NOAA Fisheries is proposing to develop programmatic agreements (PAs) as program alternatives for compliance with Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act for the issuance of funding through the Pacific Coastal Salmon Recovery Fund (PCSRF) grant program.
Background
The PCSRF is a competitive grant program established by Congress to reverse the declines of West Coast salmon by providing funding to tribes and states to protect, conserve, and restore salmon populations. PCSRF grant recipients include the States of Alaska, Washington, Oregon, Idaho, California and Federally-recognized West Coast tribes or their representative tribal commission and consortia. Because of the regional scope of the grant funding, the potential effects to historic properties as a result of this undertaking could occur in the boundaries of each of these states.
Project category types that receive PCSRF funding includes:
- Salmonid Restoration Planning and Assessments
- Salmonid Research, Monitoring, and Evaluation
- Program Administration
- Salmonid Habitat Restoration and Acquisition
- Public Outreach, Education, and Landowner Recruitment
- Salmonid Hatcheries and Harvest Management
Eligible state grant recipients apply PCSRF funds to specific state programs that align with the PCSRF program. Each state grant recipient carries out their own grant solicitation process to award sub-recipients to implement projects that contribute to salmon recovery. As such, effects on historic properties cannot be fully determined prior to the issuance of PCSRF funding.
Eligible states must submit applications through one designated State entity that has been established by a Memorandum of Understanding with NOAA Fisheries. These are as follows:
- Alaska Department of Fish and Game
- California Department of Fish and Wildlife
- Idaho Governor’s Office of Species Conservation
- Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board
- Washington State Recreation and Conservation Office
NOAA Fisheries plans to draft Programmatic Agreements with Alaska, Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and California to create a framework that will provide consulting parties an opportunity for consultation on the individual projects funded by the PCSRF grant program. NOAA Fisheries intends to take a parallel approach with each tribal commission/consortia grant recipient as part of a separate process. NOAA Fisheries will also consult with Federally-recognized west coast tribes that individually apply on a project by project basis under Section 106.
NOAA Fisheries invites the public to provide any information regarding how individual projects funded by PCSRF may affect sites, buildings, structures, objects, or locations of cultural heritage or importance.
All questions and comments should be directed via email to pcrsf.nhpa@noaa.gov. NOAA Fisheries will remain mindful of confidentiality concerns with respect to all tribal and public responses. Thank you for your assistance and participation in this process.
