[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: