Notice2023-04888
Request for Applications: The Community Forest and Open Space Conservation Program
Primary source
Metadata and text below are from the Federal Register, a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the official published version before relying on it for any legal matter.
Published
March 10, 2023
Issuing agencies
Agriculture DepartmentForest Service
Abstract
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Forest Service, State and Private Forestry, Cooperative Forestry staff, requests applications for the Community Forest and Open Space Conservation Program (Community Forest Program or CFP). This is a competitive grant program whereby local governments, qualified nonprofit organizations, and Indian tribes are eligible to apply for grants to establish community forests through the fee simple acquisition of private forest land from a willing seller.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 88 Issue 47 (Friday, March 10, 2023)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 47 (Friday, March 10, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 14971-14974]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2023-04888]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Forest Service
Request for Applications: The Community Forest and Open Space
Conservation Program
AGENCY: Forest Service, Agriculture (USDA).
ACTION: Request for applications.
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SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Forest Service,
State and Private Forestry, Cooperative Forestry staff, requests
applications for the Community Forest and Open Space Conservation
Program (Community Forest Program or CFP). This is a competitive grant
program whereby local governments, qualified nonprofit organizations,
and Indian tribes are eligible to apply for grants to establish
community forests through the fee simple acquisition of private forest
land from a willing seller.
DATES: Interested local government and nonprofit applicants must submit
applications to the State Forester. Tribal applicants must submit
applications to the appropriate Tribal government officials. All
applications, either hardcopy or electronic, must be received by State
Foresters or Tribal governments by March 31, 2023, State Foresters or
Tribal government officials must forward applications to the
appropriate Forest Service Regional office or International Institute
of Tropical Forestry by April 14, 2023.
ADDRESSES: All local government and qualified nonprofit organization
applications must be submitted to the State Forester of the State where
the property is located. All Tribal applications must be submitted to
the equivalent Tribal government official. Applicants are encouraged to
contact and work with the Forest Service Region or International
Institute of Tropical Forestry, and State Forester or equivalent Tribal
government official when developing their proposal.
Applicants must consult with the State Forester and equivalent
Tribal government official prior to requesting technical assistance for
a project. The State Forester's member roster may be found on <a href="https://www.stateforesters.org/who-we-are/our-membership/">https://www.stateforesters.org/who-we-are/our-membership/</a>. All applicants must
also send an email to <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#b7e4fa99f1e499f4f1e7f7c2c4d3d699d0d8c1"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="22716f0c64710c61647262575146430c454d54">[email protected]</span></a> to confirm an application has
been submitted for funding consideration.
State Foresters and Tribal government officials shall submit
applications, either electronic or hardcopy, to the appropriate Forest
Service Region/Institute contact noted below. Applicants are encouraged
to contact and work with a Forest Service Region/Institute during the
application process and before submission. Forest Service staff can
assist with navigating program requirements, determining eligibility,
providing guidance on allowable costs and match, and other questions.
Northern and Intermountain Regions
Regions 1 and 4
(ID, MT, ND, NV, UT)
Kris Tempel, USDA Forest Service, 650 Wolfpack Way, Kalispell, MT
59901, 406-210-1412 (mobile), <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#08637a617b267c6d65786d64487d7b6c69266f677e"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="81eaf3e8f2aff5e4ecf1e4edc1f4f2e5e0afe6eef7">[email protected]</span></a>
Rocky Mountain Region
Region 2
(CO, KS, NE, SD, WY)
Todd Gardiner, USDA Forest Service, 1617 Cole Boulevard, Bldg. 17,
Lakewood, CO 80401, 970-210-9103 (mobile), <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#05716a61612b626477616c6b607745707661642b626a73"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="afdbc0cbcb81c8ceddcbc6c1caddefdadccbce81c8c0d9">[email protected]</span></a>
Southwestern Region
Region 3
(AZ, NM)
Laura Moser, USDA Forest Service, 333 Broadway SE, Albuquerque, NM
87102, 928-607-6040 (mobile), <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#4b272a3e392a652624382e390b3e382f2a652c243d"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="f995988c8b98d794968a9c8bb98c8a9d98d79e968f">[email protected]</span></a>
Pacific Southwest Region
Region 5
(CA)
Dana Walsh, USDA Forest Service, 1323 Club Drive, Vallejo, CA 94592,
530-450-5555 (mobile), <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#187c797679366f79746b70586d6b7c79367f776e"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="7c181d121d520b1d100f143c090f181d521b130a">[email protected]</span></a>
(Hawaii, Guam, American Samoa, Federated States of Micronesia and other
Pacific Islands)
Katie Friday, USDA Forest Service, 60 Nowelo St., Hilo, HI 96720, 808-
785-5197 (mobile), <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#80ebe1f4e8ece5e5eeaee6f2e9e4e1f9c0f5f3e4e1aee7eff6"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="acc7cdd8c4c0c9c9c282cadec5c8cdd5ecd9dfc8cd82cbc3da">[email protected]</span></a>
Pacific Northwest, and Alaska Regions
Regions 6 and 10
(AK, OR, WA)
Candice Polisky, USDA Forest Service, 1220 SW Third Ave., Portland, OR
97204, 971-710-2346 (mobile), <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#e380828d878a8086cd938c8f8a90889aa396908782cd848c95"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="5e3d3f303a373d3b702e3132372d35271e2b2d3a3f70393128">[email protected]</span></a>
Southern Region
Region 8
(AL, AR, FL, GA, KY, LA, MS, NC, OK, SC, TN, TX, VA)
Susan Granbery, USDA Forest Service, 1720 Peachtree Rd. NW, Suite 700,
[[Page 14972]]
Atlanta, GA 30309, 770-883-8925 (mobile), <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#b9cacccad8d797decbd8d7dbdccbc0f9cccaddd897ded6cf"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="fb888e889a95d59c899a95999e8982bb8e889f9ad59c948d">[email protected]</span></a>
International Institute of Tropical Forestry
(PR, VI)
Magaly Figueroa, USDA Forest Service, Jardin Botanico Sur, 1201 Calle
Ceiba, San Juan, PR 00926-1119, 787-309-9565 (mobile),
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#e588848284899ccb838c829080978a84a590968184cb828a93"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="5a373b3d3b3623743c333d2f3f28353b1a2f293e3b743d352c">[email protected]</span></a>
Eastern Region
Region 9
(CT, DC, DE, IA, IL, IN, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, NH, NJ, NY, OH, PA,
RI, VT, WI, WV)
Neal Bungard, USDA Forest Service, 271 Mast Road, Durham, NH 03824,
603-833-3287 (mobile), <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#19777c7875377b6c777e786b7d596c6a7d78377e766f"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="b4dad1d5d89ad6c1dad3d5c6d0f4c1c7d0d59ad3dbc2">[email protected]</span></a>
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For questions regarding the grant
application or administrative regulations, contact Scott Stewart,
Program Coordinator, 202-465-5038, <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#cab9a9a5bebee4b9beafbdabb8be8abfb9aeabe4ada5bc"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="d0a3b3bfa4a4fea3a4b5a7b1a2a490a5a3b4b1feb7bfa6">[email protected]</span></a> or Margee
Haines 202-384-7192, <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#0568647762647760712b6d646c6b607645707661642b626a73"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="3d505c4f5a5c4f584913555c5453584e7d484e595c135a524b">[email protected]</span></a>. Additional information
about the Community Forest and Open Space Conservation Program may be
obtained at <a href="https://www.fs.usda.gov/managing-land/private-land/community-forest">https://www.fs.usda.gov/managing-land/private-land/community-forest</a>.
Applicants are strongly encouraged to contact and work with the
appropriate Forest Service Region/Institute contact during the
application process before submission. Please contact the appropriate
Forest Service Region/Institute if you would like review and feedback
on your application and maps before submitting the final application.
The final application is due to State Foresters or equivalent official
or Tribal Governments by March 31, 2023. The Forest Service will host
an informational webinar about the program and how to apply. For more
information, please see the national web page at the link above.
Individuals who use telecommunication devices for the deaf (TDD)
may call the Federal Relay Service (FRS) at 800-877-8339 between 8 a.m.
and 8 p.m., 24 hours a day, including holidays.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The purpose of the program is to establish
community forests by protecting forest land from conversion to non-
forest uses and provide community benefits such as sustainable forest
management, environmental benefits including clean air, water, and
wildlife habitat; benefits from forest-based educational programs;
benefits from serving as models of effective forest stewardship; and
recreational benefits secured with public access.
Eligible lands for grants funded under this program are private
forest that is at least five acres in size, suitable to sustain natural
vegetation, and at least 75 percent forested. The lands must also be
threatened by conversion to non-forest uses, must not be held in trust
by the United States on behalf of any Indian Tribe, must not be Tribal
allotment lands, must be offered for sale by a willing seller, and if
acquired by an eligible entity, must provide defined community benefits
under CFP and allow public access.
CFDA number 10.689: To address the goals of section 7A of the
Cooperative Forestry Assistance Act of 1978 (16 U.S.C. 2103d) as
amended, the Forest Service is requesting proposals for community
forest projects that protect forest land that has been identified as a
national, regional, or local priority for protection and to assist
communities in acquiring forestland that will provide public
recreation, environmental and economic benefits, and forest-based
educational programs.
Detailed information regarding what to include in the application,
definitions of terms, eligibility, and necessary prerequisites for
consideration can be found in the final program rule, published April
2, 2021 (86 FR 17302), which is available at <a href="https://www.fs.usda.gov/managing-land/private-land/community-forest/program">https://www.fs.usda.gov/managing-land/private-land/community-forest/program</a>.
Grant Application Requirements
1. Eligibility Information
a. Eligible Applicants. A local governmental entity, Federally
Recognized Indian Tribe (including Alaska Native Corporations), or a
qualified nonprofit organization that is qualified to acquire and
manage land. Individuals are not eligible to receive funds through this
program.
b. Cost Sharing (Matching Requirement). All applicants must
demonstrate a 50 percent match of the total project cost. The match can
include cash, in-kind services, or donations, which shall be from a
non-Federal source. For additional information, please see 36 CFR
230.6.
c. DUNS Number. All applicants shall include a Data Universal
Numbering System (DUNS) number in their application. For this
requirement, the applicant is the entity that meets the eligibility
criteria and has the legal authority to apply for and receive the
grant. For assistance in obtaining a DUNS number at no cost, call the
DUNS number request line 1-866-705-5711 or register on-line at <a href="http://fedgov.dnb.com/webform">http://fedgov.dnb.com/webform</a>.
d. System for Award Management. All prospective awardees shall be
registered in the System for Award Management (SAM) prior to award,
during performance, and through final payment of any grant resulting
from this solicitation. Further information can be found at: <a href="https://www.sam.gov/SAM/">https://www.sam.gov/SAM/</a>. For assistance, contact Federal Service Desk 866-606-
8220.
2. Award Information
Individual grant applications may not exceed $600,000 in requested
federal funding, which does not include technical assistance requests.
Grant applications must also include at least 50 percent non-federal
cost share.
No legal liability on the part of the Government shall be incurred
until funds are obligated by the grant officer for this program to the
applicant in writing. The initial grant period shall be for two years,
and acquisition of lands should occur within that timeframe. Lands
acquired prior to the grant award are not eligible for CFP funding. The
grant may be reasonably extended by the Forest Service when necessary
to accommodate unforeseen circumstances in the land acquisition
process. Written annual financial performance reports and semi-annual
project performance reports shall be required and submitted to the
appropriate grant officer.
Technical assistance funds, totaling not more than 10 percent of
all funds, may be allocated to State Foresters or equivalent officials
of Indian Tribes. Technical assistance, if provided, will be awarded at
the time of the grant. Applicants shall work with State Foresters or
equivalent officials of Indian Tribes to determine technical assistance
needs and include the technical assistance request in the project
budget.
As funding allows, applications submitted through this request may
be funded in future years, subject to the availability of funds and the
continued feasibility and viability of the project. If an application
is successful, it may be shared as a replicable model with future
interested applicants.
3. Application Information
Application submission. All local governments and qualified
nonprofit organizations' applications must be submitted to the State
Forester or equivalent official where the property is located by March
31, 2023. All Tribal applications must be submitted to the equivalent
Tribal officials by March 31, 2023. Applications may be submitted
[[Page 14973]]
either electronically or in hardcopy to the appropriate official. The
State Forester's contact information may be found at: <a href="https://www.stateforesters.org/who-we-are/our-membership/">https://www.stateforesters.org/who-we-are/our-membership/</a>.
All applicants must also send an email to <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#13405e3d55403d50554353666077723d747c65"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="f9aab4d7bfaad7babfa9b98c8a9d98d79e968f">[email protected]</span></a> for
confirmation that an application has been submitted to the State
Forester or equivalent Tribal official for funding consideration.
All State Foresters and Tribal government officials must forward
all applications to the Forest Service by April 14, 2023.
4. Application Requirements
The following section outlines grant application requirements:
i. The application must be no more than eight pages long, plus no
more than two maps (eight and half inches by eleven inches in size).
ii. Documentation verifying that the applicant is an eligible
entity and that the land proposed for acquisition is eligible (see
Sec. 230.2 of the final rule).
1. Eligible Entities include local governmental entities, federally
recognized Indian Tribes, and qualified nonprofit organizations.
2. Eligible lands are private forest lands that are threatened by
conversion to non-forest use; not held in trust by the United States;
provide defined community benefits; and are at least five acres in
size, suitable to sustain natural vegetation, and at least 75 percent
forested.
iii. Contact information for the project lead (name, title, phone
number, email).
iv. Applications must include the following, regarding the property
proposed for acquisition:
1. A description of the property, including acreage and county
location;
2. A description of current land uses, including improvements;
3. A description of forest type and vegetative cover;
4. A map of sufficient scale to show the location of the property
in relation to roads and other improvements as well as parks, refuges,
green/open space, urban natural areas, or other protected lands in the
vicinity;
5. A description of applicable zoning and other land use
regulations affecting the property;
6. A description of the type and the extent of community benefits
that the property will provide, including to underserved communities
(see Project Selection Criteria);
7. A description of relationship of the property within and its
contributions to landscape conservation initiatives, as well as any
environmental justice initiatives, if applicable; and
8. A description of any threats of conversion to non-forest uses,
including any encumbrances on the property that prevent conversion to
non-forest uses.
v. Information regarding the proposed establishment of a community
forest, including:
1. A description of the benefiting community, including:
a. Demographics, such as race or socioeconomic status
b. Availability of and access to green spaces, and other
vulnerabilities including health, economic, environmental and climate
impacts faced by the community
c. A description of how the project benefits the community and the
associated benefits.
2. A description of community involvement, including
underrepresented communities, to-date in the planning of the community
forest acquisition, including determining access and use of the forest,
and the participation of different community groups anticipated in
long-term management.
3. An identification of persons and organizations that support the
project, a description of how they represent the greater population of
the community benefiting from the establishment and management of the
community forest, their specific role in establishing and managing the
community forest; and
vi. Information regarding the proposed land acquisition, including:
1. A proposed project budget not exceeding $600,000 and technical
assistance needs as coordinated with the State Forester or equivalent
Tribal government official (section Sec. 230.6 of the final program
rule);
2. The status of due diligence, including signed option or purchase
and sale agreement, title search, minerals determination, and
appraisal;
3. Description and status of cost share (secure, pending,
commitment letter, etc.) (section Sec. 230.6 of the final rule);
4. The status of negotiations with participating landowner(s)
including purchase options, contracts, and other terms and conditions
of sale;
5. The proposed timeline for completing the acquisition and
establishing the community forest; and;
6. Long term management costs and funding source(s).
vii. Applications must comply with the Uniform Administrative
Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal
Awards also referred to as the Omni Circular (2 CFR part 200).
In order to assist applicants, a Community Forest Road Map can be
found on the CFP website at <a href="https://www.fs.usda.gov/managing-land/private-land/community-forest/program">https://www.fs.usda.gov/managing-land/private-land/community-forest/program</a>. The application guidance is
located at <a href="https://www.fs.usda.gov/sites/default/files/application-guidance-revised.pdf">https://www.fs.usda.gov/sites/default/files/application-guidance-revised.pdf</a> and the scoring guidance is at <a href="https://www.fs.usda.gov/sites/default/files/ScoringGuidance-revised.pdf">https://www.fs.usda.gov/sites/default/files/ScoringGuidance-revised.pdf</a>.
5. Forest Service's Project Selection Criteria
a. Using the criteria described below, to the extent practicable,
the Forest Service will give priority to applications that maximize the
delivery of community benefits, as defined in the final rule (see
section Sec. 230.2 of the final rule); and
b. The Forest Service will evaluate all applications received by
the State Foresters or equivalent Tribal government officials and award
grants based on the following criteria:
i. Type and extent of community benefits provided, including to
underserved communities. Community benefits are defined in the final
program rule as:
1. Economic benefits, such as timber and non-timber products
resulting from sustainable forest management, recreation and tourism;
2. Environmental benefits, including clean air and water,
stormwater management, wildlife habitat, and cultural resources.
3. Benefits from forest-based experiential learning, including K-12
conservation education programs; vocational education programs in
disciplines such as forestry and environmental science; Traditional
Ecological Knowledge; and environmental education through individual
study or voluntary participation in programs offered by organizations
such as 4-H, Boy or Girl Scouts, Master Gardeners, etc.;
4. Benefits from serving as replicable models of effective forest
stewardship for private landowners; and
5. Recreational benefits such as hiking, hunting, and fishing
secured through public access.
ii. Extent and nature of community engagement, including
participation by underserved communities, in the establishment and
long-term management of the community forest;
iii. Amount of other funds leveraged;
iv. Costs to the Federal Government,
v. Extent to which the community forest contributes to any
landscape conservation initiatives, as well as any applicable
environmental justice initiatives;
vi. Extent of due diligence completed on the project, including
cost share
[[Page 14974]]
committed and status of appraisal and other due diligence costs;
vii. Likelihood that, unprotected, the property would be converted
to non-forest uses; and
viii. Letters of support can accompany the application.
6. Grant Requirements
a. Once an application is selected, funding will be obligated to
the grant recipient through a grant adhering to the Uniform
Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements
for Federal Awards also referred to as the Omni Circular (2 CFR part
200).
b. Forest Service must approve any amendments to a proposal or
request to reallocate funding within a grant proposal. If negotiations
on a selected project fail, the applicant cannot substitute an
alternative site.
c. The grant recipient must comply with the requirements in section
Sec. 230.8 in the final rule before funds will be released.
d. After the project has closed, as a requirement of the grant,
grant recipients will be required to provide the Forest Service with a
Geographic Information System (GIS) shapefile: a digital, vector-based
storage format for storing geometric location and associated attribute
information, of CFP project tracts and cost share tracts, if
applicable.
e. Any funds not expended within the grant period must be de-
obligated and revert to the Forest Service.
f. All media, press, signage, and other documents discussing the
creation of the community forest must reference the partnership and
financial assistance by the Forest Service through the CFP.
Dated: March 6, 2023.
Jaelith Hall-Rivera,
Deputy Chief, State and Private Forestry.
[FR Doc. 2023-04888 Filed 3-9-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3411-15-P
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This is legal information, not legal advice. Laws vary by jurisdiction and change frequently. Always verify current law with official sources and consult a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction for advice on your specific situation.