(a) Landowners or operators must apply for RCWP assistance through the office of the administering agency or its designee(s) by completing the prescribed application form.

(b) The priority for assistance among landowners and operators in developing water quality plans is to be determined jointly, through an agreed-to process, by the county ASC committee and the soil conservation district, with technical assistance from NRCS.

(c) Applications that are ineligible or technically infeasible are to be returned to the applicant with a letter stating the reasons for disapproval. Applications that are of a low priority will be retained and the applicant will be sent a notice that the application is being held for a period to be determined locally for future consideration.