[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 36, Volume 2]
[Revised as of July 1, 2007]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 36CFR230.9]

[Page 176-178]
 
              TITLE 36--PARKS, FORESTS, AND PUBLIC PROPERTY
 
          CHAPTER II--FOREST SERVICE, DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
 
PART 230_STATE AND PRIVATE FORESTRY ASSISTANCE--Table of Contents
 
                 Subpart A_Stewardship Incentive Program
 
Sec.  230.9  Payment to landowners.

    (a) To be eligible for cost-share payments, a landowner must 
complete each practice within eighteen months of approval. However, if 
practice(s) are not completed in eighteen months due to conditions 
beyond the landowner's control, a six month extension period may be 
granted by the Service Representative.
    (b) Upon certification by the Service Representative that a practice 
has been completed in accordance with specifications, the federal cost-
share payment will be calculated and disbursed to the landowner. Service 
Representatives shall have the right of access to the landowner's 
property to inspect practices for the duration of the practice 
maintenance period.
    (c) The amount of payment under the Program to any one landowner 
shall not exceed $10,000 in any given fiscal year. For each landowner 
participating in the Program, the payment limitation shall apply as 
follows:
    (1) Where husband and wife hold joint ownership, they shall be 
considered as a single landowner.

[[Page 177]]

    (2) Where any number of individuals hold common ownership, they 
shall be considered as a single landowner.
    (3) Where the individual is a partner, corporate shareholder, or has 
an ownership interest in another private legal entity, the amount of 
payment to the individual shall be equivalent to the percentage of 
ownership the individual holds in such partnership, corporation or other 
private legal entity times the payment made to such partnership, 
corporation or other legal entity.
    (d) Levels of federal cost-share funds to be paid to landowners 
shall be set by the State Forester, but shall not exceed 75 percent of 
the actual costs incurred by a participating landowner. Non-Federal 
program funds and other donated assistance may be used to supplement 
cost-share assistance under the Program; however, the total of all funds 
and assistance shall not exceed 100 percent of the actual cost of 
practice implementation.
    (e) A practice may consist of one or more component activities. A 
landowner may receive partial payment for completed components on the 
condition that the landowner agrees to complete the remaining 
component(s) of the practice within the time period specified by the 
Service Representative, not to exceed eighteen months following approval 
to implement the practice, unless an extension is justified as provided 
in paragraph (a) of this section.
    (f) Where performance actually rendered does not meet the minimum 
specifications of a practice due to factors beyond the landowner's 
control, the State Forester or designee may approve cost-share payment 
under one of the following conditions:
    (1) The landowner repeats applications of components previously 
implemented or establishes additional eligible components under such 
terms and conditions as the Service Representative may require, in which 
case, the State Forester shall approve additional cost-sharing for 
additional or repeated components to the extent such measures are needed 
to meet the objectives of the landowner forest stewardship plan; or
    (2) The landowner establishes to the satisfaction of the Service 
Representative that:
    (i) A reasonable effort was made to meet the minimum requirements; 
and
    (ii) The practice, as performed, adequately meets the objectives of 
the landowner forest stewardship plan.
    (g) Where the landowner has received cost-share assistance for site 
preparation and the establishment of trees has been unsuccessful due to 
factors beyond the landowner's control, the Service Representative shall 
require that trees be re-established and shall approve cost-share 
assistance for such activity.
    (h) If a landowner sells, conveys, or otherwise loses control of 
lands upon which there is a continuing obligation to maintain a practice 
and the new landowner does not agree to assume the responsibility for 
maintaining the practice, the landowner who was originally obligated to 
maintain the practice shall be liable to reimburse the United States for 
all cost-share payments on such practices.
    (i) In case of death or incompetency of any landowner, the State 
Forester shall approve cost-share payments to the successor if the 
successor agrees to maintain the practices for the duration of the 
required maintenance period.
    (j) Any landowner who may be entitled to any cost-share payment 
under this subpart may assign the right thereto, in whole or in part, 
under the following terms:
    (1) Payments may be assigned only for performance of a Program 
practice.
    (2) A payment which is made to a landowner may not be assigned to 
pay or secure any preexisting debt.
    (3) Neither the United States, the Forest Service, the Secretary of 
Agriculture, nor any disbursing agent shall be liable in any suit if 
payment is made to an assignor rather than to an assignee, and nothing 
in this section shall be construed to authorize any suit against the 
United States, the Forest Service, the Secretary or any disbursing agent 
if payment is not made to the assignee, or if payment is made to only 
one of several assignees.
    (k) No cost-share payment or portion thereof due and owing any 
landowner shall be subject to any claim arising

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under State law by any creditor, except agencies of the United States 
Government.