230.39—State priority plan—financial assistance.

(a) Cost-share financial assistance includes a wide range of activities and practices developed by a State Forester, in cooperation with the State Forest Stewardship Coordinating Committee.
(b) A State does not have to adopt a separate FLEP cost-share program if a State cost-share program already exists that meets the objectives of FLEP. However, FLEP funds must be accounted for in accordance with Federal financial accounting standards. If an existing cost-share program is used, a copy of the guidelines for that program must be referenced and attached to the State priority plan.
(c) If a State determines that all or some of its funds will be placed into a cost-share program, the State priority plan must identify and describe how the cost-share funds will be made available to landowners participating in FLEP and expected outcomes and method(s) for documenting and evaluating accomplishments.
(d) The cost-share section of the State priority plan must include all of the following information:
(1) Describe any land ownership or annual acreage eligibility limitation under FLEP that is more restrictive than that established by the authorizing statute;
(2) Describe any limitations for cost-share of management plans;
(3) Define what constitutes a management plan if a State chooses to adopt more restrictive requirements than those established in this subpart; and
(4) Identify aggregate payment limitations to any one landowner receiving cost-share funds through FLEP.
(e) The State priority plan must also describe how funds identified for cost-share with landowners will be distributed and how cost-share rates are determined and established for each practice.
(f) The State priority plan must describe the application and payment process for landowners interested in participating in and receiving cost-share through FLEP ( § 230.42 ).
(g) The State priority plan must also address the following steps related to financial assistance:
(1) Application procedure;
(2) Approval process;
(3) Performance period;
(4) Cancellation of approvals;
(5) Certification of performance;
(6) Payment;
(7) Maintenance and compliance;
(8) Procedure for recapture of funds for non-compliance; and
(9) Appeals procedures.