California Refuge Account

The Department of the Interior's Office of Natural Resources Revenue (ONRR) distributes oil and gas revenues to the State of California under the California Refuge Account (CFDA 15.432) through an automatic, formula-driven allocation with no application process required.

This is not a competitive grant program. ONRR disburses 40.87 percent of oil and gas rents, royalties, and bonus bids from federal offshore production in waters near California's coast directly to the state by law under section 8(g). The allocation formula reflects California's geographic share: the state receives 38 percent of well production attributable to the portion of a well within 500 feet of the state/federal boundary and 62 percent outside that 500-foot zone, yielding the combined 40.87 percent entitlement. Distributions are automatic and non-discretionary; ONRR performs revenue identification, federal validation, and monthly payment calculations, with Treasury issuing final disbursements directly to the state. Funds do not pass through to private sector entities.

The state controls how it deploys the revenue for public projects and wildlife refuges. Because the mechanism is a formula-driven revenue-share with no discretion, no competitive selection, and no application requirement, this program is not viable for business development professionals pursuing grant funding. The state of California is the sole eligible recipient by statute, and no private-sector organizations, nonprofits, local governments, or other entities can apply for or receive direct funding under this Assistance Listing.

Organizations seeking federal funding for California coastal projects, wildlife refuges, or natural resource management should evaluate other competitive grant programs through Interior's constituent agencies, such as the Fish and Wildlife Service or the U.S. Geological Survey, or through other federal funders with discretionary grant authorities. This program functions as a revenue-distribution mechanism to the state, not as a grants vehicle open to external applicants.