<?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>
<regulation prefix="Regulation" num=".05" citation="COMAR 15.01.05.05" title_num="15" subtitle_num="01" chapter_num="05" heading="Application Review and Approval.">
  <paragraph num="A.">
    <text>The Department to Approve or Disapprove an Application.</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>If the Department approves a project, it shall base the amount of State cost sharing on:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>The existence of a critical condition;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Water quality improvements to be achieved, with consideration given to the cumulative effect of other projects on the same body of water;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>Excepting riparian forest buffers, riparian herbaceous cover, wetland restoration, or pasture management, the estimated reduction of soil loss;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(d)">
        <text>The estimated reduction of pollution from animal waste;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(e)">
        <text>The estimated economic benefit to the participating farmer from use of the best management practice;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(f)">
        <text>Use of the most cost-effective best management practice;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(g)">
        <text>For pasture management, the applicable rate established by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Environmental Quality Incentives Program; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(h)">
        <text>For the planting of multiple species of cover crops, the rate shall equal or exceed the rates paid for the planting of a single species of cover crop.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>The Department shall disapprove an application for any of the following reasons:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>The applicant seeks to reestablish agricultural practices which have deteriorated due to the negligence or mismanagement of an applicant;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>The applicant seeks funding for a conservation practice that does not:</text>
        <paragraph num="(i)">
          <text>Address a natural resource concern identified by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service; or</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(ii)">
          <text>Result in an improved conservation benefit;</text>
        </paragraph>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>The application is incomplete or does not comply with these regulations;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(d)">
        <text>The applicant's land is not a farm or is not used for agricultural purposes;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(e)">
        <text>The application is for a farm where a critical condition does not exist;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(f)">
        <text>The application is for a project which is already under construction; or</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(g)">
        <text>No available funds.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="B.">
    <text>Within 30 days, the Department shall notify both the applicant and the district if an application is approved, and the applicant shall be notified of the estimated State cost sharing amount for the project and the applicant's required matching amount.</text>
  </paragraph>
</regulation>