50 CFR § 80.131 - Must a State fish and wildlife agency hold an easement acquired under an award?

---
identifier: "/us/cfr/t50/s80.131"
source: "ecfr"
legal_status: "authoritative_unofficial"
title: "50 CFR § 80.131 - Must a State fish and wildlife agency hold an easement acquired under an award?"
title_number: 50
title_name: "Wildlife and Fisheries"
section_number: "80.131"
section_name: "Must a State fish and wildlife agency hold an easement acquired under an award?"
chapter_name: "UNITED STATES FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE, DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR"
subchapter_number: "F"
subchapter_name: "FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE—WILDLIFE AND SPORT FISH RESTORATION PROGRAM"
part_number: "80"
part_name: "ADMINISTRATIVE REQUIREMENTS, PITTMAN-ROBERTSON WILDLIFE RESTORATION AND DINGELL-JOHNSON SPORT FISH RESTORATION ACTS"
positive_law: false
currency: "2026-03-24"
last_updated: "2026-03-24"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
authority: "16 U.S.C. 669  except for provisions specific to the Wildlife Conservation and Restoration program, and 777-777m, except 777e-1 and g-1."
regulatory_source: "91 FR 1888, Jan. 15, 2026, unless otherwise noted."
cfr_part: "80"
---


# 80.131 Must a State fish and wildlife agency hold an easement acquired under an award?

A State fish and wildlife agency must hold an easement acquired under an award, but it may share certain rights or responsibilities as described in paragraph (b) of this section if consistent with State law.

(a) Any sharing of rights or responsibilities does not diminish the agency's responsibility to manage the easement for its authorized purpose.

(b) The agency may share the holding or enforcement of an easement only in the following situations:

(1) The State or an administrative unit of State government may hold an easement on behalf of its fish and wildlife agency.

(2) The agency may issue a subaward with the concurrent right to hold the easement to a nonprofit organization or to a local or Tribal government. A concurrent right to hold an easement means that both the State agency and the subrecipient hold the easement and share its rights and responsibilities.

(3) The agency may issue a subaward with a right of enforcement to a nonprofit organization or to a local or Tribal government. This right of enforcement may allow the subrecipient to have reasonable access and entry to property protected under the easement for purposes of inspection, monitoring, and enforcement. The subrecipient's right of enforcement must not supersede and must be concurrent with the agency's right of enforcement.