[Code of Federal Regulations] [Title 7, Volume 6] [Revised as of January 1, 2005] From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access [CITE: 7CFR636.5] [Page 458] TITLE 7--AGRICULTURE CHAPTER VI--NATURAL RESOURCES CONSERVATION SERVICE, DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE PART 636_WILDLIFE HABITAT INCENTIVES PROGRAM--Table of Contents Sec. 636.5 Establishing priority for enrollment in WHIP. (a) In response to national and regional needs, the Chief may limit program implementation in any given year to specific geographic areas or to address specific habitat development needs of targeted species of special concern. (b) The State Conservationist, in consultation with the State Technical Committee, may limit implementation of WHIP to address unique species, habitats, or special geographic areas of the State. Subsequent cost-share agreement offers that would complement previous cost-share agreements due to geographic proximity of the lands involved or other relationships may receive priority consideration for participation. (c) NRCS will evaluate the applications and make enrollment decisions based on the wildlife habitat need using some or all of the following criteria: (1) Contribution to resolving an identified habitat problem of national, regional, or state importance; (2) Relationship to any established wildlife or conservation priority areas; (3) Duration of benefits to be obtained from the habitat development practices; (4) Self-sustaining nature of the habitat development practices; (5) Availability of other partnership matching funds or reduced funding request by the person applying for participation; (6) Estimated costs of wildlife habitat development activities; and (7) Other factors determined appropriate by NRCS to meet the objectives of the program. (d) Notwithstanding the criteria set forth in paragraph (c) of this section, the State Conservationist, in consultation with the State Technical Committee, may deny an application if it is not cost effective or does not sufficiently meet program requirements: