[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 7, Volume 6]
[Revised as of January 1, 2003]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 7CFR634.14]

[Page 415]
 
                          TITLE 7--AGRICULTURE
 
   CHAPTER VI--NATURAL RESOURCES CONSERVATION SERVICE, DEPARTMENT OF 
                               AGRICULTURE
 
PART 634--RURAL CLEAN WATER PROGRAM--Table of Contents
 
              Subpart B--Project Authorization and Funding
 
Sec. 634.14  Review and approval of project applications.

    (a) In reviewing applications and recommending priorities, the 
NRCWCC 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, and
    (iii) Miles of stream or acres of water bodies affected,
    (2) Demonstration of public benefits from the project, including:
    (i) Effects on human health,
    (ii) Population benefited by improved water quality,
    (iii) Effects on the natural environment, and
    (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) Cost effectiveness of BMP's,
    (ii) Size of the area and BMP's needed, and
    (iii) Cost per participant and cost per acre for solution of 
problem,
    (4) State and local input in the project area, including:
    (i) Funds for cost-sharing, technical, and administrative costs. 
States or local governments with their own cost-share programs may 
receive greater consideration for the funding of RCWP projects,
    (ii) Commitment of local leadership to promote the program, and
    (5) The project area's contribution to meeting the national water 
quality goals.
    (b) Based on the project applications, the NRCWCC is to recommend an 
upper limit of the Federal contribution to the total cost of the 
project.
    (c) All project applications will be reviewed by EPA. Project 
applications approval for funding require written EPA concurrence, 
except that the Administrator, NRCS, may assume EPA's concurrence if EPA 
does not act within 45 days following receipt of the project 
application. EPA review of project applications will occur concurrently 
with review by the NRCWCC.
    (d) The Administrator, NRCS, will approve projects for funding. The 
NRCWCC acting through the Chairman will announce the approval of the 
project. The State Conservationist, NRCS, through the SRCWCC, will also 
inform the other involved Federal, State, and local agencies of the 
approval.