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Grant Community.com Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Program Descriptions |
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10.054 Emergency Conservation Program
(ECP) FEDERAL
AGENCY: FARM SERVICE AGENCY, DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AUTHORIZATION: Agricultural Credit Act of 1978, Title
IV, Public Law 95-334, 16 U.S.C. 2201-2205. OBJECTIVES: To enable farmers to perform emergency
conservation measures to control wind erosion on farmlands, to rehabilitate
farmlands damaged by wind erosion, floods, hurricanes, or other natural
disasters and to carry out emergency water conservation or water enhancing
measures during periods of severe drought. TYPES OF ASSISTANCE: Direct Payments for Specified
Use. USES AND USE RESTRICTIONS: Following a natural disaster,
the county FSA committee determines, with concurrence from the State
FSA committee, to make the program available in the county.
Emergency cost- sharing is limited to new conservation problems
created by natural disasters which, if not treated will impair or endanger
the land, materially affect the productive capacity of the land, represent
damage that is unusual in character and, except for wind erosion, is
not the type that would recur frequently in the same area and will be
so costly to rehabilitate that Federal assistance is or will be required
to return the land to productive agricultural use.
Eligible drought situations for water enhancing measures must
be determined by the Deputy Administrator for Farm Programs, FSA. ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS: Applicant Eligibility: Any person who as owner, landlord,
tenant, or sharecropper on a farm or ranch, including associated groups,
and bears a part of the cost of an approved conservation practice in
a disaster area, is eligible to apply for cost-share conservation assistance. This program is also available in Guam, Commonwealth
of the Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands. Beneficiary Eligibility: Any person who as owner, landlord,
tenant, or sharecropper on a farm or ranch, including associated groups,
and bears a part of the cost of an approved conservation practice in
a disaster area, is eligible to apply for cost-share conservation assistance. This program is also available in Guam, Commonwealth
of the Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands. Credentials/Documentation: Identification as an eligible
person and proof of contribution to the cost of performing the conservation
practice. This program is excluded from coverage under
OMB Circular No. A-87. APPLICATION AND AWARD PROCESS: Preapplication Coordination: None. This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-102
and E.O.12372. Application Procedure: Eligible persons may submit
an application on Form AD-245, for cost-sharing, at the county FSA office
for the county in which the affected land is located.
This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular Nos.
A-102 and A-110. Award Procedure: The county FSA committee reviews,
prioritizes, and may approve applications in whole or in part. Approvals cannot exceed the county allocation
of Federal funds for that purpose. Deadlines: Applications for payment must be filed with
the county FSA committee by a prescribed date.
The conservation practice for which cost-shares have been approved
must be completed during the program year, within the time specified
by the county FSA committee, and such performance reported to the county
office within a specified time. Range of Approval/Disapproval Time: From 2 to 3 weeks. Appeals: Participants may appeal to county FSA committee,
State FSA committee, or National Appeals Division (NAD) on any determination.
Matters that are generally applicable to all producers are not appealable. Renewals: Certain approvals may be extended by the
FSA county committee, when necessary, with proper justification. ASSISTANCE CONSIDERATIONS: Formula and Matching Requirements: Cost-share payment
is required. The agricultural producer pays a portion of the conservation
practice. County committees shall establish levels of cost-sharing for
each practice for which payments may be made by FSA as follows: 1) Not to exceed 64 percent of the first $62,500
of the eligible cost of restoring the loss; 2) not to exceed 40 percent
of the second $62,500 of restoring the loss; 3) not to exceed 20 percent
of the eligible cost above $125,000 to restore the loss; and 4) not
to exceed $200,000 for total cost-sharing paid to one person for a disaster
loss. Length and Time Phasing of Assistance: Practice cost-share
approvals are given on a fiscal year basis.
The approvals specify the time that the practice must be carried
out. Payment is by check or
electronic funds transfer following completion of the measure. POST ASSISTANCE REQUIREMENTS: Reports: Not applicable. Audits: Recipients are subject to audit by the Office
of Inspector General, USDA. Records: Maintained in the county FSA office and Federal
record centers for a specified number of years. FINANCIAL INFORMATION: Account Identification: 12-3316-0-1-453. Obligations: (Direct payments) FY 99 $39,321,098; FY
00 est $90,853,016; and FY 01 est $31,921,330. Range and Average of Financial Assistance: $50 to $64,000;
$2,681. PROGRAM ACCOMPLISHMENTS: For 1999, $28 million in supplemental
funding was provided for the Emergency Conservation Program, to remain
available until expended. Under
the program, $40,263,070 in cost- sharing and technical assistance was
provided in 42 States and the Virgin Islands to treat farmland damaged
by floods, hurricanes, droughts, ice storms, tornadoes, wildfires, and
other natural disasters. The 1999 program rehabilitated approximately
4,889,922 acres of farmland damaged by these natural disasters.
In fiscal year 2000, it is estimated that $91 million in cost-share
and technical assistance will be available for farmers and ranchers
to rehabilitate farmland damaged by natural disasters.
It is also estimated that $32 million in cost- share and technical
assistance will be available for farmers and ranchers to rehabilitate
farmland damaged by natural disasters during 2001. REGULATIONS, GUIDELINES, AND LITERATURE: Program regulations
published in the Federal Register, 7 CFR, and Part 701. Program is announced through the news media
in the county area designated as a disaster area. Also, Program Handbook 1-ECP is issued by FSA. INFORMATION CONTACTS: Regional or Local Office: Farmers are advised to contact
their local county FSA office after a natural disaster has occurred
to determine whether the program is available in the county and to determine
eligibility for emergency cost-share assistance. Consult the local telephone directory for location of the county
FSA office. If no listing, get
in touch with the appropriate State FSA office listed in the Farm Service
Agency section of Appendix IV of the Catalog. Headquarters Office: Department of Agriculture, Farm
Service Agency, Stop 0513, 1400 Independence Ave., SW., Washington,
DC 20250- 0513. Telephone: (202)
720-6221. RELATED PROGRAMS: 10.404, Emergency Loans. EXAMPLES OF FUNDED PROJECTS: Not applicable. CRITERIA FOR SELECTING PROPOSALS: Not applicable. |
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