Section 1515.50  Payments

Payments will be provided to the landowner upon execution of the contract supplement or permanent easement based upon the following formulas:

a)         Bonus Payments

1)         Permanent Easements

A)        The payment to a landowner for a voluntary permanent easement will be a lump sum payment equal to the CRP maximum annual rental rate as determined by FSA based on soil types (exclusive of any Federal incentive payments) times 15 years times 30 percent times number of acres enrolled.  A minimum of 20 acres is required for sign-up unless the total eligible acreage held by the landowner is less than 20 acres, all acres are included in the sign-up, and the acres have been approved by IDNR due to location and relationship with adjacent enrollments.

B)        If the landowner elects a permanent easement option, additional non-cropped acres or acres in another CRP sign-up (additional acres) may be offered for the permanent easement. The landowner will receive a lump sum payment based on the formula set forth for the CREP State bonus payment for permanent easements, using the soil types on the additional acres.  The landowner must agree to a conservation plan written and approved by the SWCD and IDNR and established at the time of enrollment for the total acreage in the permanent easement, but will receive no CREP State cost-share payment for any practice previously established on the additional non-cropped acres or other CRP acres. If applicable, the landowner may use another Federal and/or State cost-share program to implement acceptable practices on additional acres.  Practices that enhance or create habitat or desired environment as part of an IDNR approved conservation plan may be eligible for cost-share on the enrolled property through IDNR. The criteria eligibility for a permanent easement on additional acres are:

i)          the acres are in riparian areas within the 100-year floodplain of the Illinois or Kaskaskia River and their tributary stream systems depicted in Exhibit A; or the acres have an EI ≥ 8 and need to be enrolled to meet the 20 acre minimum for permanent easements, or have been approved by IDNR because their location contributes significantly to addressing watershed and water quality issues;

ii)         the acres are adjacent to cropped acres enrolled in a CREP permanent easement or are adjacent to the stream but on the opposite stream bank (same landowner); and

iii)         the acres are already in acceptable conservation practices based on soil types and wildlife benefits or the landowner is willing to put the acres in an acceptable practice at landowner's expense.  If applicable, the landowner may use another Federal and/or State cost-share program to implement the practices.  A site visit by appropriate IDNR field staff may be required to determine the acceptability of the additional acres (non-cropped acres or acres in another CRP sign up) offered for permanent easement.

2)         15-Year Easement

The payment to a landowner for a 15-year easement will be a lump sum payment that will equal 50 percent of the payment for a voluntary, permanent easement (CRP maximum annual rental rate, exclusive of any Federal incentive payments, times 15 years, times 30 percent times number of acres enrolled).

3)         35-Year Easement

The payment to a landowner for a 35-year easement will be a lump sum payment that will equal 75 percent of the payment for a voluntary, permanent easement (CRP maximum annual rental rate, exclusive of any Federal incentive payments, times 15 years, times 30 percent times number of acres enrolled).

b)         Cost-Share Payments

Landowners who enter the State incentive program will also receive cost-share payments for the installation of CREP approved practices based on the following formulas:

1)         Landowners who enter into a voluntary CREP permanent easement will receive reimbursement at a 50 percent cost-share rate from the State based upon FSA guidelines for the installation of CREP approved practices. The amount of reimbursement to a landowner from all sources may not exceed 100 percent of the cost-share rate of the practice established by FSA.  For practices that enhance or create habitat or desired environment as part of an IDNR approved conservation plan, reimbursement shall not exceed 100 percent of paid receipts for the approved practice.

2)         Landowners who enter into a 15-year or 35-year easement on acres defined as riparian areas, farmed wetlands, prior converted wetlands, wetlands farmed under natural conditions, or acres enrolled on the basis of erodibility (EI ≥ 8), will receive reimbursement at a 40 percent cost-share rate from the State based upon FSA guidelines for the installation of CREP approved practices.  The amount of reimbursement to a landowner from all sources may not exceed 100 percent of the cost-share rate of the practice established by FSA.

3)         Landowners enrolling acres that meet all eligibility requirements in Section 1515.40(d) or (e) are not eligible for State CREP cost-share payment for any practice previously established on these acres.  Practices that enhance or create habitat or desired environment as part of an IDNR approved conservation plan may be eligible for cost-share on the enrolled property.  If applicable, the landowner may use another Federal and/or State cost share program to implement acceptable practices on these acres.

c)         Mechanics of Payment

1)         For executed 15-year, 35-year and permanent easements, the county SWCD shall complete an invoice voucher and submit to IDNR for a lump sum bonus payment.

2)         The county SWCD will submit an invoice voucher to IDNR for the landowner's cost-share payment with completed USDA form AD-862 and completed USDA form AD-245.

3)         The county SWCD is responsible for providing surveyors with written directions that include all necessary information to conduct an appropriate survey (exclusionary or full boundary) for an enrollment.  If proper information is not provided, the county SWCD may not receive full reimbursement for costs.

4)         No individual, or the combined maximum of governmental organizations, not-for-profit organizations, or mutually related benefiting organizations associated with a collective enrollment, shall receive payments greater than $500,000 or 5 percent, whichever is less, of available CREP State funds for any given State fiscal year.

5)         Total available funds for practices that enhance or create habitat or desired environment as part of an IDNR approved conservation plan shall not exceed $500,000 or 5 percent, whichever is less, of available CREP State funds for any given State fiscal year.

(Source:  Amended at 35 Ill. Reg. 1636, effective January 14, 2011)