This section states the criteria required by section 1541(a) of the Act, 7 U.S.C. 4202(a) . The criteria were developed by the Secretary of Agriculture in cooperation with other Federal agencies. They are in two parts, (1) the land evaluation criterion, relative value, for which NRCS will provide the rating or score, and (2) the site assessment criteria, for which each Federal agency must develop its own ratings or scores. The criteria are as follows:
More than 90 percent-15 points
90 to 20 percent-14 to 1 point(s)
Less than 20 percent-0 points
More than 90 percent-10 points
90 to 20 percent-9 to 1 point(s)
Less than 20 percent-0 points
More than 90 percent-20 points
90 to 20 percent-19 to 1 points(s)
Less than 20 percent-0 points
Site is protected-20 points
Site is not protected-0 points
The site is 2 miles or more from an urban built-up area-15 points
The site is more than 1 mile but less than 2 miles from an urban built-up area-10 points
The site is less than 1 mile from, but is not adjacent to an urban built-up area-5 points
The site is adjacent to an urban built-up area-0 points
None of the services exist nearer than 3 miles from the site-15 points
Some of the services exist more than 1 but less than 3 miles from the site-10 points
All of the services exist within 1/2 mile of the site-0 points
As large or larger-10 points
Below average-deduct 1 point for each 5 percent below the average, down to 0 points if 50 percent or more below average-9 to 0 points
Acreage equal to more than 25 percent of acres directly converted by the project-10 points
Acreage equal to between 25 and 5 percent of the acres directly converted by the project-9 to 1 point(s)
Acreage equal to less than 5 percent of the acres directly converted by the project-0 points
All required services are available-5 points
Some required services are available-4 to 1 point(s)
No required services are available-0 points
High amount of on-farm investment-20 points
Moderate amount of on-farm investment-19 to 1 point(s)
No on-farm investment-0 points
Substantial reduction in demand for support services if the site is converted-10 points
Some reduction in demand for support services if the site is converted-9 to 1 point(s)
No significant reduction in demand for support services if the site is converted-0 points
Proposed project is incompatible with existing agricultural use of surrounding farmland-10 points
Proposed project is tolerable to existing agricultural use of surrounding farmland-9 to 1 point(s)
Proposed project is fully compatible with existing agricultural use of surrounding farmland-0 points
7 C.F.R. §658.5