NS - Grant -Grant from the Federal Farm & Ranch Land Protection Program for Agricultural Conservation

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5 an entity's matching offer, the entity is required, at a minimum, to contribute in cash, at least 25 percent of the appraised fair market value of the conservation easement or 50 percent of the purchase price. Prior to NRCS accepting the conservation easement and issuing a payment, Orange County shall self-certify on the NRCS CPA-230, Confirmation of Matching Funds, that Orange County's share of matching funds has not come from additional donations, payments, loans or fees made by or charged to the easement grantor, immediate family members, or organizations controlled by or funded by the easement grantor, either through formal or informal agreements. The entity must have a current appraisal on the land in accordance with the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practices (USPAP) or the Uniform Appraisal Standards for Federal Land Acquisitions (IJASFLA)(Interagency Land Acquisition Conference, 1992). V. PAYMENTS A. Orange County shall notify the United States when the CCC funds are to be paid. CCC funds shall be paid to Orange County when the United States is provided a copy of the. recorded easement and Orange County has paid the landowner(s). Where Orange County cannot obtain 100 percent of the funds to be paid at closing to the landowner(s) and requires the United States to make its payment at closing rather than on a reimbursable basis, Orange County may request a waiver for the United States to pay its share of the conservation easement purchase at closing. In any instance where a waiver is "requested, Orange County shall notify the United States at least 60 days prior to closing. Where a waiver is requested, the United States shall make payment to an authorized closing agent. These funds will be transmitted to the Closing Agent by electronic transfer. The Closing Agent will hold the funds in escrow for a period not to exceed 14 calendar days. Upon receipt of the funds, the closing agent will sign a payment receipt form and return it to the United States. If interest is earned upon CCC funds, the Closing Agent must return any interest earned to the United States. All deeds used by Orange County shall be approved by the Office of General Counsel (OGC) National office or regional OGC office prior to purchase of the conservation easement. In order to obtain payment of FRPP funds, Orange County will submit Form SF-270 (Request for Advance/Reimbursement of Funds), and the information specified below to the North Carolina MRCS State Office. Prior to submitting the SF-270, Orange County must also request a copy of closing agent requirements from the United States and ensure that the closing agent meets these requirements. Orange County may submit the Form SF-270 prior to closing when a payment is issued at closing, after all the deeds have been recorded and the landowner has been paid, or on a quarterly basis for each quarter that conservation easements have been recorded and the landowner(s) have been paid. At a minimum, the following information shall be included in, or attached to, the SF-270, prior to NRCS accepting the conservation easement and disbursing payment: (1) the name of Orange County; (2) this cooperative agreement number; (3) conservation easement numbers (if applicable); (4) landowner name; (5) landowner's tax identification number (TIN) or social security number; (6) total amount of dollars paid the landowner for each conservation easement,