230.5—Eligibility requirements.
(a)
All nonindustrial private forest landowners as defined in § 230.2 of this subpart, including those who produce forest products on a part-time or intermittent basis, who meet the requirements of this section, are eligible to apply for and receive assistance under the Program without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, age, sex, marital status, or handicap.
(b)
To be eligible to receive cost-share funds under the Program, a landowner shall own not more than a total of 1,000 acres of nonindustrial private forest land, except where the State Forester, with the concurrence of the Regional Forester, determines that significant public benefits would accrue from approval of a landowner owning not more than 5,000 acres. In making a determination of significant public benefits, the State Forester and the Regional Forester shall consider, at a minimum, whether the installation of practices by landowners who own more than 1,000 acres but less than 5,000 acres are necessary to achieve cost-effective resource management objectives without unduly affecting Program participation of other eligible landowners.
(c)
To be eligible to receive cost-share funds under the Program, a landowner shall not own less than the minimum contiguous acreage as established by the State Forester. However, in no case shall the minimum contiguous acreage requirement be higher than 25 acres.
(d)
To be eligible to receive cost-share funds under the Program, a landowner must agree to manage the following lands under a Landowner Forest Stewardship Plan prepared pursuant to § 230.6 of this subpart:
(1)
All of their nonindustrial private forest land with existing tree cover within a contiguous tract; and
(2)
Other nonindustrial private forest land within the same contiguous tract which is identified by the landowner and approved by the Service Representative as suitable for growing trees and scheduled for conversion to a Program practice.
(e)
To be eligible to receive cost-share funds under the Program, a landowner must agree to maintain Program practices for 10 years, unless otherwise specified by the Chief.