The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Division of Bird Habitat Conservation (DBHC) administers competitive grant programs established by Congress through the North American Wetlands Conservation Act and the Neotropical Migratory Bird Conservation Act.
The North American Wetlands Conservation Act (NAWCA) promotes, through partnerships between the private and public sectors, long-term conservation of North American wetland ecosystems and the waterfowl and other migratory birds, fish, and wildlife associated with such habitat. Two types of NAWCA grants are offered: Standard and Small. The Standard grants program supports projects in Canada, the United States, and Mexico that involve long-term protection, restoration, and/or enhancement of wetlands and associated uplands habitats. The Small grants program also supports projects that protect, restore, and enhance wetland habitats, but is available only to U.S. applicants.
The Neotropical Migratory Bird Conservation Act (NMBCA) supports public-private partnerships carrying out projects that promote the long-term conservation of neotropical migratory birds and their habitats in the United States, Canada, Latin America, and the Caribbean. Principal conservation actions supported by the NMBCA are the protection and management of populations; maintenance, management, protection and restoration of habitat; research and monitoring; law enforcement; and community outreach and education.
US Code:
16 USC 4401 et seq.
Name of Law: North American Wetlands Conservation Act
US Code:
16 USC 6601 et seq
Name of Law: Neotropical Migratory Bird Conservation Act
We are reporting 670 responses totaling 45,396 annual burden hours for this collection, a net increase of 197 responses and 7,595 burden hours from the last request for OMB 1018-0100.
Based on our outreach and our experience in administering these grant programs, we made adjustments to our estimates of the number of responses and the completion time for each response. These adjustments resulted in an increase of 20 responses and a decrease of 1,959 annual burden hours.
We are reporting as a program change an increase of 177 responses and 9,554 annual burden hours associated with NMBCA applications and reports (currently approved under 1018-0113). Once this ICR is approved, we will discontinue 1018-0113 (195 responses and 10,650 burden hours).
On behalf of this Federal agency, I certify that the collection of information encompassed by this request complies with 5 CFR 1320.9 and the related provisions of 5 CFR 1320.8(b)(3).
The following is a summary of the topics, regarding the proposed collection of information, that the certification covers:
(i) Why the information is being collected;
(ii) Use of information;
(iii) Burden estimate;
(iv) Nature of response (voluntary, required for a benefit, or mandatory);
(v) Nature and extent of confidentiality; and
(vi) Need to display currently valid OMB control number;
If you are unable to certify compliance with any of these provisions, identify the item by leaving the box unchecked and explain the reason in the Supporting Statement.