§ 702.13 - Levels and rates of cost-share payments.

(a) The level of Federal cost-share assistance for the required SRP's for the project shall be determined by formulas as established in the USDA Salinity Control Report.

(b) Except as provided in paragraph (c) of this section, cost-share payments shall not exceed the lesser of 70 percent of the average cost or 70 percent of the actual cost of the installation of the SRP.

(c) The Deputy Administrator, in consultation with the USDA Salinity Control Coordinating Committee, may approve cost-share levels in excess of 70 percent of the average or actual cost of installation of the SRP or in excess of the level based on the ratio of on-farm and offsite benefits if such increased assistance is necessary to obtain acceptable program participation. Higher cost-share levels shall be considered only when one or more of the following apply, unless the Secretary finds at his descretion that such cost-sharing requirement would result in a failure to proceed with needed on-farm measures:

(1) On-farm benefits that are low relative to offsite benefits;

(2) Higher degree of project cost-effectiveness and magnitude of salinity reduction benefits to be achieved relative to other projects;

(3) The need for and the cost of implementing voluntary SRP's to replace incidental fish and wildlife values foregone;

(d) The combined cost-share assistance provided by Federal, State, and local governments or subdivisions thereof shall not exceed 100 percent of the cost of installing the SRP.