---
kind: "section"
citation: "16 U.S.C. § 2905"
title: "16"
title_heading: "Conservation"
number: "2905"
heading: "Reimbursement of State costs for developing, revising, and implementing conservation plans and implementing certain nongame fish and wildlife conservation actions"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/16/2905"
units:
  - "Chapter 49 — Fish and Wildlife Conservation"
---

# §2905. Reimbursement of State costs for developing, revising, and implementing conservation plans and implementing certain nongame fish and wildlife conservation actions

- (a) **In general—** Any [State](/usc/16/2902.md?p=8) may apply to the [Secretary](/usc/16/2902.md?p=7) for reimbursement under this section for costs incurred by the [State](/usc/16/2902.md?p=8) for the following:
  - (1) The development of a [conservation plan](/usc/16/2902.md?p=2).
  - (2) The revision of an [approved conservation plan](/usc/16/2902.md?p=1).
  - (3) The implementation of [nongame fish and wildlife](/usc/16/2902.md?p=6) [conservation](/usc/16/2902.md?p=3) actions approved under [section 2904(c)](/usc/16/2904.md?p=c) and (d) of this title.
  - (4) The implementation of [conservation](/usc/16/2902.md?p=3) actions specified in an [approved conservation plan](/usc/16/2902.md?p=1).
  - (5) The coordination, consolidation, or implementation of the [conservation plan](/usc/16/2902.md?p=2) or [conservation](/usc/16/2902.md?p=3) actions approved under this chapter with other related plans or actions developed pursuant to the Act of September 2, 1937 ([16 U.S.C. 669e(a)(1)](/usc/16/669e.md?p=a-1)), commonly referred to as the Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration Act [[16 U.S.C. 669](/usc/16/669.md) et seq.] and the Act of August 9, 1950 ([16 U.S.C. 777c(a)(1)](/usc/16/777c.md?p=a-1)), commonly referred to as the Dingell-Johnson Sport Fish Restoration Act [[16 U.S.C. 777](/usc/16/777.md) et seq.].
- (b) **Applications—** Application for reimbursement under this section shall be made in such manner as the [Secretary](/usc/16/2902.md?p=7) shall by regulation prescribe and shall contain such information as is necessary to enable the [Secretary](/usc/16/2902.md?p=7) to determine whether the [State](/usc/16/2902.md?p=8) meets the eligibility requirements set forth in [subsection (c)](#c).
- (c) **Eligibility—** No [State](/usc/16/2902.md?p=8) is eligible for reimbursement under this section unless the [Secretary](/usc/16/2902.md?p=7) finds that the costs, for which reimbursement is sought, have been incurred by the [State](/usc/16/2902.md?p=8) as follows:
  - (1) If reimbursement is sought under [subsection (a)(1)](#a-1), such costs have been incurred in developing a [conservation plan](/usc/16/2902.md?p=2) that meets the requirements set forth in [section 2903 of this title](/usc/16/2903.md).
  - (2) If reimbursement is sought under [subsection (a)(2)](#a-2), such costs have been incurred in revising the plan in a manner consistent with such requirements.
  - (3) If reimbursement is sought under [subsection (a)(3)](#a-3), such costs have been incurred in implementing the [conservation](/usc/16/2902.md?p=3) actions as approved by the [Secretary](/usc/16/2902.md?p=7).
  - (4) If reimbursement is sought under [subsection (a)(4)](#a-4), such costs have been incurred in implementing [conservation](/usc/16/2902.md?p=3) actions specified in, and in a manner consistent with, the [approved conservation plan](/usc/16/2902.md?p=1).
  - (5) If reimbursement is sought under [subsection (a)(5)](#a-5), such costs have been incurred in consolidating, coordinating or implementing [conservation plans](/usc/16/2902.md?p=2) and actions approved under this chapter with approved plans and actions under the Act of August 9, 1950 ([16 U.S.C. 777c(a)(1)](/usc/16/777c.md?p=a-1)), commonly referred to as the Dingell-Johnson Sport Fish Restoration Act [[16 U.S.C. 777](/usc/16/777.md) et seq.] and the Act of September 2, 1937 ([16 U.S.C. 669e(a)(1)](/usc/16/669e.md?p=a-1)), commonly referred to as the Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration Act [[16 U.S.C. 669](/usc/16/669.md) et seq.] in a manner consistent with sections [2901](/usc/16/2901.md) and [2903](/usc/16/2903.md) of this title.
- (d) **Reimbursement—** Subject to the limitations in [subsection (c)](#c) and the terms and conditions imposed under [section 2906 of this title](/usc/16/2906.md), and to the availability of funds appropriated under [section 2910 of this title](/usc/16/2910.md), the [Secretary](/usc/16/2902.md?p=7) shall reimburse each [State](/usc/16/2902.md?p=8) which the [Secretary](/usc/16/2902.md?p=7) finds to be eligible therefor under [subsection (c)](#c).
- (e) **Limitations—**
  - (1) The total amount of the reimbursement paid to any [State](/usc/16/2902.md?p=8) under this section with respect to any fiscal year may not exceed the allocation available to the [State](/usc/16/2902.md?p=8) under [section 2907 of this title](/usc/16/2907.md) for such year.
  - (2) No reimbursement may be paid under this section to any [State](/usc/16/2902.md?p=8) for any cost incurred by the [State](/usc/16/2902.md?p=8) during any fiscal year—
    - (A) after September 30, 1991, in developing a [conservation plan](/usc/16/2902.md?p=2);
    - (B) after September 30, 1986, for costs incurred in implementing certain [nongame fish and wildlife](/usc/16/2902.md?p=6) actions approved under [section 2904(d) of this title](/usc/16/2904.md?p=d);
    - (C) in which less than 80 percent of the costs to be reimbursed are for the principal benefit of [nongame fish and wildlife](/usc/16/2902.md?p=6) or the users of [nongame fish and wildlife](/usc/16/2902.md?p=6);
    - (D) in implementing an [approved conservation plan](/usc/16/2902.md?p=1), unless the cost was incurred in implementing actions approved under [section 2904(c)](/usc/16/2904.md?p=c) or (d) of this title;
    - (E) in implementing an [approved conservation plan](/usc/16/2902.md?p=1) covering only [nongame fish and wildlife](/usc/16/2902.md?p=6), or any [nongame fish and wildlife](/usc/16/2902.md?p=6) [conservation](/usc/16/2902.md?p=3) action approved under [section 2904(c)](/usc/16/2904.md?p=c) or (d) of this title, to the extent that more than 10 percent of such costs are paid for with moneys collected during such year by the [State](/usc/16/2902.md?p=8)—
      - (i) from the sale of hunting, fishing, and trapping licenses, and
      - (ii) as penalties (including forfeitures) for [violations](/usc/16/620e.md?p=11) of the hunting, fishing, and trapping laws of the [State](/usc/16/2902.md?p=8); or
    - (F) in implementing an [approved conservation plan](/usc/16/2902.md?p=1) or any [nongame fish and wildlife](/usc/16/2902.md?p=6) [conservation](/usc/16/2902.md?p=3) action approved under [section 2904(c)](/usc/16/2904.md?p=c) or (d) of this title, to the extent that—
      - (i) more than 10 percent of such costs are applied for purposes of [conservation](/usc/16/2902.md?p=3) law enforcement under any such plan or action, and
      - (ii) more than 10 percent of such costs in any such year are accounted for by personal service or other inkind contributions.
  - (3) The amount of the reimbursement paid to any [State](/usc/16/2902.md?p=8) under this section with respect to any fiscal year—
    - (A) may not exceed 75 percent for the development of a [conservation plan](/usc/16/2902.md?p=2) except that during fiscal years 1982, 1983, and 1984 such amount shall not exceed 90 percent;
    - (B) for the implementation of [nongame fish and wildlife](/usc/16/2902.md?p=6) [conservation](/usc/16/2902.md?p=3) actions approved under [section 2904(c)](/usc/16/2904.md?p=c) or (d) of this title, may not exceed 75 percent of the cost of implementing the action during such fiscal year, except that if such action is undertaken by two or more [States](/usc/16/544.md?p=r) such amount shall not exceed 90 percent;
    - (C) during and after the fiscal year in which the [conservation plan](/usc/16/2902.md?p=2) of the [State](/usc/16/2902.md?p=8) is approved under [section 2904(a) of this title](/usc/16/2904.md?p=a), may not exceed 75 percent of the cost of implementing and revising the [conservation plan](/usc/16/2902.md?p=2) during such fiscal year, or if two or more [States](/usc/16/544.md?p=r) cooperate in implementing or revising such plan, such cost shall not exceed 90 percent, and
    - (D) after September 30, 1991, may not exceed—
      - (i) 50 percent of the cost of implementing and revising the plan during the fiscal year, if the [approved conservation plan](/usc/16/2902.md?p=1) of the [State](/usc/16/2902.md?p=8) covers only [nongame fish and wildlife](/usc/16/2902.md?p=6), or
      - (ii) 75 percent of the cost of implementing and revising the plan during such fiscal year, if the [approved conservation plan](/usc/16/2902.md?p=1) of the [State](/usc/16/2902.md?p=8) coordinates and consolidates planning for [fish and wildlife](/usc/16/2902.md?p=5).
  - (4)
    - (A) In computing the costs incurred by any [State](/usc/16/2902.md?p=8) during any fiscal year in developing or revising [conservation plans](/usc/16/2902.md?p=2), in implementing [approved conservation plans](/usc/16/2902.md?p=1), or in implementing [nongame fish and wildlife](/usc/16/2902.md?p=6) [conservation](/usc/16/2902.md?p=3) actions approved under [section 2904(c)](/usc/16/2904.md?p=c) or (d) of this title, for which reimbursement may be available under this section, the [Secretary](/usc/16/2902.md?p=7) shall—
      - (i) [take](/usc/16/3102.md?p=18) into account, in [addition](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-2) to each outlay, the value of inkind contributions and real and personal property received and applied during such year by the [State](/usc/16/2902.md?p=8) for such purposes; and
      - (ii) not include any other Federal moneys received by such [State](/usc/16/2902.md?p=8) and applied by it, directly or indirectly, for such purposes.
    - (B) For purposes of [subparagraph (A)](#e-4-A), inkind contributions may be in the form of, but are not limited to, personal services rendered by volunteers in carrying out surveys, censuses, and other scientific studies regarding [fish and wildlife](/usc/16/2902.md?p=5). The [Secretary](/usc/16/2902.md?p=7) shall by regulation establish (i) the training, experience, and other qualifications which such volunteers must have in order for their services to be considered as inkind contributions; and (ii) the standards under which the [Secretary](/usc/16/2902.md?p=7) will determine the value of inkind contributions and real and personal property for purposes of [subparagraph (A)](#e-4-A).
    - (C) Any valuation determination made by the [Secretary](/usc/16/2902.md?p=7) for purposes of this paragraph shall be final and conclusive.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 96–366, § 6, Sept. 29, 1980, 94 Stat. 1325.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### References in Text

The Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration Act, referred to in subsecs. (a)(5) and (c)(5), is act Sept. 2, 1937, ch. 899, 50 Stat. 917, also known as the Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration Act, which is classified generally to chapter 5B (§ 669 et seq.) of this title. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under section 669 of this title and Tables.

The Dingell-Johnson Sport Fish Restoration Act, referred to in subsecs. (a)(5) and (c)(5), is act Aug. 9, 1950, ch. 658, 64 Stat. 430, also known as the Federal Aid in Fish Restoration Act and the Fish Restoration and Management Projects Act, which is classified generally to chapter 10B (§ 777 et seq.) of this title. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under section 777 of this title and Tables.

16 U.S.C 777c(a)(1), referred to in subsecs. (a)(5) and (c)(5), probably is a reference to section 6(a)(1) of act Aug. 9, 1950, ch. 658, 64 Stat. 432, which is classified to section 777e(a)(1) of this title.