662.2—Definitions.
The following definitions are applicable to this part:
Chief means the Chief of NRCS or the person delegated authority to act on behalf of the Chief.
Contribution programs means Regional Equity programs that contribute funding to Regional Equity States, as determined by the Chief each fiscal year, consistent with the limitations established in 16 U.S.C. 3841(d).
Drawing account means the aggregated amount of contribution program funds required to bring all States to the Regional Equity threshold.
Funding opportunity means the amount of funding needed to bring a State to the $15,000,000 Regional Equity threshold for the aggregate of Regional Equity programs.
Initial allocation means the amount of conservation program allocation funding provided to all States through a merit-based, natural resource focused process.
Obligated means a specific binding agreement, in writing, for the purpose authorized by law and executed while the funding is available.
Regional Equity programs mean conservation programs under Subtitle D (excluding the Conservation Reserve Program, Wetlands Reserve Program, and the Conservation Security Program) of the Food Security Act of 1985. These programs include: Conservation Stewardship Program, Farm and Ranch Lands Protection Program, Grassland Reserve Program, Environmental Quality Incentives Program, Conservation Innovation Grants, Agricultural Water Enhancement Program, Conservation of Private Grazing Land, Wildlife Habitat Incentive Program, Grassroots Source Water Protection Program, Great Lakes Basin Program, Chesapeake Bay Watershed Initiative, and the Voluntary Public Access and Habitat Incentive Program. Regional Equity programs will be aggregated to determine whether a State meets the $15,000,000 Regional Equity threshold. However, not all Regional Equity programs will be considered contribution programs.
Regional Equity provision means the statutory requirement to give priority funding before April 1 for approved applications for specific programs within States that have not received a $15,000,000 aggregate level of funding.
Regional Equity States means any State not meeting the Regional Equity threshold of $15,000,000 through the initial allocation for Regional Equity programs.
Regional Equity threshold means the $15,000,000 minimum aggregate amount of Regional Equity program funds.
Respective demand means the mix of contribution program funds that each State Conservationist in a Regional Equity State requests to fill that State's funding opportunity.
State means all 50 States, the District of Columbia, Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Guam, Virgin Islands, American Samoa, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and the Freely Associated States.
State Conservationist means the NRCS employee authorized to implement Regional Equity programs and direct and supervise NRCS activities in a State, the Caribbean Area, or the Pacific Islands Area.