Cooperative Conservation Partnership Initiative and Wetlands Reserve Enhancement Program, 73027-73033 [2010-29958]
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73027
Notices
Federal Register
Vol. 75, No. 228
Monday, November 29, 2010
This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER
contains documents other than rules or
proposed rules that are applicable to the
public. Notices of hearings and investigations,
committee meetings, agency decisions and
rulings, delegations of authority, filing of
petitions and applications and agency
statements of organization and functions are
examples of documents appearing in this
section.
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Commodity Credit Corporation
Cooperative Conservation Partnership
Initiative and Wetlands Reserve
Enhancement Program
Commodity Credit Corporation
and Natural Resources Conservation
Service, United States Department of
Agriculture.
ACTION: Notice of request for proposals
through the Mississippi River Basin
Healthy Watersheds Initiative.
AGENCY:
The Natural Resources
Conservation Service (NRCS) announces
the availability of financial assistance
funds in fiscal year (FY) 2011 for up to
$15 million in the Cooperative
Conservation Partnership Initiative
(CCPI) and up to $25 million in the
Wetlands Reserve Enhancement
Program (WREP) through the
Mississippi River Basin Healthy
Watersheds Initiative (MRBI). These
funding levels are available for new
MRBI proposals only. However, CCPI
and WREP will not be the only funding
mechanisms for MRBI in FY 2011. The
Chief of NRCS reserves discretion in
SUMMARY:
utilizing other NRCS conservation
program funds and mechanisms in
support of the objectives of MRBI.
Through agreements, partners and
NRCS will provide assistance to eligible
participants in the 43 designated focus
areas (8-digit HUCs) in the following 13
States: Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa,
Kentucky, Louisiana, Minnesota,
Mississippi, Missouri, Ohio, Tennessee,
South Dakota, and Wisconsin. The
purpose of this notice is to solicit
proposals from potential partners to
enter into agreements with NRCS and to
inform agricultural producers and
landowners of the future availability of
program funds through approved
partnership projects. Proposals must be
based on one or more 12-digit HUCs
within the 43 designated focus areas.
Partners who are currently involved in
approved MRBI agreements through
CCPI or WREP and want to work in
other 12-digit watersheds must submit
new proposals for a new project.
DATES: Eligible partners may submit
proposals for MRBI–CCPI and/or MRBI–
WREP via email or U.S. Postal Service;
however, all proposals must be received
on or before January 28, 2011.
ADDRESSES: Applicants are encouraged
to submit proposals electronically to
MRBI–CCPI@wdc.usda.gov for CCPI and
MRBI–WREP@wdc.usda.gov for WREP.
If submitting a paper proposal, the
proposal may be mailed to: Troy
Daniell, Initiatives Coordinator,
Conservation Initiatives Team, Natural
Resources Conservation Service, P.O.
Box 2890, Washington, DC 20013.
Do not send submissions via
registered or certified mail. Do not send
the same proposal both electronically
and to the P.O. Box address; use only
one method to submit a proposal. If
submitting more than one project
proposal, please submit each separately.
Troy
Daniell, Initiatives Coordinator,
Conservation Initiatives Team, Natural
Resources Conservation Service;
Telephone: (202) 690–2825; e-mail:
Troy.Daniell@wdc.usda.gov.
Persons with disabilities who require
alternative means for communication
(Braille, large print, audio tape, etc.)
should contact the USDA TARGET
Center at: (202) 720–2600 (voice and
TDD).
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Part A—General WREP and CCPI
Proposal Information
Focus Area Watersheds
Forty-three focus area (8-digit
hydrologic unit code (HUC)) watersheds
have been selected by NRCS State
Conservationists, with input from the
State Technical Committees and State
water quality agencies, to help improve
water quality by reducing nitrogen and
sediment levels in the watersheds of the
Mississippi River Basin, as well as
improve wildlife habitat and restore
wetlands. The designated
8-digit HUC focus areas are listed below.
A complete list of the smaller-scale, 12digit HUC sub-watersheds within the
designated 8-digit HUC focus areas can
be found at: https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/
programs/mrbi/unit_code_lists.html.
DESIGNATED FOCUS AREAS FOR THE MRBI FY 2011 (8-DIGIT HUCS)
Hydrologic
Unit Code
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State(s)
Watershed
Arkansas/Missouri ......................................................................
Arkansas .....................................................................................
Arkansas .....................................................................................
Arkansas/Missouri ......................................................................
Illinois ..........................................................................................
Illinois ..........................................................................................
Illinois ..........................................................................................
Illinois/Indiana .............................................................................
Indiana ........................................................................................
Indiana ........................................................................................
Indiana ........................................................................................
Indiana/Ohio ...............................................................................
Iowa ............................................................................................
Iowa ............................................................................................
Iowa ............................................................................................
Iowa/Minnesota ...........................................................................
Cache .........................................................................................
Lake Conway-Point Remove ......................................................
L’Anguille ....................................................................................
Lower St. Francis .......................................................................
Lower Illinois-Senachwine Lake .................................................
Upper Illinois ...............................................................................
Vermillion (Upper Mississippi River sub-basin) ..........................
Vermillion (Upper Ohio River sub-basin) ...................................
Eel ..............................................................................................
Upper East Fork White ...............................................................
Wildcat ........................................................................................
Upper Wabash ............................................................................
Boone .........................................................................................
Maquoketa ..................................................................................
North Raccoon ...........................................................................
Upper Cedar ...............................................................................
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DESIGNATED FOCUS AREAS FOR THE MRBI FY 2011 (8-DIGIT HUCS)—Continued
Hydrologic
Unit Code
State(s)
Watershed
Kentucky/Tennessee ..................................................................
Kentucky .....................................................................................
Kentucky .....................................................................................
Louisiana ....................................................................................
Louisiana/Arkansas ....................................................................
Louisiana/Arkansas ....................................................................
Minnesota ...................................................................................
Minnesota ...................................................................................
Minnesota ...................................................................................
Mississippi ..................................................................................
Mississippi/Louisiana/Arkansas ..................................................
Mississippi ..................................................................................
Missouri/Iowa ..............................................................................
Mississippi ..................................................................................
Missouri ......................................................................................
Missouri ......................................................................................
Missouri/Arkansas ......................................................................
Ohio/Indiana ...............................................................................
Ohio ............................................................................................
Tennessee ..................................................................................
Tennessee/Kentucky ..................................................................
Tennessee ..................................................................................
Tennessee/Kentucky ..................................................................
South Dakota/Minnesota ............................................................
Wisconsin/Illinois ........................................................................
Wisconsin/Illinois ........................................................................
Wisconsin/Illinois ........................................................................
Bayou De Chien-Mayfield ...........................................................
Licking ........................................................................................
Lower Green ...............................................................................
Mermentau .................................................................................
Bayou Macon .............................................................................
Boeuf River .................................................................................
Middle Minnesota .......................................................................
Root ............................................................................................
Sauk ...........................................................................................
Big Sunflower .............................................................................
Deer-Steele ................................................................................
Upper Yazoo ..............................................................................
Lower Grand ...............................................................................
Coldwater Creek .........................................................................
North Fork Salt ...........................................................................
South Fork Salt ..........................................................................
Little River Ditches .....................................................................
Upper Great Miami .....................................................................
Upper Scioto ...............................................................................
Forked Deer ...............................................................................
Obion ..........................................................................................
South Fork Obion .......................................................................
Red River ...................................................................................
Upper Minnesota ........................................................................
Sugar ..........................................................................................
Upper Rock ................................................................................
Pecatonica ..................................................................................
Under MRBI, NRCS works with
partners through CCPI and WREP to
help address conservation concerns and
opportunities within the watershed of
the Mississippi River Basin. In approved
MRBI–CCPI project areas, NRCS will
make Environmental Quality Incentives
Program (EQIP), Conservation
Stewardship Program (CSP), and
Wildlife Habitat Incentive Program
(WHIP) funds available to eligible
producers consistent with the proposal
design as much as possible. In approved
MRBI–WREP project areas, funds are
available through the Wetlands Reserve
Program (WRP).
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Proposal Submission, Review, and
Notification
Potential partners are highly
encouraged to submit proposals to the
email address provided in the
‘‘Addresses’’ section of this notice. If the
proposal is submitted in hard copy, the
potential partner must submit two
copies of the proposal, typewritten or
printed on 81⁄2″ x 11″ white paper. The
entire project proposal, not including
letters of support, cannot exceed 12
pages in length including a summary,
responses to the information requested
in this RFP, maps, and other supporting
documents. The proposal must address,
in sufficient detail, all the criteria
outlined in the ‘‘Proposal Requirements’’
section of this notice in order to be
considered.
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MRBI–CCPI and MRBI–WREP
proposals submitted to NRCS become
the property of the agency for use in the
administration of the program, may be
filed or disposed of by the agency, and
will not be returned to the potential
partner. Once proposals have been
submitted for review and ranking, there
will be no further opportunity for the
potential partner to change or re-submit
the proposal; however, NRCS may
request certain changes before finalizing
the selection and approval of a project.
Incomplete proposals or those that do
not meet the requirements set forth in
this notice will not be considered, and
notification of elimination will be
mailed to the applicant. Partner
proposals may be withdrawn by written
notice to Troy Daniell, Initiatives
Coordinator, Conservation Initiatives
Team, at any time prior to selection (see
‘‘Addresses’’ section in this notice).
NRCS will review, evaluate, and rank
proposals based on the criteria set forth
in the respective ‘‘Proposal
Requirements’’ sections of this notice for
both MRBI–CCPI and MRBI–WREP.
Potential partners should recognize that
the proposal is the only document
NRCS will use in the evaluation
process. The proposal must request
NRCS program funds for obligation
beginning in FY 2011 (October 1, 2010–
September 30, 2011). Proposals which
request funding with obligation starting
after FY 2011 will not be evaluated or
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considered under this request for
proposals.
Partners whose proposals have been
selected will receive an official letter of
notification. Upon notification of
selection, the partner should contact the
appropriate State Conservationist(s) to
develop the required partnership
agreement and other project
implementation requirements. Potential
partners should note that, depending
upon available funding and agency
priorities, NRCS may offer a reduced
amount of program financial assistance
from what was requested in the
proposal and may require adjustments
to the proposal as a condition of
approval to meet program or other
requirements. Partner submissions of
proposals that are not selected will also
be notified by mail.
State Conservationist(s) Proposal
Review
Once a project proposal is received,
the agency will provide a copy of it to
the appropriate State Conservationist(s).
State Conservationist(s) will review the
proposals to:
(a) Document potential duplication
with other projects or existing programs;
(b) Ensure adherence to and
consistency with program regulation,
including requirements related to land
and landowner eligibility and other
program requirements;
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(c) Address expected benefits for
project implementation in their State(s);
(d) For multi-State proposals,
coordinate with all State
Conservationists involved in the
proposal to verify there is concurrence
and support for the project;
(e) Identify other issues or concerns
that should be considered; and
(f) Provide a recommendation to the
NRCS Chief for approval or disapproval
of the project.
Waiver Authority
To assist in the implementation of
approved WREP and CCPI projects, the
Chief may waive the applicability of the
Adjusted Gross Income Limitation, on a
case-by-case basis, in accordance with 7
CFR part 1400. Such waiver requests
must be submitted in writing from the
program applicant, not the sponsoring
partner, addressed to the Chief, and
submitted through the local NRCS
designated conservationist.
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Part B—The Cooperative Conservation
Partnership Initiative (CCPI)
Component of MRBI
To improve the health of the
watersheds within the Mississippi River
Basin, NRCS and its partners will help
producers to voluntarily implement
conservation practices that avoid,
control, and trap nutrient runoff;
improve wildlife habitat; restore
wetlands; and maintain agricultural
productivity. These improvements will
be accomplished through a conservation
systems approach to address water
quality, wetland, and wildlife related
resource concerns. NRCS will provide
producers assistance in implementing a
suite of practices that will reduce the
impacts of nutrients and sediment
leaving agricultural fields.
Overview of the CCPI
The CCPI is a voluntary conservation
initiative that enables the use of certain
conservation programs, combined with
resources from eligible partners, to
provide financial and technical
assistance to owners and operators of
agricultural and nonindustrial private
forest lands in order to enhance
conservation outcomes and achieve
resource conservation objectives. The
functions of CCPI can best be described
in two parts: CCPI partnerships and
CCPI program participation.
CCPI Partnerships
Under CCPI, eligible potential
partners may submit proposals
addressing the criteria that are outlined
in this request for proposals. Partners
who may enter into partnership
agreements with NRCS include federally
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recognized Indian tribes, State and local
units of government, producer
associations, farmer cooperatives,
institutions of higher education, and
nongovernmental organizations with a
history of working cooperatively with
producers to effectively address
conservation priorities related to
agricultural production and
nonindustrial private forest land.
Individual agricultural producers are
not an eligible partner entity and may
not submit CCPI proposals. However,
individual agricultural producers can
participate by applying for program
assistance in the approved proposal
areas, through their local NRCS office.
Proposals will be evaluated through a
competitive review process. After
selection, the partners will enter into a
partnership agreement with NRCS. The
partnership agreement will not obligate
funds, but will address the:
(a) Role of the partner;
(b) Role of NRCS;
(c) Responsibilities of the partner as it
relates to the monitoring and evaluation;
(d) Frequency and duration of
monitoring and evaluation to be
completed by the partner;
(e) Format and frequency of reports
that are required as a condition of the
partnership agreement;
(f) Budget which includes other
funding sources (if applicable) for
financial and technical assistance;
(g) Specified project schedule and
timeframe; and
(h) Other requirements deemed
necessary by NRCS to further the
purposes of MRBI.
Where flexibility is needed to meet
project objectives, the partner may
request that program adjustments be
allowed, provided such adjustments are
within the scope of the applicable
programs’ statutory and regulatory
program authorities. An example of an
adjustment may be to expedite the
applicable program ranking process in a
situation where a partner has identified
the producers approved to participate in
the project. Other examples of
flexibilities are payments rates, or use of
a single area-wide conservation plan of
operations rather than individual
conservation plans of operation. An
example of an ineligible flexibility
would be to request funds for activities
that do not meet NRCS conservation
practice standards.
CCPI is not a grant program, and all
Federal funds made available through
this request for proposals will be paid
directly to producers through program
contract agreements. If desired,
producers may elect to have their
payments assigned to another party. No
technical assistance funding may be
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provided to a partner through the CCPI
partner agreement. However, if
requested by a partner, the State
Conservationist may consider
development of a separate contribution
agreement with a qualified partner to
provide funding for delivery of
technical services to producers
participating in an approved CCPI
project.
CCPI Program Participation
Once the agency approves and
announces the selected partner projects,
eligible agricultural producers located
within the approved project areas may
apply directly to NRCS for funding
through one or more of the following
programs: EQIP, CSP, or WHIP. CCPI
uses the funds, policies, and processes
of these programs to deliver assistance
to eligible producers to implement
approved core and supporting
conservation practices, enhancements,
and activities under MRBI. Producers
interested in applying must meet the
eligibility requirements of the program
for which they are applying. Individual
applications from eligible producers
will be evaluated and ranked to ensure
that producer applications selected for
funding are most likely to achieve
project objectives. Once applications are
selected, the producers may enter into
one or more contracts or cost-share
agreements with NRCS within one or
more of the programs offered under
CCPI. During FY 2011, an objective of
MRBI–CCPI is to deliver EQIP, CSP, and
WHIP assistance to producers to achieve
MRBI priority conservation objectives in
geographic areas defined by the partner.
Depending upon the program available
in the project area, the assistance
provided enables eligible producers to
implement conservation practices and
enhancements, including the
development and adoption of
innovative conservation practices and
management approaches.
Availability of Funding
Effective on the publication date of
this notice, the CCC announces the
availability of up to $9 million in EQIP
and $500,000 in WHIP financial
assistance; and 278,000 acres in CSP for
MRBI–CCPI during FY 2011.
Proposal Requirements
The proposal must include the
following:
(1) Proposal Cover and Summary:
(a) Project Title.
(b) Project director/manager name,
telephone number, and mailing and
email addresses.
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(c) Name and contact information for
lead partner entity submitting proposal
and other collaborating partners.
(d) Short summary of project
including:
i. Project start and end dates (not to
exceed a period of 4 years),
ii. Designated 12-digit HUC, or
contiguous multiple 12-digit HUCs subwatersheds where the project is located,
including the State(s) and county(s),
iii. General project objectives and
resource concerns to be addressed as
they relate to MRBI priorities and
objectives,
iv. Total amount of CCPI financial
assistance being requested by program,
and
v. Whether the MRBI–CCPI proposal
will be used in conjunction with a
MRBI–WREP, MRBI–CIG, or other
Federal programs to meet MRBI
objectives. Include the name of that
project and the associated Federal
agency. (Note: Federal funds cannot be
used as a match to the funds provided
by NRCS.)
(2) Project Natural Resource
Objectives and Concerns:
(a) Identify and provide detail about
the project objectives. Objectives should
be specific, measureable, achievable,
and results-oriented.
(b) Identify and provide detail about
the natural resource concern(s) to be
addressed in this project. Include in this
description how the proposal objectives
will address the priority MRBI resource
concerns of water quality, wetland
restoration, and improved wildlife
habitat. Potential partners will work
with the State Conservationist(s) to
ensure the priority resource concerns
are addressed by utilizing approved
conservation practices, enhancements
and activities, and conservation
program requirements. A list of NRCS
approved natural resource concerns for
MRBI may be found on the MRBI Web
site at https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/
programs/mrbi/mrbi_overview.html.
(3) Detailed Project Description:
(a) A detailed description of the
geographic area covered by the
proposal, including:
i. Types of land uses to be treated, and
ii. The location and size of the
proposed project area and what 12-digit
HUC sub-watershed(s) the project will
be within.
(b) A detailed map showing the
project area. Include on the map:
i. Outlined areas that need
conservation treatments,
ii. Location where conservation
treatments are needed, and
iii. Priority order for the different
areas to be treated.
(c) A description of the project
timeline. Include:
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i. Duration of the project, not to
exceed 4 consecutive years in length
beginning in FY 2011,
ii. Project implementation schedule
that details when different objectives
and conservation practices and
enhancements will be completed,
iii. When partner and Federal
resources will be used within the
timeframe of the project. Include the
total amount of financial assistance
funds requested for each fiscal year of
the project to be made available for
producer contracts and cost-share
agreements (for multi-State projects,
provide the funds or acres by State as
appropriate), and
iv. When the final project report will
be submitted.
(d) A description of the plan for
evaluating and reporting on progress
made toward achieving the objectives of
the agreement.
(e) Identify potential criteria to be
used by NRCS to prioritize and rank
agricultural producers’ applications for
EQIP, CSP, and WHIP in the project
area. Potential partners should
collaborate with NRCS to develop
meaningful criteria that NRCS can use
to evaluate and rank producer program
applications. This will ensure that
producer applications which will best
accomplish MRBI objectives will be
selected.
(f) An estimate of the percentage of
producers, including nonindustrial
private forest landowners, in the project
area that may participate in the project
along with an estimate of the total
number of producers located in the
project area. Provide details about
additional information such as how the
partner will encourage producer
participation; does the project include
any tribal producers, beginning farmers
or ranchers, socially disadvantaged
farmers or ranchers, or limited resource
farmers or ranchers; and are there
groups of producers who may submit
joint applications to address resource
issues of common interest and need.
(g) A listing and description of the
approved MRBI–CCPI core conservation
practices, conservation activity plans,
enhancements, and partner activities to
be implemented during the project
timeframe and the general sequence of
implementation of the project.
Information about approved MRBI–CCPI
EQIP, WHIP, and CSP practices,
enhancements, and activities can be
accessed at https://nrcs.usda.gov/
programs/mrbi/mrbi.html. Only the
conservation practices listed, which are
available in the applicable State’s Field
Office Technical Guide, are eligible for
use in MRBI. For each conservation
practice, estimate the amount of practice
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extent (feet, acres, number, etc.) the
partner expects producers to implement
and the amount of financial assistance
requested to support implementation of
each practice through producer
contracts.
(h) Also address technical assistance
efforts that will be made by the partner.
Describe any activities that are
innovative and include outcome-based
performance measures, such as water
quality monitoring, to be implemented
by the partner.
(i) Indicate whether the project will
address specific regulatory compliance
and any other outcomes the partner
expects to complete during the project
period.
(j) A detailed description of any
requested adjustments, by program,
with an explanation of why the
adjustment is needed in order to achieve
the objectives of the project. Requested
adjustments or flexibilities must comply
with statutory and regulatory
requirements.
(k) A science-based description of
how the proposal’s objectives also may
provide additional benefits by
addressing energy conservation or
mitigating the effects of climate change,
if applicable.
(l) A description of a plan to conduct
water quality monitoring and evaluation
and the reporting of progress made
toward achieving MRBI objectives and
desired outcomes. NRCS is especially
interested in proposals that adopt a
three-tiered monitoring and evaluation
approach designed to assess
environmental outcomes at the edge-offield, in-stream, and at the 12-digit HUC
level. Higher priority will be given to
projects that adopt this three-tiered
approach where the partner provides
resources or technical services to carry
it out. Higher priority will also be given
to projects that utilize environmental
indicators to assess water quality and
evaluate effects of conservation systems
and activities implemented through the
project at the edge-of-field level in
conjunction with in-stream and 12-digit
HUC monitoring. Information
concerning water quality monitoring
and evaluation can be found at https://
www.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/pdf_files/
water_quality_monitoring_reference_
material.pdf.
(4) Partner Description:
(a) A description of the partner(s)
history of working with agricultural
producers to address conservation
priorities.
(b) A description of how the partner(s)
will collaborate to achieve the objectives
of the agreement. Include:
i. The roles, responsibilities, and
capabilities of the partner(s), and
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ii. The financial or technical
commitments of each of the partner(s)
and how they will be leveraged by the
Federal contribution through EQIP,
WHIP, CSP, or a combination of the
three. Include specifically what
commitments will be used toward water
quality monitoring needs. If partners
who do not submit the proposal intend
to commit resources, a letter or other
documentation from these partners
confirming a commitment of specified
resources is required.
(c) A description of the resources
(financial and technical assistance)
requested from each of the applicable
NRCS programs (EQIP, WHIP, and CSP)
and the non-Federal resources provided
by the partner that will be leveraged by
the Federal contribution. Partners need
to clearly state, by project objective,
how they intend to leverage Federal
funds along with partner resources. The
funding and time contribution by
agricultural producers to implement
agreed-to conservation practices and
enhancements in program contracts will
not be considered any part of a match
from the potential partner for purposes
of CCPI.
(d) A description of how the partner
will facilitate the submission of
landowner applications.
(e) A description of how the partner
will provide for outreach to beginning
farmers or ranchers, limited resource
farmers or ranchers, socially
disadvantaged farmers or ranchers, and
Indian tribes.
National Ranking Considerations
The agency will evaluate proposals
using a national competitive process. A
higher priority may be given to
proposals that:
(a) Have a high percentage of
producers actively farming or managing
working agricultural or nonindustrial
private forest lands included in the
proposed project area;
(b) Significantly leverage non-Federal
financial and technical resources and
coordinate with other local, State, or
Federal efforts. This includes resources
committed to provide for water quality
monitoring and evaluation of
conservation practices;
(c) Integrate both WREP and CCPI
within a project area;
(d) Deliver high percentages of
applied conservation practices to
address water quality, wildlife habitat,
and wetland restoration;
(e) Provide innovation in approved
conservation practices, conservation
methods, and delivery, including
outcome-based performance measures
and methods such as adaptive
management strategies;
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(f) Complete the application of the
conservation practices and activities on
all of the covered program contracts or
cost-share agreements in 4 years or less;
(g) Assist the participants in meeting
local, State, and Federal regulatory
requirements;
(h) Provide for environmental
monitoring and evaluation of
conservation practices, enhancements,
and activities;
(i) Provide for outreach to, and
participation of, beginning farmers or
ranchers, socially disadvantaged farmers
or ranchers, limited resource farmers or
ranchers, and Indian tribes within the
proposed project area;
(j) Have a high potential to achieve
MRBI water quality objectives of
nitrogen and sediment reductions
leaving the field; and
(k) Identify other factors and criteria
which best achieve the purposes of
MRBI–CCPI.
Part C—The Wetlands Reserve
Enhancement Program Component of
MRBI
Availability of Funding
Effective upon publication of this
notice, NRCS on behalf of CCC,
announces that within the designated
focus areas in the Mississippi River
Basin Watersheds, up to $25 million in
financial assistance funds are available
in FY 2011 for the WREP to eligible
participants through approved
partnership projects within the 43
designated 8-digit HUC focus area
watersheds in the following states:
Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa,
Kentucky, Louisiana, Minnesota,
Mississippi, Missouri, Ohio, Tennessee,
South Dakota, and Wisconsin.
Under WREP, NRCS enters into multiyear agreements with eligible State and
local governments, nongovernmental
organizations, and Indian tribes to target
and leverage resources to carry out high
priority wetland protection, restoration,
and enhancement activities; and
improve water quality and wildlife
habitat. Eligible partners should submit
complete proposals to the addresses
listed in this notice addressing the
MRBI conservation objectives to be
achieved in one or more 12-digit HUC
watersheds within the 43 eligible 8-digit
HUC focus area watersheds. Proposals
that integrate a MRBI–WREP proposal
with a MRBI–CCPI project in one or
more 12-digit HUC watersheds will be
given additional consideration in the
selection process.
Overview
WREP is a voluntary conservation
program which is a component of WRP.
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WREP leverages resources of eligible
partners to provide financial assistance
to eligible landowners to protect,
restore, and enhance high priority
wetlands; improve wildlife habitat; and
improve water quality. WREP partners
are required to contribute a match as
detailed in the proposal requirement
section at 3(e). Proposals which include
additional partner resources will be
given higher priority consideration in
the selection process.
WREP financial assistance is
delivered to eligible landowners and
partners in approved project areas
through easement acquisition,
conservation program contracts,
cooperative agreements, contribution
agreements, or Federal contracts.
Restoration may be achieved through
payments to other parties who conduct
the restoration activities.
Only States and local units of
government, Indian tribes, and
nongovernmental organizations are
eligible to submit a proposal and enter
into agreements with NRCS. A
nongovernmental organization is an
organization described in section
501(c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code
of 1986. Individual landowners may not
submit WREP proposals through this
submission process. However, once a
WREP project has been approved and
announced, eligible landowners may
apply for WREP through their local
NRCS office. As part of the agreement,
approved partners may also help
facilitate the submission of landowner
applications, provide additional
technical or financial assistance to
landowners, and provide other
resources as defined in the agreement.
Written proposals are to be submitted
by eligible partners, and project
evaluation will be based upon a
competitive process and the criteria
established in this notice. Once NRCS
selects a partner’s proposal, landowners
within the selected project area may
submit an application directly to NRCS
for participation in WRP. Individual
landowner applications will be
evaluated and ranked along with other
applications in the watershed or
geographic project area, when
applicable, to ensure that the properties
selected for funding will achieve project
objectives.
Wetland restoration and enhancement
actions will be designed to improve
water quality, and maximize wildlife
habitat benefits and wetland functions
and values according to the WRP
regulation, 7 CFR part 1467, and NRCS
conservation practice standards.
Additionally, the successful restoration
of land and the resultant wetland values
must take into consideration the cost of
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such restoration, as required by the
WRP statute and reflected in the WRP
regulation at 7 CFR part 1467.4.
Proposals must conform to the WRP
guidelines for restoration and
management of lands subject to a WRP
easement.
Benefits to the partners in WREP
agreements include:
• Involvement in wetland restorations
in high priority MRBI focus areas;
• Ability to cost-share restoration or
enhancement components beyond those
required by NRCS;
• Ability to participate in
management or monitoring of selected
project locations; and
• Opportunity to utilize innovative
restoration methods and practices.
Land Eligibility
The land eligibility criteria for WREP
are the same as for WRP and are listed
in 7 CFR § 1467.4.
mstockstill on DSKH9S0YB1PROD with NOTICES
Proposal Requirements
For consideration, the proposal must
be in the following format and contain
the information set forth below.
(1) Proposal Cover and Summary. The
first few pages of the proposal must
include—
(a) Project Title.
(b) Project Director/Manager name,
telephone, and mailing and email
address.
(c) Name and contact information for
lead partner submitting proposal and
other collaborating partners.
(d) Short general summary of project,
including:
(i) Potential acres to be enrolled in the
project area,
(ii) Designated 12-digit watershed(s)
where the project is located, including
the State(s), and county(s). Include a
general location map,
(iii) Proposed project start and end
dates that do not exceed 4 consecutive
years including FY 2011,
(iv) The project objectives and
resource concerns to be addressed, and
(v) Total amount of financial
assistance being requested.
(2) Project Natural Resource
Objectives and Actions. The proposal
must—
(a) Identify and provide detail about
the wildlife and water quality concerns
to be addressed and how the proposal’s
objectives will address those concerns.
Objectives should be specific,
measurable, achievable, resultsoriented, and include a timeline for
completion.
(b) For each objective, identify the
actions to be completed to achieve that
objective and address the identified
natural resource concern. Specify which
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17:57 Nov 26, 2010
Jkt 223001
actions are to be addressed through this
project using WREP assistance, and
which are being addressed through
alternate non-Federal funding sources or
other resources provided.
(c) Identify the total acres that require
wetland protection, restoration, and
enhancement.
(3) Detailed Project Description.
Information provided in the proposal
must include—
(a) A description of the partner(s)
history of working cooperatively with
landowners on conservation easements.
(b) A description of the watershed
characteristics within the designated
focus area covered by the proposal
including a detailed watershed map that
indicates the project location. The
description should include information
related to land use types, vegetation,
soils, hydrology, potential sources of
water quality impairments, occurrences
of at-risk species, proximity to other
protected areas, and a summary of
resource concerns. Proposals should
state whether a MRBI–WREP proposal is
integrated with a MRBI–CCPI proposed
project and include the name of the
proposed project.
(c) A description of the partner(s) and
the roles, responsibilities, and
capabilities of the partner(s). Proposals
which include resources from partners
other than the lead partner must include
a letter or other documentation
confirming the commitment of
resources.
(d) A description of the project
duration, plan of action, and project
implementation schedule. Project
proposals cannot exceed 4 years.
(e) A description of the financial
assistance resources that are requested
through WREP, and the non-Federal
resources provided by the partner(s) that
will be leveraged by the Federal
contribution. WREP requires partners to
contribute a match of:
(i) In-kind only contributions of at
least 20 percent of the restoration costs,
(ii) Cash only contributions of at least
5 percent of the restoration costs, or
(iii) A combination of in-kind and
cash contributions of at least 20 percent
of the restoration costs.
Proposals which include additional
partner resources will be given
additional consideration in the selection
process. Contributions provided by the
partners to achieve additional ranking
points can be in the form of technical or
financial assistance for the protection,
restoration, and enhancement of the
wetland. Contributions can also be in
the form of assistance with management
and monitoring activities. Contributions
above the match requirement can be
cash or in-kind equipment or services.
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Partners may provide incentives to
landowners to participate in WREP;
however, incentive payments will not
be considered part of the match
requirement. Incentives include sign-up
bonuses, practice incentive payments,
or similar activities not funded through
WRP.
(f) Total budget for the project
including all partner resources which
will be leveraged for the project and the
amount of WREP financial assistance
being requested for project broken out
by fiscal year with totals. Include a
description of the amount of funds
needed annually for easement
acquisition and wetland restoration and
enhancement activities.
(g) A description of non-Federal
resources that will be available for
implementation of the proposal.
Proposals which include additional
non-Federal resources will be given
higher consideration in the selection
process. The partner needs to state
clearly how they intend to leverage
Federal funds along with partner
resources. Landowner contributions in
the implementation of agreed-to
wetland restoration and enhancement
practices may not be considered any
part of a match from the potential
partner for purposes of WREP. Partners
will also be required to submit a plan
for monitoring, evaluating, and
reporting progress made toward
achieving the objectives of the
agreement.
(h) An estimate of the percentage of
potential landowners, or estimate of the
percentage of acres likely to be enrolled
within the project area, compared to the
total number of potential landowners or
acres located in the project area. A
statement on how the partner will
encourage participation to guarantee
success of the project. It is not necessary
for a target area to involve multiple
landowners to be selected. Projects will
be evaluated based on the ecological
merits of the proposal and contributions
by the partners.
(i) A statement describing how the
partner will provide outreach,
especially to encourage participation by
Indian tribes, beginning farmers or
ranchers, socially disadvantaged farmers
or ranchers, and limited resource
farmers or ranchers.
(j) A description of the wetland
protection, restoration, and
enhancement activities to be
implemented during the project
timeframe, and the general sequence of
implementation of the project. Activities
may include those efforts undertaken by
the partner and those that the partner
requests NRCS to address through
financial support.
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mstockstill on DSKH9S0YB1PROD with NOTICES
National Ranking Considerations
The appropriate State Conservationist
will evaluate proposals using a
competitive process and forward
recommended proposals to the Chief for
review and selection. The Chief will
give a higher priority to proposals that:
(a) Have a high potential to achieve
wetland restoration;
(b) Have a high potential to
significantly improve water quality;
(c) Have a high potential to
significantly improve wildlife habitat;
(d) Significantly leverage non-Federal
financial and technical resources and
coordinate with other local, State, tribal,
or Federal efforts;
(e) Demonstrate the partner’s history
of working cooperatively with
landowners on conservation easements;
(f) Provide innovation in wetland
protection, restoration, and
enhancement methods and outcomebased performance measures and
methods;
(g) Provide evidence that wetland
restoration and enhancement activities
will be completed within 2 years of
easement closing;
(h) Provide for monitoring and
evaluation of the effectiveness of the
restoration activities on water quality;
(i) Provide for matching financial or
technical assistance funds to assist
landowners with the implementation of
the Wetlands Reserve Plan of
Operations and associated contracts;
(j) Facilitate the submission of
landowner applications;
(k) Provide for outreach to, and
participation of, Indian tribes, beginning
farmers or ranchers, socially
disadvantaged farmers or ranchers, and
limited resource farmers or ranchers
within the area covered by the
agreement; and
(l) Integrate a MRBI–WREP proposal
with a MRBI–CCPI proposed or
approved project.
Partnership Agreements
Upon proposal selection, NRCS will
enter an agreement with a partner as the
mechanism for partner participation in
WREP. At a minimum, the agreement
will address:
(a) The role of the partner;
(b) The role of NRCS;
(c) The format and frequency of
reports that is required as a condition of
the agreement;
(d) The Plan of Work and budget to
identify other funding sources (if
applicable) for financial or technical
assistance;
(e) The specified project schedule and
timeframe;
(f) Whether the agreement will serve
as an obligating document or whether
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17:57 Nov 26, 2010
Jkt 223001
funds will be obligated under a separate
agreement with the partner or with a
third party; and
(g) Other requirements deemed
necessary by NRCS to achieve purposes
of the WRP.
Landowner Application
Landowners must meet the eligibility
requirements of WRP, as published in 7
CFR part 1467. Landowners interested
in participating may apply for
designated WREP funds at their local
service center after WREP proposals are
selected. In FY 2011, NRCS will make
WREP funds available to eligible
landowners to enroll land under a
permanent easement, a 30-year
easement, a 30-year contract on acreage
owned by Indian tribes, or through a
Restoration Agreement.
NRCS and the partner may assist
landowners in determining whether the
application is appropriate for WREP
depending on the wetland protection,
restoration, and enhancement activities
that the applicant seeks to install or
perform.
Signed the 20th day of November, 2010, in
Washington, DC.
Dave White,
Vice President, Commodity Credit
Corporation and Chief, Natural Resources
Conservation Service.
[FR Doc. 2010–29958 Filed 11–26–10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410–16–P
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
International Trade Administration
[A–549–502]
Circular Welded Carbon Steel Pipes
and Tubes from Thailand: Amended
Final Results of Antidumping Duty
Administrative Review
Import Administration,
International Trade Administration,
Department of Commerce.
DATES: Effective Date: November 29,
2010.
AGENCY:
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Myrna Lobo, AD/CVD Operations,
Office 6, Import Administration,
International Trade Administration,
U.S. Department of Commerce, 14th
Street and Constitution Avenue, NW.,
Washington, DC 20230; telephone: (202)
482–2371.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On
October 13, 2010, the Department of
Commerce (the Department) completed
the final results of administrative review
of the antidumping duty order on
circular welded carbon steel pipes and
tubes (pipes and tubes) from Thailand,
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Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
73033
covering the period March 1, 2008
through February 28, 2009. The final
results were subsequently released to all
parties in the proceeding, and published
in the Federal Register on October 20,
2010. See Circular Welded Carbon Steel
Pipes and Tubes From Thailand: Final
Results of Antidumping Duty
Administrative Review, 75 FR 64696
(October 20, 2010).
The Department disclosed the
calculations in connection with the final
results as required under 19 CFR
351.224(b). On October 20, 2010,
pursuant to 19 CFR 351.224(c)(2), we
received a timely filed allegation from
the respondent in this administrative
review, Saha Thai Steel Pipe (Public)
Company, Limited (Saha Thai), that the
Department made a ministerial error
with respect to the calculation of Saha
Thai’s dumping margin. See Letter from
Saha Thai to the Department of
Commerce, regarding ‘‘Ministerial Error
in Final Results,’’ dated October 20,
2010. For further details, see
Memorandum from Myrna Lobo, Case
Analyst, and Heidi Schriefer, Senior
Accountant, to Barbara E. Tillman,
Director, titled, ‘‘Ministerial Error
Allegation—Final Results of the
Antidumping Duty Administrative
Review of Circular Welded Carbon Steel
Pipes and Tubes from Thailand: Saha
Thai Steel Pipe (Public) Company Ltd.,’’
dated November 19, 2010 (Ministerial
Error Allegation Memorandum). We did
not receive comments on this allegation
from any other interested parties.
A ministerial error, as defined at
section 751(h) of the Tariff Act of 1930,
as amended (the Act), includes ‘‘errors
in addition, subtraction, or other
arithmetic function, clerical errors
resulting from inaccurate copying,
duplication, or the like, and any other
type of unintentional error which the
Department considers ministerial.’’ See
also 19 CFR 351.224(f). In its letter, Saha
Thai alleges that the Department made
a ministerial error by using Saha Thai’s
2008 selling and administrative
expenses to calculate Saha Thai’s 2007
general and administrative (G&A)
expense ratio. As stated in the final cost
calculation memorandum
accompanying the Final Results, we
calculated the fiscal year 2007 G&A
expense rate to use in the calculation of
cost of production and constructed
value for products with dates of sale
prior to the POR (i.e., the pre-POR
quarters). See Memorandum from Heidi
K. Schriefer, Senior Accountant to Neal
M. Halper, Director, Office of
Accounting ‘‘Cost of Production and
Constructed Value Calculation
Adjustments for the Final Results—Saha
Thai Steel Pipe (Public) Company, Ltd.
E:\FR\FM\29NON1.SGM
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Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 228 (Monday, November 29, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 73027-73033]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-29958]
========================================================================
Notices
Federal Register
________________________________________________________________________
This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains documents other than rules
or proposed rules that are applicable to the public. Notices of hearings
and investigations, committee meetings, agency decisions and rulings,
delegations of authority, filing of petitions and applications and agency
statements of organization and functions are examples of documents
appearing in this section.
========================================================================
Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 228 / Monday, November 29, 2010 /
Notices
[[Page 73027]]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Commodity Credit Corporation
Cooperative Conservation Partnership Initiative and Wetlands
Reserve Enhancement Program
AGENCY: Commodity Credit Corporation and Natural Resources Conservation
Service, United States Department of Agriculture.
ACTION: Notice of request for proposals through the Mississippi River
Basin Healthy Watersheds Initiative.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) announces
the availability of financial assistance funds in fiscal year (FY) 2011
for up to $15 million in the Cooperative Conservation Partnership
Initiative (CCPI) and up to $25 million in the Wetlands Reserve
Enhancement Program (WREP) through the Mississippi River Basin Healthy
Watersheds Initiative (MRBI). These funding levels are available for
new MRBI proposals only. However, CCPI and WREP will not be the only
funding mechanisms for MRBI in FY 2011. The Chief of NRCS reserves
discretion in utilizing other NRCS conservation program funds and
mechanisms in support of the objectives of MRBI.
Through agreements, partners and NRCS will provide assistance to
eligible participants in the 43 designated focus areas (8-digit HUCs)
in the following 13 States: Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa,
Kentucky, Louisiana, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Ohio, Tennessee,
South Dakota, and Wisconsin. The purpose of this notice is to solicit
proposals from potential partners to enter into agreements with NRCS
and to inform agricultural producers and landowners of the future
availability of program funds through approved partnership projects.
Proposals must be based on one or more 12-digit HUCs within the 43
designated focus areas. Partners who are currently involved in approved
MRBI agreements through CCPI or WREP and want to work in other 12-digit
watersheds must submit new proposals for a new project.
DATES: Eligible partners may submit proposals for MRBI-CCPI and/or
MRBI-WREP via email or U.S. Postal Service; however, all proposals must
be received on or before January 28, 2011.
ADDRESSES: Applicants are encouraged to submit proposals electronically
to MRBI-CCPI@wdc.usda.gov for CCPI and MRBI-WREP@wdc.usda.gov for WREP.
If submitting a paper proposal, the proposal may be mailed to: Troy
Daniell, Initiatives Coordinator, Conservation Initiatives Team,
Natural Resources Conservation Service, P.O. Box 2890, Washington, DC
20013.
Do not send submissions via registered or certified mail. Do not
send the same proposal both electronically and to the P.O. Box address;
use only one method to submit a proposal. If submitting more than one
project proposal, please submit each separately.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Troy Daniell, Initiatives Coordinator,
Conservation Initiatives Team, Natural Resources Conservation Service;
Telephone: (202) 690-2825; e-mail: Troy.Daniell@wdc.usda.gov.
Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for
communication (Braille, large print, audio tape, etc.) should contact
the USDA TARGET Center at: (202) 720-2600 (voice and TDD).
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Part A--General WREP and CCPI Proposal Information
Focus Area Watersheds
Forty-three focus area (8-digit hydrologic unit code (HUC))
watersheds have been selected by NRCS State Conservationists, with
input from the State Technical Committees and State water quality
agencies, to help improve water quality by reducing nitrogen and
sediment levels in the watersheds of the Mississippi River Basin, as
well as improve wildlife habitat and restore wetlands. The designated
8-digit HUC focus areas are listed below. A complete list of the
smaller-scale, 12-digit HUC sub-watersheds within the designated 8-
digit HUC focus areas can be found at: https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/mrbi/unit_code_lists.html.
Designated Focus Areas for the MRBI FY 2011 (8-Digit HUCs)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hydrologic
State(s) Watershed Unit Code
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Arkansas/Missouri................. Cache............... 08020302
Arkansas.......................... Lake Conway-Point 11110203
Remove.
Arkansas.......................... L'Anguille.......... 08020205
Arkansas/Missouri................. Lower St. Francis... 08020203
Illinois.......................... Lower Illinois- 07130001
Senachwine Lake.
Illinois.......................... Upper Illinois...... 07130005
Illinois.......................... Vermillion (Upper 07130002
Mississippi River
sub-basin).
Illinois/Indiana.................. Vermillion (Upper 05120109
Ohio River sub-
basin).
Indiana........................... Eel................. 05120104
Indiana........................... Upper East Fork 05120206
White.
Indiana........................... Wildcat............. 05120107
Indiana/Ohio...................... Upper Wabash........ 05120101
Iowa.............................. Boone............... 07100005
Iowa.............................. Maquoketa........... 07060006
Iowa.............................. North Raccoon....... 07100006
Iowa/Minnesota.................... Upper Cedar......... 07080201
[[Page 73028]]
Kentucky/Tennessee................ Bayou De Chien- 08010201
Mayfield.
Kentucky.......................... Licking............. 05100101
Kentucky.......................... Lower Green......... 05110005
Louisiana......................... Mermentau........... 08080202
Louisiana/Arkansas................ Bayou Macon......... 08050002
Louisiana/Arkansas................ Boeuf River......... 08050001
Minnesota......................... Middle Minnesota.... 07020007
Minnesota......................... Root................ 07040008
Minnesota......................... Sauk................ 07010202
Mississippi....................... Big Sunflower....... 08030207
Mississippi/Louisiana/Arkansas.... Deer-Steele......... 08030209
Mississippi....................... Upper Yazoo......... 08030206
Missouri/Iowa..................... Lower Grand......... 10280103
Mississippi....................... Coldwater Creek..... 08030204
Missouri.......................... North Fork Salt..... 07110005
Missouri.......................... South Fork Salt..... 07110006
Missouri/Arkansas................. Little River Ditches 08020204
Ohio/Indiana...................... Upper Great Miami... 05080001
Ohio.............................. Upper Scioto........ 05060001
Tennessee......................... Forked Deer......... 08010206
Tennessee/Kentucky................ Obion............... 08010202
Tennessee......................... South Fork Obion.... 08010203
Tennessee/Kentucky................ Red River........... 05130206
South Dakota/Minnesota............ Upper Minnesota..... 07020001
Wisconsin/Illinois................ Sugar............... 07090004
Wisconsin/Illinois................ Upper Rock.......... 07090001
Wisconsin/Illinois................ Pecatonica.......... 07090003
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Under MRBI, NRCS works with partners through CCPI and WREP to help
address conservation concerns and opportunities within the watershed of
the Mississippi River Basin. In approved MRBI-CCPI project areas, NRCS
will make Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), Conservation
Stewardship Program (CSP), and Wildlife Habitat Incentive Program
(WHIP) funds available to eligible producers consistent with the
proposal design as much as possible. In approved MRBI-WREP project
areas, funds are available through the Wetlands Reserve Program (WRP).
Proposal Submission, Review, and Notification
Potential partners are highly encouraged to submit proposals to the
email address provided in the ``Addresses'' section of this notice. If
the proposal is submitted in hard copy, the potential partner must
submit two copies of the proposal, typewritten or printed on 8\1/2\'' x
11'' white paper. The entire project proposal, not including letters of
support, cannot exceed 12 pages in length including a summary,
responses to the information requested in this RFP, maps, and other
supporting documents. The proposal must address, in sufficient detail,
all the criteria outlined in the ``Proposal Requirements'' section of
this notice in order to be considered.
MRBI-CCPI and MRBI-WREP proposals submitted to NRCS become the
property of the agency for use in the administration of the program,
may be filed or disposed of by the agency, and will not be returned to
the potential partner. Once proposals have been submitted for review
and ranking, there will be no further opportunity for the potential
partner to change or re-submit the proposal; however, NRCS may request
certain changes before finalizing the selection and approval of a
project. Incomplete proposals or those that do not meet the
requirements set forth in this notice will not be considered, and
notification of elimination will be mailed to the applicant. Partner
proposals may be withdrawn by written notice to Troy Daniell,
Initiatives Coordinator, Conservation Initiatives Team, at any time
prior to selection (see ``Addresses'' section in this notice).
NRCS will review, evaluate, and rank proposals based on the
criteria set forth in the respective ``Proposal Requirements'' sections
of this notice for both MRBI-CCPI and MRBI-WREP. Potential partners
should recognize that the proposal is the only document NRCS will use
in the evaluation process. The proposal must request NRCS program funds
for obligation beginning in FY 2011 (October 1, 2010-September 30,
2011). Proposals which request funding with obligation starting after
FY 2011 will not be evaluated or considered under this request for
proposals.
Partners whose proposals have been selected will receive an
official letter of notification. Upon notification of selection, the
partner should contact the appropriate State Conservationist(s) to
develop the required partnership agreement and other project
implementation requirements. Potential partners should note that,
depending upon available funding and agency priorities, NRCS may offer
a reduced amount of program financial assistance from what was
requested in the proposal and may require adjustments to the proposal
as a condition of approval to meet program or other requirements.
Partner submissions of proposals that are not selected will also be
notified by mail.
State Conservationist(s) Proposal Review
Once a project proposal is received, the agency will provide a copy
of it to the appropriate State Conservationist(s). State
Conservationist(s) will review the proposals to:
(a) Document potential duplication with other projects or existing
programs;
(b) Ensure adherence to and consistency with program regulation,
including requirements related to land and landowner eligibility and
other program requirements;
[[Page 73029]]
(c) Address expected benefits for project implementation in their
State(s);
(d) For multi-State proposals, coordinate with all State
Conservationists involved in the proposal to verify there is
concurrence and support for the project;
(e) Identify other issues or concerns that should be considered;
and
(f) Provide a recommendation to the NRCS Chief for approval or
disapproval of the project.
Waiver Authority
To assist in the implementation of approved WREP and CCPI projects,
the Chief may waive the applicability of the Adjusted Gross Income
Limitation, on a case-by-case basis, in accordance with 7 CFR part
1400. Such waiver requests must be submitted in writing from the
program applicant, not the sponsoring partner, addressed to the Chief,
and submitted through the local NRCS designated conservationist.
Part B--The Cooperative Conservation Partnership Initiative (CCPI)
Component of MRBI
To improve the health of the watersheds within the Mississippi
River Basin, NRCS and its partners will help producers to voluntarily
implement conservation practices that avoid, control, and trap nutrient
runoff; improve wildlife habitat; restore wetlands; and maintain
agricultural productivity. These improvements will be accomplished
through a conservation systems approach to address water quality,
wetland, and wildlife related resource concerns. NRCS will provide
producers assistance in implementing a suite of practices that will
reduce the impacts of nutrients and sediment leaving agricultural
fields.
Overview of the CCPI
The CCPI is a voluntary conservation initiative that enables the
use of certain conservation programs, combined with resources from
eligible partners, to provide financial and technical assistance to
owners and operators of agricultural and nonindustrial private forest
lands in order to enhance conservation outcomes and achieve resource
conservation objectives. The functions of CCPI can best be described in
two parts: CCPI partnerships and CCPI program participation.
CCPI Partnerships
Under CCPI, eligible potential partners may submit proposals
addressing the criteria that are outlined in this request for
proposals. Partners who may enter into partnership agreements with NRCS
include federally recognized Indian tribes, State and local units of
government, producer associations, farmer cooperatives, institutions of
higher education, and nongovernmental organizations with a history of
working cooperatively with producers to effectively address
conservation priorities related to agricultural production and
nonindustrial private forest land. Individual agricultural producers
are not an eligible partner entity and may not submit CCPI proposals.
However, individual agricultural producers can participate by applying
for program assistance in the approved proposal areas, through their
local NRCS office.
Proposals will be evaluated through a competitive review process.
After selection, the partners will enter into a partnership agreement
with NRCS. The partnership agreement will not obligate funds, but will
address the:
(a) Role of the partner;
(b) Role of NRCS;
(c) Responsibilities of the partner as it relates to the monitoring
and evaluation;
(d) Frequency and duration of monitoring and evaluation to be
completed by the partner;
(e) Format and frequency of reports that are required as a
condition of the partnership agreement;
(f) Budget which includes other funding sources (if applicable) for
financial and technical assistance;
(g) Specified project schedule and timeframe; and
(h) Other requirements deemed necessary by NRCS to further the
purposes of MRBI.
Where flexibility is needed to meet project objectives, the partner
may request that program adjustments be allowed, provided such
adjustments are within the scope of the applicable programs' statutory
and regulatory program authorities. An example of an adjustment may be
to expedite the applicable program ranking process in a situation where
a partner has identified the producers approved to participate in the
project. Other examples of flexibilities are payments rates, or use of
a single area-wide conservation plan of operations rather than
individual conservation plans of operation. An example of an ineligible
flexibility would be to request funds for activities that do not meet
NRCS conservation practice standards.
CCPI is not a grant program, and all Federal funds made available
through this request for proposals will be paid directly to producers
through program contract agreements. If desired, producers may elect to
have their payments assigned to another party. No technical assistance
funding may be provided to a partner through the CCPI partner
agreement. However, if requested by a partner, the State
Conservationist may consider development of a separate contribution
agreement with a qualified partner to provide funding for delivery of
technical services to producers participating in an approved CCPI
project.
CCPI Program Participation
Once the agency approves and announces the selected partner
projects, eligible agricultural producers located within the approved
project areas may apply directly to NRCS for funding through one or
more of the following programs: EQIP, CSP, or WHIP. CCPI uses the
funds, policies, and processes of these programs to deliver assistance
to eligible producers to implement approved core and supporting
conservation practices, enhancements, and activities under MRBI.
Producers interested in applying must meet the eligibility requirements
of the program for which they are applying. Individual applications
from eligible producers will be evaluated and ranked to ensure that
producer applications selected for funding are most likely to achieve
project objectives. Once applications are selected, the producers may
enter into one or more contracts or cost-share agreements with NRCS
within one or more of the programs offered under CCPI. During FY 2011,
an objective of MRBI-CCPI is to deliver EQIP, CSP, and WHIP assistance
to producers to achieve MRBI priority conservation objectives in
geographic areas defined by the partner. Depending upon the program
available in the project area, the assistance provided enables eligible
producers to implement conservation practices and enhancements,
including the development and adoption of innovative conservation
practices and management approaches.
Availability of Funding
Effective on the publication date of this notice, the CCC announces
the availability of up to $9 million in EQIP and $500,000 in WHIP
financial assistance; and 278,000 acres in CSP for MRBI-CCPI during FY
2011.
Proposal Requirements
The proposal must include the following:
(1) Proposal Cover and Summary:
(a) Project Title.
(b) Project director/manager name, telephone number, and mailing
and email addresses.
[[Page 73030]]
(c) Name and contact information for lead partner entity submitting
proposal and other collaborating partners.
(d) Short summary of project including:
i. Project start and end dates (not to exceed a period of 4 years),
ii. Designated 12-digit HUC, or contiguous multiple 12-digit HUCs
sub-watersheds where the project is located, including the State(s) and
county(s),
iii. General project objectives and resource concerns to be
addressed as they relate to MRBI priorities and objectives,
iv. Total amount of CCPI financial assistance being requested by
program, and
v. Whether the MRBI-CCPI proposal will be used in conjunction with
a MRBI-WREP, MRBI-CIG, or other Federal programs to meet MRBI
objectives. Include the name of that project and the associated Federal
agency. (Note: Federal funds cannot be used as a match to the funds
provided by NRCS.)
(2) Project Natural Resource Objectives and Concerns:
(a) Identify and provide detail about the project objectives.
Objectives should be specific, measureable, achievable, and results-
oriented.
(b) Identify and provide detail about the natural resource
concern(s) to be addressed in this project. Include in this description
how the proposal objectives will address the priority MRBI resource
concerns of water quality, wetland restoration, and improved wildlife
habitat. Potential partners will work with the State Conservationist(s)
to ensure the priority resource concerns are addressed by utilizing
approved conservation practices, enhancements and activities, and
conservation program requirements. A list of NRCS approved natural
resource concerns for MRBI may be found on the MRBI Web site at https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/mrbi/mrbi_overview.html.
(3) Detailed Project Description:
(a) A detailed description of the geographic area covered by the
proposal, including:
i. Types of land uses to be treated, and
ii. The location and size of the proposed project area and what 12-
digit HUC sub-watershed(s) the project will be within.
(b) A detailed map showing the project area. Include on the map:
i. Outlined areas that need conservation treatments,
ii. Location where conservation treatments are needed, and
iii. Priority order for the different areas to be treated.
(c) A description of the project timeline. Include:
i. Duration of the project, not to exceed 4 consecutive years in
length beginning in FY 2011,
ii. Project implementation schedule that details when different
objectives and conservation practices and enhancements will be
completed,
iii. When partner and Federal resources will be used within the
timeframe of the project. Include the total amount of financial
assistance funds requested for each fiscal year of the project to be
made available for producer contracts and cost-share agreements (for
multi-State projects, provide the funds or acres by State as
appropriate), and
iv. When the final project report will be submitted.
(d) A description of the plan for evaluating and reporting on
progress made toward achieving the objectives of the agreement.
(e) Identify potential criteria to be used by NRCS to prioritize
and rank agricultural producers' applications for EQIP, CSP, and WHIP
in the project area. Potential partners should collaborate with NRCS to
develop meaningful criteria that NRCS can use to evaluate and rank
producer program applications. This will ensure that producer
applications which will best accomplish MRBI objectives will be
selected.
(f) An estimate of the percentage of producers, including
nonindustrial private forest landowners, in the project area that may
participate in the project along with an estimate of the total number
of producers located in the project area. Provide details about
additional information such as how the partner will encourage producer
participation; does the project include any tribal producers, beginning
farmers or ranchers, socially disadvantaged farmers or ranchers, or
limited resource farmers or ranchers; and are there groups of producers
who may submit joint applications to address resource issues of common
interest and need.
(g) A listing and description of the approved MRBI-CCPI core
conservation practices, conservation activity plans, enhancements, and
partner activities to be implemented during the project timeframe and
the general sequence of implementation of the project. Information
about approved MRBI-CCPI EQIP, WHIP, and CSP practices, enhancements,
and activities can be accessed at https://nrcs.usda.gov/programs/mrbi/mrbi.html. Only the conservation practices listed, which are available
in the applicable State's Field Office Technical Guide, are eligible
for use in MRBI. For each conservation practice, estimate the amount of
practice extent (feet, acres, number, etc.) the partner expects
producers to implement and the amount of financial assistance requested
to support implementation of each practice through producer contracts.
(h) Also address technical assistance efforts that will be made by
the partner. Describe any activities that are innovative and include
outcome-based performance measures, such as water quality monitoring,
to be implemented by the partner.
(i) Indicate whether the project will address specific regulatory
compliance and any other outcomes the partner expects to complete
during the project period.
(j) A detailed description of any requested adjustments, by
program, with an explanation of why the adjustment is needed in order
to achieve the objectives of the project. Requested adjustments or
flexibilities must comply with statutory and regulatory requirements.
(k) A science-based description of how the proposal's objectives
also may provide additional benefits by addressing energy conservation
or mitigating the effects of climate change, if applicable.
(l) A description of a plan to conduct water quality monitoring and
evaluation and the reporting of progress made toward achieving MRBI
objectives and desired outcomes. NRCS is especially interested in
proposals that adopt a three-tiered monitoring and evaluation approach
designed to assess environmental outcomes at the edge-of-field, in-
stream, and at the 12-digit HUC level. Higher priority will be given to
projects that adopt this three-tiered approach where the partner
provides resources or technical services to carry it out. Higher
priority will also be given to projects that utilize environmental
indicators to assess water quality and evaluate effects of conservation
systems and activities implemented through the project at the edge-of-
field level in conjunction with in-stream and 12-digit HUC monitoring.
Information concerning water quality monitoring and evaluation can be
found at https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/pdf_files/water_quality_monitoring_reference_material.pdf.
(4) Partner Description:
(a) A description of the partner(s) history of working with
agricultural producers to address conservation priorities.
(b) A description of how the partner(s) will collaborate to achieve
the objectives of the agreement. Include:
i. The roles, responsibilities, and capabilities of the partner(s),
and
[[Page 73031]]
ii. The financial or technical commitments of each of the
partner(s) and how they will be leveraged by the Federal contribution
through EQIP, WHIP, CSP, or a combination of the three. Include
specifically what commitments will be used toward water quality
monitoring needs. If partners who do not submit the proposal intend to
commit resources, a letter or other documentation from these partners
confirming a commitment of specified resources is required.
(c) A description of the resources (financial and technical
assistance) requested from each of the applicable NRCS programs (EQIP,
WHIP, and CSP) and the non-Federal resources provided by the partner
that will be leveraged by the Federal contribution. Partners need to
clearly state, by project objective, how they intend to leverage
Federal funds along with partner resources. The funding and time
contribution by agricultural producers to implement agreed-to
conservation practices and enhancements in program contracts will not
be considered any part of a match from the potential partner for
purposes of CCPI.
(d) A description of how the partner will facilitate the submission
of landowner applications.
(e) A description of how the partner will provide for outreach to
beginning farmers or ranchers, limited resource farmers or ranchers,
socially disadvantaged farmers or ranchers, and Indian tribes.
National Ranking Considerations
The agency will evaluate proposals using a national competitive
process. A higher priority may be given to proposals that:
(a) Have a high percentage of producers actively farming or
managing working agricultural or nonindustrial private forest lands
included in the proposed project area;
(b) Significantly leverage non-Federal financial and technical
resources and coordinate with other local, State, or Federal efforts.
This includes resources committed to provide for water quality
monitoring and evaluation of conservation practices;
(c) Integrate both WREP and CCPI within a project area;
(d) Deliver high percentages of applied conservation practices to
address water quality, wildlife habitat, and wetland restoration;
(e) Provide innovation in approved conservation practices,
conservation methods, and delivery, including outcome-based performance
measures and methods such as adaptive management strategies;
(f) Complete the application of the conservation practices and
activities on all of the covered program contracts or cost-share
agreements in 4 years or less;
(g) Assist the participants in meeting local, State, and Federal
regulatory requirements;
(h) Provide for environmental monitoring and evaluation of
conservation practices, enhancements, and activities;
(i) Provide for outreach to, and participation of, beginning
farmers or ranchers, socially disadvantaged farmers or ranchers,
limited resource farmers or ranchers, and Indian tribes within the
proposed project area;
(j) Have a high potential to achieve MRBI water quality objectives
of nitrogen and sediment reductions leaving the field; and
(k) Identify other factors and criteria which best achieve the
purposes of MRBI-CCPI.
Part C--The Wetlands Reserve Enhancement Program Component of MRBI
Availability of Funding
Effective upon publication of this notice, NRCS on behalf of CCC,
announces that within the designated focus areas in the Mississippi
River Basin Watersheds, up to $25 million in financial assistance funds
are available in FY 2011 for the WREP to eligible participants through
approved partnership projects within the 43 designated 8-digit HUC
focus area watersheds in the following states: Arkansas, Illinois,
Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri,
Ohio, Tennessee, South Dakota, and Wisconsin.
Under WREP, NRCS enters into multi-year agreements with eligible
State and local governments, nongovernmental organizations, and Indian
tribes to target and leverage resources to carry out high priority
wetland protection, restoration, and enhancement activities; and
improve water quality and wildlife habitat. Eligible partners should
submit complete proposals to the addresses listed in this notice
addressing the MRBI conservation objectives to be achieved in one or
more 12-digit HUC watersheds within the 43 eligible 8-digit HUC focus
area watersheds. Proposals that integrate a MRBI-WREP proposal with a
MRBI-CCPI project in one or more 12-digit HUC watersheds will be given
additional consideration in the selection process.
Overview
WREP is a voluntary conservation program which is a component of
WRP. WREP leverages resources of eligible partners to provide financial
assistance to eligible landowners to protect, restore, and enhance high
priority wetlands; improve wildlife habitat; and improve water quality.
WREP partners are required to contribute a match as detailed in the
proposal requirement section at 3(e). Proposals which include
additional partner resources will be given higher priority
consideration in the selection process.
WREP financial assistance is delivered to eligible landowners and
partners in approved project areas through easement acquisition,
conservation program contracts, cooperative agreements, contribution
agreements, or Federal contracts. Restoration may be achieved through
payments to other parties who conduct the restoration activities.
Only States and local units of government, Indian tribes, and
nongovernmental organizations are eligible to submit a proposal and
enter into agreements with NRCS. A nongovernmental organization is an
organization described in section 501(c) (3) of the Internal Revenue
Code of 1986. Individual landowners may not submit WREP proposals
through this submission process. However, once a WREP project has been
approved and announced, eligible landowners may apply for WREP through
their local NRCS office. As part of the agreement, approved partners
may also help facilitate the submission of landowner applications,
provide additional technical or financial assistance to landowners, and
provide other resources as defined in the agreement.
Written proposals are to be submitted by eligible partners, and
project evaluation will be based upon a competitive process and the
criteria established in this notice. Once NRCS selects a partner's
proposal, landowners within the selected project area may submit an
application directly to NRCS for participation in WRP. Individual
landowner applications will be evaluated and ranked along with other
applications in the watershed or geographic project area, when
applicable, to ensure that the properties selected for funding will
achieve project objectives.
Wetland restoration and enhancement actions will be designed to
improve water quality, and maximize wildlife habitat benefits and
wetland functions and values according to the WRP regulation, 7 CFR
part 1467, and NRCS conservation practice standards. Additionally, the
successful restoration of land and the resultant wetland values must
take into consideration the cost of
[[Page 73032]]
such restoration, as required by the WRP statute and reflected in the
WRP regulation at 7 CFR part 1467.4. Proposals must conform to the WRP
guidelines for restoration and management of lands subject to a WRP
easement.
Benefits to the partners in WREP agreements include:
Involvement in wetland restorations in high priority MRBI
focus areas;
Ability to cost-share restoration or enhancement
components beyond those required by NRCS;
Ability to participate in management or monitoring of
selected project locations; and
Opportunity to utilize innovative restoration methods and
practices.
Land Eligibility
The land eligibility criteria for WREP are the same as for WRP and
are listed in 7 CFR Sec. 1467.4.
Proposal Requirements
For consideration, the proposal must be in the following format and
contain the information set forth below.
(1) Proposal Cover and Summary. The first few pages of the proposal
must include--
(a) Project Title.
(b) Project Director/Manager name, telephone, and mailing and email
address.
(c) Name and contact information for lead partner submitting
proposal and other collaborating partners.
(d) Short general summary of project, including:
(i) Potential acres to be enrolled in the project area,
(ii) Designated 12-digit watershed(s) where the project is located,
including the State(s), and county(s). Include a general location map,
(iii) Proposed project start and end dates that do not exceed 4
consecutive years including FY 2011,
(iv) The project objectives and resource concerns to be addressed,
and
(v) Total amount of financial assistance being requested.
(2) Project Natural Resource Objectives and Actions. The proposal
must--
(a) Identify and provide detail about the wildlife and water
quality concerns to be addressed and how the proposal's objectives will
address those concerns. Objectives should be specific, measurable,
achievable, results-oriented, and include a timeline for completion.
(b) For each objective, identify the actions to be completed to
achieve that objective and address the identified natural resource
concern. Specify which actions are to be addressed through this project
using WREP assistance, and which are being addressed through alternate
non-Federal funding sources or other resources provided.
(c) Identify the total acres that require wetland protection,
restoration, and enhancement.
(3) Detailed Project Description. Information provided in the
proposal must include--
(a) A description of the partner(s) history of working
cooperatively with landowners on conservation easements.
(b) A description of the watershed characteristics within the
designated focus area covered by the proposal including a detailed
watershed map that indicates the project location. The description
should include information related to land use types, vegetation,
soils, hydrology, potential sources of water quality impairments,
occurrences of at-risk species, proximity to other protected areas, and
a summary of resource concerns. Proposals should state whether a MRBI-
WREP proposal is integrated with a MRBI-CCPI proposed project and
include the name of the proposed project.
(c) A description of the partner(s) and the roles,
responsibilities, and capabilities of the partner(s). Proposals which
include resources from partners other than the lead partner must
include a letter or other documentation confirming the commitment of
resources.
(d) A description of the project duration, plan of action, and
project implementation schedule. Project proposals cannot exceed 4
years.
(e) A description of the financial assistance resources that are
requested through WREP, and the non-Federal resources provided by the
partner(s) that will be leveraged by the Federal contribution. WREP
requires partners to contribute a match of:
(i) In-kind only contributions of at least 20 percent of the
restoration costs,
(ii) Cash only contributions of at least 5 percent of the
restoration costs, or
(iii) A combination of in-kind and cash contributions of at least
20 percent of the restoration costs.
Proposals which include additional partner resources will be given
additional consideration in the selection process. Contributions
provided by the partners to achieve additional ranking points can be in
the form of technical or financial assistance for the protection,
restoration, and enhancement of the wetland. Contributions can also be
in the form of assistance with management and monitoring activities.
Contributions above the match requirement can be cash or in-kind
equipment or services. Partners may provide incentives to landowners to
participate in WREP; however, incentive payments will not be considered
part of the match requirement. Incentives include sign-up bonuses,
practice incentive payments, or similar activities not funded through
WRP.
(f) Total budget for the project including all partner resources
which will be leveraged for the project and the amount of WREP
financial assistance being requested for project broken out by fiscal
year with totals. Include a description of the amount of funds needed
annually for easement acquisition and wetland restoration and
enhancement activities.
(g) A description of non-Federal resources that will be available
for implementation of the proposal. Proposals which include additional
non-Federal resources will be given higher consideration in the
selection process. The partner needs to state clearly how they intend
to leverage Federal funds along with partner resources. Landowner
contributions in the implementation of agreed-to wetland restoration
and enhancement practices may not be considered any part of a match
from the potential partner for purposes of WREP. Partners will also be
required to submit a plan for monitoring, evaluating, and reporting
progress made toward achieving the objectives of the agreement.
(h) An estimate of the percentage of potential landowners, or
estimate of the percentage of acres likely to be enrolled within the
project area, compared to the total number of potential landowners or
acres located in the project area. A statement on how the partner will
encourage participation to guarantee success of the project. It is not
necessary for a target area to involve multiple landowners to be
selected. Projects will be evaluated based on the ecological merits of
the proposal and contributions by the partners.
(i) A statement describing how the partner will provide outreach,
especially to encourage participation by Indian tribes, beginning
farmers or ranchers, socially disadvantaged farmers or ranchers, and
limited resource farmers or ranchers.
(j) A description of the wetland protection, restoration, and
enhancement activities to be implemented during the project timeframe,
and the general sequence of implementation of the project. Activities
may include those efforts undertaken by the partner and those that the
partner requests NRCS to address through financial support.
[[Page 73033]]
National Ranking Considerations
The appropriate State Conservationist will evaluate proposals using
a competitive process and forward recommended proposals to the Chief
for review and selection. The Chief will give a higher priority to
proposals that:
(a) Have a high potential to achieve wetland restoration;
(b) Have a high potential to significantly improve water quality;
(c) Have a high potential to significantly improve wildlife
habitat;
(d) Significantly leverage non-Federal financial and technical
resources and coordinate with other local, State, tribal, or Federal
efforts;
(e) Demonstrate the partner's history of working cooperatively with
landowners on conservation easements;
(f) Provide innovation in wetland protection, restoration, and
enhancement methods and outcome-based performance measures and methods;
(g) Provide evidence that wetland restoration and enhancement
activities will be completed within 2 years of easement closing;
(h) Provide for monitoring and evaluation of the effectiveness of
the restoration activities on water quality;
(i) Provide for matching financial or technical assistance funds to
assist landowners with the implementation of the Wetlands Reserve Plan
of Operations and associated contracts;
(j) Facilitate the submission of landowner applications;
(k) Provide for outreach to, and participation of, Indian tribes,
beginning farmers or ranchers, socially disadvantaged farmers or
ranchers, and limited resource farmers or ranchers within the area
covered by the agreement; and
(l) Integrate a MRBI-WREP proposal with a MRBI-CCPI proposed or
approved project.
Partnership Agreements
Upon proposal selection, NRCS will enter an agreement with a
partner as the mechanism for partner participation in WREP. At a
minimum, the agreement will address:
(a) The role of the partner;
(b) The role of NRCS;
(c) The format and frequency of reports that is required as a
condition of the agreement;
(d) The Plan of Work and budget to identify other funding sources
(if applicable) for financial or technical assistance;
(e) The specified project schedule and timeframe;
(f) Whether the agreement will serve as an obligating document or
whether funds will be obligated under a separate agreement with the
partner or with a third party; and
(g) Other requirements deemed necessary by NRCS to achieve purposes
of the WRP.
Landowner Application
Landowners must meet the eligibility requirements of WRP, as
published in 7 CFR part 1467. Landowners interested in participating
may apply for designated WREP funds at their local service center after
WREP proposals are selected. In FY 2011, NRCS will make WREP funds
available to eligible landowners to enroll land under a permanent
easement, a 30-year easement, a 30-year contract on acreage owned by
Indian tribes, or through a Restoration Agreement.
NRCS and the partner may assist landowners in determining whether
the application is appropriate for WREP depending on the wetland
protection, restoration, and enhancement activities that the applicant
seeks to install or perform.
Signed the 20th day of November, 2010, in Washington, DC.
Dave White,
Vice President, Commodity Credit Corporation and Chief, Natural
Resources Conservation Service.
[FR Doc. 2010-29958 Filed 11-26-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-16-P