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Explanation. States should adhere to the following milestones (also listed in attachment A):
Fiscal Year 2021
Deadline for State Environmental Quality Incentives Program Conservation Incentives Contract (CIC) payment schedules—February 28, 2021
Fiscal Year 2022
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Deadline for new component and component cost reconsideration requests—March 19, 2021
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Deadline for entering regional scenario requests in the payment schedule application (PSA)—April 16, 2021
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Deadline for State payment schedules (i.e., cost lists) development in PSA—June 11, 2021
Payment Schedule Guidance. States are encouraged to utilize existing approved scenarios for FY 2021 to the greatest extent possible. The goal of the agency is to develop the fewest number of scenarios and payment rates needed to implement the program.
States should refrain from requesting new components or scenarios unless required by the Agricultural Improvement Act of 2018, new conservation practice standards, or changes in existing conservation practice standards.
Minimum changes should be made to national and regional scenarios unless correcting errors or streamlining. Payment schedule regional scenarios not contracted (i.e., not planned or applied) in three or more consecutive years should be archived or merged with existing scenarios. For decisions on merging scenarios, the general rules or criteria will comply with current policy referenced in Title 300, Land Treatment Programs, Part 600, Subpart B, “Payment Schedule Requirements.”
Interim conservation practices must first be approved for use, following policy at Title 450, General Manual, Part 401, Subpart B, Section 401.17, “Interim Practice Standards,” before scenario development.
States should review attachments B and C, and if necessary, update their assigned regional scenario team by emailing the Payment Schedule Core Team at Payment_Schedule_Core_Team@ftw.usda.gov by February 19, 2021.
It is anticipated the FY 2022 State payment schedule will be posted on the national website and available to NRCS employees and producers by July 1, 2021. To accomplish this goal, everyone must reach established milestones.
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