PREFACE
This
Land and Water Conservation Fund (L&WCF) Grants Manual sets forth the
administrative policies, procedures and guidelines for L&WCF grants awarded
to the States by the Department of the Interior, National Park Service. It is intended to serve as a basic reference
for those who are engaged in the administrative and financial management of
L&WCF grants to States, and to achieve uniformity in the administration of
the L&WCF program by the State Liaison Officers.
Participation
in the L&WCF program is deemed to constitute a public trust. It is the responsibility of the State to
comply with this Manual and all terms and conditions of the grant agreement, to
efficiently and effectively manage funds in accordance with the approved
budgets, to promptly complete grant assisted activities in a diligent and
professional manner, and to monitor and report performance. This responsibility cannot be delegated nor
transferred.
The
policies and procedures contained in this Manual are subject to applicable
Federal laws and regulations, and any changes made to these laws and
regulations subsequent to their publication.
In the event that these policies and procedures conflict with applicable
Federal laws, regulations, and policies, the following order of precedence will
prevail:
1. Federal Law
2. The Code of Federal Regulations
3. Terms and Conditions of Grant Award
4. Land and Water Conservation Fund Manual
The State bears primary responsibility for the
administration and success of grant supported operations, including performance
by third parties under subagreements made by the State for accomplishing
nonconstruction and construction project objectives. Except as specifically excluded, the
provisions of this Manual shall be applied by the State to subgrantees and
contractors performing work under L&WCF grants.
This edition of the L&WCF Grants Manual
revises and updates the previous edition, including amendments thereto, issued
as Manual Release 140 through Word‚, version
4.0 for Apple Macintosh‚‚ computers.
A minimum of two Megabites of RAM is required for optimum efficiency to
run the program, although the program will run with one megabite..
The Land and Water Conservation Fund (L&WCF)
Program was administered by the Bureau of Outdoor Recreation (BOR) from its
beginning in 1965 to 1978 when the Heritage Conservation and Recreation Service
(HCRS) was created. HCRS then
administered the program until 1981 when the L&WCF was transferred to the
National Park Service where the program is currently administered. Inquiries may be addressed to the Chief,
Recreation Grants Division, National Park Service (784), P.O. Box 37127,
Washington, D.C. 20013-7127.
HOW
TO USE THIS MANUAL
Organization
and Numbering Procedure,
Printed
Version. This Manual is organized by Part, Chapter, section
and paragraph. A typical reference, such
as 650.3.2A, indicates Part 650, Chapter 3, Section 2 and paragraph A. To locate certain information, use the Table
of Contents to identify the likely Part and Chapter, and/or refer to the index
for the specific section and cross references.
Computerized
Version. The computerized version is organized
identically to the printed version.
However, there is no index since any subject can be accessed using
Word's keyword search capabilities.
By using the "Find" command under the
utilities menu, one can search for any word or phrase in the Manual. Instructions for using "Find" are
contained in the Microsoft Word 4.0 user reference manual. (Full
Menus should be used.)
The easiest method of finding a major subject
heading is to:
1. Make sure that hidden text is shown (go
to "Preferences" under the "Edit" pull down
menu).
2. Consult the Table of Contents for the
Chapter heading.
3. Select Find from the Utilities
pull-down menu.
4. Select "Whole Word."
5. Enter
the Part and Chapter number preceded by the letter "C". Thus if searching for Chapter 3 of
Part 640, enter [C640.3 ]. Do not enter the brackets.
6. Select
"Start Search" and wait for the beginning of the Chapter to appear
on the monitor.
Paragraphs,
such as 640.3.5 may also be accessed directly by searching on [P640.3.5 ]. Similarly, attachments to Chapters can be
accessed by entering the Chapter and attachment designation such as [C650.3 att.A ].
An
alternative, and faster method for accessing any page in the computerized
version of this manual is to use the " G"
(Go To) command and entering the appropriate page and section numbers. For example, instead of entering "C640.3" as you would under the Find
function, you would enter "p1s17 ."
Section numbers are shown in hidden text and parentheses following each
chapter title in the Table of Contents.
How to Obtain Copies of this
Manual. This Manual and all revisions thereto may be
obtained from National Park Service Regional Offices (see 600.1 Attachment A
for Regional Office addresses).
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Part Chapter
Preface i How to Use this Manual iii
Table
of Contents iv List of Attachments vi
600 General Program Information
1. Program
Summary
2. Legislative
Basis
3. State
Apportionment (
4. Secretary's
Contingency Reserve
5. Definitions
6. Project
Numbering System
7. L&WCF
Program Annual Report
8. Program
Review of State Offices
630 State Plans
1. Plan
Preparation, Procedures and Eligibility
2. Planning
Assistance
640 Acquisition and Development
1. General
Project Criteria
2. Criteria
for Acquisition
3. Criteria
for Development
650 Project Compliance
1. General
Project Compliance
2. Environmental
Policy and Assessment (NEPA)
3. Relocation
and Acquisition Policy (P.L. 91-646)
4. Cultural,
Aracheological and Historic Preservation
5. EEO
Contract Compliance
6. National
Flood Insurance Program
7. Flood
Plains and Wetlands
8. Intergovernmental
Review System (E.O. 12372)
9. Title
VI Guidelines
10. Minority
Business Enterprise Development (MBE)
660 Application and Evaluation Procedures
1. Types
of Applications
2. Application
and Amendment Procedures
3. Application
Forms
4. Open
Project Selection Process
5. Evaluation
Criteria
670 Cost Principles
1. General
Cost Principles
2. Sponsor's
Financial Obligations
3. Allowable
Costs
675 Project Administration
1. General
Administrative Requirements
2. Acquisition
Methods and Appraisals
3. Procurement
Standards
4. L&WCF
Sign Standards
5. Financial
Management and Reporting
6. Payments
7. Audits
8. Project
Termination and Settlement
9. Post-Completion
Responsibilities
INDEX
LIST
OF ATTACHMENTS
600.1A NPS Regional Offices with Responsibility for L&WCF Grants
600.7A Annual Report Print Out
600.8A Checklist
for Project Compliance
630.1A Summary of Legislation Requiring Coordination between SCORP and Other Federal Programs
640.3A Normal
Daily Average Temperature, January
640.3B Mean
Annual Total Snowfall
640.3C Normal
Daily Average Temperature (June)
650.2A Environmental
Certification
650.2B Finding
of No Significant Impact
650.2C CEQ
Regulations for Implementing NEPA