Youth Conservation Opportunities on Public Lands

 

BLMs continued commitment to reduce and streamline its processes and procedures to serve its customers and the public better and faster across all its program areas. These reforms allow the Bureau to realign time and resources to completing important onthe-groundwork. This program continues to advance the Administrations priorities to create a conservation stewardship legacy while generating revenue and utilizing our natural resources. BLMs continued commitment to reduce and streamline its processes and procedures to serve its customers and the public better and faster across all its program areas. These reforms allow the Bureau to realign time and resources to completing important onthe-ground work to utilize qualified youth or conservation corps to carry out appropriate conservation projects on public lands, cooperatively with the BLM on cultural and natural resource related conservation projects such as trail development and maintenance, historic, cultural, forest and timber management, minor construction work, archaeological conservation, and native plant habitat restoration and rehabilitation. Promote and stimulate public purposes such as education, job training, development of responsible citizenship, productive community involvement, and further the understanding and appreciation of natural and cultural resources through the involvement of youth and young adults in the care and enhancement of public resources. Continue the longstanding efforts of the BLM to provide opportunities for public service, youth employment, minority youth development and training, and participation of young adults in accomplishing conservation-related work. This program also supports the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) Public Law 117-58, Sec. 40804(b) Ecosystem Restoration and Section 40803 Wildfire Risk Reduction.

Active 15.243 Bureau of Land Management, Department of The Interior B - Project Grants Fiscal Year 2016 BLM anticipates issuing cooperative agreements to provide similar conservation work and training opportunities for at least 2,500 youth. Through partnerships with more than 100 youth and conservation corps and other youth-serving organizations, the BLM provided work and training opportunities for more than 2,100 youth in 2016. Youth were involved in conservation projects such as trail building and maintenance, habitat restoration and invasive species removal, water quality monitoring, and maintenance and restoration of cultural resources.
Fiscal Year 2017 Through partnerships with more than 100 youth and conservation corps and other youth-serving organizations, the BLM provided work and training opportunities for more than 2,100 youth in 2018. Youth were involved in conservation projects such as trail building and maintenance, habitat restoration and invasive species removal, water quality monitoring, and maintenance and restoration of cultural resources.
Fiscal Year 2018 AK accomplished more than 500 annual AL/AE units providing educational experiences for the public and nearly 150 biological health units through hands-on restoration and monitoring efforts. AK Habitat restoration and wildlife protection, including reduction of invasive species, tree planting, fence removal/installation, riparian area restoration. AZ Improved access to the public lands with an improved infrastructure from new signs and improved information. CA Achieved sufficient and sustainable habitat recovery to support successful down-listing/delisting of threatened western snowy plover, and endangered beach layia and Menzie's wallflower consistent with recovery criteria identified in two USFWS Recovery Plans for the Mike Thompson Wildlife Area, South Spit, Humboldt Bay. ID Monitored 47,111 acres of ESR treatments, targeting 770 acrese of post-treatment juniper seedlings and 5,000 acres of hazardous fuesl pre and post treatment monitoring. MT Enhanced recreation opportunities, monitoring riparian area vegetation and hydrological functions for wildlife habitat protection and overall forest health, habitat restoration, conduct studies, i.e. historical, archival, oral histories, habitat surveys, to develop education and informational materials for our public.
Fiscal Year 2019 Data is unknown at this time.
Fiscal Year 2020 The BLM's partnerships with youth and conservation corps continue to support the mission-critical ground duties such as repairing and rebuilding recreation infrastructures, conducting research and needs assessments, and supporting many natural and cultural resources programs within BLM. Number of Hires – 850 Number of Corps member that participated – 1404 Number of participating Youth Corps – 32 Number of Projects - 123 Number of hours Worked - 236,581. Number of Work Crews – 52 Number of Interns - 60
Fiscal Year 2021 BLM accomplishments in FY21 through cooperative agreements with qualified Youth Conservation Corps: Number of Hires – 1202 Number of Corps member that participated – 1548 Number of participating Youth Corps – 38 Number of Projects - 93 Number of hours Worked - 783,284 Number of Work Crews – 183 Number of Interns - 75
Fiscal Year 2023 FY23 Projection (Based on FY23 Budget) Number of Hires – 1550; Number of Corps member that participated – 1900; Number of participating Youth Corps – 50; Number of Projects - 120; Number of hours Worked – 925,000 Number of Work Crews – 210 Number of Interns - 100
Fiscal Year 2024 Unknown at this time. Public Lands Corps Act of 1993, 16 USC, Chapter 37, Subchapter II-Public Lands Corps, Section 1721-1729, excluding Section 1725a Direct Hire Authority.
The Secretary is authorized to enter into contracts and cooperative agreements with any qualified youth or conservation corps to perform appropriate conservation projects. The Secretary may give preference to qualified youth or conservation corps located in a specific area that have a substantial portion of members who are economically, physically, or educationally disadvantaged to carry out projects within the area. Any qualified youth or conservation corps that supports youth career training and development in the areas of appropriate natural and cultural resource conservation projects. A qualified service and conservation corps means any program established by a State, or local government, by the governing body of any Indian tribe, or by a nonprofit organization. Youth and local communities that benefit from conservation improvements and involvement in youth programs activities on Bureau of Land Management public lands and facilities. Not applicable. Preapplication coordination is required. This program is eligible for coverage under E.O. 12372, "Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs." An applicant should consult the office or official designated as the single point of contact in his or her State for more information on the process the State requires to be followed in applying for assistance, if the State has selected the program for review. 2 CFR 200, Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards applies to this program. 2 CFR, Part 200, Subpart C--Pre-Federal Award Requirements and Contents of Federal Awards. A Standard Form 424, Application for Federal Assistance, Standard Form 424A, and Budget Information for Non-Construction Programs, Standard Form 424B, Assurances for Non-Construction Programs, and a written proposal should be submitted through Grants.gov, including: a title, objectives, timeframe, and a budget breakdown as specified in the funding opportunity announcement posted on www.grants.gov State plan is not required for this application. All applications will be initially screened for eligibility and compliance with the requirements stated in the program funding announcement. Applications passing this screening process will be forwarded for review by the proposal evaluation criteria, and any additional review factors, as stated in the funding announcement. State and District Office level and funding recommendations are made through the State's annual work plan. Final budget approvals rest with the State Director. Contact the headquarters or regional location, as appropriate for application deadlines Award time varies depending on the type and complexity of the project. Most awards are anticipated within 90 days or less after the announcement closes. Further information will be available for each project at the time the funding opportunity announcement is posted on www.grants.gov and may be obtained by contacting the point of contact listed in the funding opportunity announcement. Final award decisions are not subject to appeal; however, the Bureau of Land Management will provide all applicants with information on why their proposal was not selected for award. Not applicable. First Level Screening -Basic Eligibility. Applications will be screened by the Grants Management Officer to ensure that applications meet basic eligibility requirements. Must meet the requirements of the Notice of Funding Opportunity posted on www.grants.gov, screening may include, but is not limited to: Program and/or legislative authority requirements are met; Submission is timely; and complete and properly executed SF-424 application package documents. B. Applications must satisfy basic eligibility screening requirements to be considered for further review. Second Level Evaluation -- Merit Review Evaluation is stated in each Notice of Funding Opportunity noticed post on www.grants.gov Third Level Review Pre-Award Clearance and Approvals. BLM will also complete a business evaluation and determination of responsibility. During these evaluations the Grants Management Officer will evaluate variables such as: Federal Awardee Performance and Integrity Information System, financial stability, quality of management systems, past performance meeting prior award terms and conditions, reports and findings of audits performed, and applicant's ability to effectively implement statutory, regulatory or other requirements. All projects are restricted to lands administered by the BLM. Most of these lands are located in the Western United States and Alaska. Performance Reports: Shall submit at the minimum an annual Performance Report in accordance with the 2 CFR, Part 200.328 within 90 days after the anniversary date or as indicated in the Notice of Award. Upon completion of the agreement, recipients shall submit a final report no later than 120 calendar day after the award end date Not applicable. All recipients of Federal awards shall maintain project records in accordance with 2 CFR 200.333 Retention requirements for records. Financial records, supporting documents, statistical records, and all other non-Federal entity records pertinent to a Federal award must be retained for a period of three years from the date of submission of the final expenditure report or, for Federal awards that are renewed quarterly or annually, from the date of the submission of the quarterly or annual financial report, respectively, as reported to the Federal awarding agency or pass-through entity in the case of a subrecipient. Federal awarding agencies and pass-through entities must not impose any other record retention requirements upon non-Federal entities, except as noted in 2 CFR 200.333. Statutory formula is not applicable to this assistance listing.

Matching is mandatory. 25%. The Public Land Corps Act requires a recipient match of 25%. The Public Lands Corps Act stipulates that the BLM must share the costs of work performed by youth or conservation corps with non-federal sources. Pursuant to 16 U.S.C. 1729, the Secretary of the Interior may not pay more than 75% of the costs of any appropriate conservation project carried out on public lands by a qualified youth or conservation corps. The remaining 25% of costs may be provided from non-federal sources in the form of funds, donations, in-kind services, facilities, materials, equipment, or any combination thereof.

MOE requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing. Most projects are awarded for one to five year periods and funded on a year-by-year basis. Funds are expended during the year awarded although carry-over monies can be distributed to additional. No commitment is made to fund projects beyond one year and there is no set, historical allocation to each State. New and continuing projects will be re-evaluated every year based on performance, merit, and funding availability. Frequency of recipient payments will be determined for each awarded assistance agreement at the time of award. Frequency of recipient payments will be determined for each awarded assistance agreement at time of award. None/Not specified. Division of Education, Cultural, and Paleontological Resources
760 Horizon Drive, Suite 324
Grand Junction, CO 81506 US
m55brown@blm.gov
Phone: (602) 906-5605 https://www.blm.gov/ 14-1109-0-1-302 (Cooperative Agreements (Discretionary Grants)) FY 22$9,334,095.00; FY 23 est $2,100,221.00; FY 24 est $2,000,000.00; FY 21$3,000,000.00; FY 20$2,258,556.00; FY 19$11,205,958.00; FY 18$9,408,497.00; - Past partnership projects have ranged from $2,500 to $250,000. Average amounts approximately $150,000 or less. Not applicable. Fiscal Year 2016 Projects include trail construction and maintenance; habitat improvements such as invasive species removal, fence removal, fence installation, riparian planting; inventory and monitoring of wilderness areas; and support of education and interpretive programming. AK, AZ, CA, CO, MT, ID, NV, NM, UT, WY, OR/WA and other surrounds states provided projects in trail maintenance, wilderness, OHV recreation, recreation resource management project, youth employment and education -natural resource, cultural resource management, environmental resource management, rangeland management, and hand on the lands - youth engagement.
Fiscal Year 2017 AK, AZ, CA, CO, MT, ID, NV, NM, UT, WY, OR/WA and other surrounds states provided projects in trail maintenance, wilderness, OHV recreation, recreation resource management project, youth employment and education -natural resource, cultural resource management, environmental resource management, rangeland management, and hand on the lands - youth engagement.
Fiscal Year 2018 Projects include trail construction and maintenance; habitat improvements such as invasive species removal, fence removal, fence installation, riparian planting; inventory and monitoring of wilderness areas; and support of education and interpretive programming.
Fiscal Year 2019 Projects include trail construction and maintenance; habitat improvements such as invasive species removal, fence removal, fence installation, riparian planting; inventory and monitoring of wilderness areas; and support of education and interpretive programming.
Fiscal Year 2020 Projects include trail construction and maintenance; habitat improvements such as invasive species removal, fence removal, fence installation, riparian planting; inventory and monitoring of wilderness areas; and support of education and interpretive programming.
Fiscal Year 2021 in FY 21 BLM funded 272 projects throughout the bureau. Enhancement of recreation opportunities through trail building, maintenance and restoration, and other improvements to visitor and recreation facilities (e.g. kiosks, campgrounds, signage etc.); monitoring riparian area vegetation and hydrological functions, collecting soil and stream data, timber stand improvement projects for wildlife habitat and overall forest health; habitat restoration and wildlife protection, including reduction of invasive species, tree planting, fence removal/installation, riparian area restoration, etc.; development and implementation of natural and cultural resource stewardship plans or educational and informational materials for visitors; performance of studies such as resource inventories, historic or archival research, archaeological digs, oral histories, historic preservation, habitat surveys.
Fiscal Year 2023 BLM projects to support the Civilian Climate Corps Initiative in which participants would work (A) to conserve and restore public land and water; (B) to increase reforestation; (C) to increase carbon sequestration in the agricultural sector; (D) to protect biodiversity; (E) to improve access to recreation; (F) to bolster community resilience; and (G) to address climate change. Specific types of projects: Native Plant Projects; Weed Control; Habitat Restoration; Federal Listed Endangered Species/Plant; Prescribed Fire, Klamath Field Office Recreation Site; Wildlife Inventory System; Travel Transportation; Clean Water and Salinity Control; and Paleontological Program, and many more.
Fiscal Year 2024 Unknown at this time.