Selected Recipients for this Program

Not Applicable.

Uses and Use Restrictions

Technical assistance is provided to develop a WHIP Plan of Operation (WPO) for eligible participants.

Cost-share payments may be made to implement fish and wildlife habitat conservation practices.

Up to seventy-five percent cost-share is available from NRCS to reimburse participants for installing conservation practices beneficial to wildlife.

Eligibility Requirements

Applicant Eligibility

Applicant must meet Highly Erodible Land and Wetland Conservation (HEL/WC) requirements, Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) requirements, verification that applicant will be in control of land for the duration of a contract.

Beneficiary Eligibility

A participant may be an owner, landlord, operator, or tenant of eligible lands. Limited resource producers, small-scale producers, producers of minority groups, Federally Recognized Indian Tribal Governments, Alaska natives, and Pacific Islanders are encouraged to apply.

Credentials/Documentation

Evidence that applicant has control over land to be entered into contract and submits an acceptable Wildlife Habitat Development Plan for the land unit of concern that incorporates needed wildlife habitat conservation practices. This program is excluded from coverage under 2 CFR 200, Subpart E - Cost Principles.

Aplication and Award Process

Preapplication Coordination

Preapplication coordination is not applicable.

Environmental impact information is not required for this program.

This program is excluded from coverage under E.O.

12372.

Application Procedures

This program is excluded from coverage under 2 CFR 200, Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards. This program was repealed by the Agricultural Act of 2014 (2014 Farm Bill), effective February 7, 2014. Therefore, no new enrollments are authorized for this program after that date.

Award Procedures

NRCS may designate a wildlife habitat type or a region of special wildlife habitat concern as a priority. The priorities are designated by the State Conservationist based on recommendations of local working groups which are convened by the local conservation district with recommendations from the State Technical Committee. NRCS will give special consideration to applicants who have WPOs that address wildlife habitat concerns consistent with National and state priorities. Applications will be ranked and selected for funding.

Deadlines

Not Applicable.

Authorization

Food Security Act of 1985. This program was repealed by the Agricultural Act of 2014 (2014 Farm Bill), effective February 7, 2014. Therefore, no new enrollments are authorized for this program after that date., Title XII, Part subtitle D, Section 1244h, Public Law 99-198, 16 U.S.C 3831.

Range of Approval/Disapproval Time

Not Applicable.

Appeals

A participant may appeal any adverse determination to NRCS.

Renewals

Not Applicable.

Assistance Considerations

Formula and Matching Requirements

This program has no statutory formula. Matching Requirements: Percent: 25%. Installation of cost-share practices to develop wildlife habitat can be funded by cost-sharing up to 75 percent of the total cost of establishing the conservation practice by NRCS. Program participants or nonfederal partners provide the remaining 25 percent. Other conservation practices may be required to be installed without program payments. MOE requirements are not applicable to this program.

Length and Time Phasing of Assistance

The WHIP cost-share agreement period is a minimum of 1 to 10 years. Obligations for assistance are tied to the schedule for applying wildlife habitat conservation practices included in the WPO used as the basis for cost-share agreement. Payments are made when the participant and NRCS certify that a conservation practice is completed in accordance with the cost-share agreement. Method of awarding/releasing assistance: lump sum.

Post Assistance Requirements

Reports

No reports are required.

Audits

This program is excluded from coverage under 2 CFR 200, Subpart F - Audit Requirements. This program was repealed by the Agricultural Act of 2014 (2014 Farm Bill), effective February 7, 2014. Therefore, no new enrollments are authorized for this program after that date.

Records

Maintained in the NRCS state office and Federal records centers for specified number of years.

Financial Information

Account Identification

12-1004-0-1-302; 12-3322-0-1-302.

Obigations

(Salaries) FY 16 $8,401,000; FY 17 est $12,064,000; and FY 18 est $0. (Direct Payments for Specified Use) FY 16 $543,000; FY 17 est $786,000; and FY 18 est $8,000,000

Range and Average of Financial Assistance

Average contract payments are estimated to be $4,500.

Regulations, Guidelines, and Literature

7 CFR Part 636. Program is announced through news media and in announcements to agricultural producers, farm and ranch owners and operators in the county. Program manuals, handbooks, and leaflets issued by NRCS and FSA.

Information Contacts

Regional or Local Office

See Regional Agency Offices. For more information on this and other related conservation programs, consult the local telephone directory where your land is located for location of the USDA service center. NRCS, FSA, and many local conservation districts are located in USDA service centers. For a list of NRCS State Office telephone numbers and addresses, see Appendix IV of the Catalog or visit the NRCS National Website at http://offices.sc.egov.usda.gov/locator/app.

Headquarters Office

Jeffrey White Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service, 1400 Independence Ave, SW; Room 5237-S;, Washington, District of Columbia 20250 Email: Jeffery.White@wdc.usda.gov Phone: (202) 720-1844

Criteria for Selecting Proposals

Applications will be ranked and selected for funding based on: The wildlife habitat benefits derived and the extent the cost-share agreement will assist in achieving the wildlife habitat priority goals and objectives in the area the land unit is located.