Cooperative Forestry Research

Program Descriptions

Program Number

10.202

Title

Cooperative Forestry Research

Federal Agency

COOPERATIVE STATE RESEARCH, EDUCATION AND EXTENSION SERVICE, DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Authorization

Cooperative Forestry Research Act of 1962, Public Law 87-788, 16 U.S.C. 582a-7; Education Amendments of 1972, Section 506, Public Law 92-318; Education Amendments of 1980, Section 1361, Public Law 96-374, 7 U.S.C. 301 note; Public Law 97-98; Public Law 99-198; Public Law 101-624; Public Law 104-127.

Status

Active

Objectives

To encourage and assist the States in carrying on a program of State forestry research at State forestry schools, and to develop a trained pool of forest scientists capable of conducting needed forestry research.

Types of Assistance

Formula Grants.

Uses and Use Restrictions

Forestry research at certified State institutions in the nine categories which follow: (1) Reforestation and management of land for the production of crops of timber and other related products of the forest; (2) management of forest and related watershed lands to improve conditions of water flow and to protect resources against flood and erosion; (3) management of forest and related rangeland for production of forage and domestic livestock and game and improvement of food and habitat for wildlife; (4) management of forest lands for outdoor recreation; (5) protection of forest lands for outdoor recreation; (6) protection of forest resources against fire, insects, diseases, or other destructive agents; (7) utilization of wood and other forest products; (8) development of sound policies for the management of forest lands and the harvesting and marketing of forest products; and (9) such other studies as may be necessary to obtain the fullest and most effective use of forest resources.

Eligibility Requirements

Applicant Eligibility

Funds are appropriated by Congress for distribution to State institutions certified as eligible by a State representative designated by the Governor of each State. Funds are apportioned among States by the Secretary of Agriculture after consultation with a National Advisory Council representing the State- certified forestry schools and other groups concerned with forestry research. This program is also available to Guam, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, American Samoa, Northern Mariana Islands, and Micronesia.

Beneficiary Eligibility

Funds are appropriated by Congress for distribution to State institutions certified as eligible by a State representative designated by the Governor of each State. Funds are apportioned among States by the Secretary of Agriculture after consultation with a National Advisory Council representing the State- certified forestry schools and other groups concerned with forestry research. This program is also available in Guam, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, American Samoa, Northern Mariana, and Micronesia.

Credentials/Documentation

None. This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-87.

Application and Award Process

Preapplication Coordination

All proposal solicitations are published on the Agency's Web site. This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-102 and E.O. 12372.

Application Procedure

No application required for the release of funds but funds can be expended only on projects approved by CSREES. This program is subject to the provisions of OMB Circular No. A-110.

Award Procedure

To receive an annual allotment of funds, each eligible institution must first submit its annual research program to CSREES for approval. All projects on which it is proposed to expend research funds during the fiscal year must first be approved by CSREES.

Deadlines

None.

Range of Approval/Disapproval Time

Not applicable.

Appeals

Not applicable.

Renewals

Assistance Considerations

Formula and Matching Requirements

The Act provides that the apportionment among States shall be determined by the Secretary after consultation with the Cooperative Forestry Research Advisory Council. The statistical factors used for allocation of fund are: (1) Area of nonfederal commercial forest land (40 percent) (and the source is "An Analysis of the Timber Situation in the U.S.," 1952-2030, FS/USDA), (2) volume of timber cut annually from growing stock (40 percent) (and the source is "An Analysis of the Timber Situation in the U.S.," 1952-2030, FS/USDA); and (3) nonfederal funds expended for forestry research (20 percent) (and the source is "Current Research Information System"). The Act limits the Federal payments to amounts made available and budgeted from nonfederal sources for expenditure for forestry research.

Length and Time Phasing of Assistance

One year subsequent to year of appropriation up to 5 percent of unobligated balance September 30 carried over for obligation in subsequent year. Funds released as needed to finance current operations.

Post Assistance Requirements

Reports

Fiscal year annual plan of work due August 15 of each year for the fiscal year starting in October; Annual program financial report due December 1; Annual progress report due February 15; Certification of Offset and Certification of Entitlement due prior to October 1; and Past Year Obligations by Project due December 15.

Audits

Audits will be conducted in accordance with guidelines established in the revised OMB Circular No. A-133, "Audits of States, Local Governments, and Non-Profit Organizations," and implemented in 7 CFR Part 3052, "Audits of States, Local Governments, and Non-Profit Organizations."

Records

Maintained by project. Retain payment documents three years.

Financial Information

Account Identification

12-1500-0-1-352.

Obligations

(Grants) FY 07 $28,356,226; FY 08 est $19,375,580; and FY 09 est not reported.

Range and Average of Financial Assistance

$30,281 to $694,074. Average: $322,889.

Program Accomplishments

Researchers in one State have completed a project studying the plant growth and environmental consequences of different "manufactured soil" materials developed from paper mill sludge and residuals. They have developed a research plan for paired watershed studies and focused on intensive quantitative soil sampling. This research provided information that helps determine the risk of air pollution, climate change, land application of residuals, or harvesting on forest health and associated freshwater quality.

Regulations, Guidelines and Literature

Administrative Manual for the McIntire-Stennis Cooperative Forestry Research Program, January, 1982; 7 CFR Part 3015, USDA Uniform Federal Assistance Regulations; 7 CFR Part 3017, Government wide Debarment and Suspension (Nonprocurement) and Government wide Requirements for Drug-Free Workplace (Grants); and 7 CFR Part 3018, New Restrictions on Lobbying; 7 CFR Part 3019, Uniform Administrative Requirements for Grants and Agreements with Institutions of Higher Education, Hospitals, and Other Nonprofit Organizations.

Information Contacts

Regional or Local Office

None.

Headquarters Office

Deputy Administrator, Natural Resources and Environment, Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service, Department of Agriculture, Washington, DC 20250. Telephone: (202) 720-4318.

Web Site Address

http://www.reeusda.gov

Related Programs

10.001, Agricultural Research-Basic And Applied Research
10.200, Grants For Agricultural Research, Special Research Grants
10.203, Payments To Agricultural Experiment Stations Under The Hatch Act
10.205, Payments To 1890 Land-Grant Colleges And Tuskegee University
10.206, Grants For Agricultural Research - Competitive Research Grants
10.207, Animal Health And Disease Research
10.219, Biotechnology Risk Assessment Research Grants Program
10.250, Agricultural And Rural Economic Research
10.652, Forestry Research

Examples of Funded Projects

Not applicable.

Criteria for Selecting Proposals

Not applicable.