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EQIP Confined Animal Ranking Tool

Ranking Tool Summary for Confined Animal (Released 05/08/2009)

Description:

1. This ranking criteria will be used for all eligible EQIP applications in the confined animal category. Ranking points can only be given for practices which are included in the EQIP contract.
2. Documentation must be present in client case file to support ranking decisions. This should include completed specification, demonstrating how resource concerns are being met, as well as completed CST based plan approved by a Certified Conservation Planner.
3. A completed Wildlife Habitat Evaluation guide is required for each contract where wildlife benefits are claimed.
4. At risk species are defined as Native species whose population (s) or habitat is in danger of loss by their listing as State or Federal Threatened or Endangered, Candidate, or State Species of Concern, or as focus species in Alaska's Comprehensive Wildlife Conservation Strategy.

Description:

Land Uses:

Crop, Forest, Grazed Forest, Grazed Range, Hay, Headquarters, Native/Naturalized Pasture, Natural Area, Pasture, Watershed Protection, Wildlife

Efficiency Score:

  Scoring Multiplier: 1.00
  Scoring Ranges and Results Text:
High: 800 - 410 Medium: 405 - 200 Low: 195 - 0

Scoring range represents projects which have a high level of average resource benefit in comparison to average cost of installation.

Scoring range represents projects which have a medium level of average resource benefit in comparison to average cost of installation.

Scoring range represents projects which have a relatively lower level of average resource benefit in comparison to average cost of installation.

National Priorities:

  Scoring Multiplier: 1.00
  Scoring Ranges and Results Text:

High: 200 - 100

 Medium: 90 - 60 Low: 50 - 0

Scoring range represents projects which make significant progress toward addressing National Priorities of the EQIP Program.

Scoring range represents projects which make progress toward addressing National Priorities of the EQIP Program.

Scoring range represents projects which make a lower amount of progress toward addressing National Priorities of the EQIP Program.

Questions:

Question Number Question Points
1 Will the treatment you intend to implement using EQIP result in a considerable reduction of non-point source pollution, such as nutrients, sediment, pesticides, excess salinity in impaired watersheds with total maximum daily loads (TMDLs) where available, groundwater contamination or point sources such as contamination from confined animal feeding operations? 60
2 Will the treatment you intend to implement for water conservation or irrigation efficiency using EQIP result in a considerable reduction in water use? 10
3 Will the treatment you intend to implement using EQIP result in a considerable reduction of emissions, such as particulate matter, nitrogen oxides (NOx), volatile organic compounds, and ozone precursors and depleters that contribute to air quality impairment violations of National Ambient Air Quality Standards? 20
4 Will the treatment you intend to implement using EQIP result in a considerable reduction in soil erosion and sedimentation from unacceptable levels on agricultural land? 20
5 Will the treatment you intend to implement using EQIP result in a considerable increase in the promotion of at-risk species habitat conservation? 40
6 Will the treatment that you intend to implement using EQIP result in considerable benefits to residue management, nutrient management, air quality management, invasive species management, pollinator habitat, and animal carcass management technology or pest management? 40
7 Will the treatment that you intend to implement using EQIP result in energy conservation benefits? 10
 

Total Points

 200

State Issues:

  Scoring Multiplier: 1.00
  Scoring Ranges and Results Text:

High: 500 - 225 Medium: 220 - 110 Low: 105 - 0

Scoring range represents projects which make significant progress toward addressing resource concerns of statewide importance on Confined Animal Operations.

Scoring range represents projects which make progress toward addressing resource concerns of statewide importance on Confined Animal Operations.

Scoring range represents projects which make a lower amount of progress toward addressing resource concerns of statewide importance on Confined Animal Operations.

Questions:

Question Number Question Points
1 Application is for practice which comprehensively treat animal waste and are part of an overall CNMP. 70
2 An addition to CNMP, EQIP plan includes RMS system to be implemented on associated cropland or grazing land. 45
3 Sheet and rill, or wind erosion, will be reduced to 50 percent or greater of previous erosion level on entire CTU. (answer only ONE from 3 and 4). 25
4 Sheet and rill, or wind erosion, will be reduced by 25 to 49 percent of previous level entire CTU. (answer only ONE from 3 and 4). 15
5 Soil Condition Index improves by 1.00 or more. (answer only ONE from 5 - 7). 25
6 Soil Condition Index improves by 0.75 to 0.99. (answer only ONE from 5 - 7). 15
7 Soil Condition Index improves by 0.50 to 0.74. (answer only ONE from 5 - 7). 10
8 Observable nutrients, organics, and/or sediment are entering surface water, and will be fully addressed. Water body is anadromous. (answer only ONE from 8 -12). 50
9 Observable nutrients, organics, and/or sediment are entering surface water, and will be fully addressed. Water body is NOT anadromous. (answer only ONE from 8 -12). 40
10 No observable nutrients, organics, and/or sediment entering surface water. Water quality is improved through installation of complete system. Water body is anadromous. (answer only ONE from 8 -12). 25
11 No observable nutrients, organics, and/or sediment entering surface water. Water quality is improved through installation of complete system. Water body is NOT anadromous. (answer only ONE from 8 -12). 20
12 No observable nutrients, organics, and/or sediment entering surface water. Water quality is improved through installation of an individual practice. (answer only ONE from 8 - 12). 5
13 Grazing system is installed through EQIP, where livestock are excluded from surface water. (answer only ONE from 13- 14). 20
14 Grazing system is installed through EQIP, where livestock are not excluded from surface water, but use is restricted through management tools such as off site water. (answer only ONE from 13- 14). 10
15 Active gully erosion is present and will be fully treated on highest priority significant human caused erosion sites. Sum of width by depth measurements at outlet of gully's are at least 100 square feet. Example: one gully ten feet deep by ten feet wide equals 100 square feet. (answer only ONE from 15 - 16). 15
16 Active gully erosion is present and will be fully treated on majority of significant human caused erosion sites. Sum of width by depth measurements at outlet of gully's are at least 60 square feet. Example: two gullies, each six feet deep by five feet wide equal 60 square feet. (answer only ONE from 15 - 16). 10
17 Noxious and invasive plants are present and will be treated by EQIP contract on ALL significant areas. (answer only ONE from 17 and 18). 20
18 Noxious and invasive plants are present and will be treated by EQIP contract on a single significant area. (answer only ONE from 17 and 18). 10
19 Streambank erosion is present and will be fully treated on most significant actively eroding site. Minimum criteria: cut bank 5 feet, minimum length 50 feet, no structures are present which will limit technical prescription. 10
20 Waste Utilization (633) will be applied for at least 3 years. 25
21 Nutrient Management (590) will be applied for at least 3 years. 25
22 Conservation Crop Rotation (328) will be applied for at least 3 years. Includes specific prescriptions for wildlife habitat benefit. (answer only ONE from 22 and 23). 20
23 Conservation Crop Rotation (328) will be applied for at least 3 years. Does not include specific prescriptions for wildlife habitat benefit. (answer only ONE from 22 and 23). 10
24 Residue Management (329) will be applied for at least 3 years. Includes specific prescriptions for wildlife habitat benefit. (answer only ONE from 24 and 25). 20
25 Residue Management (329) will be applied for at least 3 years. Does not includes specific prescriptions for wildlife habitat benefit. (answer only ONE from 24 and 25). 10
26 Forage Harvest Management (511) is scheduled for at least 3 years with specific prescriptions for wildlife habitat benefit during mechanical forage harvest. 10
27 Pest Management (595) will be applied for at least 3 years. 10
28 Prescribed Grazing (528) will be applied for at least three years on entire CTU. Includes specific prescriptions for wildlife habitat benefit. (answer only ONE from 28 and 29). 20
29 Prescribed Grazing (528) will be applied for at least three years. Does not includes specific prescriptions for wildlife habitat benefit. (answer only ONE from 28 and 29). 10
30 Pesticides are impacting surface or groundwater. Concern will be addressed through EQIP contract. (Do not take point simply for implementing 595, need additional documentation for site about impacts). 30
31 Riparian Forest Buffer (391) or Riparian Herbaceous Buffer (390) will be implemented through contract 25
32 Windbreak Establishment (380) or Renovation (650) will be installed. 10
33 Installation of EQIP contract benefits identified at-risk species, or species of concern. 25
 

Maximum Points: Total Points

 690

Local Issues:

Scoring Multiplier: 1.00
Scoring Ranges and Results Text:

High: 175 - 110 Medium: 105 - 65 Low: 60 - 0
Represents projects which meet intent of program, and are high priority for funding. Represents projects which meet intent of program, and are medium priority for funding. Represents projects which meet intent of program, but are low priority for funding.

Questions:

Question Number Question Points
1 This project has a benefit to the highest priority locally identified wildlife species. 40
2 This project has a benefit to secondary priority locally identified wildlife species. 20
3 EQIP plan addresses natural resource concerns identified as high priority by the Local Workgroup. 40
4 EQIP plan addresses natural resource concerns identified as a secondary priority by the Local Workgroup. 20
5 EQIP plan includes practices which are identified as high priority by the Local Workgroup. 40
6 EQIP plan includes practices which are identified as a secondary priority by the Local Workgroup. 20
7 This project addresses locally identified noxious or invasive species of concern. 20
8 This project addresses one or more locally identified priority subsistence species. 30
 

Maximum Points:      Total Points

 230

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