To implement the National Fire Plan and assist communities at risk from catastrophic wildland fires by providing assistance in the following areas: Provide community programs that develop local capability including; assessment and planning, mitigation activities, and community and homeowner education

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and action; plan and implement hazardous fuels reduction activities, including the training, monitoring or maintenance associated with such hazardous fuels reduction activities, on federal land, or on adjacent nonfederal land for activities that mitigate the threat of catastrophic fire to communities and natural resources in high risk areas; enhance local and small business employment opportunities for rural communities; enhance the knowledge and fire protection capability of rural fire districts by providing assistance in education and training, protective clothing and equipment purchase, and mitigation methods on a cost share basis.

None.

Uses and Use Restrictions

Hazard reduction activities are restricted to Federal lands, or adjacent nonfederal land for activities that benefit resources on Federal land.

Most of these lands are located in the Western United States and Alaska.

Assistance can be used for helping BLM support community based efforts to address defensible space and fuels management issues to support outreach and education efforts associated with fuels management and risk reduction activities and to increase the effectiveness of rural fire protection.

Funding is highly variable each fiscal year.

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Eligibility Requirements

Applicant Eligibility

States and local governments at risk as published in the Federal Register, Indian Tribes, public and private education institutions, nonprofit organizations, and rural fire departments serving a community with a population of 10,000 or less in the wildland/urban interface.

Beneficiary Eligibility

States and local governments at risk as published in the Federal Register, Indian Tribes, public and private education institutions, nonprofit organizations, and rural fire departments serving a community with a population of 10,000 or less in the wildland/urban interface.

Credentials/Documentation

For grants awarded, cost will be determined in accordance with OMB Circular No. A-87 for State and Local Governments; OMB Circular No. A-21 for educational institutions; OMB Circular No. A-122 for nonprofit organizations; and Federal Acquisition Regulation Subpart 31.2 for private foundations, firms, individuals, and other nonprofits excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-122.

Aplication and Award Process

Preapplication Coordination

Coordinate cooperative project proposals with BLM State or District Offices.

This program is excluded from coverage under E.O.

12372.

Application Procedures

Wildland Urban Interface Community Assistance is coordinated by Bureau State and Field Offices. No specific application forms apply, except for grants awarded, the standard application forms furnished by the Federal agency and required by 43 CFR Part 12, Subpart C, "Uniform Administrative Requirements for Grants and Cooperative Agreements to State and Local Governments," and 43 CFR Part 12, Subpart F, "Uniform Administrative Requirements for Grants and Agreements With Institutions of Higher Education, Hospitals, and Other Nonprofit Organizations", must be used by this program.

Award Procedures

Wildland Urban Interface community projects are reviewed at State level and funding recommendations are made through each State's annual work plan. Final budget approvals rest with the State Director or Field Office Manager.

Deadlines

None.

Authorization

Department of the Interior and Related Agencies Appropriations Act of 2001, Title IV, Public Law 106-291.

Range of Approval/Disapproval Time

Wildland Urban Interface community assistance and rural fire projects are approved through the Bureau budget cycle that normally requires at least one year to receive funding.

Appeals

Not applicable.

Renewals

Not applicable.

Assistance Considerations

Formula and Matching Requirements

This program may include matching requirements, for example: Rural fire departments must have the capability to meet cost share at a minimum of 10 percent, which may include in-kind services.

Length and Time Phasing of Assistance

No specific restrictions, however, most projects are funded on a year-to-year basis and funds are expended during a particular fiscal year.

Post Assistance Requirements

Reports

Performance monitoring schedules and/or progress reports will be developed in consultation with the applicant, but at a minimum will take place at least once during the life of a project.

Audits

Projects will be audited at least once during life cycle. In accordance with the provisions of OMB Circular No. A-133, "Audits of States, Local Governments, and Non-Profit Organizations," nonfederal entities that expend financial assistance of $500,000 or more in Federal awards will have a single or a program-specific audit conducted for that year. Nonfederal entities that expend less than $500,000 a year in Federal awards are exempt from Federal audit requirements for that year, except as noted in Circular No. A-133.

Records

Records relating to work performed and costs are kept by the Bureau. There is no fixed records schedule. Records for grants awarded to State, Local and Indian Tribal Governments will be maintained in accordance with the provisions of 43 CFR Part 12, Subpart C, "Uniform Administrative Requirements for Grants and Cooperative Agreements to State and Local Governments." Records for grants awarded to institutions of higher education and other nonprofit organizations will be maintained in accordance with the provisions of 43 CFR Part 12, Subpart F, "Uniform Administrative Requirements for Grants and Agreements With Institutions of Higher Education, Hospitals, and Other Nonprofit Organizations".

Financial Information

Account Identification

14-1125-0-1-302.

Obigations

FY 07 $8,100,000; FY 08 est $7,360,000; and FY 09 est $1,757,000.

Range and Average of Financial Assistance

$1,000 to $50,000.

Regulations, Guidelines, and Literature

BLM's wildland urban interface community assistance program is guided by the provisions of the National Fire Plan. A variety of public information on this plan is available by contacting the appropriate State Office or the National Interagency Fire Center's web site at: http://www.nifc.gov.

Information Contacts

Regional or Local Office

See Catalog Appendix IV for addresses.

Headquarters Office

Chief, Community Protection and Assistance, Planning-Resources Group, Bureau of Land Management (FA-130), National Interagency Fire Center, 3833 S. Development Ave, Boise, ID 83705. Telephone: (208) 387-5150.

Criteria for Selecting Proposals

Criteria used to select assistance proposals are based on their ability to reduce the risk of wildland fire to community values and to increase the capabilities of rural fire organizations, in the vicinity of Federal lands.