Southwest desert fish 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 Southwest desert fish 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 Southwest desert fish conservation may be submitted to the Secretary under this section by a State or Tribal agency, research institution, nonprofit organization, or any other individual or entity, as determined appropriate by the Secretary, with the expertise required to carry out Southwest desert fish 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 desert fish in the Southwest; (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 Southwest desert fish 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) solicit project proposals for assistance under this section; (B) provide a copy of each project proposal submitted in response to such solicitation to other Federal officials, as appropriate; and (C) review each such proposal on a timeline that recognizes the urgency of the declining number of desert fish in the Southwest 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 with respect to the proposal with the government of each State in which the 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 proposal, such other Federal officials, and each State described in subparagraph (A). (d) Criteria for approval (1) In general The Secretary may approve a project proposal under this section if the project shows promise for contributing to recovering and sustaining desert fish populations in the wild in the Southwest. (2) Priority In selecting projects for approval, the Secretary shall give priority to projects that conserve threatened and endangered species of desert fish listed 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 Southwest desert fish 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 paragraph (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.