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