Disaster Relief Appropriations Act, Emergency Forest Restoration Program
The financial assistance will be cost share payments to assist in EFRP participant to establish practices required
Established in 1862, the Department of Agriculture serves all Americans through anti-hunger efforts, stewardship of nearly 200 million acres of national forest and rangelands, and through product safety and conservation efforts. The USDA opens markets for American farmers and ranchers and provides food for needy people around the world.
Program Accomplishments
Not Applicable.
Uses and Use Restrictions
Subject to the availability of funds the Farm Service Agency (FSA) will provide cost share payments to owners of nonindustrial private forest land who carry out emergency measures to restore land damaged by Hurricane Sandy.
Eligibility Requirements
Applicant Eligibility
To be eligible to participate in EFRP, a person or legal entity must be an owner of nonindustrial private forest land affected by a natural disaster, and must be liable for or have the expense that is the subject of the financial assistance.
The owner must be a person or legal entity (including Indian tribes) with full decision-making authority over the land, as determined by FSA, or with such waivers as may be needed from lenders or others as may be required, to undertake program commitments.
Federal agencies and States, including all agencies and political subdivisions of a State, are ineligible for EFRP.
For land to be eligible, it must be nonindustrial private forest land and must, as determined by FSA.
The land must have existing tree cover or have had tree cover immediately before the natural disaster and be suitable for growing trees, have damage to natural resources caused by a natural disaster, which occurred on or after January 1, 2010, that, if not treated, would impair or endanger the natural resources on the land and would materially affect future use of the land.
The land must be physically located in a county in which EFRP has been implemented and is ineligible for EFRP if FSA determines that the land is owned or controlled by the United States, or owned or controlled by States, including State agencies or political subdivisions of a State.
A qualifying natural disaster means wildfires, hurricanes or excessive winds, drought, ice storms or blizzards, floods, or other naturally-occurring resource impacting events as determined by FSA.
For EFRP, a natural disaster also includes insect or disease infestations as determined by FSA in consultation with other Federal and State agencies as appropriate.
Beneficiary Eligibility
The owners of industrial private forest land will receive the ultimate benefit.
Credentials/Documentation
After completion of the approved practice, the participant must certify completion and request payment by the payment request deadline. FSA will provide the participant with a form or another manner to be used to request payment. This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-87.
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 OMB Circular No. A-102. This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-110. Participants who perform practices shall be responsible for obtaining the authorities, permits, rights, easements, or other approvals necessary to the performance and maintenance of the practices according to applicable laws and regulations. The EFRP participant shall be wholly responsible for any actions taken with respect to the project and shall, in addition, be responsible for returning and refunding any EFRP cost shares made, where the purpose of the project cannot be accomplished because of the applicants" lack of clearances or other problems. Cost share assistance is dependent upon the availability of funds and the performance of the practice. An eligible applicant must certify and provide proof of completion of the practice. The eligible participant shall submit all information to their local FSA county office. The enrollment period for submitting EFRP cost-share requests will be accepted after the announced enrollment period.
Award Procedures
FSA will establish the minimum qualifying cost of restoration, which may vary by State or region. Participants are not eligible to receive funding under EFRP for land on which FSA determines that the participant has or will receive funding for the same or similar expenses under:
The Emergency Conservation Program
The Wetland Reserve Program
The Emergency Wetland Reserve Program
The Emergency Watershed Protection Program.
Deadlines
Contact the headquarters or regional office, as appropriate, for application deadlines.
Authorization
Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008, Title II, Section 2106, Public Law 110-246, as amended by Disaster Relief Appropriations Act, Title X, Public Law 113-2.
Range of Approval/Disapproval Time
An on site inspection must be made before approval of any request for EFRP assistance.
The on site inspection may be waived by FSA, in its discretion only, where damage is so sever that an on site inspection is unnecessary as determined by FSA.
The time limits for submission of information shall be determined by the Deputy Administrator. The payment request deadline for each EFRP practice will be provided in the agreement after the application is approved. Time limits may be extended where failure to submit required information within the applicable time limits is due to reasons beyond the control of the participant.
Appeals
From 90 to 120 days. Determinations may be appealed in accordance with the administrative appeal regulations at parts 11 and 780 of 7CFR.
Renewals
Not Applicable.
Assistance Considerations
Formula and Matching Requirements
Statutory formulas are not applicable to this program.
Matching requirements are not applicable to this program.
MOE requirements are not applicable to this program.
Length and Time Phasing of Assistance
Not applicable. Method of awarding/releasing assistance: lump sum.
Post Assistance Requirements
Reports
Not Applicable.
Audits
Not Applicable.
Records
For the purposes of EFRP, no receipt, invoice, or other record is required to be retained by any agricultural producer as evidence tending to show performance of a practice needs to be retained by such producer more than two years following the close of the program year of the program.
Financial Information
Account Identification
12-0171-0-1-453.
Obigations
(Direct Payments with Unrestricted Use) FY 12 $0; FY 13 est $21,850,000; and FY 14 est $0
Range and Average of Financial Assistance
No Data Available.
Regulations, Guidelines, and Literature
Not Applicable.
Information Contacts
Regional or Local Office
See Regional Agency Offices.
Headquarters Office
Martin Bomar 1400 Independence Ave. SW, Washington, District of Columbia 20250 Email: Martin.Bomar@wdc.usda.gov Phone: 202-205-4537 Fax: 202-720-4619
Criteria for Selecting Proposals
Not Applicable.
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