230.42—Cost-share assistance application and payment procedures.
(a)
Landowner applications for cost-share payments shall not be approved unless cost-share funds are available. The obligation of funds upon approval of an application constitutes an agreement by the State and the landowner to cost-share a completed practice on a reimbursable basis when the service representative verifies that the practice has been implemented.
(b)
Upon receiving an application for an eligible FLEP practice and making a determination that funds are available, a service representative shall prepare a practice plan that identifies the needed practices, specifications, and performance period for the implementation of the practice(s) to achieve the objectives of the landowner. The requirements of a practice plan may be contained in a management plan. The practice plan is the basis for determining acceptable performance upon completion of the practice.
(c)
Upon approval of a FLEP application, the State Forester shall notify the landowner in writing. Such notice shall state that the landowner can begin implementing the approved practice(s) and that funds have been obligated for reimbursement of a specified amount of the total cost. Practice costs incurred before approval are not eligible unless authorized by the State Forester. The notice shall also state that payment shall be made upon the service representative's verification that the practice has been implemented in accordance with the specifications of the practice plan and activities described in the management plan.
(d)
Any landowner who carries out practices under FLEP shall be responsible for obtaining the authorities, rights, easements, or other approvals necessary to the performance and maintenance of the practices in keeping with applicable laws and regulations.
(e)
To be eligible for cost-share reimbursement payment, a landowner must complete each practice within the performance period specified in the State priority plan, not to exceed 24 months. However, if practice(s) are not completed within the performance period specified, due to conditions beyond the landowner's control, the State Forester may grant an extension for a time period specified in the State priority plan, not to exceed 12 months.
(f)
Upon certification by the service representative that a practice has been completed in accordance with the practice plan, the cost-share payment shall be calculated and disbursed to the landowner. Landowners must provide to service representatives the right of access to the landowner's property to inspect practices for the duration of the maintenance period for the practices.
(g)
The maximum aggregate amount of cost-share payment under FLEP to any one landowner shall not exceed $100,000 through 2007, with the following exception for Alaska Indian Tribes. The Alaska State Forester, in consultation with the State Forest Stewardship Coordinating Committee and the Responsible Official, shall establish the maximum aggregate payment to any one Alaska Indian Tribe, however, the 1,000- and 5,000-acre limits shall apply.
(h)
The State priority plan shall set the levels of cost-share assistance to be paid to landowners, not to exceed 75 percent of the total costs incurred by a participating landowner. Non-Federal program funds and other donated assistance may be used to supplement cost-share through FLEP; however, the total of all funds and assistance shall not exceed 100 percent of the total cost of practice implementation, and the Federal share of the total cost shall be reduced by any gross revenue from any material sold as a result of the cost-share practice.
(i)
States may use the cost-share rate to define priority practices and priority areas by reserving the maximum rate of 75 percent of the total costs for the practices and areas having the highest priority.
(j)
State priorities for cost-share shall reflect the national priorities as listed in the Forest Service Manual Chapter 3310.
(k)
Other priorities may be developed by the State Forester in consultation with the State Forest Stewardship Coordinating Committee.
(l)
A landowner may receive partial payment, if allowed in the State priority plan, for completed components on the condition that the landowner agrees to complete the remaining components of the practice within the performance period specified in the practice plan.
(m)
Where performance actually rendered does not meet the minimum specifications of a practice due to factors beyond the landowner's control, the State Forester may approve cost-share payments under one of the following conditions:
(1)
The landowner repeats application of practices previously implemented or establishes additional eligible practices under such terms and conditions as the service representative may require, in which case the State Forester may approve cost-share payments for additional or repeated practices to the extent such measures are needed to meet the objectives of the management plan; or
(n)
In case of death or incompetence of any landowner, the State Forester shall approve cost-share payments to the successor in title or other persons or entities in control of the landowner property if they agree to maintain the practices for the duration of the required maintenance period.
(o)
Any landowner who may be entitled to a cost-share payment under this subpart may assign the right thereto, in whole or in part, under the following terms:
(2)
A payment that is made to a landowner may not be assigned to pay or secure any preexisting debt; and
(3)
Nothing in this section shall be construed to authorize suit against the United States, the Department of Agriculture, the Forest Service, any State or any disbursing agent acting on their behalf, if payment is made to an assignor rather than to an assignee or if payment is made to only one of several assignees.
(p)
No financial assistance or portion thereof due and owing to any landowner shall be subject to any claim arising under State or other law by any creditor, except for claims of agencies of the United States Government.
(q)
Prior to receiving approval to implement any FLEP practice identified in the State priority plan, except for management plan development, eligible landowners shall have an approved practice plan providing appropriate technical standards concerning the performance of the requested practice(s). A service representative shall approve the plan. In reviewing and approving plans, to the extent deemed applicable by the service representative, existing landowner management plans such as Tree Farm management plans, Forest Stewardship management plans, or similar plans may either meet, or can be amended to meet, the practice plan requirements under FLEP.