Notice of Availability of Community-Based Restoration Program Guidelines

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.