![](media/image1.png){width="6.5in" height="0.6in"}Natural Resources
Conservation Service

6200 Jefferson NE

Albuquerque, New Mexico 87109

**Phone**: (505) 761-4400 **Fax**: (505) 761-4462

**Web site**: [www.nm.nrcs.usda.gov]{.underline}

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**October 29, 2007**

## NEW MEXICO BULLETIN NO. 300-8-02

**SUBJECT: LTP - EQIP -- GUIDANCE FOR PROCESSING EQIP APPLICATIONS ON**

**LANDs ALREADY ENROLLED IN csp**

**TO: All Office**

**[Purpose]{.underline}. To establish guidance for processing EQIP
applications on lands already enrolled in CSP.**

[Expiration Date]{.underline}. September 30, 2008.

The purpose of this bulletin is to establish guidance for processing
EQIP applications on lands which are already enrolled in CSP. These
lands require special treatment due to the potential for eligibility or
duplicate payment problems; however, all EQIP applications should be
accepted and treated according to applicable program policy.

While the EQIP manual explicitly allows CSP contract holders to
participate in EQIP, and CSP policy encourages NRCS to support
participant efforts to continue to improve lands enrolled in CSP, there
are two potential concerns with new EQIP enrollments for existing CSP
contract holders. They are duplicate payments and eligibility issues as
follows:

**1)** **Duplicate payments** on the same land are prohibited by the
rules of both programs. Participants must not receive two payments for
the same practice/activity on the same land. Examples of duplicative CSP
enhancements activities and EQIP practices include:

> CSP \[ENM\] Inject/direct incorporate manure into soil and (590)
> Nutrient Management;
>
> CSP \[EPM\] Reducing pesticide spray overlap and (595) Pest
> Management; and
>
> CSP \[EHM\] Use of continuous no-till for cropland to improve wildlife
> habitat, and (329) Residue and Tillage Management, No-Till.

Payment for an activity that contributes to an index or scale based
enhancement payment, (and does not mimic a practice), would **not** be
considered duplicative with an EQIP practice payment. For example:

> CSP \[ESM\] Improve soil conditioning and quality by implementing
> conservation measures that result in increase or change in a Soil
> Conditioning Index (SCI) score of at least 0.1, and (329) Residue and
> Tillage Management, No-Till; and
>
> ![](media/image2.png){width="2.066666666666667in" height="0.5in"}CSP
> \[EWM\] Irrigation Enhancement Index Level 1 - 60 -- 64 percent, and
> (449) Irrigation Water Management.
>
> ![](media/image3.png){width="0.19791666666666666in"
> height="0.19791666666666666in"}
>
> 2

**2)** **CSP eligibility requirements** establish minimum treatment
levels for lands enrolled in CSP. These minimums are often sufficiently
rigorous to preclude the presence of resource concerns needed to qualify
for EQIP. The particulars of minimum CSP treatment levels are included
in each sign-up notice. For example:

> In 2005 the sign-up established the minimum level of treatment for
> Tier III assuring that riparian corridors, including streams and
> natural drainages, within the agricultural operation are buffered to
> restore, protect, or enhance riparian resources. In most
> circumstances, this would preclude use of the EQIP Prescribed Grazing
> Riparian Management Incentive implemented in fiscal year 2008.
>
> All CSP contract lands should have soil and water quality resource
> concerns treated to minimum levels described in the applicable CSP
> sign-up announcement. Applying an EQIP contract on these lands to
> treat either of these resource concerns would require a quantifiable
> improvement in already treated resource condition, and should be
> carefully documented.

Most other situations with potential conflicts between CSP and EQIP,
land is not eligible for simultaneous EQIP assistance and CSP
enrollment. Typically, it is anticipated producers will prefer to keep
their CSP contracts and withdraw their EQIP applications. However, if a
producer wishes to request CSP contract cancellation, NRCS can consider
this option subject to the normal contract cancellation process. CSP
contract cancellation requires approval from the State Conservationist

and may include consequences outlined in the CSP contract appendix.

Accordingly, **District Conservationists may not finalize new EQIP
contracts on CSP lands without written Area and State Office approval**.
The DC may request an exemption from this policy if site conditions
provide a clearly distinguishable difference between CSP and EQIP
practices, and between CSP eligibility criteria and EQIP resource
concerns to be treated. To

request an exemption, the DC should prepare a written summary of the
facts, with appropriate references to the applicable sign-up
announcement (available on the National CSP web page:
<http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/csp/>) and submit them for review and
approval to the Area Conservationist and Assistant State Conservationist
for Programs.

If you have comments or questions about this policy, please contact Rod
Dahl, Acting ASTC for Programs at 505-761-4404; Michael Neubeiser,
Resources Conservationist at 505 761-4419; or Seth Fiedler, Resource
Conservationist at 505 761-4416.

/s/

DENNIS L. ALEXANDER

State Conservationist