---
kind: "section"
citation: "50 C.F.R. § 80.96"
title: "50"
number: "80.96"
heading: "May a State fish and wildlife agency use Federal funds without using cost sharing?"
url: "https://uscodex.org/cfr/50/80.96"
---

# §80.96. May a State fish and wildlife agency use Federal funds without using cost sharing?

- (a) The State fish and wildlife agency must not draw down any Federal funds for a grant-funded project under the Acts in greater proportion to the use of cost sharing than total Federal funds bear to total cost sharing unless:
  - (1) The recipient draws down Federal award funds to pay for construction, including land acquisition;
  - (2) A third-party in-kind contribution of cost sharing is not yet available for delivery to the recipient or subrecipient; or
  - (3) **The project is not at the point where it can accommodate a third-party in-kind contribution.**
- (b) If an agency draws down Federal funds in greater proportion to the use of cost sharing than total Federal funds bear to total cost sharing under the conditions described at [paragraphs (a)(1) through (3)](#a-1..a-3) of this section, the agency must:
  - (1) Obtain the Regional Director's prior approval; and
  - (2) **Satisfy the project's cost sharing requirement before submitting the final Federal financial report.**

## Notes

### Authority

Authority: 16 U.S.C. 669 et seq., except for provisions specific to the Wildlife Conservation and Restoration program, and 777-777m, except 777e-1 and g-1.

### Source

Source: 91 FR 1888, Jan. 15, 2026, unless otherwise noted.