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<br />. Support for state and locally organized drought action teams,
<br />. Identifying joint research needs and opportunities for field application of new technology.
<br />. Joint VSDA-DOI training, conferences, seminars and education programs,
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<br />Designated agency liaisons to communicate and coordinate activities at the national, regional, state and
<br />10calleveIs.
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<br />Fish and Wildlife Service Seeks Proposals from States for 2006 Endangered Species Grants: On
<br />December 21, The V,S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) began seeking proposals from states and V,S.
<br />territories interested in acquiring land or planning for endangered species conservation, Through the fiscal
<br />year 2006 appropriation from Congress, more than $70 million is available in the Cooperative
<br />Endangered Species Conservation Fund for conservation planning activities and habitat acquisition for
<br />federally protected species. Proposals must be submitted to Service Regional Offices by March 20, 2006.
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<br />The Cooperative Endangered Species Conservation Fund is authorized under Section 6 of the Endangered
<br />Species Act, and provides grants to states and territories to support their participation in a wide array of
<br />voluntary conservation projects for listed species, as well as for species that are either proposed or
<br />candidates for listing,
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<br />The Service is seeking proposals for the following three Cooperative Endangered Species Conservation
<br />Fund categories:
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<br />Recoverv Land Acauisition Grants - These grants provide funds to states and territories for
<br />acquisition of threatened and endangered species habitat in support of approved recovery plans,
<br />Acquiring habitat to secure long term protection is often an essential element of a comprehensive .
<br />recovery effort for a listed species.
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<br />Habitat Conservation Planning Assistance Grants - These grants provide funds to states and
<br />territories to support the development of Habitat Conservation Plans (HCPs), through the support
<br />of baseline surveys and inventories, document preparation, outreach, and similar planning
<br />activities,
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<br />HCP Land ACQuisition Grants - These grants provide funds to states and territories to acquire
<br />land associated with approved HCPs, Grants do not fund the mitigation required of an HCP
<br />permittee; instead, they support acquisitions by the State or local governments that complement
<br />actions associated with the HCP,
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<br />By law, the state or territory must have a current cooperative agreement with the Service and contribute
<br />25% of the estimated program costs of approved projects, or 10% when two or more states or territories
<br />undertake a joint project. The grants are expected to be awarded in summer 2006,
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<br />For more information about these grants and grant application requirements contact: V,S, Fish and
<br />Wildlife Service, Division of Consultation, Habitat Conservation Planning, Recovery and State Grants,
<br />4401 N, Fairfax Drive, Room 420, Arlington, VA 22203,703-358-2106. Information also can be
<br />accessed at http://www,fws,gov/endangered/grantsl,
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<br />Federal Desalination Bill: H,R, 1071, the Desalination Drought Protection Act, was reported by the
<br />House Resources Committee and its Water and Power Subcommittee, The bill, introduced by Rep, Jim
<br />Davis (D-FL), requires the Secretary of Energy to make specified incentive payments to the owners or
<br />operators of qualified desalination facilities (which first produce desalinated water after enactment of this
<br />Act) for up to ten years to partially offset the cost of electrical energy required to operate such facilities,
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