The Secretary shall develop criteria for evaluating applications that will ensure that national, State, and local conservation priorities are effectively addressed.
In evaluating applications under this part, the Secretary shall prioritize applications—
(1) based on their overall level of cost-effectiveness to ensure that the conservation practices and approaches proposed are the most efficient means of achieving the anticipated environmental benefits of the project;
(2) based on how effectively and comprehensively the project addresses the designated resource concern or resource concerns;
(3) that best fulfill the purpose of the environmental quality incentives program specified in section 3839aa(1) of this title; and
(4) that improve conservation practices or systems in place on the operation at the time the contract offer is accepted or that will complete a conservation system.
To the greatest extent practicable, the Secretary shall group applications of similar crop or livestock operations for evaluation purposes or otherwise evaluate applications relative to other applications for similar farming operations.
(Pub. L. 99–198, title XII, §1240C, as added Pub. L. 107–171, title II, §2301, May 13, 2002, 116 Stat. 256; amended Pub. L. 110–234, title II, §2504, May 22, 2008, 122 Stat. 1062; Pub. L. 110–246, §4(a), title II, §2504, June 18, 2008, 122 Stat. 1664, 1790.)
Sections: Previous 3839a 3839b 3839c 3839d 3839aa 3839aa-1 3839aa-2 3839aa-3 3839aa-4 3839aa-5 3839aa-6 3839aa-7 3839aa-8 3839aa-9 3839bb Next
Last modified: October 26, 2015