooperative agreements. Program 
staff works with cooperative agreement recipients to develop a data 
sharing plan as part of their cooperative agreement award narrative.

d. Funding Sources, Mechanisms, and Eligible Participants

    As described in the prior sections, providing financial assistance 
is a tool that the Program uses to accomplish habitat restoration, 
complemented by the Program's leadership, coordination, and technical 
assistance capabilities. Financial assistance is provided competitively 
through FFO announcements and awarded and managed following the 
Department of Commerce Grants and Cooperative Agreements Manual and 2 
CFR part 200. The Program primarily establishes cooperative agreement 
awards with selected applicants based on a competitive, technical 
review process to maximize opportunities for public access to Program 
resources. In limited circumstances, contracts may also be awarded. All 
domestic applicants other than individuals may apply for financial 
assistance. Activities that constitute legally required mitigation or 
are required by federal, state, or local law or court order are not 
part of the Program.

e. Reporting

    The Program uses a specific reporting format that has received 
Paperwork Reduction Act clearance. The progress report format assists 
recipients of Program funding in tracking their progress towards self-
defined milestones and performance measures. Progress reports may also 
include monitoring and evaluation results. The Program-specific form 
also helps the Program populate a project tracking database, which 
supports agency-wide performance measure reporting and provides public 
information through the Restoration Atlas at www.habitat.noaa.gov/restoration/restorationatlas.

f. Regulatory Compliance

    The Program assists its restoration partners and financial 
assistance recipients in completing their regulatory compliance 
responsibilities when possible, and may serve as lead agency for 
consultation and analysis under the National Environmental Policy Act, 
Endangered Species Act, National Historic Preservation Act, and other 
applicable federal laws and regulations. The Program takes a 
programmatic approach to regulatory compliance when available. A 
current list of programmatic compliance documents that may be used to 
fulfill regulatory compliance responsibilities can be found at http://www.habitat.noaa.gov/funding/applicantresources.html.

    Dated: September 14, 2015.
Samuel D. Rauch III,
Deputy Assistant Administrator for Regulatory Programs, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2015-23503 Filed 9-17-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P



                                              56442                       Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 181 / Friday, September 18, 2015 / Notices

                                              diamond sawblades, including diamond                    revocation of the AD order would likely               technical and financial assistance
                                              sawblade cores and diamond sawblade                     lead to a continuation or recurrence of               capabilities that enables NOAA to
                                              segments. Diamond sawblade cores are                    dumping and material injury to an                     proactively identify and develop
                                              circular steel plates, whether or not                   industry in the United States, pursuant               priority habitat restoration projects,
                                              attached to non-steel plates, with slots.               to section 75l(d)(2) of the Act and 19                build community-based partnerships to
                                              Diamond sawblade cores are                              CFR 351.218(a), the Department hereby                 leverage resources, and implement
                                              manufactured principally, but not                       orders the continuation of the AD order               technically sound restoration actions
                                              exclusively, from alloy steel. A diamond                on diamond sawblades from the PRC.                    that have maximum impact on coastal
                                              sawblade segment consists of a mixture                  We will instruct CBP to continue to                   and marine species and the ecosystems
                                              of diamonds (whether natural or                         collect AD cash deposits at the rates in              on which they depend. This document
                                              synthetic, and regardless of the quantity               effect at the time of entry for all imports           replaces previous guidelines and
                                              of diamonds) and metal powders                          of subject merchandise.                               describes the Program’s goals and scope
                                              (including, but not limited to, iron,                      The effective date of the continuation             of implementation for FY 2016 and
                                              cobalt, nickel, tungsten carbide) that are              of the AD order will be the date of                   beyond. This is not a solicitation of
                                              formed together into a solid shape (from                publication in the Federal Register of                project proposals.
                                              generally, but not limited to, a heating                this notice of continuation. Pursuant to              DATES: Comments are due October 19,
                                              and pressing process).                                  section 751(c)(2) of the Act and 19 CFR               2015.
                                                 Sawblades with diamonds directly                     351.218(c)(2), the Department intends to
                                                                                                                                                            ADDRESSES: Additional information
                                              attached to the core with a resin or                    initiate the next five-year review of this
                                                                                                                                                            about the Program is available at:
                                              electroplated bond, which thereby do                    order not later than 30 days prior to the
                                                                                                                                                            http://www.habitat.noaa.gov/
                                              not contain a diamond segment, are not                  fifth anniversary of the effective date of
                                                                                                                                                            restoration/programs/crp.html.
                                              included within the scope of the order.                 this continuation notice.
                                                                                                         This five-year sunset review and this              Interested parties that wish to send
                                              Diamond sawblades and/or sawblade                                                                             comments may send an email to
                                              cores with a thickness of less than 0.025               notice are in accordance with section
                                                                                                      751(c) of the Act and published                       tisa.shostik@noaa.gov. Interested parties
                                              inches, or with a thickness greater than                                                                      that wish to send comments through
                                              1.1 inches, are excluded from the scope                 pursuant to section 777(i)(1) of the Act
                                                                                                      and 19 CFR 351.218(f)(4).                             regular mail may use the following
                                              of the order. Circular steel plates that                                                                      mailing address: NOAA Restoration
                                              have a cutting edge of non-diamond                        Dated: September 14, 2015.                          Center (F/HC3), ATTN: CRP Guidelines,
                                              material, such as external teeth that                   Ronald K. Lorentzen,                                  1315 East West Highway, RM 14853,
                                              protrude from the outer diameter of the                 Acting Assistant Secretary for Enforcement            Silver Spring, MD 20910.
                                              plate, whether or not finished, are                     and Compliance.
                                                                                                                                                            FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Tisa
                                              excluded from the scope of the order.                   [FR Doc. 2015–23468 Filed 9–17–15; 8:45 am]           Shostik at tisa.shostik@noaa.gov.
                                              Diamond sawblade cores with a                           BILLING CODE 3510–DS–P
                                                                                                                                                            SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
                                              Rockwell C hardness of less than 25 are
                                              excluded from the scope of the order.                                                                         Background
                                              Diamond sawblades and/or diamond                        DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE                                  NMFS started the Community-based
                                              segment(s) with diamonds that                                                                                 Restoration Program (Program) in 1996
                                              predominantly have a mesh size number                   National Oceanic and Atmospheric
                                                                                                      Administration                                        to provide technical and financial
                                              greater than 240 (such as 250 or 260) are                                                                     assistance to support the
                                              excluded from the scope of the order.                   RIN 0648–XE173                                        implementation of community-driven
                                                 Merchandise subject to the order is                                                                        habitat restoration. The Program
                                              typically imported under heading                        Notice of Availability of Community-                  collaborates with partners to restore
                                              8202.39.00.00 of the Harmonized Tariff                  Based Restoration Program Guidelines                  coastal wetlands, coral reef, shellfish,
                                              Schedule of the United States (HTSUS).                                                                        estuarine, and riverine habitat to benefit
                                                                                                      AGENCY:  National Marine Fisheries
                                              When packaged together as a set for                                                                           coastal and marine species under NMFS
                                                                                                      Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
                                              retail sale with an item that is separately                                                                   jurisdiction. Restoration implemented
                                                                                                      Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
                                              classified under headings 8202 to 8205                                                                        under the Program include projects such
                                                                                                      Commerce.
                                              of the HTSUS, diamond sawblades or                                                                            as dam removal and fish passage
                                                                                                      ACTION: Notice of availability of
                                              parts thereof may be imported under                                                                           projects, hydrologic reconnection
                                              heading 8206.00.00.00 of the HTSUS.                     Community-based Restoration Program
                                                                                                      Guidelines; request for comments.                     projects, shellfish and coral reef
                                              On October 11, 2011, the Department                                                                           restoration projects. To date, the
                                              included the 6804.21.00.00 HTSUS                        SUMMARY:   NOAA’s National Marine                     Program has implemented more than
                                              classification number to the customs                    Fisheries Service (NMFS) is seeking                   1,700 habitat restoration projects in 37
                                              case reference file, pursuant to a request              comment on revised guidelines for the                 states. It has restored more than 55,000
                                              by U.S. Customs and Border Protection                   Community-based Restoration Program                   acres of habitat and opened 2,500 miles
                                              (CBP).5                                                 (Program). Since guidelines were first                of rivers and streams.
                                                 The tariff classification is provided for            issued in 2000, the Program has not                     The Program is housed within the
                                              convenience and customs purposes;                       only evolved alongside the field of                   NMFS Office of Habitat Conservation’s
                                              however, the written description of the                 habitat restoration but has been                      Restoration Center and was authorized
                                              scope of the order is dispositive.                      designed to more effectively support                  in the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery
                                              Continuation of the Order                               sustainable fisheries and contribute to               Conservation and Management
tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES




                                                                                                      the recovery and conservation of                      Reauthorization Act of 2006. Prior
                                                As a result of the determinations by                  protected resources. These goals are                  guidelines for the Program were
                                              the Department and the ITC that                         aligned with NMFS’ core mandates, the                 provided at 65 FR 16890, March 30,
                                                5 See Diamond Sawblades and Parts Thereof
                                                                                                      Magnuson-Stevens Fishery                              2000, and then revised at 73 FR 55816,
                                              From the Republic of Korea: Preliminary Results of
                                                                                                      Conservation and Management Act and                   September 26, 2008. Since the
                                              Antidumping Duty Administrative Review, 76 FR           Endangered Species Act. The Program                   guidelines were last updated in 2008,
                                              76128 (December 6, 2011).                               has built a strong foundation of                      base funding for the Program has


                                         VerDate Sep<11>2014   18:47 Sep 17, 2015   Jkt 235001   PO 00000   Frm 00006   Fmt 4703   Sfmt 4703   E:\FR\FM\18SEN1.SGM   18SEN1


                                                                          Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 181 / Friday, September 18, 2015 / Notices                                          56443

                                              remained relatively level, with the                     governmental organizations, tribes,                   may focus its technical assistance and
                                              exception of several specific initiatives               states, and local government agencies                 funding on specific geographic areas,
                                              such as the Coastal and Marine Habitat                  and communities.                                      habitats, restoration techniques, actions
                                              Restoration Grants funded by the                           Habitat restoration projects                       identified in protected species recovery
                                              American Recovery and Reinvestment                      implemented through the Program are                   plans or fishery management plans, or
                                              Act of 2009 and the Open Rivers                         developed in partnership with the                     where NOAA and partner resources are
                                              Initiative (2007–2010).                                 communities in which they are based                   aligned to yield a greater collective
                                                                                                      and reflect the needs and interests of                impact. The Program will provide
                                              Program Guidelines                                      local stakeholders. As restoration is                 restoration project funding to non-
                                              a. Purpose of These Guidelines                          conducted using a collaborative,                      Federal partners through open,
                                                                                                      ecosystem approach, projects such as                  competitive solicitations announced
                                                 These guidelines provide information
                                                                                                      dam removal, floodplain reconnection,                 through Federal Funding Opportunities
                                              to the public and partnering
                                                                                                      and coastal wetland restoration often                 (FFOs). The Program’s targeted goals
                                              organizations regarding the Program’s                   result in multiple benefits beyond the                and priorities will be explicitly outlined
                                              scope and focus. The guidelines                         Program’s primary goals. These benefits               within each FFO and applications will
                                              describe the broad range of the                         may include increased coastal                         be evaluated on how well the proposed
                                              Program’s activities and influence                      resiliency, improved infrastructure,                  activity meets those priorities. Funding
                                              including, but not limited to, technical                enhanced public safety, increased                     may be provided through cooperative
                                              and financial assistance capabilities that              recreational opportunities, and                       agreements for restoration planning and
                                              are managed in a manner to most                         strengthened coastal economies. The                   feasibility studies, engineering and
                                              effectively advance the goals established               Program also fosters natural resource                 design, implementation and
                                              under NMFS’ core mandates. Previous                     stewardship and local community                       construction, and monitoring and
                                              published guidelines included more                      engagement by supporting outreach,                    evaluation efforts.
                                              information on financial assistance                     education, or volunteer opportunities as                 In addition to providing funds for
                                              mechanisms and procedures. These                        restoration project components.                       restoration projects, the Program
                                              discussions have been removed from                                                                            provides leadership and technical
                                              these updated guidelines in order to                    c. Program Activities and Priorities
                                                                                                                                                            expertise to foster the development and
                                              focus on the Program’s goals, scope, and                   The Program will continue to support               implementation of habitat restoration
                                              capabilities, rather than administrative                projects featuring all aspects of coastal             actions that support the recovery of
                                              process.                                                habitat restoration, conservation, and                protected species and sustainability of
                                              b. Program Overview                                     protection that recover threatened and                fisheries. To most effectively meet these
                                                                                                      endangered species listed under the                   core mandate goals, Program staff
                                                 NMFS’ primary goals under its core                   Endangered Species Act, sustain or help               proactively identifies restoration
                                              mandates include ensuring the                           rebuild fish stocks managed under the                 opportunities, coordinates with other
                                              productivity and sustainability of                      Magnuson-Stevens Fishery                              entities to help drive investments
                                              fisheries and recovering and conserving                 Conservation and Management Act, or                   towards the highest priorities, and
                                              protected resources. Healthy ecosystems                 benefit other coastal and marine species              develops solutions to overcome
                                              and the availability of habitat are critical            with a connection to NMFS                             obstacles to restoration success. Program
                                              to these resources and therefore                        management. Within this broad                         staff provides technical expertise to
                                              restoring coastal, marine, and riverine                 authority, the Program is focusing its                ensure that restoration partners have the
                                              habitat is an essential element of NMFS’                efforts to more effectively achieve                   necessary support to successfully carry
                                              strategy to achieve its primary goals. To               NMFS’ species recovery and fisheries                  out complex habitat restoration
                                              support this strategy, the Program                      sustainability goals, as well as                      activities such as dam removals and
                                              provides technical and financial                        demonstrate the results and multiple                  large-scale hydrologic reconnection
                                              assistance to identify, develop,                        benefits of the Program’s investments.                projects. The technical assistance that
                                              implement, and evaluate community-                      Focused and coordinated approaches                    Program staff provides to restoration
                                              driven habitat restoration projects that                are critical because funding for coastal              project partners includes guidance on
                                              yield the greatest benefit to the                       habitat restoration remains insufficient              project feasibility assessments,
                                              resources under NMFS’ jurisdiction.                     to fully address the needs of all habitat-            engineering and design, project
                                              Program staff leads coordination efforts                limited coastal and marine species. To                implementation oversight, regulatory
                                              across NOAA and other Federal and                       help set priorities and inform strategic              compliance, and monitoring planning.
                                              non-Federal partners to identify shared                 decisions on where and how the                        The Program also accelerates the
                                              habitat priorities and focus resource                   Program targets its efforts, Program staff            delivery of resources and
                                              investments to increase the impact of                   coordinates across NOAA and develops                  implementation of restoration by
                                              habitat conservation and restoration                    key partnerships with other Federal                   streamlining permitting and
                                              actions. The Program’s restoration                      agencies, tribes, states, counties, local             environmental compliance processes
                                              specialists, including fish biologists,                 communities, and other non-                           when possible through the development
                                              ecologists, and engineers, located                      governmental organizations. This                      and use of programmatic approaches.
                                              throughout the country, provide                         leadership and collaboration helps set                These core technical and financial
                                              comprehensive expertise to facilitate                   shared priorities and goals, and                      assistance capabilities enable the
                                              effective habitat restoration. To support               increases the impact of the Program’s                 Program to efficiently support the
                                              project implementation through                          coastal restoration funding by leveraging             implementation of other targeted habitat
tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES




                                              financial assistance, the Program                       resources and coordinating investments                conservation and restoration initiatives
                                              primarily establishes cooperative                       from multiple habitat restoration and                 within NOAA.
                                              agreement funding awards with non-                      conservation organizations and                           As the practice of habitat restoration
                                              Federal partners. Competitive                           programs involved in habitat                          has developed, the Program has
                                              solicitations are issued as Federal                     conservation and restoration.                         contributed to its advancement through
                                              funding announcements on Grants.gov.                       To execute the Program’s targeted                  targeted implementation and
                                              Non-Federal partners may include non-                   habitat restoration goals, the Program                effectiveness monitoring and technology


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                                              56444                       Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 181 / Friday, September 18, 2015 / Notices

                                              transfer. Monitoring carried out by the                 database, which supports agency-wide                     The FY 2002 Commerce, Justice, State
                                              Program has supported science-based                     performance measure reporting and                     Appropriations Act directed the
                                              decision making and led to                              provides public information through the               Secretary of Commerce to establish a
                                              improvements in the design and                          Restoration Atlas at                                  Coastal and Estuarine Land
                                              implementation of habitat restoration                   www.habitat.noaa.gov/restoration/                     Conservation Program (CELCP) to
                                              projects. To evaluate the effectiveness of              restorationatlas.                                     protect important coastal and estuarine
                                              restoration actions in a cost-effective                                                                       areas that have significant conservation,
                                                                                                      f. Regulatory Compliance
                                              way, the Program is establishing                                                                              recreation, ecological, historical, or
                                              consistent processes for monitoring and                    The Program assists its restoration
                                                                                                      partners and financial assistance                     aesthetic values, or that are threatened
                                              evaluating the performance of
                                                                                                      recipients in completing their regulatory             by conversion, and to issue guidelines
                                              individual and collective restoration
                                                                                                      compliance responsibilities when                      for this program delineating the criteria
                                              actions. The Program collects and
                                              reports this information in a manner                    possible, and may serve as lead agency                for grant awards. The guidelines
                                              that will inform future projects and                    for consultation and analysis under the               establish procedures for eligible
                                              investments, and ultimately improve the                 National Environmental Policy Act,                    applicants who choose to participate in
                                              performance of the Program. The                         Endangered Species Act, National                      the program to use when developing
                                              Program also facilitates increased public               Historic Preservation Act, and other                  state conservation plans, proposing or
                                              access to monitoring and evaluation                     applicable federal laws and regulations.              soliciting projects under this program,
                                              data by implementing NOAA’s Data                        The Program takes a programmatic                      applying for funds, and carrying out
                                              Sharing Policy for Grants and                           approach to regulatory compliance                     projects under this program in a manner
                                              Cooperative Agreements issued in 2012                   when available. A current list of                     that is consistent with the purposes of
                                              which requires that all NOAA grantees                   programmatic compliance documents                     the program. Guidelines for the CELCP
                                              share data produced under NOAA                          that may be used to fulfill regulatory                can be found on NOAA’s Web site at:
                                              grants and cooperative agreements.                      compliance responsibilities can be                    http://www.coast.noaa.gov/czm/
                                              Program staff works with cooperative                    found at http://www.habitat.noaa.gov/                 landconservation/ or may be obtained
                                              agreement recipients to develop a data                  funding/applicantresources.html.                      upon request via the contact
                                              sharing plan as part of their cooperative                 Dated: September 14, 2015.                          information listed above. The CELCP
                                              agreement award narrative.                              Samuel D. Rauch III,                                  was reauthorized in under P.L. 111–111,
                                              d. Funding Sources, Mechanisms, and                     Deputy Assistant Administrator for                    the Omnibus Public Lands Management
                                              Eligible Participants                                   Regulatory Programs, National Marine                  Act, as a component of the Coastal Zone
                                                                                                      Fisheries Service.                                    Management Act. NOAA also has, or is
                                                As described in the prior sections,                   [FR Doc. 2015–23503 Filed 9–17–15; 8:45 am]
                                              providing financial assistance is a tool                                                                      given, additional authority under the
                                              that the Program uses to accomplish
                                                                                                      BILLING CODE 3510–22–P                                Coastal Zone Management Act, annual
                                              habitat restoration, complemented by                                                                          appropriations or other authorities, to
                                              the Program’s leadership, coordination,                                                                       issue funds to coastal states, localities or
                                                                                                      DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
                                              and technical assistance capabilities.                                                                        other recipients for planning,
                                              Financial assistance is provided                        National Oceanic and Atmospheric                      conservation, acquisition, protection,
                                              competitively through FFO                               Administration                                        restoration, or construction projects.
                                              announcements and awarded and                                                                                 The required information enables
                                              managed following the Department of                     Submission for OMB Review;                            NOAA to implement the CELCP, under
                                              Commerce Grants and Cooperative                         Comment Request                                       its current or future authorization, and
                                              Agreements Manual and 2 CFR part 200.                                                                         facilitate the review of similar projects
                                                                                                        The Department of Commerce will
                                              The Program primarily establishes                                                                             under different, but related, authorities.
                                                                                                      submit to the Office of Management and
                                              cooperative agreement awards with
                                                                                                      Budget (OMB) for clearance the                           Affected Public: State, local or tribal
                                              selected applicants based on a
                                                                                                      following proposal for collection of                  government; not-for-profit institutions.
                                              competitive, technical review process to
                                                                                                      information under the provisions of the                  Frequency: One time, semi-annually.
                                              maximize opportunities for public
                                                                                                      Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C.
                                              access to Program resources. In limited                                                                          Respondent’s Obligation: Required to
                                                                                                      Chapter 35).
                                              circumstances, contracts may also be                      Agency: National Oceanic and                        obtain or retain benefits.
                                              awarded. All domestic applicants other                  Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
                                              than individuals may apply for financial                                                                         This information collection request
                                                                                                        Title: Coastal and Estuarine Land                   may be viewed at reginfo.gov. Follow
                                              assistance. Activities that constitute                  Conservation, Planning, Protection, or
                                              legally required mitigation or are                                                                            the instructions to view Department of
                                                                                                      Restoration.                                          Commerce collections currently under
                                              required by federal, state, or local law or               OMB Control Number: 0648–0459.
                                              court order are not part of the Program.                  Form Number(s): None.                               review by OMB.
                                              e. Reporting                                              Type of Request: Regular (extension of                 Written comments and
                                                                                                      a currently approved information                      recommendations for the proposed
                                                 The Program uses a specific reporting                collection).                                          information collection should be sent
                                              format that has received Paperwork                        Number of Respondents: 51.                          within 30 days of publication of this
                                              Reduction Act clearance. The progress                     Average Hours per Response: Plans,                  notice to OIRA_Submission@
                                              report format assists recipients of                     120 hours to develop, 35 hours to revise              omb.eop.gov or fax to (202) 395–5806.
tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES




                                              Program funding in tracking their                       or update; project application and
                                              progress towards self-defined                           checklist, 20 hours; semi-annual and                    Dated: September 15, 2015.
                                              milestones and performance measures.                    annual reporting, 5 hours each.                       Sarah Brabson,
                                              Progress reports may also include                         Burden Hours: 1,410.                                NOAA PRA Clearance Officer.
                                              monitoring and evaluation results. The                    Needs and Uses: This request is for                 [FR Doc. 2015–23451 Filed 9–17–15; 8:45 am]
                                              Program-specific form also helps the                    extension of a currently approved
                                                                                                                                                            BILLING CODE 3510–08–P
                                              Program populate a project tracking                     information collection.


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Document Created: 2015-12-15 09:27:15
Document Modified: 2015-12-15 09:27:15
CategoryRegulatory Information
CollectionFederal Register
sudoc ClassAE 2.7:
GS 4.107:
AE 2.106:
PublisherOffice of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
SectionNotices
ActionNotice of availability of Community-based Restoration Program Guidelines; request for comments.
DatesComments are due October 19, 2015.
ContactTisa Shostik at [email protected]
FR Citation80 FR 56442 
RIN Number0648-XE17

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