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plan, Land Evaluation Site Assessment (LESA) system, or similar land evaluation system used to evaluate parcels. 7. The NRCS State conservationist makes awards to eligible entities based on the funds provided by the NRCS National office. NRCS enters into cooperative agreements with the selected entities. 8. Following cooperative agreement signature by NRCS and the selected entity, funds may be obligated to the entity, and the entity may begin to purchase conservation easements or other interests in land. Determining National FPP Allocations FPP is available in those States, the Caribbean Area, and Pacific Basin Area that submit an NRCS State FPP plan to the NRCS National office. The State conservationist or director is responsible for developing a State FPP plan. The plan should be developed with advice from the State Technical Committee or its farmland protection subcommittee, which is made up of representatives from State and local farmland protection programs, including non - governmental organizations. A State FPP plan is submitted to the NRCS National office at least every three years, or more often if conditions change. State allocations may be adjusted every three years based on new state FPP plan submissions and at the discretion of the NRCS Chief. For fiscal years 2002 and 2003, the NRCS State conservationists are to submit one -year state FPP plans to the National office, rather than commit to a three -year cycle. At a minimum, the State FPP plan contains the following National criteria: • Acreage of prime, unique, and important farmland estimated to be protected; • Acreage of prime, unique, and important farmland lost; • Number or acreage of historic and archaeological sites estimated to be protected on farm or ranch lands; • Degree of development pressure; • Degree of leveraging guaranteed by cooperating entities; • History of cooperating entities' commitments to conservation; • Participating entities' histories of acquiring, managing, holding, and enforcing easements (including annual farmland protection expenditures, accomplishments, and staff); • Amount of FPP dollars requested; and • Participating entities' estimated unfunded conservation easements on prime, unique, and important farmland acres. The State FPP plan includes ranking considerations used by the State, including the National criteria (above) and other State ranking criteria. The criteria include, but are not limited to, proximity to protected clusters of farmland, viability of the agricultural operations, parcel size, type of land use, maximum cost expended per acre, degree of leveraging by the entity, and proof of appraisals. State ranking criteria are developed on a State -by -State basis and are available to interested participating entities prior to State proposal submission. Criteria Used to Evaluate Proposals Each State develops ranking criteria to ensure consistent and efficient FPP implementation. The ranking criteria, established in the State FPP plan, enable the State conservationist to prioritize proposals and determine parcels that merit FPP enrollment. The State conservationist, with advice from the State Technical Committee, establishes a weighted ranking system. Priority is given to easements that protect the Nation's most threatened prime, unique, and important farmland or historical and archaeological sites on farm and ranch land. In evaluation of FPP Program Description page 3