FARMINGTON – The Franklin County Farm Service Agency (FSA) of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will be accepting applications from woodland owners who suffered damage during Hurricane Irene.
Franklin County FSA is hoping to get funding under the Emergency Forest Restoration Program (EFRP) to repair damage similar to the bridge washouts in Carrabassett Valley on Route 27. This program is eligible for nonindustrial private forestland owners.
EFRP program participants would receive financial assistance of up to 75 percent of the cost to implement approved emergency forest restoration practices as determined by the Franklin County FSA Committee. Funds could be used to repair stream crossings, water bars, and other conservation measures on access roads. Debris removal is also eligible. Cost share assistance is available to restore the practices to pre-hurricane conditions only. Improvements beyond per-existing conditions will be at the landowner’s expense. A payment limitation of $500,000 applies.
A signup period will officially run from Nov. 10 through Nov. 30, 2011. If a practice is started before the producer signs up, it is not eligible. Contact the FSA office immediately if you intend to begin repair. All sites must be evaluated and practices completed according to USDA specifications. The program has been approved but funding is not currently available.
All environmental regulations must be met, including necessary permits. Stream crossings are particularly sensitive and may need to be repaired during specific months of the year for benefits to be eligible.
For further information, contact Gary J Raymond, county executive director or Tina Labbe, program technician at the FSA office located at 107 Park St in Farmington, telephone 778-2788 Extension 2 or e-mail gary.raymond@me.usda.gov. Information is also available at http://disaster.fsa.usda.gov and www.fsa.usda.gov/conservation.
