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Civil War Battlefield Land Acquisition Grants
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Examples of Funded Projects
Awards are made only for the purchase of land or interests in land (easements) at Civil War battlefields listed in the Civil War Sites Advisory Commission's Report on the Nation's Civil War Battlefields and outside the legislative boundaries of National Parks.
The Department of the Interior protects and provides access to the Nation's natural and cultural heritage, including responsibilities to Indian tribes and island communities. Departmental goals include resource protection and usage, overseeing recreational opportunities, serving communities and excellence in management.
Program Accomplishments
In FY 02, this program obligated more than $1.4 million to protect 590 acres of land at five Civil War battlefields in Maryland, Virginia, and West Virginia.
Uses and Use Restrictions
Grants are available for the fee simple acquisition of land, or for the acquisition of permanent, protective interests in land, at Civil War Battlefields listed in the Civil War Sites Advisory Commission's (CWSAC) 1993 Report on the Nation's Civil War Battlefields.
Funds may not be used to acquire land or interests in land within the legislative boundary of a National Park.
Grantees must provide for the appropriate public access to and enjoyment of any lands or interests in lands acquired with assistance from this program, subject to necessary and reasonable measures on the part of the beneficiary to protect the historic features of the battlefield from damage or loss.
Grantees may not charge costs for administering the project to the grant or to the required matching share.
Eligibility Requirements
Applicant Eligibility
Eligible applicants are State and local governments.
Private nonprofit organizations seeking to acquire battlefield land with assistance from this program must apply in partnership with the State or local government agency that has jurisdiction over the proposed acquisition parcel.
The government agency may then subgrant the Federal funds to the nonprofit organization.
In any case where a local government or a private non-profit organization acquires land or an interest in land with assistance from this program, it must convey an acceptable perpetual protective easement on the land to the State Historic Preservation Office or other governmental agency acceptable to the National Park Service.
Beneficiary Eligibility
State and local governments benefit.
Credentials/Documentation
Prior to the expenditure of grant funds for the purchase of real property, a current appraisal must be obtained. Appraisal preparation, documentation and reporting must be made in conformance with the standards and practices of the Uniform Appraisal Standards for Federal Land Acquisitions (UASFLA), as codified in 49 CFR 24.103, and the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practices (USPAP Standards 1 and 2) published by the Interagency Land Acquisition Conference.
Aplication and Award Process
Preapplication Coordination
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.
Application Procedures
Proposal packages must be submitted in hard copy. Faxed proposals and proposals submitted electronically will not be accepted. Incomplete proposals will not be considered. Proposals must contain all of the following: 1) a USGS quadrangle map showing the boundaries of the Civil War battlefield and identifying within those boundaries the specific lands to be acquired; 2) a statement defining the threat to the battlefield and the proposed acquisition parcel; 3) a statement from the property owner(s) indicating a willingness to sell or to negotiate for the sale of the property; and 4) a list of sources of the required nonfederal matching share and verification of the availability of the matching funds. Applicants will receive a Standard Form 424-Request for Federal Assistance, and a Certificate Regarding Debarment, Suspension and Other Responsibility Matters, Drug-Free Workplace Requirements and Lobbying, DI-2010. Forms must be completed and returned to the National Park Service.
Award Procedures
The Director of the National Park Service makes awards to approved applicants.
Deadlines
Applicants may submit their proposals to National Park Service at any time. Applications for Priority I and II battlefields will be reviewed as they are received. Applications for Priority III and IV battlefields will be reviewed every four months beginning on June 1, 2008, and thereafter on October 1, 2008, February 1, 2009, June 1, 2009, and October 1, 2009, or until funds are no longer available. For example, a Priority III application received on February 2, 2008 will not be reviewed until June 1, 2008.
Authorization
Department of the Interior Appropriations Act, Title I, National Park Service, Land and Water Conservation Fund, Public Law 107-63; American Battlefield Protection Act of 1996, Section 604, Public Law 104-333, 110 Stat. 4173, 16 U.S.C. 469k.
Range of Approval/Disapproval Time
The National Park Service will notify the applicant of its decision within 30 days of receipt of proposals concerning Priority I and II battlefields, and within 45 days of the review date of proposals concerning Priority III and IV battlefields.
Appeals
None. Unsuccessful applicants may resubmit a more complete proposal for consideration in a later round of awards until funds are no longer available.
Renewals
None.
Assistance Considerations
Formula and Matching Requirements
A dollar-for-dollar nonfederal match is required for all projects receiving funding through this program.
Length and Time Phasing of Assistance
Battlefield land or interests in land are purchased immediately after receipt of funds, usually no later than one year after receipt of funds.
Post Assistance Requirements
Reports
Progress reports must be submitted twice a year to the National Park Service.
Audits
In accordance with the provisions of OMB Circular No. A-133, "Audits of States, Local Governments, and Nonprofit Organizations," nonfederal entities that receive 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
Land acquired with these funds must be preserved in perpetuity. To that end, grantees must encumber the title to the acquired battlefield property with a preservation easement running with the land, in favor of and enforceable in court by the State Historic Preservation Office, or by another government agency acceptable to National Park Service, in perpetuity.
Financial Information
Account Identification
14-5035-0-2-303.
Obigations
FY 07 $4,000,000; FY 08 est $3,000,000; and FY 09 est $3,000,000.
Range and Average of Financial Assistance
$47,000 to $540,000; $287,000.
Regulations, Guidelines, and Literature
Interim guidelines are available online at www2.cr.nps.gov/abpp/.
Information Contacts
Regional or Local Office
None.
Headquarters Office
American Battlefield Protection Program, National Park Service, 1849 C Street, N.W., 2255, Washington, DC 20240-0001. Telephone: (202) 354-2023. Fax: (202) 371-1794.
Criteria for Selecting Proposals
Proposals will be evaluated based on significance of the battlefield, existing threats to the land, willingness of current property owners to sell, and availability of required nonfederal matching funds.
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