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Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP)

The Environmental Quality Incentive Program (EQIP) was reauthorized in the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002.  EQIP provides technical and financial assistance to eligible farmers and ranchers to address soil, water, and related natural resource concerns on their lands in an environmentally beneficial and cost effective manner.  EQIP provides assistance to farmers and ranchers in complying with Federal, State, local and tribal environmental laws and encourages environmental enhancement. The purposes of EQIP are achieved through the implementation of a conservation plan and an EQIP contract that may include structural, vegetative and land management practices on eligible land.   

 

Implementation of EQIP in Washington State for FY 2005


 

  • Goals and Objectives
  • Funding Distribution
  • Ranking Criteria
  • Eligible Practices and Costs
  • Application Process
  • Application Ranking and Selection
  • Conservation Plan and Contract Development
  • Contract Implementation
    •


    Goals and Objectives


    Washington State's goals and objectives of the Environmental Quality Incentive Program are to assist eligible applicants in complying with Federal, State, local and tribal environmental regulations in an environmentally safe and cost effective manner through a locally led process.

    The Environmental Quality Incentive Program is administered by NRCS in Washington through consultation with the State Technical Committee and multi-county local work groups.  Through the use of the State Technical Committee and Local Work Groups priority resource concerns have been identified.

    • Surface water quality concerns such as temperature and/or agricultural pollutants

    •  Soil erosion

    •  Threatened and Endangered Species, mainly aquatic

    •  Air Quality, (Odor and PM10)

    • Water quantity

    • Livestock distribution

     The most commonly used conservation practices utilized to meet Washington State's goals and objectives:

    • Animal Waste Storage Facilities

    • Irrigation Conversion from rill irrigation to more efficient irrigation systems

    • Practices and Components of a Comprehensive Nutrient Management Plan

    • Nutrient Management

    • Residue Management such as No-Till or Direct Seeding

    • Conservation Buffers

    • Pest Management

    • Prescribed Grazing

     

    Funding Distribution

    Adobe Acrobat DocumentPDF files require Adobe Acrobat Reader.  Click to download a copy.

    The distribution of EQIP financial assistance funds in Washington State will be accomplished by using 12 funding pools (11 multi-county Local Work Groups and 1 Tribal).  Washington State is divided into 11 multi-county Local Work Groups.   The allocation to each local work group was determined by the conservation needs in each Local Work Group, national and state priorities and the time required to address the Local Work Groups conservation needs as well as national and state priorities.  In addition, there is a statewide pool for applications on tribal lands.

    Adobe Acrobat Document Distribution of EQIP Financial Assistance Funds in Washington by LWG/Team (7KB)

     

    Ranking Criteria

    The ranking criteria for Washington State was developed in consultation with the State Technical Committee based on National, state and local priorities and priority resource concerns. Two ranking worksheets were developed for use that addressed national and state priorities. These ranking worksheets were then distributed to each local work group where the local work group selected a worksheet, selected ranking modifiers that met state and national priorities as well as assigned a ranking score for each of the ranking modifiers utilizing the locally led process. The LWG submitted their ranking worksheets to the State Technical Committee for their concurrence and recommendation to the NRCS State Conservationist.

    The ranking worksheet for Tribal applications was developed in consultation with Tribes through the NRCS Tribal Liaisons.  A single ranking criteria worksheet is used to evaluate all tribal applications in the state.

    View Local Work Group and Tribal Ranking Criteria

     

    Eligible Practices and Costs

    Each Local Work Group was given the opportunity to identify which of the practices in the Field Office Technical Guide (FOTG) would be eligible for cost-share within their local Work Group.  In addition, each LWG was given the opportunity to:

    • Establish a maximum cost share rate not to exceed 75%

    • Establish a cost share hold downs for high cost practices

    Each Local Work Group has determined eligible practices and has developed a cost list that identifies associated practice components, cost share rates, and unit costs.

    View Local Work Group Practice Cost List

    View Local Work Group Eligible Practices and Hold-downs

     

    Application Process

    The application process is a continuous process.  Eligible applicants may apply for EQIP, utilizing CCC-1200 application form and appendix, at any USDA Service Center by phone, email, fax, or letter.


     APPLICATION Signature Requirements PRIOR TO THE
    EVALUATION CUTOFF DATE

    At least one participant is required to sign and date the CCC-1200 and all participants are required to sign the CCC-1200 Appendix.  Applicant must provide evidence of control of land for life span of the contract.

    CONTRACT Signature Requirements

    The CCC-1200 must be signed by:

    1.  Participant(s) receiving cost-share or incentive payments

    2.  Owner of the land if either of the following apply:

    • The participant cannot provide evidence of control of land for the contract period, or

    • A structural practice will be implemented.

     

    Application Ranking and Selection

    This process generally occurs between October 1 and March 15.  Annually, NRCS establishes a cutoff date for applications to be evaluated and ranked for current year funding.  The evaluation cutoff date for Fiscal Year 2004 is February 1, 2004.  Any applications received after February 1, 2004 will be held for evaluation for Fiscal Year 2005 funding.

    Once an application is received by NRCS:

    1.        NRCS will contact the applicant to conduct an evaluation and ranking of the application.

    2.         The application will be ranked against all of the other applications within the local work group area or tribal area.

    3.         After the cutoff date, NRCS will notify the applicant in writing of selection, deferment, or cancellation of the EQIP application.

    4.         If  selected for funding, the contract development process will be initiated.

    Applicant selected for funding are not authorized to begin the installation of a conservation practice until they have a CCC-1200, Conservation Program Contract, signed by a CCC representative (NRCS Contracting Officer)

     

    Conservation Plan and Contract Development

    This process normally occurs from February 1 through June 1.

    Applicants selected for funding will have a conservation plan and EQIP contract developed by NRCS..

    EQIP contracts will include all practices necessary to address the resource concerns identified in the application ranking.

    Contracts are effective the date they are signed by a CCC Representative (NRCS Contracting Officer) and expire 1 year after the date of the installation of the last scheduled practice.

     

    Contract Implementation

    Implementation occurs after the NRCS Designated Conservationist signs the CCC-1200.  Participants have the option of obtaining technical assistance from either NRCS or a certified Technical Service Provider (TSP) to design, install, inspect and certify conservation practices scheduled in their EQIP contract.

     

    Contact

    Dave Brown, Assistant State Conservationist (Programs)
    (509) 323-2971;  Alt Phone: (509) 323-2900
    E-mail:     David.Brown@wa.usda.gov


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