Description
The purpose of modification 000001 is to change the end date from 20 June 2016 to 29 June 2016 All Other Terms and Conditions Remain Unchanged The purpose of modification 000001 is to clarify the funding also to change the Grants Management Officer. a. Revised Funding should read; 1. Total Funding Expected to be Awarded through this Announcement $500,000.00 Over 5 Years Apply for this amount2. Expected Individual Award Amounts $100,000.00. FY16The Grants Management Officer is changed from Bert Ullrey to Eddie W Bell Jr. All Other Terms and Conditions Remain Unchanged BACKGROUND: In response to the potential listing of the Greater Sage-Grouse (GRSG) under the Endangered Species Act in September 2015, the Secretary of the Interior formed a State-Federal task force aimed at conducting range-wide conservation efforts. Spearheading this task force, the Western Governors' Association (WGA) brings together the 11 Governors of the Western States, executive leadership from the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (FWS), the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), U.S. Forest Service (USFS), the U.S. Geological Service (USGS), and the Department of the Interior (DOI). Implementation of range-wide conservation programs by the members of this task force underpinned the FWS decision in September 2015 to not yet list the species.OBJECTIVES: The objective of this cooperative agreement is to support, promote, and facilitate collaboration between stakeholders in an effort to ensure that substantive progress continues in the areas of habitat protection, restoration, improvement, and conservation, as well as regulatory mechanism reform regarding sustainable GRSG populations.PUBLIC BENEFIT: Collaboration between State and Federal Agency personnel is critical to implementation of key GRSG habitat protection, restoration, and conservation initiatives, and to maintaining strong Western economies. The proposed program directly benefits the public through improved wildlife populations and habitat on public lands for non-consumptive outdoor recreation and hunting purposes, and precludes/reduces the need for additional regulatory burden for Federally-listed endangered species. Protection of sage grouse and similar habitat promotes fish and wildlife recreation, including fishing, hunting, hiking, boating, and wildlife watching which contribute billions of dollars annually to the nation's economy.