Voluntary Public Access and Habitat Incentive Prg

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:The Voluntary Public Access and Habitat Incentive Program (VPA-HIP) is a competitive grants program authorized under section 1240R of the Food Security Act of 1985, as amended (16 U.S.C. 3839bb-5), and is only available for State and Tribal Governments. Up to $40 million of mandatory funding is available through fiscal years (FY) 2014-2018. For FY 2014, $20 million will be initially available. The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) will consider making VPA-HIP funds available for obligations to prior-year approved proposals and new proposals. This Announcement for Program Funding (APF) provides the objectives for projects, eligibility criteria for projects and applicants, and application forms and associated instructions needed to apply for a VPA-HIP competitive grant.The primary objective of the VPA-HIP is to encourage owners and operators of privately held farm, ranch, and forest land to voluntarily make that land available for access by the public for wildlife dependent recreation, including hunting or fishing, under programs implemented by State or Tribal Governments. Grantees that are States will have the grant amount reduced by 25 percent if opening dates for migratory bird hunting in the State are not consistent for residents and non-residents. This paragraph does not apply to grantees that are Tribal Governments.The regulations at 7 CFR part 1455 govern the VPA-HIP, except that VPA-HIP will be administered under the general supervision and direction of the Vice President, Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC), who is the Chief, NRCS; the Associate Chief for Conservation, NRCS; or NRCS designee.