Agenda - 06-27-2002 - 8o - Laserfiche WebLink

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