Applicability

Did the participant submit an EQIP application ahead of the deadline? 

1. YES – Points:  0
2. NO – Points:  0

Category 

1. Select all categories as applicable: See Category Guidance Sheet
   1. HU Designation (Beginning Farmer or Rancher) – Points:  0
   2. HU Designation (Socially Disadvantaged Farmer or Rancher) – Points:  0
   3. Regenerative Pilot Program (RPP) – Points:  0
   4. CPAs, DIAs, CEMAs – Points:  0
   5. NWQI – Points:  0
   6. Energy and Combustion – Points:  0
   7. High Tunnels – Points:  0
   8. Northern RI LWG – Points:  0
   9. Southern RI LWG – Points:  0
   10. Eastern RI LWG – Points:  0
   11. Source Water Protection – Points:  0
   12. Organic/ Transition to Organic – Points:  0
   13. Reserved – Points:  0
   14. Reserved – Points:  0
   15. Reserved – Points:  0

Program Questions

1. Is the land permanently protected through a CONSERVATION EASEMENT, purchase of development rights or other mechanism? OR is the land in FFOS plan? AND are the practices implemented with this application addressing Water Quality, Water Quantity, and/or will practices be implemented through the Regenerative Pilot Program?
   1. YES – Points: 10
   2. NO – Points: 0
2. Does the applicant meet the NRCS definition of a veteran farmer or rancher (VFR)?*
   1. YES – Points: 10
   2. NO – Points: 0
3. Did the applicant participate in the CRP Transition Incentives Program TIP), and has the land in the EQIP application come out of CRP within the last 2 years?*
   1. YES – Points: 5
   2. NO – Points: 0
4. Will the implementation of this contract address water quality, air quality or soil erosion by implementing an approved CNMP?*
   1. YES – Points: 25
   2. NO – Points: 0
5. Will the implementation of this contract address plants and/or animal resource concerns by implementing one or more forestry practices? (use the drop down list for viewing applicable practices)*
   1. YES – Points: 13
   2. NO – Points: 0
6. Does the assessment address Animals (Aquatic Habitat for Fish and Other Organisms) resource concern by implementing Biofouling (CPS400). Can take points on Associated Ag or Water.*
   1. YES – Points: 5
   2. NO – Points: 0
7. Will this application be addressing Inefficient Energy Use resource concern?*
   1. YES – Points: 6
   2. NO – Points: 0
8. Will the contract address ANY resource concerns located within the "ri_cd_cart_urban_ag_areas_a" layer in Conservation Desktop?*
   1. YES – Points: 3
   2. NO – Points: 0
9. Will the contract address plant, animal or soil resource concerns associated with grazing and/or hayland operation?*
   1. YES – Points: 14
   2. NO – Points: 0
10. Is the purpose of this application to implement a Forest Mgmt. Plan (106) or Forest Stewardship Plan?*
    1. YES – Points: 20
    2. NO – Points: 0
11. Will the participant be addressing Degraded Plant Condition and/or Weather Resiliency resource concerns through installation of a Seasonal High Tunnel (325) ?*
    1. YES – Points: 14
    2. NO – Points: 0
12. Will the participant be addressing one or more of the following: Concentrated Erosion, Field Sediment, Nutrient, and Pathogen Loss, Source Water Depletion, Wind and Water Erosion and/or Storage and Handling of Pollutants?*
    1. YES – Points: 22
    2. NO – Points: 0
13. Will this application include wildlife practices?*
    1. YES – Points: 7
    2. NO – Points: 0
14. Will implementation of this Conservation Plan allow for the continued implementation of a system of conservation practices that has been initiated and is being progressively installed?
    1. YES – Points: 7
    2. NO – Points: 0
15. Has the participant been in contract VIOLATION with a prior USDA NRCS Contract within the past 3 years?
    1. YES — Points: -50
    2. NO — Points: 0
16. Has the participant been TERMINATED with a prior USDA NRCS Contract within the past 3 years?
    1. YES — Points: -200
    2. NO — Points: 0
17. National Priority: Will practices be implemented that address specific causes of ground or surface water impairment related to excessive nutrients?
    1. YES – Points: 30
    2. NO – Points: 0
18. National Priority: Will practices be implemented that address the conservation of water and/or declining aquifers and/or mitigate drought?
    1. YES – Points: 20
    2. NO – Points: 0
19. National Priority: Will practices be implemented that will meet other environmental priorities and/or priority resource concerns in habitat and/or other area restoration plans?
    1. YES – Points: 10
    2. NO – Points: 0
20. Will this application include soil and water resource CATEGORIES AND include at LEAST two instances of CEMA 216 AND include at least ONE primary RPP practice (existing or planned): CEMA 217, CEMA 216, CPA 199, 328, 330, 331, 340, 554, 511, 666, 449, 484, 590, 595, 528, 329, 345, 585?*
    1. Application includes 1-3 core RPP practices – Points: 2
    2. Application includes 4-10 core RPP practices – Points: 5
    3. Application includes 11 or more RPP practices – Points: 10
    4. Not applicable – Points: 0
21. Do the PLUs intersect the critical source areas identified in the NWQI watershed assessment?
    1. Very High – Points: 25
    2. High – Points: 15
    3. Moderate – Points: 5
    4. Low and/or Null – Points: 0
22. What is the annual NOx (nitrogen oxides) reduction that will occur through completion of the practices?
    1. Not applicable — Points: 0
    2. A reduction of less than .01 tons/year (less than 20lbs/year) — Points: -400
    3. Between 0.01 tons/year and 0.025 tons/year (Between 20 lbs./year and 50 lbs./year) — Points: 10
    4. More than 0.025 tons/year and less than 0.075 tons/year (More than 50 lbs./year and 150 lbs./year) — Points: 20
    5. Equal to or greater than 0.075 (equal or greater than 150 lbs./year) — Points: 30

Resource Questions

1. Using the CART Assessments FIRST Results, Graph View, considering all land uses and Tracts in this assessment at the time of application: How many "RHODE ISLAND Required Resource Concern Categories" exist and are NOT MEETING THE THRESHOLD? (Count Existing Condition and Existing Practices as ONE) IF your existing condition exceeds the threshold DO NOT count it.   
   1. 5 or more Required Resource Concern Categories Not Met – Points: 65
   2. 4 Required Resource Concern Categories Not Met – Points: 55
   3. 3 Required Resource Concern Categories Not Met – Points: 45
   4. 2 Required Resource Concern Categories Not Met – Points: 35
   5. 1 Required Resource Concern Categories Not Met – Points: 25
   6. None of the other choices are applicable – Points: 0
2. Using the CART Assessments FIRST Results, Graph View, considering all land uses and Tracts in this assessment at the time of application: How many "RHODE ISLAND Required Resource Concern Categories" exist and IMPROVED BUT DID NOT MEET THE THRESHOLD? [Look at the planned practices (light blue) bar - means improvement.] IF your existing condition exceeds the threshold DO NOT count it.
   1. 5 or more Required Resource Concern Categories Improved – Points: 30
   2. 4 Required Resource Concern Categories Improved – Points: 20
   3. 3 Required Resource Concern Categories Improved – Points: 15
   4. 2 Required Resource Concern Categories Improved – Points: 10
   5. 1 Required Resource Concern Categories Improved – Points: 5
   6. None of the other choices are applicable – Points: 0
3. Using the CART Assessments FIRST Results, Graph View, considering all land uses and Tracts in this assessment at the time of application: How many "RHODE ISLAND Required Resource Concern Categories" exist and MEET OR EXCEED THE THRESHOLD? [Look at the planned practices (light blue) bar - hitting or exceeding the threshold.] IF your existing condition exceeds the threshold DO NOT count it.
   1. 5 or more Required Resource Concern Categories Met/Exceed – Points: 40
   2. 4 Required Resource Concern Categories Met/Exceed – Points: 30
   3. 3 Required Resource Concern Categories Met/Exceed – Points: 20
   4. 2 Required Resource Concern Categories Met/Exceed – Points: 10
   5. 1 Required Resource Concern Categories Met/Exceed – Points: 5
   6. None of the other choices are applicable – Points: 0
4. Will this application be addressing Livestock Production Limitations?
   1. Yes – Points: 15
   2. No – Points: 0
5. What is the distance from the Planned Land Unit (PLU) to water bodies including streams, ponds, lakes, estuaries, or all surface waters?
   1. PLU is 100 feet from waterbody – Points: 20
   2. PLU is 100-500 feet from waterbody – Points: 10
   3. PLU is 500-1,000 feet from waterbody – Points: 5
   4. There is no waterbody near or in PLU – Points: 0
6. Is the Planned Land Unit (PLU) 200 feet or less from the edge of the wetland?
   1. YES – Points: 10
   2. No – Points: 0
7. Does the Planned Land Unit (PLU) include Prime and State Important Soils?
   1. YES – Points: 5
   2. NO – Points: 0
8. Based on the source water dashboard, is the Planned Land Unit (PLU) located in a "high" / targeted source water watershed?
   1. Yes – Points: 10
   2. No – Points: 0
9. Is the project in one of the source water protection priority watershed areas?
   1. Yes – Points: 5
   2. No – Points: 0