Idaho 2008 State EQIP Sign-Up and Application Information

Ranking and Protocols

The protocols have been developed to ensure consistency across the state in making eligibility determinations and rating EQIP applications.

Ranking of EQIP applications in 2008 will now be done using the "Application Evaluation Tool" or AERT.  This process is accomplished using the contract management tool called Protracts.  Applications will be ranked using four criteria.  They are:

• Contract or Application Efficiency and Cost
• National EQIP Priorities
• State EQIP Priorities
• Local EQIP Priorities

Efficiency and Cost Evaluation:  This section will analyze the practice of effectiveness of solving the identified resource concerns and the cost of the proposed practices.

National EQIP Priorities are listed as the following for maximum of 100 points:

1. Will the treatment you intend to implement using EQIP result in considerable reductions of non-point source pollution, such as nutrients, sediment, pesticides, excess salinity in impaired watersheds consistent with TMDL's where available as well as the reduction of groundwater contamination or point source such as contamination from confined animal feeding operations?
2. Will the treatment you intend to implement using EQIP result in the conservation of a considerable amount of ground or surface water resources?
3. Will the treatment you intend to implement using EQIP result in a considerable reduction of emissions, such as particulate matter, nitrogen oxides (NOx), volatile organic compounds, and ozone precursors and depleters that contribute to air quality impairment violations of National Ambient Air Quality Standards?
4. Will the treatment you intend to implement using EQIP result in a considerable reduction in soil erosion and sedimentation from unacceptable levels on agricultural land?
5. Will the treatment you intend to implement using EQIP result in a considerable increase in the promotion of at-risk species habitat conservation?

State EQIP Priorities are listed as the following for maximum of 200 points:

1. Will the planned conservation practices in this application result in a Resource Management System level of treatment on all the planned treatment units?
2. Are the planned conservation practices in this application part of a previously developed progressive or RMS level Conservation Plan?
3. Will the planned conservation practices in this application benefit the contract holder's fields or treatment units that have resource problems due to the livestock operation?
4. Will the planned conservation practices in this application result in the installation of a practice(s) on a land unit within the buffer zone for 303d listed streams AND will the practice or practices benefit a listed impairment on that 303d listed water body?
5. Will the planned conservation practices in this application result in the installation of a conservation practice that will benefit the objectives of an approved TMDL Implementation Watershed plan?
6. Will the planned conservation practices in this application result in the installation of a practice(s) that will benefit an approved (certified) drinking water protection plan recognized by the Department of Environmental Quality?
7. Will the planned conservation practices in this application result in the installation of a new irrigation sprinkler system that will be installed to operate on 100% gravity pressure?
8. Will the planned conservation practices in this application result in the installation of a practice(s) that will benefit the purpose of an initiated or completed Ground Water Management Area?
9. Will the planned conservation practices in this application result in the installation of a practice(s) that will assist the applicant become compliant or stay in compliance with Federal, State, Local or Tribal regulations or requirements?
10. Will the planned conservation practices in this application result in the installation of a practice(s) that will directly benefit a listed T&E species or species of concern?
11. Has the applicant had a NRCS contract either cancelled or terminated in the last 3 years or do they have a contract that it in the process of being cancelled or terminated? (Negative 500 points)
12. Does the applicant have a current NRCS contract that has or has had practices that are two or more years behind schedule? In other words, has this applicant had difficulties completing NRCS contracts in a timely manner in the past?  (Negative 250 points)

Local EQIP Priorities:  Each County established multiple questions on a local basis for a maximum of 300 points.  Please check with your local NRCS office for information on County specific resource concerns.

For points to be awarded, an environmental problem must exist on the proposed contracted land.  The Idaho Quality Criteria defines the specific conditions to be met for each resource and provides guidance for the resource evaluation.  The Quality Criteria may be found at the Idaho eFOTG site.  They are located in Section III under (B) "Idaho Resource Management System Quality Criteria."
 

The following document will require  Adobe Acrobat.

2008 Idaho EQIP Protocols (for statewide and individual divisions) (PDF; 178 KB)

Idaho EQIP Fiscal Year 2008 Contacts

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