(1) Successful applicants for grants funded by federal Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration funding are federal grant sub-recipients subject to administrative requirements of the Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration Act, including Title 50 CFR 80.20-160.

(2) Grants may be up to 5 years in duration although funding allocations will be provided on an annual basis; after the first year, annual allocations will be dependent upon satisfactory completion of grant award requirements (implementation and reporting) the previous year.

(3) Grants will be on a reimbursable basis. Reimbursement will be based on documented, eligible expenses up to the amount awarded and in proportion to spending of eligible match.

(4) Minimum criteria to qualify for a grant are listed as follows and serve as a basis for competitive ranking of proposals:

(a) the project must enhance priority habitats for one or more priority wildlife species through control, management, or eradication of noxious weeds;

(b) noxious weed invasion must represent a direct threat to priority habitat function;

(c) the project area must include ecologically important wildlife habitat that is in need of restoration;

(d) the project would have a reasonable probability of treatment effectiveness that includes effective methodology, anticipated plant community recovery, preservation of non-target plant species, post treatment management;

(e) the proposal exhibits a landscape scale approach or benefit;

(f) the project must include a minimum 25% nonfederal match and must meet additional match requirements depending on the funding source of the project. The proposal must describe the source and type of nonfederal match. The match funds may only be spent on eligible grant activities as described in ARM 12.9.1602; and

(g) projects must occur in an eligible county as required by the Montana Wildlife Habitat Improvement Act, 87-5-801 through 87-5-808, MCA.

(5) Reports of monitoring results shall be provided to the department by the end of December of each year.

(6) The department may develop standardized monitoring techniques, consistent with these rules.

(7) This rule expires June 30, 2023, pursuant to 87-5-808, MCA.