Pacific Islands plant conservation assistance

(a) Assistance (1) In general The Secretary shall, in consultation with other Federal officials, use amounts in the Fund to provide competitive financial assistance, including multiyear grants, for Pacific Islands plant conservation projects. (2) Use of existing authorities Assistance provided under this section shall be carried out in a manner consistent with authorities available to the Secretary under the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.). (b) Project proposals (1) Eligible applicants A project proposal for Pacific Islands plant conservation may be submitted to the Secretary under this section by a State, territory, or Tribal agency or any other individual or entity, as determined appropriate by the Secretary, with the expertise required to carry out Pacific Islands plant conservation. (2) Federal partnership opportunities A Federal agency may not be a lead entity or receive funding for a project under this section, but may be included as a partner or collaborator on a project that receives such funding. (3) Required elements A project proposal submitted under this section shall include— (A) a statement of the purposes of the project; (B) the name of the individual or entity with overall responsibility for the project; (C) a description of— (i) the qualifications of the individual or entity that will conduct the project; (ii) methods for project implementation and outcome assessment; (iii) staffing and stakeholder engagement for the project, including mechanisms to ensure adequate local public participation in project development and implementation; (iv) the logistics of the project, including cost estimates and timelines; (v) anticipated outcomes of the project; and (vi) how the project will promote sustainable, effective, long-term programs to conserve plant populations on the Pacific Islands; (D) assurances that the project will be implemented in consultation with relevant wildlife management authorities, Tribes, and other appropriate government officials; (E) demonstrated sensitivity to local historic and cultural resources and compliance with applicable laws; (F) information that demonstrates the potential of the project to contribute to Pacific Islands plant conservation; (G) information regarding the source and amount of any matching funding available for the project; and (H) such other information as the Secretary determines appropriate. (c) Project review and approval (1) In general The Secretary shall— (A) not later than 30 days after receiving a project proposal, provide a copy of the proposal to other Federal officials, as appropriate; and (B) review each project proposal to determine whether the proposal meets the criteria specified in subsection (d). (2) Consultation; approval or disapproval The Secretary shall, after consulting with other Federal officials, as appropriate, with respect to each project proposal submitted under this section— (A) consult on the project proposal with the government of each State or territory in which such project is to be conducted; (B) after taking into consideration any comments resulting from such consultation, approve or disapprove the project proposal; and (C) provide written notification of the approval or disapproval to the individual or entity that submitted the project proposal, such other Federal officials, and each State or territory described in subparagraph (A). (d) Criteria for approval (1) In general The Secretary may approve a project proposal under this section if the project will help recover and sustain viable populations of threatened and endangered plants by assisting efforts to implement Pacific Islands plant conservation programs. (2) Priority In selecting projects for approval, the Secretary shall give priority to projects that conserve species of plants that are listed as a threatened or endangered species under the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.). (3) Project sustainability To the maximum extent practicable, in determining whether to approve a project proposal under this section, the Secretary shall give preference to projects that are designed to ensure effective and long-term Pacific Islands plant conservation. (4) Matching funds In determining whether to approve a project proposal under this section, the Secretary shall give preference to projects for which matching funds are available. (5) Waiver The Secretary may waive the application of paragraphs (2), (3), or (4) with respect to a project if the Secretary— (A) has identified the project as of high priority; and (B) finds that such waiver is necessary to support the project. (e) Project reporting (1) In general Each individual or entity that receives assistance under this section for a project shall submit to the Secretary periodic reports (at such intervals as the Secretary determines appropriate) that include all information that the Secretary, after consultation with other government officials, determines is necessary to evaluate the progress and success of such project for the purposes of ensuring positive results, assessing problems, and fostering improvements. (2) Availability to the public The Secretary shall make available to the public each report submitted under paragraph (1) and any other document relating to a project for which financial assistance is provided under this title.