--- kind: "section" citation: "16 U.S.C. § 669e" title: "16" title_heading: "Conservation" number: "669e" heading: "Submission and approval of plans and projects" release: "119-102" date: "2026-07-12" url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/16/669e" units: - "Chapter 5B — Wildlife Restoration" --- # §669e. Submission and approval of plans and projects - (a) **Setting aside funds—** Any [State](/usc/16/590q.md?p=a) desiring to avail itself of the benefits of this chapter shall, by its [State fish and game department](/usc/16/669a.md?p=6), submit programs or [projects](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-4) for [wildlife](/usc/16/669a.md?p=7) restoration in either of the following two ways: - (1) The [State](/usc/16/590q.md?p=a) shall prepare and submit to the [Secretary](/usc/16/669a.md?p=5) of the Interior a comprehensive [fish and wildlife](/usc/16/3102.md?p=17) resource [management plan](/usc/16/544.md?p=k) which shall insure the perpetuation of these resources for the economic, scientific, and recreational enrichment of the people. Such plan shall be for a period of not less than five years and be based on projections of desires and needs of the people for a period of not less than fifteen years. It shall include provisions for updating at intervals of not more than three years and be provided in a format as may be required by the [Secretary](/usc/16/669a.md?p=5) of the Interior. If the [Secretary](/usc/16/669a.md?p=5) of the Interior finds that such plans conform to standards established by him and approves such plans, he may finance up to 75 per centum of the cost of implementing segments of those plans meeting the purposes of this chapter from funds apportioned under this chapter upon his approval of an annual agreement submitted to him. - (2) A [State](/usc/16/590q.md?p=a) may elect to avail itself of the benefits of this chapter by its [State fish and game department](/usc/16/669a.md?p=6) submitting to the [Secretary](/usc/16/669a.md?p=5) of the Interior full and detailed statements of any [wildlife-restoration project](/usc/16/669a.md?p=11) proposed for that [State](/usc/16/590q.md?p=a). If the [Secretary](/usc/16/669a.md?p=5) of the Interior finds that such [project](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-4) meets with the standards set by him and approves said [project](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-4), the [State fish and game department](/usc/16/669a.md?p=6) shall furnish to him such surveys, plans, specifications, and estimates therefor as he may require. If the [Secretary](/usc/16/669a.md?p=5) of the Interior approves the plans, specifications, and estimates for the [project](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-4), he shall notify the [State fish and game department](/usc/16/669a.md?p=6) and immediately set aside so much of said fund as represents the share of the United States payable under this chapter on account of such [project](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-4), which sum so set aside shall not exceed 75 per centum of the total estimated cost thereof. The [Secretary](/usc/16/669a.md?p=5) of the Interior shall approve only such comprehensive plans or [projects](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-4) as may be substantial in character and design and the expenditure of funds hereby authorized shall be applied only to such approved comprehensive [wildlife](/usc/16/669a.md?p=7) plans or [projects](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-4) and if otherwise applied they shall be replaced by the [State](/usc/16/590q.md?p=a) before it may participate in any further apportionment under this chapter. No payment of any money apportioned under this chapter shall be made on any comprehensive [wildlife](/usc/16/669a.md?p=7) plan or [project](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-4) until an agreement to participate therein shall have been submitted to and approved by the [Secretary](/usc/16/669a.md?p=5) of the Interior. - (b) **“Project” defined—** If the [State](/usc/16/590q.md?p=a) elects to avail itself of the benefits of this chapter by preparing a comprehensive [fish and wildlife](/usc/16/3102.md?p=17) plan under option (1) of [subsection (a)](#a) of this section, then the term “[project](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-4)” may be defined for the purposes of this chapter as a [wildlife](/usc/16/669a.md?p=7) program, all other definitions notwithstanding. - (c) **Costs—** Administrative costs in the form of overhead or indirect costs for services provided by [State](/usc/16/590q.md?p=a) central service activities outside of the [State](/usc/16/590q.md?p=a) agency having primary jurisdiction over the [wildlife](/usc/16/669a.md?p=7) resources of the [State](/usc/16/590q.md?p=a) which may be charged against programs or [projects](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-4) supported by the fund established by [section 669b of this title](/usc/16/669b.md) shall not exceed in any one [fiscal year](/usc/16/669a.md?p=2) 3 per centum of the annual apportionment to the [State](/usc/16/590q.md?p=a). ## Source credit (Sept. 2, 1937, ch. 899, § 6, 50 Stat. 918; 1939 Reorg. Plan No. II, § 4(f), eff. July 1, 1939, 4 F.R. 2731, 53 Stat. 1433; Pub. L. 91–503, title I, § 102, Oct. 23, 1970, 84 Stat. 1099.) ## Notes ### Editorial Notes ### Amendments 1970—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 91–503 inserted an alternative method of application for funds by the submission of a comprehensive fish and wildlife resource management plan for a period of five years based on projections for fifteen years, to be updated every three years, laid down a maximum limit of federal assistance of 75 percent of the estimated cost of the implementation of the plan, and, in the existing method of application, now contained in par. (2), struck out reference to Secretary of the Treasury and the requirement that the State pay 10 percent of the costs. Subsecs. (b), (c). Pub. L. 91–503 added subsecs. (b) and (c). ### Executive Documents ### Transfer of Functions Reorg. Plan No. II of 1939, set out in the Appendix to Title 5, Government Organization and Employees, transferred functions of Secretary of Agriculture relating to conservation of wildlife, game, and migratory birds to Secretary of the Interior.