The Coastal Zone Management Program of the Department of Environmental Protection is soliciting land acquisition grant proposals to submit to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration through the Coastal and Estuarine Land Conservation Program.

Proposals are due to DEP by July 7.

The CELCP places an emphasis on ''ecologically valuable'' lands. The geographic areas covered by the CELCP are the designated Delaware Estuary Coastal Zone Watershed and the Lake Erie Coastal Zone Watershed.

Grant applications may be made for the purchase of land acquisitions or interests; these may be in fee-simple title or as conservation easements. A major condition of the CELCP Program is that the title or easement must be held by a governmental/public entity.

Grant awards must be matched dollar-for-dollar (may include in-kind match but not other Federal funds) and are capped at $3 million each (Federal share). Land trusts may hold sub-easements for management and stewardship on CELCP-funded properties and may assist in the development of proposals, but they may not hold title to any property acquired with the CELCP funds.

More background is available online in the PA Bulletin Notice.

6/6/2008