1468.4—Establishing Conservation Farm Option (CFO) pilot project areas.

(a) CCC may periodically solicit proposals from the public to establish pilot project areas in the Federal Register.
(b) Pilot projects may involve one or more participants. Each owner or producer within an approved pilot project area must submit an application in order to be considered for enrollment in the CFO. This pilot project area may be a watershed, a subwatershed, an area, or an individual farm that can be geographically described and has specific environmental sensitivities or significant soil, water, and related natural resource concerns. The pilot project area must have acreage enrolled in a production flexibility contract, which is authorized by the Agricultural Marketing and Transition Act of 1996. After these pilot project area proposals are received, the Chief, with FSA concurrence, will select proposals for funding.
(c) CCC will select pilot project areas based on the extent the individual proposal:
(1) Demonstrates innovative approaches to conservation program delivery and administration;
(2) Proposes innovative conservation technologies and system;
(3) Provides assurances that the greatest amount of environmental benefits will be delivered in a cost effective manner;
(4) Ensures effective monitoring and evaluation of the pilot effort;
(5) Considers multiple stakeholder participation (partnerships) within the pilot area;
(6) Provides additional non-Federal funding; and
(7) Addresses the following:
(i) Conservation of soil, water, and related natural resources,
(ii) Water quality protection or improvement,
(iii) Wetland restoration and protection, and
(iv) Wildlife habitat development and protection,
(v) Or other similar conservation purposes.