The Nature Conservancy (TNC) Palmyra Program

Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number: 15.608 This funding opportunity is offered in order to contribute to the maintenance of a field station, its infrastructure, supporting staff and its marine program that allows Refuge personnel to fulfil their mission at Palmyra Atoll National Wildlife Refuge located in the Central Pacific Ocean. The Service and TNC together represent the primary ownership interests for all of the waters and over 99% of the emergent land found at the atoll. Together the two entities work towards the conservation and management of fish, wildlife, and their habitats and share costs, expenses and responsibilities associated with effective management of the atoll⿿s resources. TNC owns and operates a research station on Cooper Island which includes the atoll⿿s only landing strip and the only docking facilities. The field station provides all infrastructure and support required for living and working in one of the most isolated areas of the world. The expense of maintaining facilities in such a remote setting is substantial and it is to the direct benefit of both the Service and TNC to be able to pool resources and support each other⿿s activities. This award will allow the Service to contribute to the cost of maintaining the TNC facilities in exchange for its use by Refuge staff and volunteers who will be housed and fed as well as provided with all basic infrastructure needs such as water, electricity, waste disposal and transportation options for both personnel and supplies. Authorities for participation by USFWS in this Agreement are issued under the authority of Acts of Congress (16 U.S.C. §§ 661-754) and regulations issued pursuant thereto in Title 50 of the Code of Federal Regulations. This Agreement is negotiated under the authority of the National Wildlife Refuge System Administration Act of 1966, as amended (16 U.S.C. § 668dd), the Fish and Wildlife Act (16 U.S.C. § 742), the Refuge Recreation Act (16 U.S.C. § 460k), the Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act (16 U.S.C. § 661), the Endangered Species Act of 1973 as amended (16 U.S.C. §§ 1531-1543), and the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (16 U.S.C. §§ 703-712). This Funding Opportunity supports Priority No. 1 identified by the Secretary of the Interior, Creating a Conservation Stewardship Legacy, by partnering with The Nature Conservancy (TNC) to leverage various TNC guided resource uses in order to allow Service personnel to access the Refuge and fulfill its mission at great cost savings to the Service. TNC owns and manages a field station on the only developed land on the atoll in order to provide access to researchers, anglers and naturalists who want to experience the waters, reefs and islands of Palmyra for themselves. Without TNC involvement, the public⿿s access to these resources would be limited to only those who could travel the thousands of miles by private ship. This agreement would be the Service⿿s contribution to the maintenance of the facilities and infrastructure that allows for the fast majority of public access and in exchange TNC will support the yearly use of the facilities and station staff for the Palmyra Atoll Refuge Manager, the Deputy Refuge Manager, other Refuge dedicated staff and Service volunteers who would assist them in their management tasks. This enduring partnership greatly enhances the number of people who experience the refuge each year which ultimately contributes to the awareness and importance of these resources which is inherent in any successful legacy.