[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 7, Volume 7, Parts 700 to 899]
[Revised as of January 1, 2001]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 7CFR700.14]

[Page 14-15]
 
                          TITLE 7--AGRICULTURE
 
                            CHAPTER VII--FARM
                SERVICE AGENCY, DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
 
PART 700--EXPERIMENTAL RURAL CLEAN WATER PROGRAM--Table of Contents
 
              Subpart B--Project Authorization and Funding
 
Sec. 700.14  Review and approval of project applications.

    (a) In reviewing applications and recommending priorities, the NCC 
will consider the following:
    (1) Severity of the water quality problem caused by agricultural and 
silvicultural related pollutants, including:
    (i) State designated uses of the water affected.
    (ii) Kinds, sources, and effects of pollutants.
    (iii) Miles of stream or acres of water bodies affected, extent of 
groundwater contamination.
    (2) Demonstration of public benefits from the project, including:
    (i) Effects on human health.

[[Page 15]]

    (ii) Population benefited by improved water quality.
    (iii) Effects on the natural environment.
    (iv) Additional beneficial uses of the waters that result from 
improvement of the water quality.
    (3) Economic, and technical feasibility to control water quality 
problems within the life of the project, including:
    (i) Size of the area and extent of BMPs needed.
    (ii) Cost per participant and cost per acre or source for solution 
of problem.
    (iii) Cost effectiveness of BMPs.
    (iv) Adequacy of planned actions to meet the project's objectives.
    (4) Suitability of the project for the experimental RCWP in the 
testing of programs, policies and procedures for the control of 
agricultural non-point source pollution, including:
    (i) A project representative of a geographic area with significant 
water quality problems.
    (ii) The potential of the project for monitoring and evaluation, 
including existing base line data.
    (5) State, local and other input in the project area, including:
    (i) Funds for cost-sharing general monitoring and technical 
assistance.
    (ii) Commitment of local leadership to promote the program.
    (iii) Commitment of farmers and ranchers to participate in RCWP.
    (6) The project's contribution to meeting the national water quality 
goals taking into consideration of other major sources of pollutants 
which affect the water quality in or near the project area.
    (b) Based on the project application, the NCC is to recommend an 
upper limit of the Federal contribution to the total cost of the 
project. This includes both BMP cost-share and technical assistance 
costs.
    (c) All project applications will be reviewed by EPA. BMPs approval 
for funding require EPA concurrence, except that the Secretary may 
assume EPA's concurrence, if EPA does not act within 15 days following 
receipt of the request for concurrence.
    (d) The Secretary will approve proj- ects for funding taking into 
consideration the recommendations of the NCC and consultation with EPA. 
The Chairperson, State ASC Committee, through the SCC, will assure that 
involved Federal, State, and local agencies are informed of the project 
approval.