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Pacific Basin Area NRCS Programs

2004 EQIP: Sign-Up and Application Information

General Program Description

Environmental Quality Incentives Program Sign-ups Underway

Installed hillside ditch in American Samoa

The Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) is a voluntary conservation program to help farmers with financial and technical assistance in the installation and implementation of conservation practices on eligible agricultural land. Through EQIP, farmers in the Pacific Basin Area (American Samoa, Guam and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands) may receive assistance for agricultural production and environmental quality as compatible goals.
 

EQIP is a federally funded program under the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 (Farm Bill) and is administered by the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). EQIP was reauthorized in the 2002 Farm Bill and is administered by the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS).

Pacific Basin Area Resource Priorities

Based on the input from the Local Working Groups (LWGs), the following general resource concerns have been identified as priorities across the Pacific Basin Area for FY 2004.

  • Reduction in soil erosion and sedimentation from unacceptably high rates on cropland.
  • Control of excess surface runoff or flooding.
  • Reduction of non-point source pollutants, such as nutrients, sediment, or pesticides within impaired watersheds and coastal marine environments.
  • Reduction of groundwater and surface contamination, and the conservation of ground and surface water resources. (Comprehensive Nutrient Management and Integrated Pest Management Plans).
  • Control of exotic weeds and pests.
  • Promotion of habitat recovery.

These priorities address the main resource concerns such as reduction of non-point source pollutants, erosion reduction, water quality and habitat improvement.

Eligibility

Any farmer or rancher engaged in crop or livestock production on eligible land may apply for EQIP. Eligible land includes croplands, pasture and rangeland, private non-industrial forestland, and other land as determined by the Secretary of United States of Agriculture.

Cost Share Rates

EQIP may cost-share up to 75 percent of the costs of certain conservation practices. Limited resource producers and beginning farmers may be eligible for cost-share up to 90 percent. EQIP participants may elect to use a certified Technical Service Provider (TSP) for technical assistance.

The maximum total cost-share and/or incentive payment an individual or entity may receive, directly of indirectly, is limited to $450,000 for EQIP contracts during the term of the Farm Bill. Highest priority will be given to applications that provide the most environmental benefit. Pacific Basin Area EQIP contracts in excess of $100,000 must have NRCS State Office and NRCS Regional Office approval.

Signup and Application Information

Interested agricultural and livestock producers in the Pacific Basin Area may apply in person at any USDA Service Center in American Samoa, Guam or the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. Applicants may also request EQIP assistance by telephone, FAX, e-mail, or letter. (A signed application, CCC-1200, must be received no later than the close of business on the application evaluation cutoff date). Click on the link to USDA Service Centers to find the nearest office to you. The two cutoff dates for FY 2004 are December 15, 2003 and May 17, 2004.

Ranking of Applications

Ranking of all eligible applications will be completed after the application sign up period has been announced and the cutoff date has passed. Scoring of the applications will be done according to the Pacific Basin Area Ranking Criteria posted on this web page. Applications will be selected for plan development and contracting in ranked order according to the score as available funds allow. If insufficient funds are available to fund all eligible applications, applications will be held in a waiting list and may be ranked with any subsequently received applications during FY 2004. 

Conservation Practices

Several practices are included in the program to address resource concerns. Among them are: waste storage facility, manure transfer, pipeline, watering facilities for livestock, irrigation, waterway, hillside ditch, filter strip, contour farming, buffers, etc.  A copy of the list of approved practices for the Pacific Basin Area  is posted on this web site in the 2004 EQIP Eligible Conservation Practice List / EQIP Cost List.

Conservation Practices must meet NRCS technical standards. The participant will receive technical assistance for the planning and application of the conservation practices.

Local Participation and Work Groups

NRCS supports the locally led conservation effort in the delivery of conservation programs. The USDA Local Work Group (LWG) serves as the starting point in the development and coordination of NRCS conservation assistance programs to provide an integral approach for addressing local natural resource concerns.

The LWG ensures that the conservation needs assessment is developed using community stakeholder input. Using the assessment process, the LWG identifies resource concerns, recommends practices, priorities, payment rates, cost-share levels and funding needs.

The Director of the Pacific Basin Area will make funding available to field offices based on local requests, previous funding demand and other related factors. Available funds should be obligated by September 30, 2004.

EQIP Pacific Basin Area Documents (Fiscal Year 2004)

The following documents require Adobe Acrobat IconAdobe Acrobat.

Adobe Acrobat IconEQIP-FSA and NRCS Responsibilities for FY 2004 (Highlights of the FY2004 Memorandum, 87 KB)
Adobe Acrobat IconFY 2004 FSA and NRCS EQIP Responsibilities (Memorandum of Understanding, 428 KB)
Adobe Acrobat Document2004 EQIP Eligible Conservation Practice List / EQIP Cost List (474 KB)
Adobe Acrobat DocumentRanking Criteria and Application Worksheet (238 KB)

EQIP Pacific Basin Area Links (Fiscal Year 2004)

Limited Resource Farmer Self Determination Tool

Pacific Basin Area EQIP Contact

Colleen A. Simpson
Conservation Technology Specialist
Phone: 671.735.2116
Email: colleen.simpson@pb.usda.gov

John (Bart) H. Lawrence
State Resource Conservationist
Phone: 671.472.7447
Email: john.lawrence@pb.usda.gov

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