(202) 205-8333

On March 8, 2004, the IRS released a Revenue Ruling for FLEP funds. This ruling is retroactive to any funds received in 2003 as well as any future funds.

To start FLEP, $20,000,000 for fiscal year 2003 was allocated to each Forest Service Regional/Area/Institute Office. These funds were distributed to the States after concurrence with the State Priority Plan by the appropriate Forest Service unit. States are spending their funds. To help fight the extensive wildfires in the 2003 season, $40 million of out-year funds was taken from FLEP. No funds were released for FLEP in fiscal year 2004. The FY 2005 federal budget took away $20 million dollars from the FLEP budget. Of the remaining approximately $20 million, $5 million was released to the field in November of 2004 and about $10 was released to the field in April of 2005. There is currently $5 million left in CCC funds for FLEP for fiscal year 2006.

Program Purpose

The Forest Land Enhancement Program (FLEP) was part of Title VIII of the 2002 Farm Bill.  FLEP replaces the Stewardship Incentives Program (SIP) and the Forestry Incentives Program (FIP).  FLEP is optional in each State and is a voluntary program for non-industrial private forest (NIPF) landowners.  It provides for technical, educational, and cost-share assistance to promote sustainability of the NIPF forests.

The Interim Rule for FLEP was published June 9, 2003 and had a 60 day comment period. The Interim Rule, Interim Directive and a copy of the law are available below.

Program Activities

State Forestry Agencies in coordination with their State Forest Stewardship Coordinating Committees will develop a State Priority Plan for FLEP.  This Plan will provide the details for how the FLEP funds will be utilized, including minimum acres, maximum acres, aggregate payment, use for technical, educational and cost-share assistance, and all other factors for the program. 

Landowners will have to have a forest management plan to be eligible for cost-share.  The practices to be cost-shared and the cost-share rate will be described in the State Priority Plan.

Eligibility

FLEP is available for all NIPF land owners.  The cost-share practices are limited to the treatment of 1,000 acres per year with an aggregate payment not to exceed $100,000 for the life of this Farm Bill.  A waiver for the treatment of up to 5,000 acres is available if significant public benefit is shown.  The waiver is granted through the State Forester and approved by the Regional Forester.  There is no limit to the amount of forest land owned by an individual as long as the person qualifies as and NIPF owner.

For information about how FLEP will operate in your state, please contact your State Forestry agency. Your State Forester can be found on the National Association of State Foresters web site: http://www.stateforesters.org and go to the Directory of State Foresters.

    - FLEP Briefing paper
    - Title VIII FLEP Law
    - Civil Rights Impact Analysis
    - FLEP Interim Rule June 9, 2003
    - FLEP Interim Directive
    - Landowner Comments

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