113 HR 1890 IH: Balancing Food, Farm, and the Environment Act of 2013
U.S. House of Representatives
2013-05-08
text/xml
EN
Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.
101.Short title; table of
contents
(a)This Act may be cited
as the Balancing Food, Farm, and the
Environment Act of 2013
.
(b)The table of contents for this Act is as follows:
Sec. 101. Short title; table of contents.
Title I—Conservation
Subtitle A—Definitions
Sec. 1001. Definitions.
Subtitle B—Highly erodible land conservation
Sec. 1101. Program ineligibility.
Sec. 1102. Exemptions.
Sec. 1103. Development and implementation of highly erodible
land conservation plans and highly erodible land conservation
systems.
Sec. 1104. Notice and investigation of possible compliance
deficiencies.
Sec. 1105. Enforcement; funding for technical
assistance.
Subtitle C—Wetland conservation
Sec. 1201. Program ineligibility.
Sec. 1202. Delineation of wetlands; exemptions.
Subtitle D—Conservation reserve
Sec. 1301. Conservation reserve.
Sec. 1302. Contracts.
Sec. 1303. Conservation reserve easement program.
Subtitle E—Conservation Stewardship Program
Sec. 1401. Definitions.
Sec. 1402. Conservation Stewardship Program.
Sec. 1403. Stewardship contracts.
Sec. 1404. Duties of the Secretary.
Subtitle F—Environmental Quality Incentives
Program
Sec. 1501. Purposes.
Sec. 1502. Definitions.
Sec. 1503. Establishment and administration.
Sec. 1504. Evaluation of Applications.
Sec. 1505. Environmental quality incentives program
plan.
Sec. 1506. Duties of the Secretary.
Sec. 1507. Limitation on payments.
Subtitle G—Conservation innovation grant program
Sec. 1601. Conservation innovation grant program.
Subtitle H—Funding and administration
Sec. 1701. Commodity Credit Corporation.
Sec. 1702. Conservation loan and loan guarantee
program.
Subtitle I—Agricultural conservation easement
program
Sec. 1801. Agricultural conservation easement
program.
Subtitle J—Regional conservation partnership
program
Sec. 1901. Regional conservation partnership
program.
Title II—Crop insurance and disaster assistance
Sec. 2001. Ineligibility for Federal crop insurance, noninsured
crop disaster assistance, and certain payments because of crop production on
native sod.
Title III—Repeals and transitional provisions; technical and
conforming amendments; effective date
Sec. 3001. Repeals and transitional provisions.
Sec. 3002. Technical and conforming amendments.
Sec. 3003. Effective date.
<enum>I</enum><header>Conservation</header>
<subtitle id="HF1F2BB682EF548428A3F098CDC284B70"><enum>A</enum><header>Definitions</header>
<section id="H3CE7224BFDE2424387FC600C68584FE1"><enum>1001.</enum><header>Definitions</header>
<subsection id="HAB6A24BDDE7244E2B5C33030255BF39F"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Conservation
system</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 1201(a)(4) of
the Food Security Act of 1985 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/3801">16 U.S.C. 3801(a)(4)</external-xref>) is amended to read as
follows:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H7E714E4FEF3A42A4BA7436107BA512F7" style="OLC">
<paragraph id="H9166412427BA4C0FB7017E50025DDAAC"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Conservation
system</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The term
<term>conservation system</term> means a combination of conservation measures
or practices that are based on local natural resource and environmental
conditions and are designed to cost-effectively address one or more priority
resource
concerns.</text>
</paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</subsection><subsection id="H21B0B93402AF4EC6AA6CAB7D875CBA7A"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Highly erodible
land</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section
1201(a)(11)(A)(ii) of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C.
3801(a)(11)(A)(ii)) is amended—</text>
<paragraph id="H9DC4976E9CCA47668BA53BC6872AD057"><enum>(1)</enum><text>by striking
<quote>excessive</quote> before <quote>average annual rate</quote>;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H1B3BAECC9D704BE3BDFE4E78902375B8"><enum>(2)</enum><text>by striking
<quote>in relation to</quote> and inserting <quote>exceeding</quote>;
and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H5ECB815E477D41718CEF8AF686020D1B"><enum>(3)</enum><text>by inserting
<quote>revised</quote> before <quote>universal soil loss</quote>.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="HAC0E1BB7933740D581564B2A58BAF3F4"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Comprehensive
conservation plan; conservation outcome; highly erodible land conservation
plan; highly erodible land conservation system; nutrient-Impacted watershed;
priority resource concern</header><text>Section 1201(a) of the Food Security
Act of 1985 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/3801">16 U.S.C. 3801(a)</external-xref>) is amended by adding at the end the following
new paragraphs:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H0AD8E99F53944691BAF41FC74AF073E2" style="OLC">
<paragraph id="HCF8AAC7FF23942D2A8973A7A3EE23403"><enum>(28)</enum><header>Comprehensive
conservation plan</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The term
<term>comprehensive conservation plan</term> means a document that, subject to
the unique purposes of each conservation program—</text>
<subparagraph id="H5E702EEE16B647199FC65978EFE397D4"><enum>(A)</enum><text>identifies
priority resource concerns that can be effectively addressed through
conservation activities, practices, systems, and management measures on an
agricultural operation;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H703BEE3D19914BDF91C80B8BA6AC0CD2"><enum>(B)</enum><text>inventories
natural resource and environmental conditions related to priority resource
concerns and establishes benchmark data and conservation objectives;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H14C13A5F645B44A996FC76F120FC57CD"><enum>(C)</enum><text>determines the
most cost-effective conservation activities, practices, systems, and management
measures to be implemented, improved or maintained to address the designated
priority resource concerns;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H24A478D0D2B64E83A43161D0A51525BA"><enum>(D)</enum><text>provides a
schedule for planning, implementing, improving, or maintaining the identified
conservation activities, practices, systems, and management measures;
and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HA002F9FC0B48435DAF5CC2DF72C88C58"><enum>(E)</enum><text>contains a
description and schedule for on-farm activities to evaluate the extent to which
the planned conservation activities, practices, systems, and management
measures are effectively improving the condition of priority resource
concerns.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H380CEC769EF140CDA3A02815805012C2"><enum>(29)</enum><header>Conservation
outcome</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The term
<term>conservation outcome</term> means a natural resource or environmental
change that is that is correlated with conservation activities.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HD46B899352CB440CA9CBC6F2152E66B2"><enum>(30)</enum><header>Highly erodible
land conservation plan</header><text>The term <term>highly erodible land
conservation plan</term> means the document that—</text>
<subparagraph commented="no" id="H375972186D484234BC3DDD3D2ED098F0"><enum>(A)</enum><text>applies to highly
erodible land;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" id="HD6C30614E33547CC8CFC9FB07777297E"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">describes the highly erodible land
conservation system applicable to the highly erodible land and describes the
decisions of the person with respect to location, land use, tillage systems,
and conservation treatment measures and schedule; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" id="H9D547C019B5447518A22149A607343F4"><enum>(C)</enum><text>is approved by the
local soil conservation district, in consultation with the local committees
established under section 8(b)(5) of the Soil Conservation and Domestic
Allotment Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/590h">16 U.S.C. 590h(b)(5)</external-xref>) and the Secretary, or by the
Secretary.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="HC6FACD4F2F9D40F9B45D423CC2B35077"><enum>(31)</enum><header>Highly erodible
land conservation system</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The
term <term>highly erodible land conservation system</term> means a combination
of 1 or more conservation measures or management practices that—</text>
<subparagraph commented="no" id="H8B4F3D5C3714423A87AD36738FFD4429"><enum>(A)</enum><text>are based on local
resource conditions, available conservation technology, and the standards and
guidelines contained in the Natural Resources Conservation Service field office
technical guides;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" id="H2756FD72870448AE80C0BCA5EF34E92F"><enum>(B)</enum><text>are designed to
achieve, in a cost effective and technically practicable manner, a substantial
reduction in soil erosion or a substantial improvement in soil conditions on a
field or group of fields containing highly erodible land when compared to the
level of erosion or soil conditions that existed before the application of the
conservation measures and management practices;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" id="H474EE3EA2EBF4B768E0D90886A759E13"><enum>(C)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">at a minimum are designed to achieve,
within five years of actively applying a highly erodible land conservation
plan, a level of erosion not to exceed twice the soil loss tolerance level;
and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" id="H12E22C2D3D0B42448D6DB678C693993D"><enum>(D)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">effectively treat all ephemeral
gullies.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H799F99F66FFA4C719B804705738F3BD0"><enum>(32)</enum><header>Nutrient-impacted
watershed</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The term
<term>nutrient-impacted watershed</term> means a watershed, including its
surface and ground waters, any portion of which the Secretary, in consultation
with officials from State water quality agencies, the Environmental Protection
Agency, and the United States Geological Survey, determines to be degraded, or
contributing to the degradation of downstream waters, due to the presence of
excess agricultural nutrients.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H59ACBB30577A40A49B0718E1886B7296"><enum>(33)</enum><header>Priority
resource concern</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The term
<term>priority resource concern</term> means a specific impairment to soil,
soil quality, water quality, water quantity, energy, air quality, biodiversity,
or fish, wildlife, or pollinator habitat, that, as determined by the
Secretary—</text>
<subparagraph id="HAFAB35BA22AA41B7A01DF3CFBC535754"><enum>(A)</enum><text>represents a
significant environmental, human health, or sustainable agricultural production
concern in a State, region, or watershed;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H311CF8D2EC2041B2AB7EA3F5579AB25C"><enum>(B)</enum><text>is likely to be
addressed successfully through implementation of conservation systems,
practices, or activities by producers on land eligible for enrollment in one or
more programs under this title; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H936BABFBFDC54490BC56F6EFEE8D4AFD"><enum>(C)</enum><text>if successfully
addressed will substantially contribute to the achievement of the purposes of
the relevant program or programs under this
title.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</subsection></section></subtitle><subtitle id="H01708530CE26478F888B04663B1794A3"><enum>B</enum><header>Highly erodible
land conservation</header>
<section id="H54FCF56645544042B4CD351FC18E7735"><enum>1101.</enum><header>Program
ineligibility</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section
1211(a)(1) of the Food Security Act of 1985 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/3811">16 U.S.C. 3811(a)(1)</external-xref>) is
amended—</text>
<paragraph id="HB431613DB50D4716B6AD5F4BD12404A4"><enum>(1)</enum><text>in subparagraph
(A)—</text>
<subparagraph id="H00B7ADA33EA54778B80745E8F5B2E827"><enum>(A)</enum><text>by inserting
<quote>or revenue</quote> after <quote>price</quote>; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H474705E7EC0A42AAA380FCBC213C2E70"><enum>(B)</enum><text>by inserting
<quote>the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 8701 et
seq.),</quote> before <quote>or any other Act</quote>;</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="HC9602CFB24B74E2481A99E131B88B63C"><enum>(2)</enum><text>in subparagraph
(C), by striking <quote>; or</quote> and inserting a semicolon;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HF5E260D7D4CB4BF8B31CCF64689F543F"><enum>(3)</enum><text>in subparagraph
(D)—</text>
<subparagraph id="HC046B4EA92A64D4588CC7BB97DFA4FC4"><enum>(A)</enum><text>by striking
<quote>Consolidated</quote> before <quote>Farm Service Agency</quote>;
and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H6E100EFCE05B45A8A90C425AD4EE3461"><enum>(B)</enum><text>by striking the
semicolon and inserting <quote>; or</quote>; and</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H737207EA7C6C4E24801B30562B595E74"><enum>(4)</enum><text>by inserting after
subparagraph (D) the following new subparagraph:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HF4F6F6D7EC064540BCB13C028B30A775" style="OLC">
<subparagraph id="H2CB15770C2F84618B36B0863472AA254"><enum>(E)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">any portion of the premium paid by the
Federal Crop Insurance Corporation for a policy or plan of insurance under the
Federal Crop Insurance Act (7 U.S.C. 1501 et
seq.).</text>
</subparagraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</paragraph></section><section id="H491E811BA71B45C3B9D5BCCA3DD335EA"><enum>1102.</enum><header>Exemptions</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 1212(a) of the Food Security Act of
1985 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/3812">16 U.S.C. 3812(a)</external-xref>) is amended—</text>
<paragraph commented="no" id="H8F82BBFD2F164A96B86107735399A4E9"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">by inserting <quote>highly erodible
land</quote> before <quote>conservation plan</quote> each place it
appears;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HD23CA31379C7428C9A53C51034F7DFFC"><enum>(2)</enum><text>in subsection
(a)—</text>
<subparagraph id="H7025670580A24BDF94428F36F894CE16"><enum>(A)</enum><text>in paragraph
(1)—</text>
<clause id="HA05FEE4661B14EE08FC6D473EF57B3DB"><enum>(i)</enum><text>by
striking <quote>Soil Conservation Service</quote> and inserting <quote>Natural
Resources Conservation Service</quote>; and</text>
</clause><clause id="H3B330BEA96984311852B75DBA14E2101"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>by
inserting <quote>, or premium subsidies,</quote> after <quote>loans, payments,
and benefits</quote>;</text>
</clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="HB76A78E79DC049C5BE7810C14A6E96A2"><enum>(B)</enum><text>by amending
paragraph (2) to read as follows:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H45B359D63CD144DB8C7D5333B7ADD67F" style="OLC">
<paragraph id="H005BF13FCFF048A780FC0B2468FD43F3"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Eligibility
based on compliance with highly erodible land conservation plan</header>
<subparagraph id="H5E1C314F4032438C8C94D1D982946C6C"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In
general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">If, as of January 1,
1990, or 2 years after the Soil Natural Resources Conservation Service has
completed a soil survey for the farm, whichever is later, a person is actively
applying a highly erodible land conservation plan, such person shall have until
January 1, 1995, to comply with the plan without being subject to program
ineligibility.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HB503CAE854824844A60D38F89A75C7FF"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Minimization of
documentation</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">In carrying out
this subsection, the Secretary, the Natural Resources Conservation Service, and
local soil conservation districts shall minimize the quantity of documentation
a person must submit to comply with this paragraph.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" id="H0EBAD782A5A44FF5B611B75CB8D529C4"><enum>(C)</enum><header>Crop
insurance</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">If a person first
becomes subject to section 1211(a) solely due to a premium payment described in
paragraph (1)(E) of such section, the person shall have until January 1 of the
fifth year beginning after the date on which the person first became subject to
such section to develop and comply with an approved highly erodible land
conservation plan for the land on which the person produces an agricultural
commodity covered by a policy or plan of insurance supported by such premium
payment.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><after-quoted-block>;
and</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H165BE0F4437E4306ACD1BD595D3BD61A"><enum>(C)</enum><text>in paragraph
(3)—</text>
<clause id="HF8FD1B7CEEC1404BB8DE834CFCF04E3F"><enum>(i)</enum><text>by
striking <quote>only</quote> after <quote>subtitle D shall</quote>; and</text>
</clause><clause id="HA3D13F90FB0A4E548B6E0F7BE324C35C"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>by
striking <quote>. The person shall not be required to meet a higher
conservation standard than</quote> and inserting <quote>consistent
with</quote>;</text>
</clause></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H67AF841D63BA4C9FAFB77865F622DC24"><enum>(3)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in subsection (b), by inserting <quote>, or
premium subsidies,</quote> after <quote>and benefits</quote>;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H7C3B45390C31485DAF0CB6AA2DCCACF9"><enum>(4)</enum><text>in subsection
(c)—</text>
<subparagraph id="H571E3816C9B54E089DFE5C0D468F36B7"><enum>(A)</enum><text>in the matter
preceding paragraph (1), by inserting <quote>, or premium subsidies,</quote>
after <quote>and benefits</quote>;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" id="HE26B2406D70440F6B44868E330B235B3"><enum>(B)</enum><text>in paragraph (1),
by inserting <quote>highly erodible land</quote> before <quote>conservation
system</quote> each place it appears; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HC5F6A2CDBC6746E9909D797E17D74BE2"><enum>(C)</enum><text>in paragraphs (1),
(2), and (3), by striking <quote>Soil Conservation Service</quote> each place
it appears and inserting <quote>Natural Resources Conservation
Service</quote>;</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H7E18FD0E55C045DAB180324E9A705C82"><enum>(5)</enum><text>in subsection
(f)—</text>
<subparagraph id="H5288EE666B8F45B6ABD2807716C1528B"><enum>(A)</enum><text>in paragraph (1),
by inserting <quote>, or premium subsidies,</quote> after
<quote>benefits</quote>; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HDB54EC4E2BBD4DE49F30AE43D560C61C"><enum>(B)</enum><text>in paragraph
(4)(B), by inserting <quote>and premium subsidies</quote> after
<quote>benefits</quote>; and</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H13300C1602AB4B018FF1F7BD467E200C"><enum>(6)</enum><text>in subsection (g)
by amending paragraph (2) to read as follows:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H5593DBA86DB342F0A7C15C6BD1104D9D" style="OLC">
<paragraph id="HD9105323FFBE480584ED7FD1194C9386"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">concerning conservation technical and
financial assistance options and conservation loan options that may be
available to such individual to meet the requirements of this
section.</text>
</paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</paragraph></section><section id="H6E26AF6FEE2240DF8CC8DA2259BAB535"><enum>1103.</enum><header>Development
and implementation of highly erodible land conservation plans and highly
erodible land conservation systems</header>
<subsection id="H2717FEE970D647D4A7CFB3C44CBDB141"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Highly erodible
land</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 1213 of the Food
Security Act of 1985 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/3812a">16 U.S.C. 3812a</external-xref>) is amended—</text>
<paragraph id="H6FE55631C1E14D23A5EC6B46572F4F8D"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in the header, by striking
<quote><header-in-text level="section" style="OLC">conservation plans and
conservation systems</header-in-text></quote> and inserting
<quote><header-in-text level="section" style="OLC">highly erodible land
conservation plans and highly erodible land conservation
systems</header-in-text></quote>;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="H5B7AF1E2A1CC401282BAC538D8A96FFB"><enum>(2)</enum><text>by inserting
<quote>highly erodible land</quote> before <quote>conservation plan</quote>
each place it appears; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="H17BC0208A81746E685440CD0880B2FDC"><enum>(3)</enum><text>by inserting
<quote>highly erodible land</quote> before <quote>conservation system</quote>
each place it appears.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H173F4E97B4A0487492826F167B14074E"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Technical
requirements</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section
1213(a)(4) of the Food Security Act of 1985 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/3812a">16 U.S.C. 3812a(a)(4)</external-xref>) is amended
by inserting <quote>, taking into account the assistance described in section
1212(g)(2)</quote>.</text>
</subsection><subsection commented="no" id="H6F1003DA74D2486582A67CC9082EFE86"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Certification of
compliance</header><text>Section 1213(d)(2) of the Food Security Act of 1985
(<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/3812a">16 U.S.C. 3812a(d)(2)</external-xref>) is amended by striking <quote>If a person</quote> and
inserting <quote>Except as necessary to carry out section 1216, if a
person</quote>.</text>
</subsection></section><section id="HEE7C0F196041438B8317ED6BCE006F39"><enum>1104.</enum><header>Notice and
investigation of possible compliance deficiencies</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 1215 of the Food Security Act of
1985 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/3814">16 U.S.C. 3814</external-xref>) is amended—</text>
<paragraph commented="no" id="H0870FFFEF9A848A6988423C4822135B4"><enum>(1)</enum><text>by inserting
<quote>highly erodible land</quote> before <quote>conservation plan</quote>
each place it appears;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H1BF0C14C5E1D4F0586D590239B2800ED"><enum>(2)</enum><text>in subsection (a),
by inserting <quote>carrying out an inspection under section 1216 or</quote>
before <quote>providing on-site technical assistance</quote>; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H02D5812827DC41B09A7F2EA7133F3DD0"><enum>(3)</enum><text>in subsection (c),
by striking <quote>may</quote> and inserting <quote>shall</quote>.</text>
</paragraph></section><section id="H4018B473D0684FE591BFF7F867BDBA3A"><enum>1105.</enum><header>Enforcement;
funding for technical assistance</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Subtitle B of title XII of the Food Security
Act of 1985 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/3811">16 U.S.C. 3811 et seq.</external-xref>) is amended by adding at the end the
following new sections:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HF90990DB2CCA4601B68D558F4F5B59BD" style="OLC">
<section commented="no" id="HA19D097E204741C8895BCF5E4E40126F"><enum>1216.</enum><header>Enforcement of
compliance with highly erodible land conservation plans</header>
<subsection commented="no" id="HF46359D85ACB4BE58EA9FD27ED5C9CC0"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In
general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Secretary shall,
to the extent possible, inspect annually at least five percent of the lands
subject to compliance with highly erodible land conservation plans and for
which the owner or operator is receiving a benefit described in section
1211(a), specifically for the purpose of certifying compliance with the highly
erodible land conservation plan and eligibility for such benefits.</text>
</subsection><subsection commented="no" id="HE106C1B28C7B4480B59267D3F10D7012"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Annual report to
Congress</header><text>Not later than March 1 of each year following the year
of enactment of this provision, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report
detailing the number of acres inspected for compliance with highly erodible
land conservation plans, the number and type of infractions found, and the
corrective or enforcement actions, including reviews conducted under section
1215(c) and graduated penalties imposed under section 1212(f), associated with
each, including the agency’s justifications for each action. The report may
include other pertinent information regarding compliance and enforcement, as
determined by the Secretary.</text>
</subsection></section><section commented="no" id="H1A8FA0DD6E09405A8DC8260E2590CE67"><enum>1217.</enum><header>Funding for
technical assistance</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">The
Secretary shall make available a portion of the administrative and technical
assistance funding provided to administer the benefits described in section
1211(a) to be used for technical assistance, monitoring, and enforcement
associated with highly erodible land conservation. Funds shall be drawn from
each program in proportion to the relative funding of each individual
program.</text>
</section><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</section></subtitle><subtitle id="H860BE3D6C1144314BD70887039803B89"><enum>C</enum><header>Wetland
conservation</header>
<section commented="no" id="HFCA98E49209B4E8CB91214BBE32144F0"><enum>1201.</enum><header>Program
ineligibility</header>
<subsection commented="no" id="H7E97D93E74734ED88581F6104858C98D"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Production on
covered wetland</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section
1221(a) of the Food Security Act of 1985 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/3821">16 U.S.C. 3821(a)</external-xref>) is amended—</text>
<paragraph commented="no" id="HECE35D3946EB44BF99F91AF98D9EC8E2"><enum>(1)</enum><text>in the matter
preceding paragraph (1), by inserting <quote>after the effective date of the
<short-title>Balancing Food, Farm, and the Environment Act
of 2013</short-title>,</quote> before <quote>any person who</quote>; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="H563D9B5E073B499F95B53116DA65C5C3"><enum>(2)</enum><text>in paragraph (2),
by striking <quote>an amount determined by the Secretary to be proportionate to
the severity of the violation</quote> and inserting <quote>accordance with
subsection (b)</quote>.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" id="HC4EBB84ADF1541F28396BC48B3110997"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Ineligibility
for certain loans and payments</header><text>Section 1221(b) of the Food
Security Act of 1985 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/3821">16 U.S.C. 3821(b)</external-xref>) is amended—</text>
<paragraph commented="no" id="HF5EA8D9DA8124A97A23240E626F3F126"><enum>(1)</enum><text>in the matter
preceding paragraph (1), by striking <quote>the Secretary shall determine which
of, and the amount of, the following loans and payments for which the person
shall be ineligible</quote> and inserting <quote>the person shall be ineligible
for the following loans and payments</quote>; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="HA5116B6726FB4DB3A3AFC0753E0E7219"><enum>(2)</enum><text>by striking
paragraphs (1) and (2) and inserting the following:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H640AD95BE0574CE18FF0EE2CC6756681" style="OLC">
<paragraph commented="no" id="H2D6CE4B3C995429EBF36FDB44132F809"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">As to any commodity produced during the
crop year by such person—</text>
<subparagraph commented="no" id="H4014D6A31A5542CC9CA1377B1D37CBD2"><enum>(A)</enum><text>contract payments
under a production flexibility contract, marketing assistance loans, and any
type of price or revenue support or payment made available under the
Agricultural Market Transition Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/7/7201">7 U.S.C. 7201 et seq.</external-xref>), the Commodity
Credit Corporation Charter Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/15/714">15 U.S.C. 714 et seq.</external-xref>), the Food, Conservation,
and Energy Act of 2008 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/7/8701">7 U.S.C. 8701 et seq.</external-xref>), or any other Act;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" id="HADE4ECB2D9514BBE9A1899F00706FC42"><enum>(B)</enum><text>a farm storage
facility loan made under section 4(h) of the Commodity Credit Corporation
Charter Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/15/714b">15 U.S.C. 714b(h)</external-xref>);</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" id="HEDC77CC8D14A48EB95BF73FB583CB396"><enum>(C)</enum><text>a loan made,
insured, or guaranteed under the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act (7
U.S.C. 1921 et seq.) or any other provision of law administered by the
Consolidated Farm Service Agency, if the Secretary determines that the proceeds
of such loan will be used for a purpose that will contribute to excessive
erosion of highly erodible land; or</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" id="H08801AB3C13C439BB5442097B98FC419"><enum>(D)</enum><text>any portion of the
premium paid by the Federal Crop Insurance Corporation for a policy or plan of
insurance under the Federal Crop Insurance Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/7/1501">7 U.S.C. 1501 et seq.</external-xref>).</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="HCACAADA6AAF0448CB9F5ACBD6A9E5E8F"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">A payment made under section 4 or 5 of the
Commodity Credit Corporation Charter Act (15 U.S.C. 714b or 714c) during such
crop year for the storage of an agricultural commodity acquired by the
Commodity Credit Corporation.</text>
</paragraph><after-quoted-block>.
</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</paragraph></subsection></section><section id="HAE9F00D39E9B4FFFB25EC24CDFBD9D98"><enum>1202.</enum><header>Delineation of
wetlands; exemptions</header>
<subsection id="HBA5AA257BB664999AB758820DA5A5117"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Exemptions</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 1222(b) of the Food Security Act of
1985 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/3822">16 U.S.C. 3822(b)</external-xref>) is amended—</text>
<paragraph id="H58CA8F0D808C424FB3BF640D4267F337"><enum>(1)</enum><text>in the matter
preceding paragraph (1), by inserting <quote>, or premium subsidies,</quote>
after <quote>or payments</quote>; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H7AAF1D878D5344DDAED1F84DAB9ABBDA"><enum>(2)</enum><text>by adding at the
end the following new paragraph:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HCE389D8C4369461DA688B84F652FF4F8" style="OLC">
<paragraph commented="no" id="H5504252277AE420D8A56E9CC6B9CC0FA"><enum>(3)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">In the case of payments that are subject to
section 1221 for the first time due to the amendments made by section 1201(b)
of the <short-title>Balancing Food, Farm, and the
Environment Act of 2013</short-title>, a wetland that was converted after April
4, 1996 and before October 1, 2013, on land that is the basis of the payments,
provided the person in control of the land is and has been otherwise in
compliance with section
1221.</text>
</paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H5D68EE6880AF45A791232FDF7C3FADAD"><enum>(b)</enum><header>On-Site
inspection requirement</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 1222(c) of the Food Security Act of
1985 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/3822">16 U.S.C. 3822(c)</external-xref>) is amended by striking <quote>, or benefits</quote>
and inserting <quote>, benefits, or premium subsidies</quote>.</text>
</subsection><subsection commented="no" id="HD8B18D3C83ED480C9920F36CC1FFAEF0"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Good faith
exemption</header><text>Section 1222(h)(1) of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16
U.S.C. 3822(h)) is amended to read as follows:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HF2FE19A758F542598E215CC3C6BD28A6" style="OLC">
<paragraph commented="no" id="H841FFA005FC34FFCA62EB532C4D8DA3A"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Graduated
penalties</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">If a person is in
violation of section 1221 but has acted in good faith and without an intent to
violate such section, as determined by the Secretary, the Secretary may, in
lieu of applying the ineligibility provisions of section 1221(b), reduce
program benefits and premium subsidies described in such section that the
producer would otherwise be eligible to receive in a crop year by an amount
commensurate with the seriousness of the violation, as determined by the
Secretary.</text>
</paragraph><after-quoted-block>.
</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</subsection><subsection id="H96CE612E38A141D3986F1CD3672A0E81"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Eligibility for
crop insurance</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 1222
of the Food Security Act of 1985 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/3822">16 U.S.C. 3822</external-xref>) is amended by adding at the
end the following new subsection:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H77B87084A25847D9A1C44C8C19DE1DFE" style="OLC">
<subsection id="H60D98B7F2BCD46CCA454D59653914204"><enum>(l)</enum><header>Eligibility for
crop insurance</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">In the case of
payments that are subject to section 1221 for the first time due to the
amendments made by section 1201(b) of the <short-title>Balancing Food, Farm, and the Environment Act of
2013</short-title>, no person who plants or produces an agricultural commodity
on a converted wetland on land that is the basis of the payments shall be
ineligible under section 1221 for program loans or payments, or premium
subsidies, unless the person fails to mitigate for the loss of wetland values,
acreage, and function in accordance with subparagraphs (A) through (G) of
subsection (f)(2) by the end of the 24-month period following the date on which
the payments became subject to section
1221.</text>
</subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</subsection></section></subtitle><subtitle id="H6172F36D4BFA4E4290042EDF892690C0"><enum>D</enum><header>Conservation
reserve</header>
<section id="H238F243277FF4F03AAB590E2C1EA142C"><enum>1301.</enum><header>Conservation
reserve</header>
<subsection id="HA332152772954FD1B2326F95872D0E7F"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In
general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 1231(a) of
the Food Security Act of 1985 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/3831">16 U.S.C. 3831(a)</external-xref>) is amended—</text>
<paragraph id="H2E3E7FC9335F470F8B0113DDB7271767"><enum>(1)</enum><text>by striking
<quote>2012</quote> and inserting <quote>2018</quote>; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HC1403C21E10540258268BAFF2332CB43"><enum>(2)</enum><text>by inserting
<quote>or easements</quote> after <quote>contracts</quote>.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H0BCEB95BF1F34409B8A4D354673CCC1C"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Eligible
land</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 1231(b) of the
Food Security Act of 1985 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/3831">16 U.S.C. 3831(b)</external-xref>) is amended—</text>
<paragraph id="H516E948579E04106B5F5074AB3A19889"><enum>(1)</enum><text>in paragraph
(1)(B), by striking <quote>the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of
2008</quote> and inserting <quote><short-title>Balancing
Food, Farm, and the Environment Act of 2013</short-title></quote>;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HFBDCD96B2EA24A9F8C2D5BD53350E440"><enum>(2)</enum><text>by striking
paragraph (2) and inserting the following new paragraph:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H4185405C005A485A8CB3E8F444E85C67" style="OLC">
<paragraph id="H044BDAE516D445ECB024F94461E34729"><enum>(3)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">grassland that—</text>
<subparagraph id="HF44AF055DE444B19A03FA862DFDE6B28"><enum>(A)</enum><text>contains forbs or
shrubland (including improved rangeland and pastureland) for which grazing is
the predominant use;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H28A98E3C59E44883980903B799942BEA"><enum>(B)</enum><text>is located in an
area historically dominated by grassland; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H1909E6C7D51F4CC99EB4F4886C0F28E3"><enum>(C)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">could provide habitat for animal or plant
populations of significant ecological value, or corridors to facilitate
wildlife movement and migration, if the land is retained in its current use or
restored to a natural condition;</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><after-quoted-block>;
and</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HD73C7839731F4443AC789C3796670C6E"><enum>(3)</enum><text>in paragraph
(4)—</text>
<subparagraph id="HCF7933A061B042BC8D57AAE35D9514C0"><enum>(A)</enum><text>in subparagraph
(C)—</text>
<clause id="H4E725E607E0241B39F8E46B9462B30F0"><enum>(i)</enum><text>by
inserting <quote>, wildlife habitat buffers, shallow water areas for
wildlife</quote> after <quote>permanent wildlife habitat</quote>;</text>
</clause><clause id="H915242F194FA41EF8F2513778B724A35"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>by
inserting <quote>, wetland buffers, riparian buffers</quote> after
<quote>shelterbelts</quote>; and</text>
</clause><clause id="H68D1527D9D6D49038FDABC2459977FA3"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>by
striking <quote>devoted to trees or shrubs</quote>;</text>
</clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H99178E487B234BC1A2B534C9D5E6C98B"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">by redesignating subparagraphs (D) and (E)
as subparagraphs (E) and (F), respectively; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HF399D4DE963E40208607C6F5801444F5"><enum>(C)</enum><text>by inserting after
subparagraph (C) the following new subparagraph:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HE76D3FFCCCB2483BAC28EB2B650787AA" style="OLC">
<subparagraph id="H14C59009369B4BDF9F46CCFFDDE4DF0D"><enum>(D)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the land will be devoted to
nutrient-trapping conservation practices approved by the Secretary used in
association with a newly created or existing conservation buffer
practice;</text>
</subparagraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H4AFF54EE201D440B97DD1D5099172325"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Planting status
of certain land; maximum enrollment</header><text>Subsections (c) and (d) of
section 1231 of the Food Security Act of 1985 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/3831">16 U.S.C. 3831</external-xref>) are amended to
read as follows:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H0F4D5FD28E0042C587B7BA61F5587525" style="OLC">
<subsection id="H06271E2DD1CE4093ABB87B546E60B089"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Planting status
of certain land</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">For purposes
of determining the eligibility of land to be placed in the conservation reserve
established under this subchapter, land shall be considered to be planted to an
agricultural commodity during a crop year if, during the crop year, the land
was devoted to a conserving use.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="H14F6401628244692B28389ECEAD2BD42"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Maximum
enrollment</header>
<paragraph id="HB563CB717B9845D7A8F90D975FAED068"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In
general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Secretary may
maintain in the conservation reserve at any 1 time during—</text>
<subparagraph id="H5BE2F638DEB8438FB9CB6BA37A0276F4"><enum>(A)</enum><text>fiscal year 2014,
no more than 26,000,000 acres;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H95135D658C354214A8756D2342C65460"><enum>(B)</enum><text>fiscal year 2015,
no more than 25,000,000 acres;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H3AB80D9E4D4B4212ADE1F41B21854A32"><enum>(C)</enum><text>fiscal year 2016,
no more than 24,000,000 acres; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H90D3FF5587F8422C91431022A59E11EE"><enum>(D)</enum><text>fiscal years 2017
and 2018, no more than 23,000,000 acres.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H2F5F94746EA541E896C0850FF4DC0C14"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Reservation</header><text>The
Secretary, to the maximum extent feasible, shall manage the conservation
reserve to ensure that on an annual basis not less than 600,000 acres are
available for new enrollments of eligible land—</text>
<subparagraph id="H046FCF7929484C40A3B02BB147ED4F51"><enum>(A)</enum><text>described in
subparagraphs (B) through (F) of subsection (b)(4); and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H404B6F9FD9C746BC9A1F81FC6F577561"><enum>(B)</enum><text>enrolled under the
special conservation reserve enhancement program authority under section
1234(f)(4).</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="H11F4E8A2F9F9416DB4CEAA552DBA2F20"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Priority</header><text>The
Secretary shall give priority to enrollments under the reservation in paragraph
(2) to land located in nutrient-impacted watersheds for which the enrollment
would reduce nutrient loadings, as determined by the Secretary.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="H7477EC2A54214E5CB4F49EE8BDD25233"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Consideration</header><text>In
applying paragraph (3), the Secretary shall take into consideration the effects
that may exist of any drainage infrastructure on the potential to reduce
nutrient
loadings.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</subsection></section><section id="H0792B3B048384829B0EE754CED3B4D33"><enum>1302.</enum><header>Contracts</header>
<subsection id="HA315171745B940338A81B89686F05C80"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Modifications</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 1235(c)(1)(B)(iii) of the Food
Security Act of 1985 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/3835">16 U.S.C. 3835(c)(1)(B)(iii)</external-xref>) is amended to read as
follows:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H56D78828ACAD4E33BD8D8A41206F77D2" style="OLC">
<clause id="HCEE3721D583B4E28B8DE6763260E703C"><enum>(iii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">to facilitate a transition of land subject
to the contract from a retired or retiring owner or operator to a beginning
farmer or rancher, socially disadvantaged farmer or rancher, or limited
resource farmer or rancher who is or will be actively engaged in farming or
ranching with respect to the land transferred under this subsection, for the
purpose of returning some or all of the land into production using sustainable
grazing or crop production methods that meet or exceed the resource management
system quality criteria for erosion, soil quality, water quality, and fish and
wildlife;
or</text>
</clause><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</subsection><subsection id="HEBFE02F940204EEFA33B434EAE13C0F0"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Transition
option for certain farmers or ranchers</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 1235(f)(1) of the Food Security Act
of 1985 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/3835">16 U.S.C. 3835(f)(1)</external-xref>) is amended—</text>
<paragraph id="H6B7F6DD6A08E4D4E8849F29BB1DB95A3"><enum>(1)</enum><text>in the matter
preceding subparagraph (A), by striking <quote>or socially disadvantaged farmer
or rancher</quote> and inserting <quote>socially disadvantaged farmer or
rancher, or limited resource farmer or rancher who is or will be actively
engaged in farming or ranching with respect to the land transferred under this
subsection</quote>;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HED905447B71641F18D3FFCBCDFF64A5B"><enum>(2)</enum><text>in subparagraph
(A)—</text>
<subparagraph id="H3EABEA45E2754346AA0FE623B04145DA"><enum>(A)</enum><text>in clause (i), by
striking <quote>; and</quote> and inserting a semicolon;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H9B0F17173DB54F6999F60511C4DEE03B"><enum>(B)</enum><text>in clause (ii), by
striking the semicolon and inserting <quote>; and</quote>; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HA4DFBA8F4FFB468E85AB3103EEB0712D"><enum>(C)</enum><text>by adding at the
end the following new clauses:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HF63ED0B34F66497DA9CDD93E86F649F4" style="OLC">
<clause id="H2E8EF256600B4D42A174FD78FBD69682"><enum>(iv)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">provide to the covered farmer or rancher an
opportunity to enroll in the conservation stewardship program or the
environmental quality incentives program at any time beginning on the date that
is 1 year before the date of termination of the contract, including technical
and financial assistance in the development of a comprehensive conservation
plan; and</text>
</clause><clause id="H3AEA9CBD56B84C9694CF839F5761A040"><enum>(v)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">if the land transferred under this
subsection remains in grass cover, provide to the covered farmer or rancher an
opportunity to enroll in a long-term or permanent easement under the
agricultural conservation easement
program;</text>
</clause><after-quoted-block>;
</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H572E0EE354B849D2A5F235F6169A0CF4"><enum>(3)</enum><text>in subparagraph
(B), by inserting <quote>comprehensive</quote> before <quote>conservation
plan</quote>;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HEFFFFFBCF5DD4DEDBC1A6559144D6FC5"><enum>(4)</enum><text>by striking
subparagraph (D) and redesignating subparagraph (E) as subparagraph (D);
and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H29E19BF7CF784A86B1C0929ED8E82CE2"><enum>(5)</enum><text>in subparagraph
(D) (as so redesignated), by striking <quote>, if the retired or retiring owner
or operator is not a family member (as defined in section 1001A(b)(3)(B) of
this Act) of the covered farmer or rancher</quote> and inserting <quote>except
that, in the case of a retired or retiring owner or operator who is a family
member (as defined in section 1001) of the covered farmer or rancher, the
additional payments shall be made only if title to the land is sold or
otherwise transferred to the covered farmer or rancher on termination of the
contract</quote>.</text>
</paragraph></subsection></section><section id="H5ACA1FADD991470E9DA592F508B5EC4E"><enum>1303.</enum><header>Conservation
reserve easement program</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Subchapter B of chapter 1 of subtitle D of
title XII of the Food Security Act of 1985 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/3831">16 U.S.C. 3831 et seq.</external-xref>) is amended
by adding at the end the following new section:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HF2B22BF715AC4C0F8C3372420A37879B" style="OLC">
<section id="H87F0C07139994A5F9848277D73CF1528"><enum>1236.</enum><header>Conservation
reserve easement program</header>
<subsection id="H62873721D12A44B786B1EBEE5EEB606F"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Establishment</header><text>The
Secretary shall formulate and carry out a conservation reserve easement program
(hereafter in this section referred to as the <quote>easement program</quote>)
in accordance with this section, through the acquisition of permanent easements
or easements for the maximum term permitted under applicable State law from
willing owners of eligible farms or ranches in order to ensure the continued
long-term protection of environmentally sensitive lands, reduction in the
degradation of water quality, and enhancement of wildlife habitat on such farms
or ranches through the continued conservation and improvement of soil and water
resources.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="H7ECED3B4E1CF4D7CB4E57AAE546CCD92"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Eligibility;
termination</header>
<paragraph id="H2CA0AD40F465472C89987E028CD63A81"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>Except as provided in paragraph (2), the Secretary may
acquire easements under this section on eligible land placed in the
conservation reserve under this subchapter that—</text>
<subparagraph id="HAF904F3A92DA4F589C2085F950A508F4"><enum>(A)</enum><text>is determined by
the Secretary to be unsuitable for long-term commodity production;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H6271768C55044B3B980B730EC2634189"><enum>(B)</enum><text>is an area of
critical habitat for wildlife, especially threatened or endangered species;
or</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HFBC51B7A8B994C618D4106FFBA1C36A9"><enum>(C)</enum><text>contains other
environmentally sensitive areas, as determined by the Secretary, that would
prevent a producer from complying with other Federal, State, or local
environmental goals if commodities were to be produced on such land.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H98E382A6DC7748B0A39CBA024E0DB119"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Ineligible
land</header><text>The Secretary may not acquire easements on—</text>
<subparagraph id="H9B11A59EC6A649EBBBB0FB68625EB83D"><enum>(A)</enum><text>land that contains
timber stands established under this subchapter; or</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H8F5F9FDC4CE34659933B50269F726CAF"><enum>(B)</enum><text>pasture land
established to trees under this subchapter.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="HC757803F61CA4512A60BC028717A85E4"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Termination of
existing contract</header><text>The Secretary may terminate or modify any
existing contract entered into under section 1231(a) if eligible land that is
subject to such contract is transferred into the easement program.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H62E3F31FB116453084E7E98CECFBFB42"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Duties of
owners</header>
<paragraph id="H82E491D5915F4057A6AB228A1B9BC767"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Plan</header>
<subparagraph id="HA8690FED3CB748688C5C41B011ACE80D"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>In conjunction with the creation of an easement on any
lands under this section, the owner of the farm or ranch wherein such lands are
located must agree to implement a natural resource conservation management plan
in accordance with subparagraph (B) and approved by the Secretary.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H0C5D475FFB6146EB8FBB01480C7208E9"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Components</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">A natural resource conservation management
plan shall—</text>
<clause id="H9A40DD9093384F92BB3AD378640B019A"><enum>(i)</enum><text>set forth the
conservation measures and practices to be carried out by the owner of the land
subject to the easement;</text>
</clause><clause id="H8616C982B7BE4C068BF90C352E2AC66D"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>set forth the
commercial use, if any, to be permitted on such land during the term of the
easement; and</text>
</clause><clause id="H0ADDE557FC3C4C13A0673C7323805204"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>provide for the
permanent retirement of any existing cropland base and allotment history for
such land under any program administered by the Secretary.</text>
</clause></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H6C67E17232194365B7AF893A5E9281B3"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Agreement</header><text>In
return for the creation of an easement on any lands under this section, the
owner of the farm or ranch wherein such lands are located must agree to the
following:</text>
<subparagraph id="H861163ED78AF439399C05F31AEAA3A18"><enum>(A)</enum><text>To the creation
and recordation of an appropriate deed restriction, in accordance with
applicable State law, to reflect the easement agreed to under this section with
respect to such lands.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HC3A55A1BA348448DA6E3879BC3C2DC75"><enum>(B)</enum><text>To provide a
written statement of consent to such easement signed by those holding a
security interest in the land.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HF91CB8E510F848A3A8C869565CBAC100"><enum>(C)</enum><text>To comply with
such additional provisions as the Secretary determines are desirable and are
included in the easement to carry out this section or to facilitate the
practical administration thereof.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HFD4AAA192C2F404EB9DC11519E6A707E"><enum>(D)</enum><text>To limit the
production of any agricultural commodity on such lands only to production for
the benefit of wildlife.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H1179335EF7BE4909A40ED59C6B113B15"><enum>(E)</enum><text>Not to conduct any
harvesting or grazing, nor otherwise make commercial use of the forage, on land
that is subject to the easement, unless specifically provided for in the
easement or related agreement.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HC1908EF76A8C40F8B7ED3807F21EDE8E"><enum>(F)</enum><text>Not to adopt any
other practice that would tend to defeat the purposes of this chapter, as
determined by the Secretary.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="HCDDCEE2C47D94A4A94473FD03329A638"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Violation</header><text>On
the violation of the terms or conditions of the easement or related agreement
entered into under this section, the easement shall remain in force and the
Secretary may require the owner to refund all or part of any payments received
by the owner under this section, together with interest thereon as determined
appropriate by the Secretary.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="HE9868CA95AC6457A8C7BF7771A9E6D01"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Duties of the
secretary</header><text>In return for the granting of an easement by an owner
under this section, the Secretary shall—</text>
<paragraph id="H12A7A09C84AA43338CF4E1A3FFF56E0E"><enum>(1)</enum><text>share the cost of
carrying out the establishment of conservation measures and practices set forth
in the plan described in section 1232(a)(1) for which the Secretary determines
that cost sharing is appropriate and in the public interest;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H84511A30AE734231938B09B61184252A"><enum>(2)</enum><text>pay for a period
not to exceed 10 years annual easement payments in the aggregate not to exceed
the lesser of—</text>
<subparagraph id="H77B9A247C95745BFAF8D3864D78CEF86"><enum>(A)</enum><text>$250,000;
or</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HDFFCBE9DDD8D4EBCB68BC4A5EFFD3C85"><enum>(B)</enum><text>the difference in
the value of the land with and without the easement;</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H4E7A83CEC79149B08D3D89475F5D8928"><enum>(3)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">provide necessary technical assistance to
assist owners in complying with the terms and conditions of the easement and
the comprehensive conservation plan; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H170406B7786C4B16BD691F69138354D6"><enum>(4)</enum><text>permit the land to
be used for wildlife activities, including hunting and fishing, if such use is
permitted by the owner.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="HA24131464CB84F8FA815C758A7DCAF8C"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Time of
payment</header><text>The Secretary shall provide payment for obligations
incurred by the Secretary under this section—</text>
<paragraph id="H29F15859776346AE8353DC003F1F8D56"><enum>(1)</enum><text>with respect to
any cost sharing obligation, as soon as possible after the obligation is
incurred; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HAAE8E20B540F4276B5E1F74145C8FD4C"><enum>(2)</enum><text>with respect to
any annual easement payment obligation, as soon as possible after October 1 of
each year.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H0C75C57D88ED4F52B58FDD9C5B57B59B"><enum>(f)</enum><header>Cost sharing
payments</header><text>In making cost sharing payments to owners under this
section, the Secretary may pay up to 100 percent of the cost of establishing
conservation measures and practices pursuant to this section.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="H42977796517C4B96983C475C39801CAA"><enum>(g)</enum><header>Easement
payments</header>
<paragraph id="H66C2E31B1A834947BE226B0F7570613B"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Determination of
amount</header><text>The Secretary shall determine the amount payable to owners
in the form of easement payments under this section, and in making such
determination may consider, among other things, the amount necessary to
encourage owners to participate in the easement program.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H1824685AE46A4C2088E1040C9FC4EFA1"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Acceptability of
offers</header><text>In determining the acceptability of easement offers, the
Secretary may take into consideration—</text>
<subparagraph id="HF388AB00BDBE4630AAA5F88A6B6E49DA"><enum>(A)</enum><text>the extent to
which the purposes of the easement program would be achieved on the
land;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HDAAB75A8D0D54D4E8C2E60B343BB83CD"><enum>(B)</enum><text>the productivity
of the land; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H5D1CA27F7D6F4588AEE73A6D43DADED4"><enum>(C)</enum><text>the on-farm and
off-farm environmental threats if the land is used for the production of
agricultural commodities.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H9E8027AC3B514966999CF0E59A6DD49D"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Priority</header><text>The
Secretary shall prioritize offers that maximize the environmental goals of the
easement program, particularly regarding improvements to water quality,
wildlife habitat and corridors, and water conservation. Priority may also be
given to easements that are part of a cooperative conservation effort to
address priority resource concerns on a regional or watershed scale, or that
are adjacent to existing conservation lands.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H01DAA38D6FE4499589DCAF4EA09F3E2D"><enum>(h)</enum><header>Payments to
others</header><text>If an owner who is entitled to a payment under this
section dies, becomes incompetent, is otherwise unable to receive such payment,
or is succeeded by another person who renders or completes the required
performance, the Secretary shall make such payment, in accordance with
regulations prescribed by the Secretary and without regard to any other
provision of law, in such manner as the Secretary determines is fair and
reasonable in light of all of the circumstances.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="H33B75EA3FAB24E5AA9E573BDDE291A01"><enum>(i)</enum><header>Modification</header><text>The
Secretary may modify an easement acquired from, or a related agreement with, an
owner under this section if—</text>
<paragraph id="H335D6C5F7448447EAC9203596B4807F7"><enum>(1)</enum><text>the current owner
of the land agrees to such modification; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HE4DB33B0C2CF49CDBE948DB2EB2AFD0D"><enum>(2)</enum><text>the Secretary
determines that such modification is desirable—</text>
<subparagraph id="HD2B8003BA30C4AA98047F21E874D23CC"><enum>(A)</enum><text>to carry out this
section;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H3259D75BD5734B37A8BF397D6232C6D2"><enum>(B)</enum><text>to facilitate the
practical administration of this section; or</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H3F1DBD416EC04B1AAE0E019133AB6DB2"><enum>(C)</enum><text>to achieve such
other goals as the Secretary determines are appropriate and consistent with
this section.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H0E583610BADA4349AAFA14046F93B499"><enum>(j)</enum><header>Termination</header><text>The
Secretary may terminate an easement created with an owner under this section
if—</text>
<paragraph id="HCAC5E8DDAE0A4A2E83B1168316E0C3A3"><enum>(1)</enum><text>the current owner
of the land agrees to such termination; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HEB7AE34607F14E1AA52B1B371F2D1A76"><enum>(2)</enum><text>the Secretary
determines that such termination would be in the public
interest.</text>
</paragraph></subsection></section><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</section></subtitle><subtitle id="H8573366FF2E24F4EBE2D7A469822110A"><enum>E</enum><header>Conservation
Stewardship Program</header>
<section id="HC77A5F435D7C45F2AFEAD9B223777F7E"><enum>1401.</enum><header>Definitions</header>
<subsection id="H6E080DBB6B0D4124BADD514F1D1654CB"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Conservation
activities</header>
<paragraph id="H82646F36B0C440F595C12A643D9764B2"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In
general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 1238D(1)(A)
of the Food Security Act of 1985 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/3838d">16 U.S.C. 3838d(1)(A)</external-xref>) is amended by striking
<quote>a resource concern</quote> and inserting <quote>one or more resource
concerns</quote>.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H780470C318B543AFAAA6304B1166B471"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Inclusions</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 1238D(1)(B) of the Food Security
Act of 1985 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/3838d">16 U.S.C. 3838d(1)(B)</external-xref>) is amended to read as follows:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H6CA046AB2727411286ED951A654A7BB7" style="OLC">
<subparagraph id="H3C847B83C28744E786AA172E440FA730"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Inclusions</header><text>The
term <term>conservation activities</term> includes—</text>
<clause id="H4C29EF9081B14D10A4BF757980EDE6F4"><enum>(i)</enum><text>vegetative
measures and land management measures, including integrated pest, nutrient,
crop residue, and managed rotational grazing management measures, as determined
by the Secretary;</text>
</clause><clause id="H7CD076A817DE40E788A3B90662C3A6CE"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>structural
measures that are integrated with and essential to the successful
implementation of such vegetative and land management measures;</text>
</clause><clause id="HA1139F89076D45D3B618680B5B1ED958"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>planning needed
to address a resource concern; and</text>
</clause><clause id="H0CF8F21BC83343B2A53622329C136876"><enum>(iv)</enum><text>development of a
comprehensive conservation
plan.</text>
</clause></subparagraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H5430217C972E43A39331593B7EF8AA3C"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Conservation
measurement tools</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section
1238D(2) of the Food Security Act of 1985 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/3838d">16 U.S.C. 3838d(2)</external-xref>) is amended by
inserting <quote>natural resource and</quote> before <quote>environmental
benefit</quote>.</text>
</subsection><subsection commented="no" id="H6189419296C34C26B10DAC6F053C066C"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Priority
resource concern</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section
1238D of the Food Security Act of 1985 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/3838d">16 U.S.C. 3838d</external-xref>) is amended by striking
paragraphs (4) and (6) and redesignating paragraphs (5) and (7) as paragraphs
(4) and (5), respectively.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="H3F05E7BC782A423192B3049922FA84D2"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Stewardship
threshold</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 1238D(5) of
the Food Security Act of 1985 (as so redesignated) is amended to read as
follows:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H4C2BFD6EAA0F442AA98FC7A404A86324" style="OLC">
<paragraph id="HAB7737296CB448F29D1CD29E94450E57"><enum>(5)</enum><header>Stewardship
threshold</header><text>The term <term>stewardship threshold</term> means the
level of natural resource conservation and environmental management required to
address and improve upon a priority resource concern, as determined by the
Secretary using—</text>
<subparagraph id="H4D972BAF79EF4ED7A4BC3641247E18E1"><enum>(A)</enum><text>conservation
measurement tools;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" id="H6A365DC315DA4CACBB56BAAA68972179"><enum>(B)</enum><text>the resource
management system quality criteria for the particular priority resource
concerns;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H454708C8078F41B49555410222899719"><enum>(C)</enum><text>data from past and
current program enrollments; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H658E73F10B9A447CA0DFB05EE0B4EE29"><enum>(D)</enum><text>other similar
means to measure improvement and conservation of the priority resource
concern.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</subsection></section><section id="H865A343594334D259358225C900C7B72"><enum>1402.</enum><header>Conservation
Stewardship Program</header>
<subsection id="HC21016D0C39C46CBAF4DF44FF4794E78"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Establishment
and purpose</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 1238E(a)
of the Food Security Act of 1985 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/3838e">16 U.S.C. 3838e(a)</external-xref>) is amended in the matter
preceding paragraph (1)—</text>
<paragraph id="H27E9E0B2017A4C3FA9DA0DD70B3E49CC"><enum>(1)</enum><text>by striking
<quote>2009 through 2014</quote> and inserting <quote>2013 through
2018</quote>; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H8FB103CD04BA4B8EBD0B664F431F7CC0"><enum>(2)</enum><text>by striking
<quote>resource concerns</quote> and inserting <quote>priority resource
concerns and improve and conserve the quality and condition of natural
resources</quote>.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H101A2C28DB564708B459615C81D4F637"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Eligible
land</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 1238E(b) of the
Food Security Act of 1985 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/3838e">16 U.S.C. 3838e(b)</external-xref>) is amended—</text>
<paragraph commented="no" id="HBD05CE6238774DF8BC4FBCFD4F0EA483"><enum>(1)</enum><text>in paragraph
(1)—</text>
<subparagraph id="H3D8A314B229B454DA4000BADDB31CC8B"><enum>(A)</enum><text>in subparagraph
(D), by inserting <quote>priority</quote> before <quote>resource
concerns</quote>; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H4C69DCE504DB43D09687C8EB3E304B0A"><enum>(B)</enum><text>by adding at the
end the following new subparagraph:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H71C24949CA5C4753BCF850DE5A4F28D7" style="OLC">
<subparagraph commented="no" id="H071FB3F9E57F4D6FAFF4EDF79C1303AE"><enum>(E)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Nonindustrial private forest
land.</text>
</subparagraph><after-quoted-block>;
and</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H85420CCAD56A4E188D3ABFE6B4EC0FD4"><enum>(2)</enum><text>by striking
paragraph (2) and redesignating paragraph (3) as paragraph (2).</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H95DA553193D54D71BFDC1CB4448B282F"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Exclusions</header>
<paragraph id="H0137F5C22C244381A78CDD7853B5FD9C"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Land enrolled in
other conservation programs</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 1238E(c)(1) of the Food Security
Act of 1985 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/3838e">16 U.S.C. 3838e(c)(1)</external-xref>) is amended—</text>
<subparagraph id="H49D4C7D0101E4754AC57EFDEBB21BB18"><enum>(A)</enum><text>in the matter
preceding subparagraph (A), by striking <quote>be eligible for enrollment in
the program</quote> and inserting <quote>eligible for enrollment in the program
and shall not be considered part of the agricultural operation of the producer
for purposes of the program</quote>; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H3F1FB4F625A647D6B8F528542412376F"><enum>(B)</enum><text>by amending
subparagraph (A) to read as follows:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HDB203605156B4343921349733A5B6C8D" style="OLC">
<subparagraph id="H0E98CB692E144C03B9A787DB7D2C2642"><enum>(A)</enum><text>Land enrolled in
the conservation reserve program, unless—</text>
<clause id="H1AC358D810F04961BE170D40CB58B3F7"><enum>(i)</enum><text>the applicant’s
conservation reserve program contract will expire at the end of the fiscal year
in which the applicant applies for enrollment in the program; and</text>
</clause><clause id="HAC2686ED1CED48BA8D0CD5CDCAB5BDB1"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>conservation
reserve program payments for land enrolled in the program cease before the
first conservation stewardship program payment is made to the
applicant.</text>
</clause></subparagraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="HE56E4FFCED74411B92943695F6374366"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Transition</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 1238E(c) of the Food Security Act
of 1985 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/3838e">16 U.S.C. 3838e(c)</external-xref>) is amended by redesignating paragraph (2) as
paragraph (3) and inserting after paragraph (1) the following new
paragraph:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H7D7CB6A55A42491C9C6E6A33ADD0367F" style="OLC">
<paragraph id="H02735BE8802F4401BA9B98DC3319C5C3"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Transition</header><text>The
Secretary may permit land described in paragraph (1)(A) to be prepared for
production as a grazing operation prior to the expiration of the conservation
reserve program contract when a conservation stewardship contract has been
approved, if no production takes place until after the expiration of the
conservation reserve program
contract.</text>
</paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="H2361A9377444432DA7D3D084FDA76130"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Conversion to
cropland</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 1238E(c)(2)
of the Food Security Act of 1985 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/3838e">16 U.S.C. 3838e(c)(2)</external-xref>) is amended by striking
<quote>the date of enactment of the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of
2008</quote> and inserting <quote>October 1, 2013</quote>.</text>
</paragraph></subsection></section><section id="HCBA1FA202AE94129B67B30A7948AF2D4"><enum>1403.</enum><header>Stewardship
contracts</header>
<subsection id="H3C482225D2C74B498CC2AEABD55EE1A3"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Submission of
contract offers</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section
1238F(a) of the Food Security Act of 1985 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/3838f">16 U.S.C. 3838f(a)</external-xref>) is
amended—</text>
<paragraph id="H4E9D3E7FD02F418FA661301338F3172F"><enum>(1)</enum><text>in paragraph
(1)—</text>
<subparagraph id="HDA1F4BCCBA0B45078BAED89231CE774E"><enum>(A)</enum><text>by inserting
<quote>or exceeding</quote> before <quote>the stewardship threshold</quote>;
and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HBF4D2F1A7D2946D881939908F613F73D"><enum>(B)</enum><text>by striking
<quote>one resource concern</quote> and inserting <quote>2 priority resource
concerns</quote>; and</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H9318BF6A9311472EB3939186A462CB30"><enum>(2)</enum><text>by amending
paragraph (2) to read as follows:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H161D5189E06343C7829B4199746DF5E1" style="OLC">
<paragraph id="H2D7C2CB2B7A04B3FAE56901ADF2DED77"><enum>(2)</enum><text>would, at a
minimum, meet or exceed the stewardship threshold for at least 1 additional
priority resource concern by the end of the stewardship contract by—</text>
<subparagraph id="H1D7738E931D445D482944F433A4AE721"><enum>(A)</enum><text>installing and
adopting additional conservation activities;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HCC30F59813EC49E7815BAF4A11B9711D"><enum>(B)</enum><text>improving,
maintaining, and managing conservation activities on the agricultural operation
of the producer in a manner that increases or extends the conservation benefits
in place at the time the contract offer is accepted by the Secretary;
and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" id="H51887C4194984A0493E9A325A514AC94"><enum>(C)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">if applicable, describing the
resource-conserving crop rotation, managed intensive rotation grazing system,
or transition to organic crop or livestock systems the producer agrees to
improve, maintain, and manage, or install and adopt, during the term of the
conservation stewardship
contract.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H47AB53A40ADD4DF28C349916898EB135"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Evaluation of
contract offers</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section
1238F(b)(1) of the Food Security Act of 1985 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/3838f">16 U.S.C. 3838f(b)(1)</external-xref>) is amended
to read as follows:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HD9CD8070F7024F7CA0C0326B60362D8E" style="OLC">
<paragraph id="H481BE3967D984E1AB12A0CDD37C70DEA"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Ranking of
applications</header><text>In evaluating contract offers made by producers to
enter into contracts under the program, the Secretary shall rank applications
based on—</text>
<subparagraph commented="no" id="H5F21B629E4D3456BB3BAA795AEF666B3"><enum>(A)</enum><text>the level of
conservation and environmental benefits resulting from all conservation
activities to be covered by the contract, including conservation activities
proposed to be commenced as a result of the contract, on all applicable
priority resource concerns, based to the maximum extent practicable on
conservation measurement tools; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H91731BE3BD5D487A9CA4C29C9A133717"><enum>(B)</enum><text>in the event of a
tie in ranking scores between two or more applications, the extent to which the
actual and anticipated environmental benefits from the contract are provided at
the least
cost.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</subsection><subsection commented="no" id="H0278CA38BE2944D585F8F33BCA1F6190"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Entering into
contracts</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 1238F(c) of
the Food Security Act of 1985 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/3838f">16 U.S.C. 3838f(c)</external-xref>) is amended to read as
follows:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H35347370800D4AA3971906C63CD028AC" style="OLC">
<subsection commented="no" id="HFCC42E96166B4ACFBB13042BD912C945"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Entering into
contracts</header>
<paragraph commented="no" id="H4840C186D81D417F99453E94E2D6243A"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>After a determination that a producer is eligible for the
program under subsection (a), and a determination that the contract offer ranks
sufficiently high under the evaluation criteria under subsection (b), the
Secretary shall enter into a conservation stewardship contract with the
producer to enroll the land to be covered by the contract.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="H25C3AB6417064646A20CDC3740093789"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Financial
obligation</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Consistent with
section 1238G(e)(4), a contract entered into under paragraph (1) shall not
create an obligation for financial assistance until the first October 1 after
the contract is entered
into.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</subsection><subsection id="H90EF1F5DA8164C74B0C453D5EBF838E4"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Contract
renewal</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 1238F(e) of
the Food Security Act of 1985 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/3838f">16 U.S.C. 3838f(e)</external-xref>) is amended to read as
follows:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HE9F8F5E9BC914E758A9278CF57117241" style="OLC">
<subsection id="H41723F9325CF48D29D2ED913F3A825AF"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Contract
renewal</header><text>At the end of a conservation stewardship contract of a
producer, the Secretary may allow the producer to renew the contract for an
additional five-year period if the producer—</text>
<paragraph id="H3E37992B07C4444F8303DA938A0D620D"><enum>(1)</enum><text>demonstrates
compliance with the terms of the existing contract;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H758EC051176845B3B0787A8E06AD7A83"><enum>(2)</enum><text>agrees to adopt
new or improved conservation activities, as determined by the Secretary;
and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H282AEA9253AC4A4B8DB1FF78D9BF2DB9"><enum>(3)</enum><text>has met or
exceeded, or agrees to meet or exceed, the stewardship threshold for all
priority resource concerns identified for the region or area in which the land
that is subject to the contract is
located.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</subsection><subsection id="H05108628AFB04AED9C7770F264507C6F"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Modification</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 1238F(f) of the Food Security Act
of 1985 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/3838f">16 U.S.C. 3838f(f)</external-xref>) is amended to read as follows:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HB34A24CF468C45F18C3287936EAD1A1F" style="OLC">
<subsection id="H778F38937E0D43DFBF082FF10CF58C4B"><enum>(f)</enum><header>Modification</header>
<paragraph id="H01EE0069E73947B3B14D99F61862E1D4"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>The Secretary may allow a producer to modify a
stewardship contract if the Secretary determines that the modification is
consistent with achieving the purposes of the program.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HFA4EDF02C0A84C3EA4E9750DEBF57A7C"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Changes in
control of land</header><text>The Secretary shall allow a producer to add or
subtract from the contract land over which the producer loses or gains control,
respectively, during the contract period if such modification is consistent
with achieving the purposes of the program and if the Secretary determines that
the resulting natural resource and environmental benefits would equal or exceed
the original
contract.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</subsection><subsection id="HBBD5AE62019447E498B3E5426E09D202"><enum>(f)</enum><header>Coordination
with organic certification</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 1238F(h) of the Food Security Act
of 1985 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/3838f">16 U.S.C. 3838f(h)</external-xref>) is amended by inserting <quote>or maintain</quote>
after <quote>may initiate</quote>.</text>
</subsection><subsection commented="no" id="HF105ACBAE55A4A33AE5CE964CC86B1E2"><enum>(g)</enum><header>On-Farm research
and demonstration or pilot testing</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 1238F of the Food Security Act of
1985 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/3838f">16 U.S.C. 3838f</external-xref>) is amended by striking subsection (i).</text>
</subsection></section><section id="HC87A3328D1D54F9EB4196DDEDF0A4123"><enum>1404.</enum><header>Duties of the
Secretary</header>
<subsection id="H56878F999B1840A1A88F425BE90D1555"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In
general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 1238G(a) of
the Food Security Act of 1985 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/3838g">16 U.S.C. 3838g(a)</external-xref>) is amended to read as
follows:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H6E7485BF6DDD4442A8EF3322357A00C8" style="OLC">
<subsection id="HBD4A08A828E14310AB1DA733E82DD823"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>To achieve the conservation goals of a contract under the
conservation stewardship program, the Secretary shall—</text>
<paragraph id="HCCE3957BCB1B4A428640AAEFE724A391"><enum>(1)</enum><text>make the program
available to eligible producers on a continuous enrollment basis with 1 or more
ranking periods, one of which shall occur in the first third of each fiscal
year;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H62EAA63D0A104E89BFE2B8A0E6FE64CE"><enum>(2)</enum><text>identify priority
resource concerns in a particular watershed or other appropriate region or area
within a State;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="HD4068F69063044FBA6FCDA42CAAE6611"><enum>(3)</enum><text>for any region or
area that includes any part of a nutrient-impacted watershed (as determined by
the Secretary), ensure that one of the priority resource concerns identified
under paragraph (2) is water pollution caused by excess nutrient loads;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H4F9A31197C5A4EAC8E1E5E6140032AE0"><enum>(4)</enum><text>develop reliable
conservation measurement tools for purposes of carrying out the program;
and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H720579D4566E44EC95381D9957293846"><enum>(5)</enum><text>ensure that
conservation measurement tools are transparent and available to producers
by—</text>
<subparagraph id="H07B9D8AD424C42BAAE98E61F0BAA21EA"><enum>(A)</enum><text>making
interactive, user-friendly conservation measurement tools publically available
online;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H9D5666BA01254F5396369D4B6C89B8D5"><enum>(B)</enum><text>making
conservation activity natural resource and environmental benefit scores
available in an easy to understand format for study both before and during
application; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HCB5DBB1AB995489B813A5508CC0EEDF8"><enum>(C)</enum><text>taking other
similar steps, as determined by the
Secretary.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</subsection><subsection id="H499E705812634997BDF56DF8F7F59835"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Allocation to
States</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 1238G(b) of
the Food Security Act of 1985 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/3838g">16 U.S.C. 3838g(b)</external-xref>) is amended—</text>
<paragraph id="HC66AD2A5EAD547B39BBBABA2F671D07A"><enum>(1)</enum><text>in paragraph (1),
by striking <quote>primarily</quote>; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="H9FC1479BDED44D2B8579FFA9285FDAB3"><enum>(2)</enum><text>in paragraph (2),
in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by striking
<quote>also</quote>.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="HE1261D90736047398E2E43841F4BB630"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Acreage
enrollment limitation</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section
1238G(d) of the Food Security Act of 1985 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/3838g">16 U.S.C. 3838g(d)</external-xref>) is
amended—</text>
<paragraph id="HA394378BC2574FC7BBFF2F4B28DC1686"><enum>(1)</enum><text>in paragraph (1),
by striking <quote>12,769,000</quote> and inserting <quote>10,000,000</quote>;
and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HCEAD36C71C7C44CA87DFE0B580143405"><enum>(2)</enum><text>in paragraph (2),
by striking <quote>$18</quote> and inserting <quote>$23</quote>.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H55B36E6E9E844CCCA1CC5FC4B593F231"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Conservation
stewardship payments</header>
<paragraph id="H9A6653DCC3014B2BB24A73C69488D317"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Availability of
payments</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section
1238G(e)(1)(B) of the Food Security Act of 1985 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/3838g">16 U.S.C. 3838g(e)(1)(B)</external-xref>) is
amended by striking <quote>at the operation of the producer</quote> and
inserting <quote>on the agricultural operation of the producer</quote>.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H5EC675CBA2DB46DFAACFBF7519C6E2EF"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Payment
amount</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 1238G(e)(2) of
the Food Security Act of 1985 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/3838g">16 U.S.C. 3838g(e)(2)</external-xref>) is amended to read as
follows:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H4C1901E4BF2146CE976D0CC4B81559F4" style="OLC">
<paragraph id="H21C505B3418545039B17253D35B67B7D"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Payment
amount</header>
<subparagraph id="H072E3FF3D0CB4BE495938EB066A1ACBF"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>The amount of the conservation stewardship payment shall
be determined by the Secretary and based, to the maximum extent practicable, on
the following factors:</text>
<clause id="H69D61340A2484B1DA7C7E2B337DCDFA8"><enum>(i)</enum><text>Costs incurred by
the producer associated with planning, design, materials, installation, labor,
management, maintenance, or training.</text>
</clause><clause id="H5B6B44F7294548909D6671D8D47E5660"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>Income forgone by
the producer.</text>
</clause><clause id="H5F0B30D2B2134650843CE3911D1428FA"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>Expected natural
resource and environmental benefits resulting from existing and proposed
conservation treatment, based to the maximum extent possible on conservation
measurement tools.</text>
</clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="HF501217BF2D34F8CB485A6205A5B5317"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Payment
differential</header><text>In applying subparagraph (A), the Secretary shall,
where applicable, differentiate between—</text>
<clause id="HF098F72AA68244739A93E6AB61B5FAAB"><enum>(i)</enum><text>improving,
maintaining, and managing conservation activities in place on the agricultural
operation at the time the contract offer is accepted by the Secretary;
and</text>
</clause><clause id="H1960EDDBEA4B4D0495B538FD096E98D2"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>installing and
adopting additional conservation activities on the agricultural
operation.</text>
</clause></subparagraph></paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HBCE4503427084A8D82714ADF5B62835A"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Minimum
payment</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 1238G(e) of
the Food Security Act of 1985 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/3838g">16 U.S.C. 3838g(e)</external-xref>) is amended by adding at the
end the following new paragraph:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H6731EB13178D42D5840A5396177F7E3F" style="OLC">
<paragraph id="HE88A00523D8A4BD8AF477E5FE4BFDB42"><enum>(5)</enum><header>Minimum
payment</header>
<subparagraph id="H933568B224FB44A58B73C1F4046E0348"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>A payment to a producer under this subsection shall be
not less than $1,500 per year.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H361E8D8633184C6582CC2D6AB6C46A9B"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Comprehensive
contract</header><text>If a contract requires a comprehensive conservation plan
the implementation of which will, by the end of the contract term, meet or
exceed the stewardship threshold for all priority resource concerns, the
minimum payment shall be not less than
$3,000.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H5A15B83C32EC4D3FB918CAEE98C7092C"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Supplemental
payments for resource-Conserving crop rotations</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 1238G(f) of the Food Security Act
of 1985 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/3838g">16 U.S.C. 3838g(f)</external-xref>) is amended to read as follows:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HF84E4F91683C452B93820C7C76F8D1F3" style="OLC">
<subsection id="HB9C2D4B605674129BAE52A03A3C79520"><enum>(f)</enum><header>Supplemental
payments for resource-Conserving crop rotations, managed intensive rotational
grazing, and transition to organic crop or livestock systems</header>
<paragraph id="H081100027E0342E0A64AAF2C896356E5"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Availability of
payments</header><text>The Secretary shall provide additional payments to
producers that, in participating in the program, agree to—</text>
<subparagraph id="H542C20F675114583A65F6A76C73347C9"><enum>(A)</enum><text>improve, maintain,
and manage, or adopt and maintain—</text>
<clause id="H7F2E7D22743F4437BD4CC003C4056491"><enum>(i)</enum><text>resource-conserving
crop rotations; or</text>
</clause><clause id="H40F107BE271446B7A4C5E9422A41A97F"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>managed intensive
rotational grazing; or</text>
</clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H4CC0043CF2DD465D97C36E540CC8A9B5"><enum>(B)</enum><text>transition to
organic crop or livestock systems.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H850720A1E9E64B6BB7B6AE4AA09D98E1"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Resource-conserving
crop rotation</header><text>In this subsection, the term
<term>resource-conserving crop rotation</term> means a crop rotation
that—</text>
<subparagraph id="H3C824037CF154DEDB62362B12EB6D8CB"><enum>(A)</enum><text>includes at least
1 resource conserving crop (as defined by the Secretary);</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H9C1D3375980B4FD8A187D4CFDDCDA2BF"><enum>(B)</enum><text>reduces
erosion;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H0C0842C180CD4CF39ED47998E159526B"><enum>(C)</enum><text>improves water
quality;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HBC40ED1695B043DD8E1E44A996716CDF"><enum>(D)</enum><text>improves soil
fertility and tilth;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H553A0555A21E4EF1B298E9F4DEB55211"><enum>(E)</enum><text>interrupts pest
cycles; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H488C039C26A84765923733BCBD2A21F0"><enum>(F)</enum><text>in applicable
areas, reduces depletion of soil moisture or otherwise reduces the need for
irrigation.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H26BD6C5964DF45AE9CE31377D1090B8C"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Managed
intensive rotational grazing</header><text>In this subsection, the term
<term>managed intensive rotational grazing</term> means a system in which
animals are regularly and systematically moved to fresh pasture in such a way
as to—</text>
<subparagraph id="HE247104FACC345D696CFEDA79DD13496"><enum>(A)</enum><text>maximize the
quantity and quality of forage growth;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H5AF8B7240AD343E09C9F8ED56CE068CE"><enum>(B)</enum><text>improve manure
distribution and nutrient cycling;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H2240220D95D94767808AF0AA732D15DA"><enum>(C)</enum><text>increase carbon
sequestration from greater forage harvest;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HDFE45F5F9C9F4C0BAFA076098EDC5FA8"><enum>(D)</enum><text>improve the
quantity and quality of cover for wildlife;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H4E014DA98E4A428FB3D3CF62D53ED222"><enum>(E)</enum><text>provide permanent
cover to protect the soil from erosion; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HBE42A907AA2F433FA32453CDCAE7E771"><enum>(F)</enum><text>improve water
quality.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="HE55E3F6934C14B1192B21FA29846F436"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Transition to
organic crop or livestock systems</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">In this subsection, the term
<term>transition to organic crop or livestock systems</term> means adoption of
conservation activities for certified organic production on land or for herds
not previously certified organic that meet all the requirements of the program
and that are consistent with the regulations promulgated under the Organic
Foods Production Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 6501 et
seq.).</text>
</paragraph></subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</subsection><subsection id="H1CDAE7404EB14713AA7CE372951ED1A3"><enum>(f)</enum><header>Payment
limitations</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 1238G(g)
of the Food Security Act of 1985 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/3838g">16 U.S.C. 3838g(g)</external-xref>) is amended to read as
follows:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H45F6758BD36F49989418BAD4E2006D69" style="OLC">
<subsection id="HBA7344D0993D4F81B4089AA1AFBD971C"><enum>(g)</enum><header>Payment
limitations</header>
<paragraph id="HDE58ACDFD72746E1AA6E241ED87698B1"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>A person or legal entity may not receive, directly or
indirectly, payments under this subchapter that, in the aggregate, exceed
$200,000 for all contracts entered into during any 5-year period, excluding
funding arrangements with federally recognized Indian tribes or Alaska Native
corporations, regardless of the number of contracts entered into under the
program by the person or entity.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H9AD93E7EAA634E7DB3C6F05E8CAE0CBF"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Acreage</header><text>Any
acres enrolled in the program that will not receive payments due to the
limitation in paragraph (1) shall not be counted toward the acreage limitation
in subsection
(d)(1).</text>
</paragraph></subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</subsection><subsection id="HDF53C88B8FE741ABA68A0FA66CE18A66"><enum>(g)</enum><header>Regulations</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 1238G(h) of the Food Security Act
of 1985 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/3838g">16 U.S.C. 3838g(h)</external-xref>) is amended by redesignating paragraphs (1) and (2)
as paragraphs (2) and (3), respectively, and by inserting before paragraph (2)
(as so redesignated) the following new paragraph:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H1D029F045F7349CFA3A8E075ADD56E38" style="OLC">
<paragraph id="H7B7C5683A3D1410FAEAC52DAF1AD1954"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">require participants in the program to be
actively engaged in farming or
ranching;</text>
</paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</subsection><subsection id="HE3C89D9633FE435B912F7ADD1BCCF366"><enum>(h)</enum><header>Data</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 1238G(i) of the Food Security Act
of 1985 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/3838g">16 U.S.C. 3838g(i)</external-xref>) is amended to read as follows:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HDD4C4CA336434F7F9C19D3F0A575C2A2" style="OLC">
<subsection id="HC2216723BE1341FE844160804F48AEE9"><enum>(i)</enum><header>Data</header><text>The
Secretary shall maintain detailed and segmented data on contracts and payments
under the program to allow, at a minimum, with respect to each contract—</text>
<paragraph id="H9A5976D9E1F241208CF991CA3892236B"><enum>(1)</enum><text>quantification of
the type and extent of conservation activities for which payments were
made;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H51E936108BC044CA84471A902FA28651"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">quantification of the amount of payments
made for—</text>
<subparagraph id="H5752AE23264E4F25B6B2D9B9CD5403C5"><enum>(A)</enum><text>the installation
and adoption of additional conservation activities and improvements to
conservation activities in place on the operation of a producer at the time the
conservation stewardship offer is accepted by the Secretary; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HB7E4F166A73E440499B2E0472937262D"><enum>(B)</enum><text>the maintenance of
existing conservation activities; and</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="HD3BA7B5F295043E8B0725340B2EEF843"><enum>(3)</enum><text>identification of
the watershed and county in which the agricultural operation receiving payments
is
located.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</subsection><subsection id="H40CEEDD434CE416992D144814BB64211"><enum>(i)</enum><header>Payments for
conservation activities related to organic production</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 1238G of the Food Security Act of
1985 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/3838g">16 U.S.C. 3838g</external-xref>) is amended by adding at the end the following new
subsection:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H174ADEA07A9147D783ACA2A17DB78877" style="OLC">
<subsection id="H33E0F5DA230B4ED3A3434CB1F032A065"><enum>(g)</enum><header>Payments for
conservation activities related to organic production</header>
<paragraph id="H4268103E4C864E0AA29BF02B058F13B6"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>The Secretary shall provide payments for conservation
activities related to organic production.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H878F1E82EC414CAEAB69F78ACC556F27"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Eligibility
requirements</header><text>As a condition for receiving payments under the
program, a producer shall agree to develop and implement conservation
activities for certified organic production that are consistent with the
regulations promulgated under the Organic Foods Production Act of 1990 (7
U.S.C. 6501 et seq.) and the purposes of the program.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HDF427349FC0E456C8FD175AD19E7D5F3"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Planning</header>
<subparagraph id="H34DB14E1E52240D99D28732C1B8C54F7"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>The Secretary shall provide planning assistance to
producers transitioning to certified organic production consistent with the
requirements of the Organic Foods Production Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 6501 et
seq.) and the purposes of this subchapter.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HDEC53D0350384690BC8DF630DBF9AACD"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Avoidance of
duplication</header><text>The Secretary shall, to the maximum extent
practicable, eliminate duplication of planning activities for a producer
participating in a contract under this subchapter and initiating or maintaining
organic certification consistent with the Organic Foods Production Act of 1990
(7 U.S.C. 6501 et
seq.).</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</subsection><subsection commented="no" id="H9839E5BE3E8A40D8A8FF14C8C07FB778"><enum>(j)</enum><header>Comprehensive
conservation planning</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section
1238G of the Food Security Act of 1985 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/3838g">16 U.S.C. 3838g</external-xref>), as amended by
subsection (i), is further amended by adding at the end the following new
subsection:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H8E1CA2C2EE2C4936B2FB5F83D66260A0" style="OLC">
<subsection commented="no" id="HBFF7F1078E4040B4B9F76B7A0115A881"><enum>(h)</enum><header>Comprehensive
conservation planning</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The
Secretary shall provide technical and financial assistance to producers under
the program to develop a comprehensive conservation plan for the agricultural
operation of the
producer.</text>
</subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</subsection></section></subtitle><subtitle id="H7936F2BD940140DDA3473D4BE053CC20"><enum>F</enum><header>Environmental
Quality Incentives Program</header>
<section id="HA6F06E1BA8E64DA3A1C92DDA8517AF4A"><enum>1501.</enum><header>Purposes</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 1240 of the Food Security Act of
1985 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/3839aa">16 U.S.C. 3839aa</external-xref>) is amended to read as follows:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HC754D7C010F24ADEB128D180AB7134DD" style="OLC">
<section display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H3B611066E9354BDCA8F921666772FEF4" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>1240.</enum><header>Purposes</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">The purpose of the environmental quality
incentives program established by this chapter is to assist producers in
implementing conservation systems, practices, and activities on their
operations in order to—</text>
<paragraph id="H5454D8A880F64265B29E678247B79B0B"><enum>(1)</enum><text>improve water
quality, with special emphasis on reducing nutrient pollution and protecting
sources of drinking water;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H2FD138A3778C4DBE90B2F9746CF5FEA1"><enum>(2)</enum><text>avoid, to the
maximum extent practicable, the need for resource and regulatory programs by
assisting producers in protecting soil, water, air, and related natural
resources and meeting environmental quality criteria established by Federal,
State, tribal, and local agencies;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HE5D3F5823091417AB25D34398915CC12"><enum>(3)</enum><text>conserve ground
and surface water to sustain or improve in-stream flows;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HBEAAAEACCD014C1CBFA45C4B540A1314"><enum>(4)</enum><text>enhance soil
quality;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H475B3F2D50634E9FB7435336F3774764"><enum>(5)</enum><text>control invasive
species;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H8DE8296205DC4958A9624D3F5D239BEC"><enum>(6)</enum><text>enhance critical
aquatic and terrestrial wildlife habitat for at-risk species;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H7973B5A6CBDF4518800A788968773A1F"><enum>(7)</enum><text>reduce the amount
and toxicity of pesticides and other agricultural chemicals found on food and
in water or the air;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H965C15611084436395BE1D53CADA1BE8"><enum>(8)</enum><text>reduce the
nontherapeutic use of medically important antibiotics in food-producing animals
in order to preserve the effectiveness of antibiotics used in the treatment of
human and animal disease;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="H2F19ECCEFD2648C8BB9F8AC6CDD70A89"><enum>(9)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">help producers adapt to a changing and
unpredictable climate and increase resiliency to climate change impacts,
including rising temperatures and extreme weather events, while reducing
greenhouse gas emissions; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HD39E7B61176B4196822B06D3EF05A9DD"><enum>(10)</enum><text>address
additional priority resource concerns, as determined by the
Secretary.</text>
</paragraph></section><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</section><section id="H444DA049AD6E4769A1B73EFFAA8A465E"><enum>1502.</enum><header>Definitions</header>
<subsection id="H411DBB84A4B546279737C476ED49CC47"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Organic system
plan</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 1240A of the
Food Security Act of 1985 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/3839aa-1">16 U.S.C. 3839aa–1</external-xref>) is amended by striking paragraph
(3) and redesignating paragraphs (4) through (6) as paragraphs (3) through (5),
respectively.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="H1AC0FA51ED0346E796104BCA4AD1E817"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Practice</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 1240A of the Food Security Act of
1985 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/3839aa-1">16 U.S.C. 3839aa–1</external-xref>) is further amended in paragraph (4)(B) (as
redesignated by subsection (a))—</text>
<paragraph display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HEB044ACA5394499FB1FC93EB0351AFC8"><enum>(1)</enum><text>in clause (i), by
striking <quote>; and</quote> and inserting a semicolon;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H346D7ABAF8364FEDB205E3964C2E074D"><enum>(2)</enum><text>by redesignating
clause (ii) as clause (iii); and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H6F3CAF2D2C9E48C0B106AE5BAC40D8A2"><enum>(3)</enum><text>by inserting after
clause (i) the following new clause:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HF431E7DAD43C4E85998743943432D84D" style="OLC">
<clause id="H683ADA9F5D764E9EA614077EBAFB77F1"><enum>(ii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">comprehensive conservation planning;
and</text>
</clause><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</paragraph></subsection></section><section id="HC82E084EB71643BFB287A77DFE84C4A0"><enum>1503.</enum><header>Establishment
and administration</header>
<subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H6D9561D9C5414CEAB9696868A2E6BFE4"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Establishment</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 1240B(a) of the Food Security Act
of 1985 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/3839aa-2">16 U.S.C. 3839aa–2(a)</external-xref>) is amended by striking <quote>2002 through
2014</quote> and inserting <quote>2013 through 2018</quote>.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="H8112ADC6D25C468EBD0708B8109F08CE"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Term</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 1240B(b)(2)(B) of the Food Security
Act of 1985 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/3839aa-2">16 U.S.C. 3839aa–2(b)(2)(B)</external-xref>) is amended by striking <quote>10
years</quote> and inserting <quote>5 years</quote>.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="H3127935DDB8249E49E6B4689A7F6BE67"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Priority</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 1240B(c) of the Food Security Act
of 1985 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/3839aa-2">16 U.S.C. 3839aa–2(c)</external-xref>) is amended to read as follows:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H56631E7EEC2E474D935E8FC4931842DB" style="OLC">
<subsection id="H2C8071F9357E4AFEB581A1DB7B4CF81D"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Priority</header><text>If
the Secretary determines that the environmental values of two or more
applications for payments are comparable, the Secretary shall assign a higher
priority to a program application which will achieve the environment and
conservation values using practices and systems the assessed cost of which is
lower.</text>
</subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</subsection><subsection id="H8A68C3D686514F0EBE4D30DBC174B989"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Payments</header>
<paragraph id="HD3B6E16029854F6291F969E13FE04ABD"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Increased
payments for certain practices</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 1240B(d)(3) of the Food Security
Act of 1985 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/3839aa-2">16 U.S.C. 3839aa–2(d)(3)</external-xref>) is amended to read as follows:</text>
<quoted-block id="HD6887774134E44F6BCCA29CE7EF81BC9" style="OLC">
<paragraph id="HF0B9E2F09D0B4F688E3E3948AF7AFFD4"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Increased
payments for certain practices</header><text>The Secretary shall provide
supplemental payments and enhanced technical assistance to producers
implementing land management and vegetative practices at a level that, as
determined by the Secretary, results in highly cost-effective treatment of
priority resource concerns, including—</text>
<subparagraph id="H8162B2D951704E83BAAE0092D7638BFF"><enum>(A)</enum><text>residue and
tillage management;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H977A6FBF094E4AD685E6FD75BBD1D6CC"><enum>(B)</enum><text>contour
farming;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H59FDDFC14DD34B5188A753BCBCBF96B6"><enum>(C)</enum><text>cover
cropping;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H64372DAAE54E4175A67AAC6F21062CA2"><enum>(D)</enum><text>integrated pest
management;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H7B4E7FA2898848FCA7FBEBB2668C5C5E"><enum>(E)</enum><text>nutrient
management;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HCF17772F87334090B0B32D9026F949E0"><enum>(F)</enum><text>stream corridor
improvement;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H3E7C6EA71B7342FAB1DCF93587AD8F71"><enum>(G)</enum><text>invasive plant
species control;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HD59D727299524BB88FAEBD1B05501C86"><enum>(H)</enum><text>contour buffer
strips;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H959FF07D49FE4209921F02F7011B54C3"><enum>(I)</enum><text>riparian
herbaceous and forest buffers;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H52BC7A31B87C419AAF61F2C1CA81D771"><enum>(J)</enum><text>filterstrips;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H3BE33FFF51BC4E7BB98EBB5C2484933A"><enum>(K)</enum><text>stream habitat
improvement and management;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HD9C5633554FD463B91CF8969B5CE958A"><enum>(L)</enum><text>grassed
waterways;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H37CCB20FB0CF4CBD8DAF958B8C9838F6"><enum>(M)</enum><text>wetland
restoration and enhancement;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H95C8F9F56F8C40FDAC7AC998252FA08E"><enum>(N)</enum><text>pollinator
habitat; or</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H106893CD6BAC40D3BC200ADB551C9B55"><enum>(O)</enum><text>conservation crop
rotation.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H1E5EE8E161C949FEA69210149981864B"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Increased
payments for certain producers</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 1240B(d)(4)(B) of the Food Security
Act of 1985 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/3839aa-2">16 U.S.C. 3839aa–2(d)(4)(B)</external-xref>) is amended by striking <quote>30
percent</quote> and inserting <quote>50 percent</quote>.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HA15F610779BF4750ABA046D1DCE511DE"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Limitation on
payments for certain practices</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 1240B(d) of the Food Security Act
of 1985 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/3839aa-2">16 U.S.C. 3839aa–2(d)</external-xref>) is amended by adding at the end the following
new paragraph:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H1007B630C91A471FA57761DF2D926337" style="OLC">
<paragraph id="HFE682849D22F455E85C0D20BA7E9C70D"><enum>(7)</enum><header>Limitation on
payments for certain practices</header><text>A producer who owns or operates a
large confined animal feeding operation (as defined by the Secretary) shall not
be eligible for payments under this chapter to construct an animal waste
management facility or any associated waste transport or transfer
device.</text>
</paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="HE8867323EA8E41E58E099DE3E54B77FA"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Allocation of
funding</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 1240B(f) of
the Food Security Act of 1985 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/3839aa-2">16 U.S.C. 3839aa–2(f)</external-xref>) is amended to read as
follows:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H7419959EF6764F57898202A7B43305B0" style="OLC">
<subsection id="H7D4763005A5C4F50992FFAC4A7AA7339"><enum>(f)</enum><header>Allocation of
funding</header><text>Of the funds made available for payments for each of
fiscal years 2014 through 2018—</text>
<paragraph id="HECF0ABD103FD416CA4CBFCA066C4DCBA"><enum>(1)</enum><text>50 percent shall
be targeted at practices relating to livestock production; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H4AA7471FAB6040CD9FBD8A0B01C1BFF0"><enum>(2)</enum><text>not less than 10
percent shall be targeted at practices relating to improvement of fish and
wildlife
habitat.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</subsection><subsection id="H112BBE0EF4AB4451BEFB825E42D32B3D"><enum>(f)</enum><header>Water
conservation or irrigation efficiency practice</header>
<paragraph id="H558382D41A0D4C8298F438D8D5B55DC8"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Availability of
payments</header><text>Section 1240B(h)(1) of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16
U.S.C. 3839aa–2(h)(1)) is amended to read as follows:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H22EA44E7752A44F09043B5011C08648E" style="OLC">
<paragraph id="H54CD2DC812BC4C88A059E31A1E8B7A35"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Availability of
payments</header><text>The Secretary may provide payments under this subsection
to a producer for a water conservation or irrigation practice that promotes
ground and surface water conservation on the agricultural operation of the
producer by—</text>
<subparagraph id="H3093B79447CA46B59C6FB9170290C347"><enum>(A)</enum><text>improvements to
irrigation systems;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H18276630DD6640B795C6D3B3F7A4F869"><enum>(B)</enum><text>enhancement of
irrigation efficiencies;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H084FE4F4471241D18170BD7D17B9B68F"><enum>(C)</enum><text>conversion of the
agricultural operation to—</text>
<clause id="HD9DEAF0A8EF840849C6521174C1CC8EC"><enum>(i)</enum><text>the production of
less water-intensive agricultural commodities; or</text>
</clause><clause id="H4A02985DF73548758F13998A444AE211"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>dryland
farming;</text>
</clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H097984E1139846AEA1E093D1E4DADBC7"><enum>(D)</enum><text>improvement of the
storage of water through measures such as water banking and groundwater
recharge;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H12476800FC3A4202A783A215BF85E1FC"><enum>(E)</enum><text>enhancement of
fish and wildlife habitat associated with irrigation systems including pivot
corners and areas with irregular boundaries; or</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H1A75686A2F4A4F339B929D41112112F0"><enum>(F)</enum><text>establishment of
other measures, as determined by the Secretary, that improve groundwater and
surface water conservation in agricultural
operations.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H60B193EFE48449068309F33A07D8DB1D"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Priority</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 1240B(h)(2) of the Food Security
Act of 1985 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/3839aa-2">16 U.S.C. 3839aa–2(h)(2)</external-xref>) is amended—</text>
<subparagraph id="H68C85E3474684FBB830FFB2B7C53E03F"><enum>(A)</enum><text>in subparagraph
(A), by striking <quote>; or</quote> and inserting <quote>; and</quote>;
and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H71D90C6486794F6FB45C6C5E89759EF3"><enum>(B)</enum><text>by amending
subparagraph (B) to read as follows:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H792DCB3C188949D885A1F3C660EA3149" style="OLC">
<subparagraph id="HA2DD23F5957B4044BB0B128E1B42FD5E"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">any associated water savings remain in the
original source of such water for the useful life of the
practice.</text>
</subparagraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H1B8C885894184227B3575150D9C9A19A"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Duty of
producers</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 1240B(h) of
the Food Security Act of 1985 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/3839aa-2">16 U.S.C. 3839aa–2(h)</external-xref>) is amended by adding at
the end the following new paragraph:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H6F2DCB022BBF4E61ACF9476154494717" style="OLC">
<paragraph id="HB607722DD3764A33A5AFA14D2C5EE952"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Duty of
producers</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Secretary may
not provide payments to a producer for a water conservation or irrigation
practice under this chapter unless the producer agrees not to use any
associated water savings to bring new land, other than incidental land needed
for efficient operations, under irrigated production, unless the producer is
participating in a watershed-wide project that will effectively conserve water,
as determined by the
Secretary.</text>
</paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H938FF7840634445B82C9DC25EA8D6C9B"><enum>(g)</enum><header>Payments for
conservation practices related to organic production</header>
<paragraph commented="no" id="H50E2542BB71248ACA18B8078A6E5B370"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Payments
authorized</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section
1240B(i)(1) of the Food Security Act of 1985 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/3839aa-2">16 U.S.C. 3839aa–2(i)(1)</external-xref>) is
amended by striking <quote>subsection</quote> and inserting
<quote>chapter</quote>.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H41A58B6C8D64450783385A6248315449"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Eligibility
requirements</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section
1240B(i)(2) of the Food Security Act of 1985 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/3839aa-2">16 U.S.C. 3839aa–2(i)(2)</external-xref>) is
amended to read as follows:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H761C1016F6E84B7EAAAF9DB641221A88" style="OLC">
<paragraph id="HA570B3BB20644428841DACDE7A7C3EEA"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Eligibility
requirements</header><text>As a condition for receiving payments under this
chapter, a producer shall agree to develop and implement conservation practices
for certified organic production that are consistent with the regulations
promulgated under the Organic Foods Production Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 6501 et
seq.) and the purposes of this
chapter.</text>
</paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H5AF948F0C5E841AFAAB6CA840BE388DD"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Payment
limitations; coordination with organic certification; planning</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 1240B(i) of the Food Security Act
of 1985 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/3839aa-2">16 U.S.C. 3839aa–2(i)</external-xref>) is amended—</text>
<subparagraph id="HD30B53C42F2A4433B3228595F83D7785"><enum>(A)</enum><text>by striking
paragraph (3) and redesignating paragraphs (4) and (5) as paragraphs (5) and
(6), respectively; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HD29307ACE1E34D7CBBF5A5B1F4C21F53"><enum>(B)</enum><text>by inserting after
paragraph (2) the following new paragraphs:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HB37C66903D3B45A698475FEDFB6EEEFA" style="OLC">
<paragraph id="H88CC5F7D13BE4CF595549546FEFFEC8E"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Coordination
with organic certification</header><text>The Secretary shall establish a
transparent means by which producers may initiate organic certification under
the Organic Foods Production Act of 1990 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/7/6501">7 U.S.C. 6501 et seq.</external-xref>) while
participating in a contract under this chapter.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HFE2883AF18FE468E8298EC6A63B86503"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Planning</header>
<subparagraph id="H2D1D885E3841434D8B32CE8FCBC573E6"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>The Secretary shall provide planning assistance to
producers transitioning to certified organic production consistent with the
requirements of the Organic Foods Production Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 6501 et
seq.) and the purposes of this chapter.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HD67FC0B9A4EE488D9C24985E7095B715"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Avoidance of
duplication</header><text>The Secretary shall, to the maximum extent
practicable, eliminate duplication of planning activities for a producer
participating in a contract under this chapter and initiating or maintaining
organic certification consistent with the Organic Foods Production Act of 1990
(7 U.S.C. 6501 et
seq.).</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H481DB6FDCA664727AE4F01C2770A21FD"><enum>(h)</enum><header>Payments for
conservation practices related to antibiotic use</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 1240B of the Food Security Act of
1985 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/3839aa-2">16 U.S.C. 3839aa–2</external-xref>) is amended by adding at the end the following new
subsection:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H8B234E3BC6DE48B0B9CF0F7905B18C63" style="OLC">
<subsection id="H98326F459E724813A59C98ADB3FFFA53"><enum>(j)</enum><header>Payments for
conservation practices related to antibiotic use</header>
<paragraph commented="no" id="H7DAE0E81D1374CDFB7B51F321EE382B3"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Payments
authorized</header><text>The Secretary shall provide payments under this
chapter to livestock producers for three years, to assist in a transition to
modified animal management and production systems, for practices leading to the
reduction in the need for antibiotics, including modification of systems and
spaces to—</text>
<subparagraph commented="no" id="H23384684785B4F3595C981A1E55875F1"><enum>(A)</enum><text>improve
sanitation;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" id="H30E17234A859446EAE83064C2A468FA2"><enum>(B)</enum><text>improve
ventilation; or</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" id="H0C4134A0321845FAABEE86F4F1E389D7"><enum>(C)</enum><text>support the
implementation of improved animal management techniques at the
operation.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="HD59B28EB3BD748E59494EFE2BB28F405"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Duty of
producer</header><text>The Secretary shall not make payments under this chapter
for practices related to antibiotic use unless the producer agrees to provide
information to the Secretary documenting the resulting reduction in antibiotic
use in the operation of the
producer.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</subsection><subsection commented="no" id="H217900BBAE8048D7B145CCF042AAADE0"><enum>(i)</enum><header>Comprehensive
conservation planning</header><text>Section 1240B of the Food Security Act of
1985 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/3839aa-2">16 U.S.C. 3839aa–2</external-xref>), as amended by subsection (g), is further amended by
adding at the end the following new subsection:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H97754A9AB9674BBCAD4673883A9DA252" style="OLC">
<subsection commented="no" id="H23D6A76F3AF6430689396A28C62E0A6F"><enum>(k)</enum><header>Comprehensive
conservation planning</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The
Secretary shall provide technical and financial assistance to producers under
the program to develop a comprehensive conservation plan for the agricultural
operation of the
producer.</text>
</subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</subsection></section><section id="H1A9F2CE7693F426F8382FE5C0E63B8BD"><enum>1504.</enum><header>Evaluation of
Applications</header>
<subsection commented="no" id="H50FDFE69E3D045029C2F703FB82BC39D"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Evaluation
criteria</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 1240C(a) of
the Food Security Act of 1985 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/3839aa-3">16 U.S.C. 3839aa–3(a)</external-xref>) is amended by striking
<quote>, national, State, and local conservation priorities</quote> and
inserting <quote>priority resource concerns identified under subsection
(d)</quote>.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="H7FAF617E7D344B1DB9ECDBFADF4B76E2"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Prioritization
of applications</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section
1240C(b) of the Food Security Act of 1985 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/3839aa-3">16 U.S.C. 3839aa–3(b)</external-xref>) is
amended—</text>
<paragraph id="H62BB9E1A90024A4A80624985923D2643"><enum>(1)</enum><text>in paragraph (1),
by striking <quote>achieving the anticipated environmental benefits of the
project</quote> and inserting <quote>priority resource concerns identified
under subsection (d)</quote>; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HED9B8879ED824566BEE572773656A669"><enum>(2)</enum><text>in paragraph (2),
by striking <quote>designated resource concern or resource concerns</quote> and
inserting <quote>priority resource concerns identified under subsection (d),
including, in the case of applications from nutrient-impacted watersheds, the
degree to which nutrient loadings would be reduced as a result of the proposed
project</quote>.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" id="HB1A787C1864B4091912C7D2B14350627"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Grouping of
applications</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 1240C(c)
of the Food Security Act of 1985 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/3839aa-3">16 U.S.C. 3839aa–3(c)</external-xref>) is amended by striking
<quote>for evaluation purposes or otherwise evaluate applications relative to
other applications for similar farming operations</quote> and inserting
<quote>proposing to address the same priority resource concerns for evaluation
purposes</quote>.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="HD87EE34C219F4AC8A47DAD5EDAAA3C0A"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Priority
resource concerns</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section
1240C of the Food Security Act of 1985 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/3839aa-3">16 U.S.C. 3839aa–3</external-xref>) is amended by
adding at the end the following new subsection:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HA0F925095644463E950DD03D2418A20F" style="OLC">
<subsection id="HF361FFFCF7154949BB7FD6022D17C01C"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Priority
resource concerns</header><text>For the purposes of this section, the Secretary
shall identify priority resource concerns in a particular watershed or other
appropriate region or area within a
State.</text>
</subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</subsection></section><section id="HCDD298CD4A2348E29DF904C70F5644A5"><enum>1505.</enum><header>Environmental
quality incentives program plan</header>
<subsection id="HF0D82783179E40BE96978030A8857281"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Plan of
operations</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 1240E(a)
of the Food Security Act of 1985 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/3839aa-5">16 U.S.C. 3839aa–5(a)</external-xref>) is amended to read as
follows:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HF97E6824E7AA4403A471ADD95ACDAEB5" style="OLC">
<subsection id="H1701F57D6AAD497186C78490A942A2A3"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Plan of
operations</header><text>To be eligible to receive payments under the program,
a producer shall submit to the Secretary for approval a plan of operations
that—</text>
<paragraph id="H33433B6E46754C40B1C758CD9822BEE8"><enum>(1)</enum><text>specifies the
priority resource concerns to be addressed;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H47C357C068B749A189651697FBBDDCCF"><enum>(2)</enum><text>specifies the
type, number, and sequencing of conservation systems, practices, or activities
to be implemented to address the priority resource concerns;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H8AD2374FA81B4F5EBFD424FBE5385ABF"><enum>(3)</enum><text>includes such
terms and conditions as the Secretary considers necessary to carry out the
program, including a description of the purposes to be met by the
implementation of the plan and a statement of how the plan will achieve or take
significant steps toward achieving the relevant resource management system
quality criteria;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HE9632D2E6AC041CC8560B1719A23B69C"><enum>(4)</enum><text>in the case of a
confined livestock feeding operation, provides for development and
implementation of a comprehensive nutrient management plan, if
applicable;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HB1D73F5602A74F95BA47C4204DF66268"><enum>(5)</enum><text>in the case of a
producer located within a nutrient-impacted watershed, identifies methods by
which the producer will limit nutrient loss; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H55BCD942EE684648AC58265FD6E1C1A6"><enum>(6)</enum><text>in the case of
forest land, is consistent with the provisions of a forest management plan that
is approved by the Secretary, which may include—</text>
<subparagraph id="HC642AFC9DBCB412C9B77E5FD42D45616"><enum>(A)</enum><text>a forest
stewardship plan described in section 5 of the Cooperative Forestry Assistance
Act of 1978 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/2103a">16 U.S.C. 2103a</external-xref>);</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HF0C15B2791FE41A09C010DAB1AA8A4DA"><enum>(B)</enum><text>another practice
plan approved by the State forester; or</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HEABA4A0937414E14A86B061B2A0ADCAA"><enum>(C)</enum><text>another plan
determined appropriate by the
Secretary.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</subsection><subsection id="H8BD6892349DA43BCBB68DAAE8D738635"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Avoidance of
duplication</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section
1240E(b)(1) of the Food Security Act of 1985 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/3839aa-5">16 U.S.C. 3839aa–5(b)(1)</external-xref>) is
amended by striking <quote>plan of operations</quote> and inserting
<quote>resource management system plan</quote>.</text>
</subsection></section><section id="H1339583637704B2F99EAEF80C9C76F9F"><enum>1506.</enum><header>Duties of the
Secretary</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 1240F(2) of
the Food Security Act of 1985 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/3839aa-6">16 U.S.C. 3839aa–6(2)</external-xref>) is amended by striking
<quote>information</quote> and inserting <quote>technical assistance,
information,</quote>.</text>
</section><section id="H6B8C655CB48B4A318DA7D254A9D55E89"><enum>1507.</enum><header>Limitation on
payments</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 1240G of the
Food Security Act of 1985 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/3839aa-7">16 U.S.C. 3839aa–7</external-xref>) is amended to read as
follows:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HDFDB934B9E5B4E908974BC3770F65CFB" style="OLC">
<section id="H13578B2790B3477093EC299841D4F863"><enum>1240G.</enum><header>Limitation on
payments</header>
<subsection id="HB26E186A9A824447B51C752FCC748AE5"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Limitation on
total payments</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Subject to
subsection (b), a person or legal entity may not receive, directly or
indirectly, cost-share or incentive payments under this chapter, in the
aggregate, for all contracts entered into under this chapter by the person or
entity (excluding funding arrangements with federally recognized Native
American Indian Tribes or Alaska Native Corporations under section 1240B(h)),
regardless of the number of contracts entered into under this chapter by the
person or entity, that—</text>
<paragraph id="HE3E8EFC8EDA94675B99D2CF49AF0E4EB"><enum>(1)</enum><text>during any fiscal
year exceed $30,000; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H2BBAE6927F1B494BB961C4949E7FCAEA"><enum>(2)</enum><text>during any
five-year period exceed $150,000.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H030A090E3A4840EDA17379AFC1E7BD93"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Waiver
Authority</header><text>In the case of contracts under this chapter for
projects of special environmental significance, as determined by the Secretary,
the Secretary may waive the limitation otherwise applicable under subsection
(a)(1).</text>
</subsection><subsection id="H12F8CE52D8584CFDA0DEEF979F730221"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Prevention of
duplication</header><text>The Secretary shall not approve a contract or provide
payments to any individual for a practice that has already been paid for as
part of a previously approved and completed contract for any particular parcel
of
land.</text>
</subsection></section><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</section></subtitle><subtitle id="HC080CFDF4BE4401AAC39A55E82F8C8B7"><enum>G</enum><header>Conservation
innovation grant program</header>
<section id="HA3E4682FF66240B295AA4D1715B6AE74"><enum>1601.</enum><header>Conservation
innovation grant program</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Chapter 5 of subtitle D of title XII of the
Food Security Act of 1985 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/3839bb">16 U.S.C. 3839bb et seq.</external-xref>) is amended by adding at
the end the following new section:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HD930206C1C05420D88ABDE26568A8B23" style="OLC">
<section id="H4B5822BC2A4B42F5AFD2E21BF3F22B72"><enum>1240S.</enum><header>Conservation
innovation grant program</header>
<subsection id="HF5F43AAEF18543518DD34EFA3C5BB7FA"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Competitive
grants for innovative conservation approaches</header><text>The Secretary
shall, for each of fiscal years 2014 through 2018, carry out a conservation
innovation grant program to encourage innovation in conservation on private
farmland, rangeland, wetlands, grasslands, and forest lands.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="H30BD2A2895784E858469F6C9391535FF"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Use</header><text>The
Secretary shall provide grants under this section to governmental and
non-governmental organizations and persons, on a competitive basis, to carry
out projects that—</text>
<paragraph id="H986CEC8241644EB29D59A432B0B0DA53"><enum>(1)</enum><text>develop and test
innovative and cost-effective technologies and practices and methods of
conservation delivery to address priority resource concerns;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H1D41D7CCC4A846F5895EA675BA964FBA"><enum>(2)</enum><text>involve producers
who are eligible for payments or technical assistance under this title;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HFDCFDB3C984A42519B3D8398D52C08DF"><enum>(3)</enum><text>leverage Federal
funds made available to carry out this section with matching funds provided by
State and local governments and private organizations to promote environmental
enhancement and protection in conjunction with agricultural production;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HA019696FA1A64F84A482D36DF9655DCF"><enum>(4)</enum><text>ensure efficient
and effective transfer of innovative technologies and approaches demonstrated
through projects that receive funding under this subsection, such as market
systems for pollution reduction and practices for the storage of carbon in
soil;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H488E39161FFB4D30A0DAAF7735E4CEEC"><enum>(5)</enum><text>provide
environmental and resource conservation benefits through increased
participation by producers of specialty crops;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HD9CEC12ED32043FAA07A73729345EB9D"><enum>(6)</enum><text>provide payments
to producers to implement cost-effective and innovative technologies to address
priority resource concerns related to air quality from agricultural operations;
or</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H421980F5BB8D4F0E81E15FAD4F4E374D"><enum>(7)</enum><text>provide
environmental and resource conservation benefits through increased
participation by beginning farmers and ranchers and socially disadvantaged
farmers and ranchers.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H2F4CB5D942384E49AF46FF1D58532AB0"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Evaluation
criteria</header><text>The Secretary shall develop criteria for evaluating
applications for competitive grants under this section that will ensure that
priority resource concerns are effectively
addressed.</text>
</subsection></section><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</section></subtitle><subtitle id="H8E79DFCA35684CF99AE0EF0836B2DA1B"><enum>H</enum><header>Funding and
administration</header>
<section id="H1B56F20D951C46E5880439814A3ADFE3"><enum>1701.</enum><header>Commodity
Credit Corporation</header>
<subsection commented="no" id="H8FD917371A5D4AA5A90225339964521A"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>Section 1241(a) of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16
U.S.C. 3841(a)) is amended to read as follows:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H08634B6AC71A4946B01C7F49E150E8DF" style="OLC">
<subsection commented="no" id="H281F148DFD6C466EA5F1D9D6E1D9652E"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>For each of fiscal years 2014 through 2018, the Secretary
shall use the funds, facilities, and authorities of the Commodity Credit
Corporation to carry out the following programs under this title (including the
provision of technical assistance):</text>
<paragraph commented="no" id="H7AD3A16537B64F1AA734CFA96C0E0AE8"><enum>(1)</enum><text>The conservation
reserve program under subchapter B of chapter 1 of subtitle D, including, to
the maximum extent practicable, $50,000,000 for the period of fiscal years 2014
through 2018 to carry out section 1235(f) to facilitate the transfer of land
subject to contracts from retired or retiring owners and operators to beginning
farmers or ranchers and socially disadvantaged farmers or ranchers.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="HAD0B0063D05146A79A038CAE22842495"><enum>(2)</enum><text>The conservation
security program under subchapter A of chapter 2 of subtitle D, using such sums
as are necessary to administer contracts entered into before September 30,
2008.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="H4AA7EDDE0FD840298D5E749219A3D959"><enum>(3)</enum><text>The conservation
stewardship program under subchapter B of chapter 2 of subtitle D.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="H5AC91C49AF8A4632B5870EA7A8AB8FE7"><enum>(4)</enum><text>The environmental
quality incentives program under chapter 4 of subtitle D, using, to the maximum
extent practicable, $1,542,500,000 for each fiscal year.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="H2B75290831EF4D25AFEE12A3A6E41D45"><enum>(5)</enum><text>The conservation
innovation grant program under section 1240S, using, to the maximum extent
practicable, $100,000,000 for each fiscal year.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="H953F30C46D3B48718458BF98F8950B48"><enum>(6)</enum><text>The agricultural
conservation easement program under subtitle H, using, to the maximum extent
practicable, $704,000,000 for each fiscal year, of which not less than 70
percent shall be used to carry out section 1265C.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="HE27900B43F9740ABA5FD726D2CAEC729"><enum>(7)</enum><text>The conservation
loan and loan guarantee program under section 1246, using, to the maximum
extent practicable, for each fiscal year—</text>
<subparagraph commented="no" id="H41D6696BF4B34960BC7F14048BBFF9AF"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">$200,000,000 for direct loans; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" id="H84E6B16B48FE4213A97B958F2F4B60BE"><enum>(B)</enum><text>$150,000,000 for
loan
guarantees.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</subsection><subsection id="HD5EB92DDB8114BB1B7A1121A37E6B570"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Guaranteed
availability of funds</header><text>Section 1241 of the Food Security Act of
1985 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/3841">16 U.S.C. 3841</external-xref>) is amended—</text>
<paragraph id="H9096E534CD6B4A8FA8A7CC55E50B2BA0"><enum>(1)</enum><text>by redesignating
subsections (b) through (h) as subsections (c) through (i), respectively;
and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H6A3FF23F8856449E850C8C115F67335D"><enum>(2)</enum><text>by inserting after
subsection (a) the following:</text>
<quoted-block id="H0AF1211AC71E42A0934E20D4AFCC627D" style="OLC">
<subsection id="H20BA8CE6F548487F958D417EAEDAA1B7"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Availability of
funds</header>
<paragraph id="H19CE77D77445436A94CECBCB4A5F21D4"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>Except as provided in paragraph (2), amounts made
available by subsection (a) shall be used by the Secretary to carry out the
programs specified in such subsection for fiscal years 2014 through 2018 and
shall remain available until expended. Amounts made available for the programs
specified in such subsection during a fiscal year through modifications,
cancellations, terminations, and other related administrative actions and not
obligated in that fiscal year shall remain available for obligation during
subsequent fiscal years, but shall reduce the amount of additional funds made
available in the subsequent fiscal year by an amount equal to the amount
remaining unobligated.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="HC4E277CBFE8C44FA8F89F9421595684F"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Conservation
innovation grant program</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Amounts made available by subsection (a)(5)
for a fiscal year and not obligated in that fiscal year shall be made available
for the environmental quality incentives program under chapter 4 of subtitle D,
and shall remain available until
expended.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H21948144F199425584BFF20E207BF661"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Technical
assistance</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 1241(c) of
the Food Security Act of 1985 (as redesignated by subsection (b)) is amended to
read as follows:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HFDBE33254D774845ADB2E2B656653810" style="OLC">
<subsection id="H0A845F14E1AC48228C2753C06296C7D6"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Technical
Assistance</header>
<paragraph id="H146EAA7E668F4F33A8B58CD35A360954"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>Commodity Credit Corporation funds made available for a
fiscal year for each of the programs specified in subsection (a)—</text>
<subparagraph id="H2BE741C17DBC4657A9D2540A142C7AA7"><enum>(A)</enum><text>shall be available
for the provision of technical assistance for the programs for which funds are
made available; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H7D42626BC45343FBA48E56550EDA7B59"><enum>(B)</enum><text>shall not be
available for the provision of technical assistance for conservation programs
specified in subsection (a) other than the program for which the funds were
made available.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="HCF991F7137724EC89FAF7B0195736DF0"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Amount</header><text>The
amount of funds made available under paragraph (1) shall in no case equal less
than 10 percent nor more than 30 percent of the amounts made available by
subsection
(a).</text>
</paragraph></subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</subsection><subsection id="H9735055C85AC422683196117D6F39F4D"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Assistance to
certain farmers or ranchers for conservation access</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 1241(h) of the Food Security Act of
1985 (as redesignated by subsection (b)) is amended—</text>
<paragraph id="H2A76CD1207B7451ABDCDCC05C36368EC"><enum>(1)</enum><text>in paragraph
(1)—</text>
<subparagraph id="H8DFF82AC7EBF41F69ADED7D72A2CE447"><enum>(A)</enum><text>in the matter
preceding subparagraph (A), by striking <quote>2012</quote> and inserting
<quote>2018</quote>; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H148A2E10B847448FB7D564BF1B416DD3"><enum>(B)</enum><text>in subparagraph
(A), by striking <quote>5</quote> and inserting <quote>10</quote>;</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="HBC72A508177248A7A5748A4E2D953529"><enum>(2)</enum><text>in paragraph (2),
by inserting <quote>(but not earlier than 120 days after the date that funding
for the fiscal year is allocated to the States)</quote> after <quote>the
Secretary</quote>;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HB83B2A1D66DA42D9991470DFFD9BEEBB"><enum>(3)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in paragraph (3), by inserting <quote>(but
not earlier than 120 days after the date that funding for the fiscal year is
allocated to the States)</quote> after <quote>the Secretary</quote>; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H5D1F5AFDF30B45329481E0BBA4812ECC"><enum>(4)</enum><text>by adding at the
end the following new paragraphs:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H3AF95180718F47EEB6257BC0B60001AE" style="OLC">
<paragraph id="H3EBB0F99AEB7466C8F3F302F0053212B"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Participation by
beginning and socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers</header><text>Nothing
in this subsection prohibits beginning or socially disadvantaged farmers or
ranchers from participating in programs and receiving funding available under
this title that is not reserved under paragraph (1).</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H6015B93E900D4D61A720C353B01F5BBA"><enum>(5)</enum><header>Technical
assistance</header><text>Of the funds reserved under paragraph (1), the
Secretary shall allocate to the Natural Resources Conservation Service funding
for technical assistance at a rate that is not more than 10 percent higher than
the rate that would otherwise apply under the environmental quality incentives
program and the conservation stewardship program to allow the Service to
provide additional technical assistance to beginning farmers or ranchers and
socially disadvantaged farmers or ranchers to establish comprehensive
conservation
plans.</text>
</paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</paragraph></subsection></section><section id="HCC663A0606EC46108D72393141AEC514"><enum>1702.</enum><header>Conservation
loan and loan guarantee program</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Subtitle E of title XII of the Food Security
Act of 1985 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/3841">16 U.S.C. 3841 et seq.</external-xref>) is amended by adding at the end the
following new section:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HB5F87C3A054B438E8B67A7A51B56240E" style="OLC">
<section id="H8CE45C790F6946EA8DB16446CEBFB426" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>1246.</enum><header>Conservation loan
and loan guarantee program</header>
<subsection id="H6CC6644D41364214B3218EC554762004"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In
general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Secretary may
make or guarantee qualified conservation loans to eligible borrowers under this
section.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="HEDAFBAF2EEF042B7A8316F32E2EF8FE9"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Definitions</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">In this section:</text>
<paragraph id="H026581C347A94DC4AF01B571132BD6E2"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Qualified
conservation loan</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The term
<term>qualified conservation loan</term> means a loan, the proceeds of which
are used to cover the costs to the borrower of carrying out a qualified
conservation project.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HD32385FDFF5F40B08E082ADE66D3378A"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Qualified
conservation project</header><text>The term <term>qualified conservation
project</term> means conservation measures that address provisions of a
comprehensive conservation plan of the eligible borrower.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="H8667F2D2035B4482AAABB1C8779C9D80"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Conservation
loan plan</header><text>The term <term>conservation loan plan</term> means a
plan, approved by the Secretary, that, for a farming or ranching operation,
identifies—</text>
<subparagraph commented="no" id="HA911421ACA7248CD9C776A07A882E182"><enum>(A)</enum><text>the conservation
activities that will be addressed with loan funds provided under this section,
including—</text>
<clause commented="no" id="H8FB5E6E3F1024084ADD67E151D9E70DF"><enum>(i)</enum><text>the installation
of conservation structures to address soil, water, and related
resources;</text>
</clause><clause commented="no" id="H4D7D933C9FC7456CB9301D941F2D8AB1"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>the establishment
of forest cover for sustained yield timber management, erosion control, or
shelterbelt purposes;</text>
</clause><clause commented="no" id="H4677A3E754944DD592AE3D6AE5211C4C"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>the installation
of water conservation measures;</text>
</clause><clause commented="no" id="HD6D5642BF1C34DE29FEDBC4CA9B5E5D6"><enum>(iv)</enum><text>the installation
of waste management systems;</text>
</clause><clause commented="no" id="H7AF13101F0FC442984CA01657EEB3303"><enum>(v)</enum><text>the establishment
or improvement of permanent pasture; or</text>
</clause><clause commented="no" id="H1A04C914ACCD475C97D7E10D4C3311D4"><enum>(vi)</enum><text>other purposes
consistent with the plan, including the adoption of any other emerging or
existing conservation practices, techniques, or technologies approved by the
Secretary; and</text>
</clause></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" id="HEB6D15592357406CA6D4C957BEB77893"><enum>(B)</enum><text>how and to what
extent the conservation project will support the implementation of a
comprehensive conservation plan and improve the conditions of identified
priority resource concerns.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" id="H1DF9A18A75F8413E80DBB4E2BC00371F"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Eligible
borrowers</header>
<paragraph commented="no" id="HD6018839EF7744F1A99D15EEC2ECB1A1"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>The Secretary may make or guarantee qualified
conservation loans under this section to—</text>
<subparagraph commented="no" id="H6F2A787385DB4CBA8EB5FBD99B7C0AA0"><enum>(A)</enum><text>farmers or
ranchers engaged primarily and directly in agricultural production in the
United States; or</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" id="HCB5B769F49A14F628275D344E2C2E31B"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">farm cooperatives, private domestic
corporations, partnerships, joint operations, trusts, or limited liability
companies that are—</text>
<clause commented="no" id="H6CDFB01A0EE3404CB3C00EFF44F9A8D2"><enum>(i)</enum><text>controlled by
farmers or ranchers; and</text>
</clause><clause commented="no" id="H7D83F6325039479D847B168D235E272F"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>engaged primarily
and directly in agricultural production in the United States.</text>
</clause></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="HC0F94BE1A2F44740BAA654581762F855"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Conservation
loan plan</header><text>In order to be eligible to receive a loan or loan
guarantee under this section, an entity described in paragraph (1) shall have a
conservation loan plan.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H6F2DFD7D5E7C4C7AA924C816DC89B2C3"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Priority</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">In making or guaranteeing qualified
conservation loans under this section, the Secretary shall give priority
to—</text>
<paragraph id="H8CB6B76DCD5A4E709538CF572CF52525"><enum>(1)</enum><text>qualified
beginning farmers or ranchers and socially disadvantaged farmers or
ranchers;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H3C76A151D31B4D8A8C9F7235F8C048B9"><enum>(2)</enum><text>owners or tenants
who use the loans to convert to sustainable or organic agricultural production
systems;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="H112A56233DC7434EA4FACB4BC6CC7986"><enum>(3)</enum><text>producers who use
the loans to build conservation structures or establish conservation practices
to implement a comprehensive conservation plan;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H912C7DF0AB45472687202BFD23C1307F"><enum>(4)</enum><text>projects that will
do the most to address priority resource concerns, as specified in a
conservation loan plan; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HC0532DFEACDA4AF89C9D7DA75B4404D4"><enum>(5)</enum><text>projects that are
designed to help producers comply with, or avoid the need for, local, State, or
Federal regulation.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H522FDDF3CE104E35BA2686FEB7E602EC"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Limitations
applicable to loan guarantees</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The portion of a qualified conservation
loan that the Secretary may guarantee under this section shall be not more than
90 percent of the principal amount of the loan.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="H333D628147A74D91891F2C1FF1928410"><enum>(f)</enum><header>Administrative
provisions</header>
<paragraph id="H68523F59867B46C1A340820A5A72E31A"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Geographic
distribution</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Secretary
shall ensure, to the maximum extent practicable, that qualified conservation
loans made or guaranteed under this section are distributed across diverse
geographic regions, while still prioritizing qualified conservation projects
with the greatest conservation or environmental benefit.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HED7502A05C6A4AF08D89654A254E3BFF"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Agency
cooperation</header><text>The Secretary shall ensure proper cooperation between
the Natural Resources Conservation Service, which shall review and approve
comprehensive loan plans and provide technical assistance for qualified
conservation projects, and the Farm Service Agency, which will approve and
issue loans and loan guarantees under this section.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="H444C4771403943BC8DD7FBAC15C651E8"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Interest
rates</header><text>The Secretary shall ensure that a loan made under this
section is made at or below market
rate.</text>
</paragraph></subsection></section><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</section></subtitle><subtitle id="H191A78A9AEDB4F8F82FDF1BE6ECB1D15"><enum>I</enum><header>Agricultural
conservation easement program</header>
<section id="H29C645C5CEE240F5A6E425D9ACAD3FC1"><enum>1801.</enum><header>Agricultural
conservation easement program</header>
<subsection id="H762375B244E84C26AEE151721ABC9874"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Establishment</header><text>Title
XII of the Food Security Act of 1985 is amended by adding at the end the
following:</text>
<quoted-block id="H1C796A4D350F4EA6991A9CEE749E12E3" style="OLC">
<subtitle id="H56A2995E8A014637BD4AB350E9DD5A35"><enum>H</enum><header>Agricultural
conservation easement program</header>
<section id="HD9041A3C9FE043AEB5E186D906AA8974"><enum>1265.</enum><header>Establishment
and purposes</header>
<subsection id="H1A008A35C67E496EB54EB90851E11E07"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Establishment</header><text>The
Secretary shall establish an agricultural conservation easement program for the
conservation of eligible land and natural resources through easements or other
interests in land.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="H254366815F0E4749BF840FC37C70AB71"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Purposes</header><text>The
purposes of the program are to—</text>
<paragraph commented="no" id="HB76524833F0947C59D7052722CD4FC96"><enum>(1)</enum><text>combine the
purposes and coordinate the functions of the wetlands reserve program
established under section 1237, the grassland reserve program established under
section 1238N, and the farmland protection program established under section
1238I, as such sections were in effect on September 30, 2013;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H09799783BB4B492382ABFAC45C265471"><enum>(2)</enum><text>restore, protect,
and enhance wetland on eligible land;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HFDE405A01F11429987D060F56D858243"><enum>(3)</enum><text>protect and
enhance the agricultural use, viability, and related conservation values of
eligible land by limiting nonagricultural uses of that land; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HBC9549DB6C7C4E4996525507BFE6ED22"><enum>(4)</enum><text>protect grazing
uses and related conservation values by restoring and conserving eligible
land.</text>
</paragraph></subsection></section><section id="H7287A4D5677942D99C3ACD99A964B420"><enum>1265A.</enum><header>Definitions</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">In this subtitle:</text>
<paragraph id="H0C0AD20F9D6B4C2EAF683A52C043CC53"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Agricultural
land easement</header><text>The term <term>agricultural land easement</term>
means an easement or other interest in eligible land that—</text>
<subparagraph id="H0E85E0ECEA3842A1834BC6CD8073EA2B"><enum>(A)</enum><text>is conveyed for
the purposes of protecting natural resources and the agricultural nature of the
land, and of promoting agricultural viability for future generations;
and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H93A57D6505F94773B8DD68135BE4FF78"><enum>(B)</enum><text>permits the
landowner the right to continue agricultural production and related uses
subject to an agricultural land easement plan.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="HBB47DDDF88DF40EA98CBA352D179A49D"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Eligible
entity</header><text>The term <term>eligible entity</term> means—</text>
<subparagraph id="H7BD06DE5F80942378D601C6AB039D8A7"><enum>(A)</enum><text>an agency of State
or local government or an Indian tribe (including a farmland protection board
or land resource council established under State law); or</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H218021E9734B40A8BDDED8B461F52862"><enum>(B)</enum><text>an organization
that is—</text>
<clause id="H88991DFDC454454EB309A09BFEF150D4"><enum>(i)</enum><text>organized for, and
at all times since the formation of the organization has been operated
principally for, 1 or more of the conservation purposes specified in clause
(i), (ii), (iii), or (iv) of section 170(h)(4)(A) of the Internal Revenue Code
of 1986;</text>
</clause><clause id="H1C15C11F69AB4F2F972AAC0BD2E2DAF4"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>an organization
described in section 501(c)(3) of that Code that is exempt from taxation under
section 501(a) of that Code; or</text>
</clause><clause id="HD17E32B6D59A4208AD9220C3C6887A8E"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>described
in—</text>
<subclause id="H6E3F742C9E2F4F64A96E12BCE0B51CEF"><enum>(I)</enum><text>paragraph (1) or
(2) of section 509(a) of that Code; or</text>
</subclause><subclause id="H589188CA2DC94883843C9033DA47DD48"><enum>(II)</enum><text>section 509(a)(3)
of that Code and is controlled by an organization described in section
509(a)(2) of that Code.</text>
</subclause></clause></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H8AF2D385D9B44A6E9441244BD564366B"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Eligible
land</header><text>The term <term>eligible land</term> means private or tribal
land that is—</text>
<subparagraph id="H13A1CB5345854CA0AF28388618FFE64E"><enum>(A)</enum><text>in the case of an
agricultural land easement, agricultural land, including land on a farm or
ranch—</text>
<clause id="H6253215594EB4E5FA8778863384B74F7"><enum>(i)</enum><text>that is subject to
a pending offer for purchase from an eligible entity;</text>
</clause><clause id="H7D767E0E57604282B21FDF3098E30DD7"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>that—</text>
<subclause id="HE37EF3A0B4C146A6868B6B372D5D702D"><enum>(I)</enum><text>has prime, unique,
or other productive soil;</text>
</subclause><subclause id="HD7153C6D07834B2B896AD85091CCEECC"><enum>(II)</enum><text>contains
historical or archaeological resources; or</text>
</subclause><subclause id="H6BFDE193D8074780A1384945A84816AE"><enum>(III)</enum><text>the protection
of which will further a State or local policy consistent with the purposes of
the program; and</text>
</subclause></clause><clause id="HF2C0BA6473A34F62B38973124AFD075F"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>that is—</text>
<subclause id="H6D47B5CD119E473FB14E4C55A2250F35"><enum>(I)</enum><text>cropland;</text>
</subclause><subclause id="HD0EC0A98AAF04D7E826D68632563BD60"><enum>(II)</enum><text>rangeland;</text>
</subclause><subclause id="H7C87AE5777CB466C922EAE09F86593FE"><enum>(III)</enum><text>grassland or
land that contains forbs, or shrubland for which grazing is the predominant
use;</text>
</subclause><subclause id="H1116C283D8F04A7495225FECB1D1CAFE"><enum>(IV)</enum><text>pastureland;
or</text>
</subclause><subclause id="H8FD73ABA329D4C36960CE3C5880DB881"><enum>(V)</enum><text>nonindustrial
private forest land that contributes to the economic viability of an offered
parcel or serves as a buffer to protect such land from development;</text>
</subclause></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H868CABC71B6E4EBABD0F9DB33272BE21"><enum>(B)</enum><text>in the case of a
wetland easement, a wetland or related area, including—</text>
<clause id="HA795DD3F8C994549A2806C8A160EC7D2"><enum>(i)</enum><text>farmed or
converted wetland, together with the adjacent land that is functionally
dependent on that land, if the Secretary determines it—</text>
<subclause id="H0D3A3B3E3EB243D1AA590B6D38DA0082"><enum>(I)</enum><text>is likely to be
successfully restored in a cost effective manner; and</text>
</subclause><subclause id="H2DD2E35160954CF5BB93E63B69231ABE"><enum>(II)</enum><text>will maximize the
wildlife benefits and wetland functions and values as determined by the
Secretary in consultation with the Secretary of the Interior at the local
level;</text>
</subclause></clause><clause id="H4EAAEEDCE6D546089D06EFECB5BF9219"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>cropland or
grassland that was used for agricultural production prior to flooding from the
natural overflow of a closed basin lake or pothole, as determined by the
Secretary, together (where practicable) with the adjacent land that is
functionally dependent on the cropland or grassland;</text>
</clause><clause id="HFE0D5DDE4A7447B5AD2C75B69F13FCF7"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>farmed wetland
and adjoining land that—</text>
<subclause id="H3AFC7247989545E2873E6B206E363844"><enum>(I)</enum><text>is enrolled in the
conservation reserve program;</text>
</subclause><subclause id="H884D9E7A952747539AE0E3C0392677C2"><enum>(II)</enum><text>has the highest
wetland functions and values; and</text>
</subclause><subclause id="HC26E6678614C4353AC1F5BC407454ABF"><enum>(III)</enum><text>is likely to
return to production after the land leaves the conservation reserve
program;</text>
</subclause></clause><clause id="HB868B9C244C14A05836B5091A17D253D"><enum>(iv)</enum><text>riparian areas
that link wetland that is protected by easements or some other device that
achieves the same purpose as an easement; or</text>
</clause><clause id="H66B8FA7E7EB34C90BBDAED8B2AC8EB0C"><enum>(v)</enum><text>other wetland of
an owner that would not otherwise be eligible, if the Secretary determines that
the inclusion of such wetland in such easement would significantly add to the
functional value of the easement; or</text>
</clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H9461EDEE6FFB4F85AE5BFD6C0F7780D8"><enum>(C)</enum><text>in the case of
both an agricultural land easement or wetland easement, other land that is
incidental to eligible land if the Secretary determines that it is necessary
for the efficient administration of the easements under this program.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="HBC336CCA3D8D4F4EA776D182481E0915"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Program</header><text>The
term <term>program</term> means the agricultural conservation easement program
established by this subtitle.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H63C974C80A8B43A9BF048C227C55F511"><enum>(5)</enum><header>Wetland
easement</header><text>The term <term>wetland easement</term> means a reserved
interest in eligible land that—</text>
<subparagraph id="H4C98589A8BA443608D1AB2AE454BD70C"><enum>(A)</enum><text>is defined and
delineated in a deed; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HFE0DF600A612420E88C0206EF26311B4"><enum>(B)</enum><text>stipulates—</text>
<clause id="HFD9DD94708AF4672BABE677C422902A5"><enum>(i)</enum><text>the rights, title,
and interests in land conveyed to the Secretary; and</text>
</clause><clause id="HACFCB8C08D3D4BFCB4B40D081786A72D"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>the rights,
title, and interests in land that are reserved to the landowner.</text>
</clause></subparagraph></paragraph></section><section id="HBA7C25AC56CB4F01A7E64C6632ECD4CA"><enum>1265B.</enum><header>Agricultural
land easements</header>
<subsection id="HD4AE286BFEDC48CD8F1D4EA91CEAB5C3"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Availability of
assistance</header><text>The Secretary shall facilitate and provide funding
for—</text>
<paragraph id="H81A3C77797944688BB8AB349CBA99A1D"><enum>(1)</enum><text>the purchase by
eligible entities of agricultural land easements and other interests in
eligible land; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H8E25A81569F6488F8078EC92F42EFAB5"><enum>(2)</enum><text>technical
assistance to provide for the conservation of natural resources pursuant to an
agricultural land easement plan.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H0EBE92C67971481B9818D4716E5155CC"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Cost-Share
assistance</header>
<paragraph id="H4E55FBD0EDC640F794A4888DF9574BAC"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>The Secretary shall provide cost-share assistance to
eligible entities for purchasing agricultural land easements to protect the
agricultural use, including grazing, and related conservation values of
eligible land.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H35C3606AC77948EEAA8CFBC03B966D59"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Scope of
assistance available</header>
<subparagraph id="H5E3558E183154146AAB78E353193E7A2"><enum>(A)</enum><header>Federal
share</header><text>Subject to subparagraph (C), an agreement described in
paragraph (4) shall provide for a Federal share determined by the Secretary of
an amount not to exceed 50 percent of the fair market value of the agricultural
land easement or other interest in land, as determined by the Secretary
using—</text>
<clause id="HA7DF3DE29405492FB3465757C72B951A"><enum>(i)</enum><text>the Uniform
Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice;</text>
</clause><clause id="HF3E6CBA423404469A5C64457D496D9CB"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>an area-wide
market analysis or survey; or</text>
</clause><clause id="H5E94CF4AB5F04184B0BB51DD3005BD6B"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>another
industry-approved method.</text>
</clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="HC1ADA26244D741FE97E16A9366E4E6AF"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Non-federal
share</header>
<clause id="H11DDB899D4EA44EC9A0D4CA372E77EF2"><enum>(i)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>Subject to subparagraph (C), under the agreement, the
eligible entity shall provide a share that is at least equivalent to that
provided by the Secretary.</text>
</clause><clause id="HDDD4AE5477C948E3973791137AB6D5B3"><enum>(ii)</enum><header>Source of
contribution</header><text>An eligible entity may include as part of its share
a charitable donation or qualified conservation contribution (as defined by
<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/26/170">section 170(h)</external-xref> of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986) from the private landowner
if the eligible entity contributes its own cash resources in an amount that is
at least 50 percent of the amount contributed by the Secretary.</text>
</clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H60C9D74DF9794BD19ECC0EDFF58655E8"><enum>(C)</enum><header>Waiver
authority</header><text>In the case of grassland of special environmental
significance, as determined by the Secretary, the Secretary may provide up to
75 percent of the fair market value of the agricultural land easement.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H1C90A0D454434B7086556200750F3B7B"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Evaluation and
ranking of applications</header>
<subparagraph id="H39CBA0503E3D4ACDB191D3A22162B322"><enum>(A)</enum><header>Criteria</header><text>The
Secretary shall establish evaluation and ranking criteria to maximize the
benefit of Federal investment under the program.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H3676953B34B84D208B92F145DAF0EB8F"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Considerations</header><text>In
establishing the criteria, the Secretary shall emphasize support for—</text>
<clause id="H3FDDCB93757D45009D6114E432B9551C"><enum>(i)</enum><text>protecting
agricultural uses and enhancing related conservation values of the land;
and</text>
</clause><clause id="H09548609673D4DFEB4C3DE5466B98439"><enum>(ii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">maximizing the protection of areas devoted
to agricultural use and the conservation values that can be derived from the
land.</text>
</clause></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HC7474C05EC3B4B83A7A03BEDB2368D3A"><enum>(C)</enum><header>Priority</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">If the Secretary determines that the
environmental values of two or more applications for cost-share assistance are
comparable, the Secretary shall assign a higher priority to a program
application which will achieve the environment and conservation values using
practices and systems the assessed cost of which is lower.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="HFE42A8DA1E7F4287A7B389344BB7F16C"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Agreements with
eligible entities</header>
<subparagraph id="H6A2BCE4E8E5E423F99622C9192F9E8A0"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>The Secretary shall enter into agreements with eligible
entities to stipulate the terms and conditions under which the eligible entity
is permitted to use cost-share assistance provided under this section.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HE427D0F6BAB2400E934B75FEADDEC6A3"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Length of
agreements</header><text>An agreement shall be for a term that is—</text>
<clause id="HB4AE7C96919F420A97BFFB2DAC1A97AB"><enum>(i)</enum><text>in
the case of an eligible entity certified under the process described in
paragraph (5), a minimum of 5 years; and</text>
</clause><clause id="H1C6EC01DB07244B2B7D3158C5C31A8AF"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>for all other
eligible entities, at least 3, but not more than 5 years.</text>
</clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H6109CB7068A646B58FEAF831851DB660"><enum>(C)</enum><header>Minimum terms
and conditions</header><text>An eligible entity shall be authorized to use its
own terms and conditions for agricultural land easements so long as the
Secretary determines such terms and conditions—</text>
<clause id="HCAF1AEEC1D3444BABCBDE3D3A3439D48"><enum>(i)</enum><text>are consistent
with the purposes of the program;</text>
</clause><clause id="HD3B42E513EA24FF081A6157596902377"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>are permanent or
for the maximum duration allowed under applicable State law;</text>
</clause><clause id="H3E402E4C1E3E48B59EA3E317A1A99EF5"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>permit effective
enforcement of the conservation purposes of such easements, including
appropriate restrictions depending on the purposes for which the easement is
acquired;</text>
</clause><clause id="HB20B49290B044945A2186A7A05B3120F"><enum>(iv)</enum><text>include a right
of enforcement for the Secretary that may be used if the terms of the easement
are not enforced by the holder of the easement;</text>
</clause><clause id="H849F4824C4C34357AC4EF4C411001B0A"><enum>(v)</enum><text>subject the land
in which such an interest is purchased to an agricultural land easement plan
that—</text>
<subclause id="H8A8800737A834DABBC0DCDBE70B3E084"><enum>(I)</enum><text>describes the
activities which promote the long-term viability of the land to meet the
purposes for which the easement was acquired;</text>
</subclause><subclause id="HCD4A2CB8E2814509A70F54887F8DA5A2"><enum>(II)</enum><text>requires the
management of grassland according to a grassland management plan; and</text>
</subclause><subclause id="H6AC59C84C5984B6E8920C4FD63040706"><enum>(III)</enum><text>includes a
comprehensive conservation plan, and requires, at the option of the Secretary,
the conversion of highly erodible cropland to less intensive uses; and</text>
</subclause></clause><clause commented="no" id="H392B5859F567427599760B77C66BF727"><enum>(vi)</enum><text>include a limit
on the impervious surfaces to be allowed that is consistent with the purposes
of the program under section 1265(b).</text>
</clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H5D4BBFB89557427A88674FE14BC2A4BC"><enum>(D)</enum><header>Substitution of
qualified projects</header><text>An agreement shall allow, upon mutual
agreement of the parties, substitution of qualified projects that are
identified at the time of the proposed substitution.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H018B3F671E604BD5B93A6308A5646C65"><enum>(E)</enum><header>Effect of
violation</header><text>If a violation occurs of a term or condition of an
agreement under this subsection—</text>
<clause id="H05F41AAFD4FB42F1BB586A1EDAA7B41C"><enum>(i)</enum><text>the Secretary may
terminate the agreement; and</text>
</clause><clause id="H7623E1D7F64E4786A8AA624ED4C215F8"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>the Secretary may
require the eligible entity to refund all or part of any payments received by
the entity under the program, with interest on the payments as determined
appropriate by the Secretary.</text>
</clause></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H0D566DBDA9B54A568FC1E2FAA700169E"><enum>(5)</enum><header>Certification of
eligible entities</header>
<subparagraph id="H9723E60AA104457CB06B3CAFCDE5AAE3"><enum>(A)</enum><header>Certification
process</header><text>The Secretary shall establish a process under which the
Secretary may—</text>
<clause id="H3FBB5EAC814A4B63A0C7999F0A264680"><enum>(i)</enum><text>directly certify
eligible entities that meet established criteria;</text>
</clause><clause id="HF1505700258A47FD93B650550469717E"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>enter into
long-term agreements with certified eligible entities; and</text>
</clause><clause id="H46357D9B1840459EB93081E0180C3581"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>accept proposals
for cost-share assistance for the purchase of agricultural land easements
throughout the duration of such agreements.</text>
</clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H7FA8531E49D346F28E5696F6D27786DF"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Certification
criteria</header><text>In order to be certified, an eligible entity shall
demonstrate to the Secretary that the entity will maintain, at a minimum, for
the duration of the agreement—</text>
<clause id="HA38DDA37433F41908CD10E1EB8E050E1"><enum>(i)</enum><text>a
plan for administering easements that is consistent with the purpose of this
subtitle;</text>
</clause><clause id="H8FA7C54C961C41D79DAD2455C2E39FEB"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>the capacity and
resources to monitor and enforce agricultural land easements; and</text>
</clause><clause id="H390C7949C36943F2BACD7D2F47A0BE25"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>policies and
procedures to ensure—</text>
<subclause id="H1A27CAA8A9614A21B0488DD69853BD23"><enum>(I)</enum><text>the long-term
integrity of agricultural land easements on eligible land;</text>
</subclause><subclause id="H0920A6DDDFB148138696F169EB712E06"><enum>(II)</enum><text>timely completion
of acquisitions of easements; and</text>
</subclause><subclause id="H99C6B15E24784FE0B7B944B02C60D90A"><enum>(III)</enum><text>timely and
complete evaluation and reporting to the Secretary on the use of funds provided
under the program.</text>
</subclause></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="HEEB3345BA96D4804B54CF81068DE7741"><enum>(C)</enum><header>Review and
revision</header>
<clause id="HFF3D64CC253E4D97AAAC187F9CB4F085"><enum>(i)</enum><header>Review</header><text>The
Secretary shall conduct a review of eligible entities certified under
subparagraph (A) every 3 years to ensure that such entities are meeting the
criteria established under subparagraph (B).</text>
</clause><clause id="HE0F8542255B5454C8187546FA7DD7EA4"><enum>(ii)</enum><header>Revocation</header><text>If
the Secretary finds that the certified eligible entity no longer meets the
criteria established under subparagraph (B), the Secretary may—</text>
<subclause id="H90AE6C5C252947928C1FD4D0436DF754"><enum>(I)</enum><text>allow the
certified eligible entity a specified period of time, at a minimum 180 days, in
which to take such actions as may be necessary to meet the criteria; and</text>
</subclause><subclause id="HC41FEDC024074E2996DB63AA97B0E899"><enum>(II)</enum><text>revoke the
certification of the eligible entity, if, after the specified period of time,
the certified entity does not meet such criteria.</text>
</subclause></clause></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H6DCB8BB4F0E64DECB461AFF5AE28E074"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Technical
assistance</header><text>The Secretary may provide technical assistance, if
requested, to assist in—</text>
<paragraph id="H676AFC9B03C9445B9D9ADAECE6381630"><enum>(1)</enum><text>compliance with
the terms and conditions of easements; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HE0FF6FDE14E540728DE6ADFB3F944D77"><enum>(2)</enum><text>implementation of
an agricultural land easement plan.</text>
</paragraph></subsection></section><section id="HE984AFF1D9234ADF915F20A6C8F8D326"><enum>1265C.</enum><header>Wetland
easements</header>
<subsection id="H52010D49AF1F402C827520DD5659AAAA"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Availability of
assistance</header><text>The Secretary shall provide assistance to owners of
eligible land to restore, protect, and enhance wetland through—</text>
<paragraph id="HDEED144FDCF940B09809E5AE4BEC7C73"><enum>(1)</enum><text>easements and
related wetland easement plans; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HB21FEC03E4D9473CBF913DF0E12C7B1C"><enum>(2)</enum><text>technical
assistance.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H08406F11A57E487AA5D1CAD015C6FE3B"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Easements</header>
<paragraph id="H02C865CF834B47AFB240D6EF3A8C5268"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Method of
enrollment</header><text>The Secretary shall enroll eligible land through the
use of—</text>
<subparagraph id="HA75CB5217C344AE3B0AFBABD58C9D010"><enum>(A)</enum><text>30-year
easements;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H80B46FE8E824416B887ED177A27D9942"><enum>(B)</enum><text>permanent
easements;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H02392CE87DC6495E9F1F63F83BBD84B9"><enum>(C)</enum><text>easements for the
maximum duration allowed under applicable State laws; or</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HC34DF2D9EBF6496281F90457941F6A59"><enum>(D)</enum><text>as an option for
Indian tribes only, 30-year contracts (which shall be considered to be 30-year
contracts for the purposes of this subtitle).</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H90A79CA1546144C79DBD652A748DEDCB"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Limitations</header>
<subparagraph id="H7BD5FE5106624367B883F95D8DD6FDE5"><enum>(A)</enum><header>Ineligible
land</header><text>The Secretary may not acquire wetland easements on—</text>
<clause id="HEBAE8C0E2B9B4B3EAF81B5F7EC495058"><enum>(i)</enum><text>land established
to trees under the conservation reserve program, except in cases where the
Secretary determines it would further the purposes of the program; and</text>
</clause><clause id="H8862A6E775584813A08196DBBEB21AA1"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>farmed wetland or
converted wetland where the conversion was not commenced prior to December 23,
1985.</text>
</clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H5114DF597E4F43D698BFCF0BD8F1BDC8"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Changes in
ownership</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">No wetland easement
shall be created on land that has changed ownership during the preceding
24-month period unless—</text>
<clause id="H2EE4DE099E014BE688111667D3FEFA50"><enum>(i)</enum><text>the new ownership
was acquired by will or succession as a result of the death of the previous
owner;</text>
</clause><clause id="H7300236CE3044FD387D2117E982ACA0F"><enum>(ii)</enum><subclause commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="H8B41CD6AF578434C9F58A49AF197209A"><enum>(I)</enum><text>the ownership change
occurred because of foreclosure on the land; and</text>
</subclause><subclause id="HD09934BBB48E46BC84EE1BE7C2F407BB" indent="up1"><enum>(II)</enum><text>immediately before the foreclosure, the
owner of the land exercises a right of redemption from the mortgage holder in
accordance with State law; or</text>
</subclause></clause><clause id="H0720AE939D2B4263809EE9516C575289"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>the Secretary
determines that the land was acquired under circumstances that give adequate
assurances that such land was not acquired for the purposes of placing it in
the program.</text>
</clause></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H57E848B7B2624AC39DB4EFE046B1F8D9"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Evaluation and
ranking of offers</header>
<subparagraph id="HB8E5F22E6F2242B583D1D92618D28620"><enum>(A)</enum><header>Criteria</header><text>The
Secretary shall establish evaluation and ranking criteria to maximize the
benefit of Federal investment under the program.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H86CCF11EEB814AB2A5FDB68A586D0F69"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Considerations</header><text>When
evaluating offers from landowners, the Secretary may consider—</text>
<clause id="H96AD7F187A7D48AE97FF8E7AB0D91521"><enum>(i)</enum><text>the conservation
benefits of obtaining a wetland easement, including the potential environmental
benefits if the land was removed from agricultural production;</text>
</clause><clause id="HCDBCA15E6AB54F899289FF0110553144"><enum>(ii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the cost-effectiveness of each wetland
easement, so as to maximize the environmental benefits per dollar
expended;</text>
</clause><clause id="H59461D2EB14C4EC0960E778B03EE4B11"><enum>(iii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">whether the landowner or another person is
offering to contribute financially to the cost of the wetland easement to
leverage Federal funds; and</text>
</clause><clause id="HB97162536E0A41A9B20F5745D03A7021"><enum>(iv)</enum><text>such other
factors as the Secretary determines are necessary to carry out the purposes of
the program.</text>
</clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H49CC46FEF42845B5AA7805741EDEB479"><enum>(C)</enum><header>Priority</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Secretary shall place priority on
acquiring wetland easements based on the value of the wetland easement for
protecting and enhancing habitat for migratory birds and other wildlife.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H7C509A0395E04D6D91F7C0453027454E"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Agreement</header><text>To
be eligible to place eligible land into the program through a wetland easement,
the owner of such land shall enter into an agreement with the Secretary
to—</text>
<subparagraph id="H17E137B5D2484617A0BF1B9B8E3B8515"><enum>(A)</enum><text>grant an easement
on such land to the Secretary;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HE4855F95992B43F58C897070BD973805"><enum>(B)</enum><text>authorize the
implementation of a wetland easement plan;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H4F678C416FCE4AAD857209342CC6F432"><enum>(C)</enum><text>create and record
an appropriate deed restriction in accordance with applicable State law to
reflect the easement agreed to;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HFFCDB4F941104FDAB9832F23A89A52DF"><enum>(D)</enum><text>provide a written
statement of consent to such easement signed by those holding a security
interest in the land;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H082EF4075B7144869A40356A35AB3EB0"><enum>(E)</enum><text>comply with the
terms and conditions of the easement and any related agreements; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HFC20BE7971AE4E67AA64924810392E50"><enum>(F)</enum><text>permanently retire
any existing cropland base and allotment history for the land on which the
easement has been obtained.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H8F955713D0D645BF9102490CF9F53249"><enum>(5)</enum><header>Terms and
conditions of easement</header>
<subparagraph id="H9E7492FED5964EA592EAAB1283C2B906"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>A wetland easement shall include terms and conditions
that—</text>
<clause id="HC0DF36F8BE604D678E37CF65817ABBE8"><enum>(i)</enum><text>permit—</text>
<subclause id="HC72897AF3B374DD7987CA5FBF0980F44"><enum>(I)</enum><text>repairs,
improvements, and inspections on the land that are necessary to maintain
existing public drainage systems; and</text>
</subclause><subclause id="H7EADBB3F008A4A62B6D9D52CBE26A715"><enum>(II)</enum><text>owners to control
public access on the easement areas while identifying access routes to be used
for restoration activities and management and easement monitoring;</text>
</subclause></clause><clause id="HE549CFA53682493CB860FF4B4FD92F4B"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>prohibit—</text>
<subclause id="H15BB5A48AD324F719C9527B986E97B97"><enum>(I)</enum><text>the alteration of
wildlife habitat and other natural features of such land, unless specifically
authorized by the Secretary;</text>
</subclause><subclause id="H67CBCD64CEA54B15A299B1AACE28EC74"><enum>(II)</enum><text>the spraying of
such land with chemicals or the mowing of such land, except where such spraying
or mowing is authorized by the Secretary or is necessary—</text>
<item id="H0561FCDF445A4E96A32C3BB017CC7E74"><enum>(aa)</enum><text>to
comply with Federal or State noxious weed control laws;</text>
</item><item id="H1AFB6DD62DA84A9A843B6885A607BBA4"><enum>(bb)</enum><text>to
comply with a Federal or State emergency pest treatment program; or</text>
</item><item id="HFA741DBAB9904F93A40935914F37FFBE"><enum>(cc)</enum><text>to
meet habitat needs of specific wildlife species;</text>
</item></subclause><subclause id="H7137CE2C64B44CB3AB1C3740A2AFE5EB"><enum>(III)</enum><text>any activities
to be carried out on the owner’s or successor’s land that is immediately
adjacent to, and functionally related to, the land that is subject to the
easement if such activities will alter, degrade, or otherwise diminish the
functional value of the eligible land; and</text>
</subclause><subclause id="H3455233CAECC48ADACAF9B64627D4C7F"><enum>(IV)</enum><text>the adoption of
any other practice that would tend to defeat the purposes of the program, as
determined by the Secretary;</text>
</subclause></clause><clause id="H5AAADD3B6F984B5898B14E50E9489226"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>provide for the
efficient and effective establishment of wetland functions and values;
and</text>
</clause><clause id="H0A837FDDF6A0454E9F65C476649BF5FC"><enum>(iv)</enum><text>include such
additional provisions as the Secretary determines are desirable to carry out
the program or facilitate the practical administration thereof.</text>
</clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H28E8C1FD92D349B5B2023650B485C53C"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Violation</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">On the violation of the terms or conditions
of the wetland easement, the wetland easement shall remain in force and the
Secretary may require the owner to refund all or part of any payments received
by the owner under the program, together with interest thereon as determined
appropriate by the Secretary.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HFC2F3A430A614CF7963A76FF86B3FABB"><enum>(C)</enum><header>Compatible
uses</header><text>Land subject to a wetland easement may be used for
compatible economic uses, including such activities as hunting and fishing,
managed timber harvest, or periodic haying or grazing, if such use is
specifically permitted by the wetland easement plan and is consistent with the
long-term protection and enhancement of the wetland resources for which the
easement was established.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HAAB75208AF294A6F8B70057BE251E2F3"><enum>(D)</enum><header>Reservation of
grazing rights</header><text>The Secretary may include in the terms and
conditions of a wetland easement a provision under which the owner reserves
grazing rights if—</text>
<clause id="HD074A476F8F74DCA953D933EF1710468"><enum>(i)</enum><text>the Secretary
determines that the reservation and use of the grazing rights—</text>
<subclause id="H2860E53DEBEC43569A3A0C265ED981D7"><enum>(I)</enum><text>is compatible with
the land subject to the easement;</text>
</subclause><subclause id="H396C583EB2944A89AEB3733EA9D10091"><enum>(II)</enum><text>is consistent
with the historical natural uses of the land and long-term protection and
enhancement goals for which the easement was established; and</text>
</subclause><subclause id="HD3132F67DD3B44E4A0ED5E05835D5C74"><enum>(III)</enum><text>complies with
the wetland easement plan; and</text>
</subclause></clause><clause id="H674DB38E4BE540AD997DAB9C4C02B737"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>the agreement
provides for a commensurate reduction in the easement payment to account for
the grazing value, as determined by the Secretary.</text>
</clause></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H68894F64646E4EA8984F8E37510CA81D"><enum>(6)</enum><header>Compensation</header>
<subparagraph id="H50AC45FD34224F828A28CA1488ECA6CD"><enum>(A)</enum><header>Determination</header>
<clause id="H65ABE8E488A4430D81A9135A417948AB"><enum>(i)</enum><header>In
general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Secretary shall
pay as compensation for a permanent wetland easement acquired under the program
an amount necessary to encourage enrollment in the program based on the lowest
of—</text>
<subclause id="H911DBBE1B6B645258ADD5EC187FEE333"><enum>(I)</enum><text>the fair market
value of the land, as determined by the Secretary, using the Uniform Standards
of Professional Appraisal Practice or an area-wide market analysis or
survey;</text>
</subclause><subclause id="HAAE4E3D9FC2C4AC29CBEAFE795598768"><enum>(II)</enum><text>the amount
corresponding to a geographical cap, as determined by the Secretary in
regulations; or</text>
</subclause><subclause id="H78ED1B779867455B8BEEAE3B2691474A"><enum>(III)</enum><text>the offer made
by the landowner.</text>
</subclause></clause><clause id="H64E03AD28BC84E4FB700FF0789C2FD1A"><enum>(ii)</enum><header>Other</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Compensation for a 30-year wetland easement
shall be not less than 50 percent, but not more than 75 percent, of the
compensation that would be paid for a permanent wetland easement.</text>
</clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H4CFE8C215E3849FEB1A881006B4A3AB2"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Form of
payment</header><text>Compensation shall be provided by the Secretary in the
form of a cash payment, in an amount determined under subparagraph (A).</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H6EC4FB05194743F9B4398795A524944D"><enum>(C)</enum><header>Payment
schedule</header>
<clause id="H6D0B6FD522A5456E94CECB4152020F5C"><enum>(i)</enum><header>Easements valued
at less than $500,000</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">For
wetland easements valued at $500,000 or less, the Secretary may provide
easement payments in not more than 10 annual payments.</text>
</clause><clause id="H6F9110194A8D4855B5CC54B5CFD72429"><enum>(ii)</enum><header>Easements
valued at more than $500,000</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">For wetland easements valued at more than
$500,000, the Secretary may provide easement payments in at least 5, but not
more than 10 annual payments, except that, if the Secretary determines it would
further the purposes of the program, the Secretary may make a lump sum payment
for such an easement.</text>
</clause></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="HB3DF4263ED584A33BE41A27C8A3DF858"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Easement
restoration</header>
<paragraph id="HFDC84ED2C4A54B1182FE526AB06C7479"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>The Secretary shall provide financial assistance to carry
out the establishment of conservation measures and practices and protect
wetland functions and values, including necessary maintenance activities, as
set forth in a wetland easement plan.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H4BA3E23212ED4E75B6E6370EF0D09DBD"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Payments</header><text>The
Secretary shall—</text>
<subparagraph id="H94C97CD5B1F54D91A35885E00F80179E"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in the case of a permanent wetland
easement, pay an amount that is not less than 75 percent, but not more than 100
percent, of the eligible costs as determined by the Secretary; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H60FC8ECB88C2447781E0E45D32A0C1FD"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in the case of a 30-year wetland easement,
pay an amount that is not less than 50 percent, but not more than 75 percent,
of the eligible costs, as determined by the Secretary.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H9E914E122BB5485C9536A16DCD1197E8"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Technical
assistance</header>
<paragraph id="H0CFB7E69C39B41F6AD0E634565CDFC53"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>The Secretary shall assist owners in complying with the
terms and conditions of easements.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H74EFDD21F05C4ECBBA9B0CC64436F555"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Contracts or
agreements</header><text>The Secretary may enter into 1 or more contracts with
private entities or agreements with a State, non-governmental organization, or
Indian tribe to carry out necessary restoration, enhancement, or maintenance of
a wetland easement if the Secretary determines that the contract or agreement
will advance the purposes of the program.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="H9420EF9DDA8C4AAB8544140C7CB77D07"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Funding</header><text>Not
less than 10 percent of the funds made available to carry out this section
shall be available to provide technical assistance under this
subsection.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="HB4B6272357CE4E8EAE2EE72E709AFEE0"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Wetland
enhancement option</header><text>The Secretary may enter into 1 or more
agreements with a State (including a political subdivision or agency of a
State), nongovernmental organization, or Indian tribe to carry out a special
wetland enhancement option that the Secretary determines would advance the
purposes of the program.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="HC32149BC6B2E41CFAB6785E171CF912D"><enum>(f)</enum><header>Administration</header>
<paragraph id="H98C8EF455E1F46BE9899E415C00D4F6A"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Wetland easement
plan</header><text>The Secretary shall develop a wetland easement plan for
eligible land subject to a wetland easement, which will include the practices
and activities necessary to restore, protect, enhance, and maintain the
enrolled land.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HD2B32BE3840B4FDBA12501BE8EF3E97C"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Delegation of
easement administration</header>
<subparagraph id="HEE459AED509E4DD4BA3FE950C9C8B17B"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>The Secretary may delegate any of the easement
management, monitoring, and enforcement responsibilities of the Secretary to
other Federal or State agencies that have the appropriate authority, expertise
and resources necessary to carry out such delegated responsibilities or to
other conservation organizations if the Secretary determines the organization
has similar expertise and resources.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HE74650B908A643A2B87EBCD29E9EA3EB"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Limitation</header><text>The
Secretary shall not delegate any of the monitoring or enforcement
responsibilities under the program to conservation organizations.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H74A530DA234C4A838CE3ECCB3F096C81"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Payments</header>
<subparagraph id="HF23E214A43B74DAA9EE9220F0FE2C0BF"><enum>(A)</enum><header>Timing of
payments</header><text>The Secretary shall provide payment for obligations
incurred by the Secretary under this section—</text>
<clause id="H6DC1113151EE4990B4906B3F967A22AE"><enum>(i)</enum><text>with respect to
any easement restoration obligation as soon as possible after the obligation is
incurred; and</text>
</clause><clause id="HC239AFAB356E4AD0AC2C151D483C6749"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>with respect to
any annual easement payment obligation incurred by the Secretary as soon as
possible after October 1 of each calendar year.</text>
</clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H4949981A124F4F7698454D6665EA46A3"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Payments to
others</header><text>If an owner who is entitled to a payment dies, becomes
incompetent, is otherwise unable to receive such payment, or is succeeded by
another person or entity who renders or completes the required performance, the
Secretary shall make such payment, in accordance with regulations prescribed by
the Secretary and without regard to any other provision of law, in such manner
as the Secretary determines is fair and reasonable in light of all of the
circumstances.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="HD778F70A11E1468DAFEF1C1707546E3E"><enum>(g)</enum><header>Wetlands reserve
enhancement program</header>
<paragraph id="H11B1B1DFED2B4B3CAA9AF3479BEB6304"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Program
authorized</header><text>The Secretary may enter into 1 or more agreements with
a State (including a political subdivision or agency of a State),
nongovernmental organization, or Indian tribe to carry out a special wetlands
reserve enhancement program that the Secretary determines would advance the
purposes of this section.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HF17274C99FBF49BA9160B9F8BF19F006"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Reserved rights
pilot program</header>
<subparagraph id="H18AD3DFC3DD3453D9EEB84BE29F76C17"><enum>(A)</enum><header>Reservation of
grazing and haying rights</header><text>As part of the wetlands reserve
enhancement program, the Secretary shall carry out a pilot program for land in
which a landowner may reserve grazing and haying rights in the warranty
easement deed restriction if the Secretary determines that the reservation and
use of the grazing rights—</text>
<clause id="H68011CA592A24B34B9156ED0D1B44809"><enum>(i)</enum><text>is
compatible with the land subject to the easement;</text>
</clause><clause id="H9FBF5339A6464634A1CA4011C645BEBE"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>is consistent
with the long-term wetland protection and enhancement goals for which the
easement was established; and</text>
</clause><clause id="HAA5332380B0144DEAC222AE6D5BB0812"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>complies with a
comprehensive conservation plan.</text>
</clause></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" id="H51DCCABE52A14BFBBB00BBF0B2F82F3B"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Duration</header><text>The
pilot program established under this paragraph shall terminate on September 30,
2016.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph></subsection></section><section id="HA36580B1B1B747F39EB473491ADD590B"><enum>1265D.</enum><header>Administration</header>
<subsection id="H0A3E5AA3795E43EB97E8D4773624500C"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Ineligible
land</header><text>The Secretary may not acquire an easement under the program
on—</text>
<paragraph id="HF9C2C4975EC546F4A1451BF60A4EF884"><enum>(1)</enum><text>land owned by an
agency of the United States, other than land held in trust for Indian
tribes;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H61BA3443546F4ABD80CCF7C76A6BB492"><enum>(2)</enum><text>land owned in fee
title by a State, including an agency or a subdivision of a State, or a unit of
local government;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HB790A3ACADEC40BCA8D3C3470384CBB7"><enum>(3)</enum><text>land subject to an
easement or deed restriction which, as determined by the Secretary, provides
similar protection as would be provided by enrollment in the program;
and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H874899B2659145BE9C6A6895B429401F"><enum>(4)</enum><text>land where the
purposes of the program would be undermined due to on-site or off-site
conditions, such as risk of hazardous substances, proposed or existing rights
of way, infrastructure development, or adjacent land uses.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H675F78D6BA3A4569A522B59F02F7AB03"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Priority</header><text>In
evaluating applications under the program, the Secretary may give priority to
land that is currently enrolled in the conservation reserve program in a
contract that is set to expire within 1 year and—</text>
<paragraph id="HC96F39ADF67B45D488A8D0EBF2AA075B"><enum>(1)</enum><text>in the case of an
agricultural land easement, is grassland that would benefit from protection
under a long-term easement; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HA303E505CAE146E9B8DE7B651B00A0D5"><enum>(2)</enum><text>in the case of a
wetland easement, is a wetland or related area with the highest functions and
values and is likely to return to production after the land leaves the
conservation reserve program.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H0E4F2DD081884757B3CA4089123B139D"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Subordination,
exchange, modification, and termination</header>
<paragraph id="HA343D3E00849433F81EC85DCA56B4C38"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>The Secretary may subordinate, exchange, terminate, or
modify any interest in land, or portion of such interest, administered by the
Secretary, either directly or on behalf of the Commodity Credit Corporation
under the program when the Secretary determines that—</text>
<subparagraph id="HC28FC5D0C8B64689BC3D5B3406186604"><enum>(A)</enum><text>it is in the
Federal Government’s interest to subordinate, exchange, modify or terminate the
interest in land;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HD516AF8EEC1746F5AC425A9B9DD115E7"><enum>(B)</enum><text>the subordination,
exchange, modification, or termination action—</text>
<clause id="H8ABE1440E89946179FD04ECAB3520834"><enum>(i)</enum><text>will address a
compelling public need for which there is no practicable alternative, or</text>
</clause><clause id="H7C43220103FA4026B1643CBA6D3296C6"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>such action will
further the practical administration of the program; and</text>
</clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H238D55951F5541658DC19A11D13D2EA6"><enum>(C)</enum><text>the subordination,
exchange, modification, or termination action will result in comparable
conservation value and equivalent or greater economic value to the United
States.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H1ACCF15FBE56498C95B4578DA41DB4AE"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Consultation</header><text>The
Secretary shall work with the owner, and eligible entity if applicable, to
address any subordination, exchange, termination, or modification of the
interest, or portion of such interest in land.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HDD37116C52584240821AEA98EED3A35B"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Notice</header><text>At
least 90 days before taking any termination action described in paragraph (1),
the Secretary shall provide written notice of such action to the Committee on
Agriculture of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Agriculture,
Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H0C9CC9221AF64884982FB271E8C1957E"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Land enrolled in
other programs</header>
<paragraph id="H4DA203F999E94AE6AB06D56360EBBB32"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Conservation
reserve program</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Secretary
may terminate or modify a contract entered into under section 1231(a) if
eligible land that is subject to such contract is transferred into the
program.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HA232960749B94333A98B847F970119A2"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Other</header><text>Land
enrolled in the wetlands reserve program, grassland reserve program, or
farmland protection program, as such programs were in effect on September 30,
2013, shall be considered enrolled in this program.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="HBF9F4998C0DF48EE8E7091583B9952CA"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Allocation of
funds for agricultural land easements</header><text>Of the funds made available
under section 1241 to carry out the program for a fiscal year, the Secretary
shall, to the extent practicable, use no less than 40 percent for agricultural
land
easements.</text>
</subsection></section></subtitle><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</subsection><subsection id="HA90D136DF65840BE9FEF8CFD55CD80D1"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Compliance with
certain requirements</header><text>Before an eligible entity or owner of
eligible land may receive assistance under subtitle H of title XII of the Food
Security Act of 1985, the eligible entity or person shall agree, during the
crop year for which the assistance is provided and in exchange for the
assistance—</text>
<paragraph id="HE40D52FD0CE04389958BCDDEDB0A8AC0"><enum>(1)</enum><text>to comply with
applicable conservation requirements under subtitle B of title XII of that Act
(<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/3811">16 U.S.C. 3811 et seq.</external-xref>); and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H50D93A8FF5224F65B9305D66CE488C56"><enum>(2)</enum><text>to comply with
applicable wetland protection requirements under subtitle C of title XII of
that Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/3821">16 U.S.C. 3821 et seq.</external-xref>).</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="HEA71B838F9284587AA41B489A839032F"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Cross
reference</header><text>Section 1244 of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16
U.S.C. 3844) is amended—</text>
<paragraph id="H6D953DC1882C499AB4382B5CB1803645"><enum>(1)</enum><text>in subsection
(c)—</text>
<subparagraph id="H5B72B33D63B1432CA2D4F6A28535A69B"><enum>(A)</enum><text>in paragraph
(1)—</text>
<clause id="H96D87D9EAF304F438C2686A69FDC2F88"><enum>(i)</enum><text>by
inserting <quote>and</quote> at the end of subparagraph (A);</text>
</clause><clause id="H66D03CCB915B4C758E247EEE2DAEAB7F"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>by
striking <quote>and</quote> at the end of subparagraph (B); and</text>
</clause><clause id="H58E2213EC01A46F18B7717B6531A73F5"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>by
striking subparagraph (C);</text>
</clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H76114A8884724237A216D43F66B21179"><enum>(B)</enum><text>by redesignating
paragraph (2) as paragraph (3); and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H6E33941092754825A3588F487B72F793"><enum>(C)</enum><text>by inserting after
paragraph (1) the following:</text>
<quoted-block id="H37275161FF904043AE6EA9E1801D77FA" style="OLC">
<paragraph id="H50C72D9895BC41F19D81B7D1A3CF12AF"><enum>(2)</enum><text>the agricultural
conservation easement program established under subtitle H;
and</text>
</paragraph><after-quoted-block>;
and</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="HD976267D7F9E48BF81CC348C97F8491C"><enum>(2)</enum><text>in subsection
(f)—</text>
<subparagraph id="HA0695DC9B20A41DD91A06730095C13C4"><enum>(A)</enum><text>in paragraph
(1)—</text>
<clause id="H258390505EF24918967908E6DFDE98B7"><enum>(i)</enum><text>in
subparagraph (A), by striking <quote>programs administered under subchapters B
and C of chapter 1 of subtitle D</quote> and inserting <quote>conservation
reserve program established under subchapter B of chapter 1 of subtitle D and
the agricultural conservation easement program under subtitle H using wetland
easements under section 1265C</quote>; and</text>
</clause><clause id="H24B30CAE7A0E4E54ABE9C42FA2617C5A"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>in
subparagraph (B), by striking <quote>subchapter C of chapter 1 of subtitle
D</quote> and inserting <quote>the agricultural conservation easement program
under subtitle H using wetland easements under section 1265C</quote>;
and</text>
</clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H770577CB7E5345D9ACAC1768337CAADF"><enum>(B)</enum><text>in paragraph (4),
by striking <quote>subchapter C</quote> and inserting <quote>subchapter
B</quote>.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph></subsection></section></subtitle><subtitle id="H4CD0DAB30F88493BBA2C168023076281"><enum>J</enum><header>Regional
conservation partnership program</header>
<section id="HD06075C2A82944BC8CDE198F9FAB2761"><enum>1901.</enum><header>Regional
conservation partnership program</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Title XII of the Food Security Act of 1985
is amended by inserting after subtitle H (as added by section 1801) the
following:</text>
<quoted-block id="H466AF5BFB6234BDCB5B2D3A456B0B70E">
<subtitle id="H672EA70E06844F5CAE704435534903A7"><enum>I</enum><header>Regional
conservation partnership program</header>
<section id="HB7992ED88512412C8E8B45D9A3717614"><enum>1271.</enum><header>Establishment
and purposes</header>
<subsection id="H58518F84551446E6B1AD96742E80B532"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Establishment</header><text>The
Secretary shall establish a regional conservation partnership program to
implement eligible activities through—</text>
<paragraph id="HB3C181B6D33C442F8EFB4D6DE3D369A9"><enum>(1)</enum><text>partnership
agreements with eligible partners; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H67EBAFA914A144B2B7AA07704DFA2149"><enum>(2)</enum><text>contracts with
producers enrolled in a covered program.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H65FF6DE551A6426DA8468E77AE7D5245"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Purposes</header><text>The
purposes of the program are—</text>
<paragraph id="H1F6C2F70924F476291D54E6DE77F492D"><enum>(1)</enum><text>to combine the
purposes and coordinate the functions of the agricultural water enhancement
program established under section 1240I, the Chesapeake Bay watershed program
established under section 1240Q, the cooperative conservation partnership
initiative established under section 1243, and the Great Lakes basin program
for soil erosion and sediment control established under section 1240P, as such
sections were in effect on September 30, 2013;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H923B9A71925B4DEE83394ED02A50541A"><enum>(2)</enum><text>to enhance
priority resource concerns on agricultural and nonindustrial private forest
lands, including ground and surface water associated with such lands;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H791985FFECC547E393904D5AF9407E59"><enum>(3)</enum><text>to encourage
cooperation among partners and producers to—</text>
<subparagraph id="H328A44A85F1D49A5A425663E4EE689CA"><enum>(A)</enum><text>address priority
resource concerns involving agricultural and nonindustrial private forest lands
on a local, State, multi-state, or regional level;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H3B5A80E5B6264E4BB86112D49552A862"><enum>(B)</enum><text>encourage
producers to cooperate in achieving the goals of applicable Federal, State, and
local natural resource and environmental laws, thereby avoiding the need for
additional regulatory measures to be applied to owners and operators of
agricultural and nonindustrial private forest land;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H6B9A318B4A4A4E828491717521ED0D56"><enum>(C)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">encourage producers to cooperate in the
installation and maintenance of conservation activities, practices, systems,
and management measures that affect multiple agricultural or nonindustrial
private forest operations for the purpose of achieving landscape-level
improvement of priority resource concerns;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HB7EBE726A19C4F05A5F741BB021B38A0"><enum>(D)</enum><text>promote the
development and demonstration of innovative conservation activities, practices,
systems, and management measures to deliver technical, financial, and
educational assistance; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H16A3AA84BF54471B9EAFEED8ADD01B9E"><enum>(E)</enum><text>promote ground and
surface water conservation and improve water quality through efforts on
agricultural land, including—</text>
<clause id="HDFF68865CA03480D93BDA2CFD0E8BA0D"><enum>(i)</enum><text>water quality or
water conservation planning, including resource condition assessment and
modeling;</text>
</clause><clause id="H77FB550666D14532ACDDE74D4CBD7736"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>performance
measurement and management to reduce nutrient loss;</text>
</clause><clause id="HDFEAD1143A204961A5D302E4531FABAA"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>water quality or
water conservation restoration or enhancement projects;</text>
</clause><clause id="HE6BE25B9AA06405A8BDF315F083B7BB3"><enum>(iv)</enum><text>in the case of
nutrient-impacted watersheds, prioritization of nutrient loss reduction as a
conservation goal;</text>
</clause><clause id="H33DC2115F5EB4760A01B1CBBA4C1759C"><enum>(v)</enum><text>activities
designed to mitigate the effects of damaging drought or precipitation;
or</text>
</clause><clause id="H60D2532D43F949C09FCEA72B63CEF988"><enum>(vi)</enum><text>related
activities that the Secretary determines will help achieve water quality or
water conservation benefits on agricultural land;</text>
</clause></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H0517996DDECA4640892B58761FAB9D6C"><enum>(4)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">to encourage producers to cooperate in the
installation and maintenance of conservation activities, practices, systems,
and management measures that provide climate change benefits, including
increasing resilience to rising temperatures, extreme weather events, and
related climate changes while reducing greenhouse gas emissions;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HEB1C316BC38746DAA0D0AEC69D7752BE"><enum>(5)</enum><text>to improve the
capacity of regional, state or local partners to deliver assistance to
producers that is effective in addressing priority resource concerns;
and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H6B22C6E469C44559AEBCC23FAB035D89"><enum>(6)</enum><text>to implement the
partnership in such a way that encourages producers to achieve assessed
conservation outcomes and allows them to receive payments and technical
assistance linked to levels of those outcomes.</text>
</paragraph></subsection></section><section id="HF377E6AA9622437C8387B9FCA9AFDEEF"><enum>1271A.</enum><header>Definitions</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">In this subtitle:</text>
<paragraph id="H19D413BC2BAE48FEBDFF4CDEE88D70DB"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Covered
programs</header><text>The term <term>covered programs</term> means all
conservation programs under subtitle D.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HAA1ED0DB58794A59BD14630E30091478"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Eligible
activity</header><text>The term <term>eligible activity</term> means any of the
following conservation activities when delivered through a covered
program:</text>
<subparagraph id="H3CF98721D7F34470A26F9C7806A337E8"><enum>(A)</enum><text>Water quality
restoration or enhancement projects, including nutrient management and sediment
reduction.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HE8AF80A8146E41DF8FAADB80301CF646"><enum>(B)</enum><text>Water quantity
conservation, restoration, or enhancement projects relating to surface water
and groundwater resources, including—</text>
<clause id="H5A20710B2EF3446E9597F7FFE110BC56"><enum>(i)</enum><text>the conversion of
irrigated cropland to the production of less water-intensive agricultural
commodities or dryland farming; and</text>
</clause><clause id="HC809B58DCC0F496E9F6786201E2A333D"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>irrigation system
improvement and irrigation efficiency enhancement.</text>
</clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="HE96D6002A3FE45EC83D22B3EA06D22FA"><enum>(C)</enum><text>Drought
mitigation.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H3678E188A2084B63808C9782D1E67279"><enum>(D)</enum><text>Flood
prevention.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H6A8DF9B517C04EC6B83862860390CF7A"><enum>(E)</enum><text>Water
retention.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H9530671D941B41649D8084617FD2E0FE"><enum>(F)</enum><text>Habitat
conservation, restoration, and enhancement.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HCB4114B4D3124C6AAC9B72833432969A"><enum>(G)</enum><text>Erosion
control.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H6F03F4B47F1E41F6BB8E83DF78ED7FF0"><enum>(H)</enum><text>Other related
activities that the Secretary determines will help achieve conservation
benefits.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H9C6EA489A3D34EF8A02350EF7C034DE5"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Eligible
partner</header><text>The term <term>eligible partner</term> means any of the
following:</text>
<subparagraph id="HAC8345603FEA4ED7875058BB3C2BC0BF"><enum>(A)</enum><text>An agricultural or
silvicultural producer association or other group of producers.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HD8B428326FC945E590BC51E4C0C899FB"><enum>(B)</enum><text>A State or unit of
local government.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HC06EBE93B63C49B8BD9D4184B3AACCD5"><enum>(C)</enum><text>An Indian
tribe.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HA0BC16BD498E490DB736A48CA1FE3983"><enum>(D)</enum><text>A farmer
cooperative.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HAA93FC56F3ED4D2CB5FA3126D629CF9C"><enum>(E)</enum><text>An institution of
higher education.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H3ABE71023A5C4CE78548646544B4379F"><enum>(F)</enum><text>A nongovernmental
organization with an established history of working cooperatively with
producers to effectively address priority resource concerns related to
agricultural production and nonindustrial private forest land or with
demonstrated technical capabilities that would substantially increase the
success of the program.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="HC821F13BBE214B4A861FDD025EB27282"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Partnership
agreement</header><text>The term <term>partnership agreement</term> means an
agreement between the Secretary and an eligible partner.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H39EFF8C5D4044D6DAF6EB02CE766DC45"><enum>(5)</enum><header>Program</header><text>The
term <term>program</term> means the regional conservation partnership program
established by this subtitle.</text>
</paragraph></section><section id="H9415196E12FA46CC8DF5B36469EE9B7D"><enum>1271B.</enum><header>Regional
conservation partnerships</header>
<subsection id="H108A8DA281D34F63B4291FF2A088C9EF"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Partnership
agreements authorized</header><text>The Secretary may enter into a partnership
agreement with an eligible partner to implement a project that will assist
producers with installing and maintaining an eligible activity.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="HE65B4DFF550B419AA4D06B58D84D04B4"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Length</header><text>A
partnership agreement shall be for a period not to exceed 5 years, except that
the Secretary may extend the agreement 1 time for up to 12 months when an
extension is necessary to meet the objectives of the program.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="H7FD2461AA2634023B1546F819D42C87F"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Duties of
partners</header>
<paragraph id="H810377B2DC644CAA9B841B5E94D68CBD"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>Under a partnership agreement, the eligible partner
shall—</text>
<subparagraph id="H209AD28F3BF745F99402F7CCA7174D1C"><enum>(A)</enum><text>define the scope
of a project, including—</text>
<clause id="H58BDE744BDA14C5DB4140FCB6E179DD4"><enum>(i)</enum><text>the eligible
activities to be implemented;</text>
</clause><clause id="H0999DDC05EC54640A6ABEEFC566BF575"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>the potential
agricultural or nonindustrial private forest operations affected;</text>
</clause><clause id="H37C8D34991F84A06952A61D41337D40E"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>the local,
State, multi-State, or other geographic area covered; and</text>
</clause><clause id="HD18FFF99031F45A088991522DE4D21AD"><enum>(iv)</enum><text>the planning,
outreach, implementation, and assessment to be conducted;</text>
</clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H974D42B1E3274F03A43D2334D8626182"><enum>(B)</enum><text>conduct outreach
and education to producers for potential participation in the project;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H9D42C081D46C468689D3341A141B6F19"><enum>(C)</enum><text>at the request of
a producer, act on behalf of a producer participating in the project in
applying for assistance under section 1271C;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H9B6C8093C67845A3A4661B48AEAD603B"><enum>(D)</enum><text>leverage financial
or technical assistance provided by the Secretary with additional funds to help
achieve the project objectives;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HBFB1F612041C40AD8DBA834C210DBAA2"><enum>(E)</enum><text>if proposed by the
partner and approved by the Secretary, provide technical assistance to
producers participating in the project;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HBDF3E246E9C6493AA8A197B95E7A6B86"><enum>(F)</enum><text>conduct an
assessment of the project’s effects; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HEAAF04D6B2344E228851952FCB386ED3"><enum>(G)</enum><text>at the conclusion
of the project, report to the Secretary on its results and funds
leveraged.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H4BC67E145FDD4EFDBE522C49E56FEFC3"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Contribution</header><text>A
partner shall provide a significant portion of the overall costs of the scope
of the project, as determined by the Secretary.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H1493A0B4848649908F1E143752B0DDAE"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Applications</header>
<paragraph id="HD14F106E37D0423BB2A26B6AA6F9D842"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Competitive
process</header><text>The Secretary shall conduct a competitive process to
select applications for partnership agreements and may assess and rank
applications with similar conservation purposes as a group.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H36B4B2BED4374DB2BC7A6FDA0E7BAC0D"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Criteria
used</header><text>In carrying out the process described in paragraph (1), the
Secretary shall make public the criteria used in evaluating
applications.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H97F181DAD3CF497B9C3C47F3ED2DD044"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Content</header><text>An
application to the Secretary shall include a description of—</text>
<subparagraph id="HBBB358A1672F40EFA86BC1B6318B2057"><enum>(A)</enum><text>the scope of the
project, as described in subsection (c)(1)(A);</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HB4D2CB90BE6949608D3BF9EE22E06AAA"><enum>(B)</enum><text>the plan for
monitoring, evaluating, and reporting on progress made towards achieving the
project’s objectives;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H21DB60C8E37C4FDEBDA676AFB2A73099"><enum>(C)</enum><text>the program
resources requested for the project, including the covered programs to be used
and estimated funding needed from the Secretary;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" id="HA12C451EA31E4850B447F3ED5D633ABD"><enum>(D)</enum><text>the resources
requested under section 1271C(c)(4);</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H42ED133DB3CD497D82B947030D5D43BF"><enum>(E)</enum><text>the partners
collaborating to achieve project objectives, including their roles,
responsibilities, capabilities, and financial contribution; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H60B82D2251794455B09ED9DF5ED2280A"><enum>(F)</enum><text>any other elements
the Secretary considers necessary to adequately evaluate and competitively
select applications for funding under the program.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H898CBCA65A724870BF50179837E263FE"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Application
priority</header><text>The Secretary shall give a higher priority to
applications that demonstrate the greatest potential to—</text>
<subparagraph commented="no" id="H8377CFB7A275446E9BEAEA1E9B19BC83"><enum>(A)</enum><text>have a high
percentage of producers involved and of the agricultural or nonindustrial
private forest land included in the area covered by the agreement;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" id="H04F17C73CDAD48B1BAEADC5EFB3B2B17"><enum>(B)</enum><text>assist producers
in meeting the goals and objectives of Federal environmental and natural
resource laws and regulations;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H6F6D8E971D374256810C9B2EA695AECF"><enum>(C)</enum><text>significantly
leverage non-Federal financial and technical resources and coordinate with
other local, State, regional, or national efforts;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H9C81301C040740B1A4A8F1BB30AC6F2D"><enum>(D)</enum><text>deliver high
percentages of applied conservation to address water quality, water
conservation, or other State, regional, or national priority resource
concerns;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H8C9FD96ACBDF4614ADE246F991B00B53"><enum>(E)</enum><text>provide innovation
in conservation methods and delivery, including outcome-based performance
measures and methods;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H0567AB58621146E09BCD18E886748B17"><enum>(F)</enum><text>identify producers
participating in the project, on whose behalf the partner is applying;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H467F809F1ABF4CC39D536EE5348B5D23"><enum>(G)</enum><text>advance
conservation and rural community development goals simultaneously;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H6511DC55E6FB4A1DBE133960EEF4CC66"><enum>(H)</enum><text>assist producers
in States with significant water quantity concerns; or</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HE0795FC1097F4B6F81D299237AB57ACF"><enum>(I)</enum><text>meet other factors
that are important for achieving the purposes of the program, as determined by
the Secretary.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph></subsection></section><section id="H7FD9B419A2244827892508C3E768BDE8"><enum>1271C.</enum><header>Assistance to
producers</header>
<subsection id="H6F619BC0A08342738AE4559F6E7AC046"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>The Secretary shall enter into contracts to provide
financial and technical assistance to—</text>
<paragraph id="HECC08BF150A64E1BBD32F49F3263DC8E"><enum>(1)</enum><text>producers
participating in an eligible activity with an eligible partner; or</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="HE5933FFA4D5146309A0F286457216C7E"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">producers participating in an eligible
activity in a critical conservation area designated under section 1271F without
an eligible partner.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H7C2E41DC718E48A78F50C5FA396ADCD0"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Terms and
conditions</header>
<paragraph id="HCF0DB895B8E5470DB0FD5CA31D850BC1"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Compliance with
covered program rules</header>
<subparagraph id="HAD3584D5911F49F1A77670E94D3B4AF4"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>Except as provided in subparagraph (B), the Secretary
shall ensure that the terms and conditions of a contract under this section are
consistent with the applicable rules of the covered programs to be used as part
of the project, as described in the application under section
1271B(d)(3)(C).</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H072A4082549D4F3683DE05EB4A62DEAE"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Adjustments</header><text>Except
for statutory program requirements governing appeals, payment limitations, and
conservation compliance, the Secretary may adjust the discretionary program
rules of a covered program—</text>
<clause id="H4EEA2A8EE57343A4890C5A8E08499A25"><enum>(i)</enum><text>to
provide a simplified application and evaluation process;</text>
</clause><clause id="H6A38021788484917B1200FB6DE7D55DC"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>to better reflect
unique local circumstances and purposes if the Secretary determines such
adjustments are necessary to achieve the purposes of the proposed
project;</text>
</clause><clause id="H56028A9899F543229CEC4E9AE5930BC8"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>to better link
technical and financial assistance to assessed conservation outcomes;
and</text>
</clause><clause id="HFF9D9999856448A99DD38F18CBD393A2"><enum>(iv)</enum><text>to increase the
improvement in priority resource concerns achieved by the proposed
project.</text>
</clause></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="HDCD0001942974B8A926EDEE778BD6F3E"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Alternative
funding arrangements</header>
<subparagraph id="HB94FE86B234F45098A50C3FAF6EE745E"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>For the purposes of providing assistance for a critical
conservation areas designated under section 1271F, the Secretary may enter into
alternative funding arrangements with a multistate water resource agency or
authority if—</text>
<clause id="H9CE91D5A0C534A3E9B2556E7C1AF690E"><enum>(i)</enum><text>the Secretary
determines that the goals and objectives of the program will be met by the
alternative funding arrangements;</text>
</clause><clause id="HDA10459265C14BC7B7EA49A5F61CE3D9"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>the agency or
authority certifies that the limitations established under this section on
agreements with individual producers will not be exceeded; and</text>
</clause><clause id="HB761675ABBF44F2F93BC6F21DC6DEBD4"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>all
participating producers meet applicable payment eligibility provisions.</text>
</clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="HB441090D7534408F853538D74E0ED4B5"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Conditions</header><text>As
a condition on receipt of funding under subparagraph (A), the multistate water
resource agency or authority shall agree—</text>
<clause id="HC5896CC47A0D4613A42F4E7EE24D35B0"><enum>(i)</enum><text>to
submit an annual independent audit to the Secretary that describes the use of
funds under this paragraph;</text>
</clause><clause id="HC63BB63353974E599D592B5988BC02A9"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>to provide any
data necessary for the Secretary to issue a report on the use of funds under
this paragraph; and</text>
</clause><clause id="H82E8D188D5B44443BCA8553BDFA61075"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>not to use any
funds for administration or contracting with another entity.</text>
</clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H8E78FED7378B4BD089456048C8D5746B"><enum>(C)</enum><header>Limitation</header><text>The
Secretary may enter into not more than 10 alternative funding arrangements
under this paragraph.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H202726ADB7C24C8D805FBF0E4D236725"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Payments</header>
<paragraph id="H932AA03AA8BA4A7E9367C91D15CD76C3"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>In accordance with statutory requirements of the covered
programs involved, the Secretary may make payments to a producer in an amount
determined by the Secretary to be necessary to achieve the purposes of the
program.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HA2C1DBA391A84B58AB19CDE38A99CF2F"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Payments to
certain producers</header><text>The Secretary may provide payments for a period
of 5 years—</text>
<subparagraph id="HCB6EE844712E47EE837E3AE6E3B68BF9"><enum>(A)</enum><text>to producers
participating in a project that addresses water quantity concerns and in an
amount sufficient to encourage conversion from irrigated to dryland farming;
and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H8F056E79ACFB4A9BB9132F570A9E6E89"><enum>(B)</enum><text>to producers
participating in a project that addresses water quality concerns and in an
amount sufficient to encourage adoption of conservation practices and systems
that improve nutrient management.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H126580FF63694595A2E56B90585B49D2"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Waiver
authority</header><text>To assist in the implementation of the program, the
Secretary may waive the applicability of the limitation in section 1001D(b)(2)
of this Act for participating producers if the Secretary determines that the
waiver is necessary to fulfill the objectives of the program.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HBCAEC332E19C4593A92CCCE1353EA3AD"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Payments to
partners</header><text>The Secretary shall provide, directly or through
cooperative and contribution agreements with partners, financial assistance to
such partners to complete tasks essential to the success of the project which
may include natural resource assessment and planning, outreach to producers,
monitoring, technical assistance, and evaluation of project progress and other
such essential tasks as determined by the Secretary.</text>
</paragraph></subsection></section><section id="HCFB80F0F9B9048E89F7A73D04880D33D"><enum>1271D.</enum><header>Funding</header>
<subsection id="H6BA3CA0497F44AAC937B56832E2F310C"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Availability of
funds</header><text>The Secretary shall use $100,000,000 of the funds of the
Commodity Credit Corporation for each of fiscal years 2014 through 2018 to
carry out the program established under this subtitle.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="H236DBEA6F4494AE0A38E19E868BFDFC4"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Duration of
availability</header><text>Funds made available under subsection (a) shall
remain available until expended.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="HA0653C22402B4447B61FAC45F9AE7173"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Additional
funding and acres</header>
<paragraph id="H34EE5A86AB3446F0ADFFB74B304607DC"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>In addition to the funds made available under subsection
(a), the Secretary shall reserve at least 8 percent of the funds and acres made
available for a covered program for each of fiscal years 2014 through 2018 in
order to ensure additional resources are available to provide technical and
financial assistance to producers to carry out this program.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HD834CC177FD34E53B7D4EB73049909D6"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Assistance to
partners</header><text>The Secretary shall reserve at least 10 percent of the
funding provided in subsection (a) to provide payments to partners.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H01A1D343C5234A04915F3F554B4F34C7"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Unused funds and
acres</header>
<subparagraph commented="no" id="H5EC250E6F39041EDA40984945F278864"><enum>(A)</enum><header>Return</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Any funds or acres reserved under paragraph
(1) of this section for a fiscal year from a covered program that are not
obligated under this program by April 1 of that fiscal year shall be returned
for use under the covered program or redirected to support unfunded
applications within the geographic areas of approved partnership
agreements.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H9950067697BE4837BAD32A4B27D312EB"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Reallocation</header><text>Any
funds reserved under paragraph (2) of this section for a fiscal year that are
not obligated under this program by April 1 of that fiscal year shall be
reallocated to partners demonstrating the highest level of performance in
achieving the objectives of the program.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H2F506432246249CFAD60115CE4430FC5"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Allocation of
funding</header><text>Of the funds and acres made available for the program
under subsections (a) and (c), the Secretary shall allocate—</text>
<paragraph id="H6E5E29426EBC4C4DA0593A1C062D3717"><enum>(1)</enum><text>40 percent of the
funds and acres to projects based on a State competitive process administered
by the State conservationist, with the advice of the State technical committee;
and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="H05343838913A48999B0D65332231E1A9"><enum>(2)</enum><text>60 percent of the
funds and acres to projects based on a national competitive process to be
established by the Secretary, of which 60 percent shall be reserved for the
critical conservation areas designated under section 1271F.</text>
</paragraph></subsection></section><section id="HC7ADE3845DB5469DB2AFB15DA34B4DD0"><enum>1271E.</enum><header>Administration</header>
<subsection id="HC26A83BD2E45443CBC70AF8D7AFA9F54"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Disclosure</header><text>The
Secretary shall make publicly available information on projects selected
through the competitive process described in section 1271B(d)(1).</text>
</subsection><subsection id="H26E28C13E2AA442A81EDDDC561292DE6"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Reporting</header><text>Not
later than December 31, 2013, and every 2 years thereafter, the Secretary shall
submit to the Committee on Agriculture of the House of Representatives and the
Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate a report on the
status of projects funded under the program, including—</text>
<paragraph id="H23B375DE392A492092F891C31E6DB257"><enum>(1)</enum><text>the number and
types of partners and producers participating in the partnership agreements
selected;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H0B16BA66D9454E3988C5B6F3C43959C2"><enum>(2)</enum><text>the number of
producers receiving assistance;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HF0E28307D1EA4C95872FA7D5FA944430"><enum>(3)</enum><text>total funding
committed to projects, including Federal and non-Federal resources; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HFD0EDECE88B14151A620F9996E2CB554"><enum>(4)</enum><text>a description of
how funds are being administered under section 1271B, including—</text>
<subparagraph id="HACA95267288A488E90AA1AEC35FE3BC9"><enum>(A)</enum><text>any oversight
mechanisms that the Secretary has implemented;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" id="H634FBA3B18CC4B1F988AD9AC748EDBA2"><enum>(B)</enum><text>the process
through which the Secretary is resolving appeals by program participants;
and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H9A73E29FAC6C48EA9188ED5581956AA1"><enum>(C)</enum><text>the means by which
the Secretary is tracking adherence to any applicable provisions for payment
eligibility.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H344B1544D7954F68B1EF455C359D9F6D"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Evaluation</header><text>Partners
shall provide to the Secretary—</text>
<paragraph id="HAD3E33EC15254586AFA3397CBF00DF87"><enum>(1)</enum><text>annual performance
reports;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HDBC351189A5040DC82400043ECFE4DE4"><enum>(2)</enum><text>at the end of each
multi-year project, a performance report that describes—</text>
<subparagraph id="H6FF00DAB3D82411E81B300B9ED4A40AC"><enum>(A)</enum><text>the progress that
has been made towards attainment of conservation objectives and landscape-scale
conservation outcomes;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HA21D875D58BF467CB65283AC6FAB162D"><enum>(B)</enum><text>the methods that
have been used to measure progress being made toward attainment of conservation
objectives and landscape-scale conservation outcomes;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H090346FF03FB498D8D1BE7C957543BBB"><enum>(C)</enum><text>the number of
producers who participated; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HF41419CACF9345329733F82E55756671"><enum>(D)</enum><text>the conservation
practices adopted and the frequency of adoption.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph></subsection></section><section id="H90AEC8AA84154400A004C4CA1F129319"><enum>1271F.</enum><header>Critical
conservation areas</header>
<subsection id="HDFA595F0CBB94145BF43E46AED8887CF"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>When administering the funding reserved for critical
conservation areas under section 1271D(d)(2), the Secretary shall select
applications for partnership agreements and producer contracts within critical
conservation areas designated under this section.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="H5B9228CAE59C4CFDA13475A82A573CBD"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Critical
conservation area designations</header>
<paragraph id="H9EC1DC89AE144D3E9344D9DC331FF7EC"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>The Secretary shall designate up to 6 geographical areas
as critical conservation areas based on the degree to which an area—</text>
<subparagraph id="H5BE7EDC5C0214648AF30C3AF9CBDD258"><enum>(A)</enum><text>includes multiple
States with significant agricultural production;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HD7C3AD53B4E849F9B8788EA50BD786CA"><enum>(B)</enum><text>is covered by an
existing regional, State, binational, or multistate agreement or plan that has
established objectives, goals, and work plans and is adopted by a Federal,
State, or regional authority;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H19C5B83F41C44A3EB5929A43C2A12045"><enum>(C)</enum><text>has water quality
concerns, including concerns for reducing erosion, promoting sediment control,
and addressing nutrient management activities affecting large bodies of water
of regional, national, or international significance;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H0585EE9A588B4C499238D21605FB92C1"><enum>(D)</enum><text>has water quantity
concerns, including—</text>
<clause id="H43EA540E2FC749DE99BD2A053D48A525"><enum>(i)</enum><text>concerns for
groundwater, surface water, aquifer, or other water sources; or</text>
</clause><clause id="HED965CC0BDED4E5EADF681B0F254AA73"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>a
need to promote water retention and flood prevention;</text>
</clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H84F18310962F45A8A91C9AC3171EC2F5"><enum>(E)</enum><text>is subject to
regulatory requirements that could reduce the economic scope of agricultural
operations within the area; or</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HDA8B43A9C53340D18CDC3767A5517E8B"><enum>(F)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">is recognized as vital habitat for
migrating wildlife.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="HA3C200B8F2094A968E7046E7F4069517"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Expiration</header><text>Critical
conservation area designations under this section shall expire after 5 years,
subject to redesignation, except that the Secretary may withdraw designation
from an area if the Secretary finds the area no longer meets the conditions
described in paragraph (1).</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H424DF3B4B6294F1AB08BB0A37DB6C23E"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Administration</header>
<paragraph id="H9A9749E0950B4C1EB9EF4EB47D48EE8A"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>Except as provided in paragraph (2), the Secretary shall
administer any partnership agreement or producer contract under this section in
a manner that is consistent with the terms of the program.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HB28F790BBA1B472490234BE8A1EE0F0B"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Relationship to
existing activity</header><text>The Secretary shall, to the maximum extent
practicable, ensure that eligible activities carried out in critical
conservation areas designated under this section complement and are consistent
with other Federal and State programs and water quality and quantity
strategies.</text>
</paragraph></subsection></section></subtitle><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</section></subtitle><enum>II</enum><header>Crop
insurance and disaster assistance</header>
<section id="H0C25D953C8F8441F806012515C2EF3E5" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>2001.</enum><header>Ineligibility for
Federal crop insurance, noninsured crop disaster assistance, and certain
payments because of crop production on native sod</header>
<subsection id="HC02421963AF14435B6A0838A15F69ED2"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Federal crop
insurance Act amendment</header><text>Section 508(o) of the Federal Crop
Insurance Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/7/1508">7 U.S.C. 1508(o)</external-xref>) is amended—</text>
<paragraph id="HABA1235F5C7C42B6A479F7C7CE971736"><enum>(1)</enum><text>in paragraph
(1)(B), by inserting <quote>, or the producer cannot substantiate that the
ground has ever been tilled,</quote> after <quote>tilled</quote>;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H214F38AA642744ED84E44268F60E29DC"><enum>(2)</enum><text>in paragraph
(2)(A), by striking <quote>for benefits under—</quote> and all that follows
through the period at the end and
inserting</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="HBA1827D825E5431B9B956404099342DB" style="OLC">
<text>for—</text><clause id="H28C2B3C1169644819B6CC0381C320259"><enum>(i)</enum><text>a
portion of crop insurance premium subsidies under this subtitle in accordance
with paragraph (3);</text>
</clause><clause id="H45B225DDFDD34ADCB827155E2BC630FC"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>benefits under
section 196 of the Federal Agriculture Improvement and Reform Act of 1996 (7
U.S.C. 7333); and</text>
</clause><clause id="HAAAA7D6233D945FB8CE2D48F1FBBB7AE"><enum>(iii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">payments described in subsection (b) of
section 1001 of the Food Security Act of 1985 (7 U.S.C.
1308).</text>
</clause><after-quoted-block>;
and</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H91545338FE4145159B137E9F50AF07D0"><enum>(3)</enum><text>by striking
paragraph (3) and inserting the following new paragraphs:</text>
<quoted-block id="H2671959B2B5D4630AE4FD54B237C1B56" style="OLC">
<paragraph id="HF0CD5814FF8649148EACA19DF096A1B1"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Administration</header>
<subparagraph id="HB8ACF35130474472A991DA13EDCA220E"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>During the first 4 crop years of planting on native sod
acreage by a producer described in paragraph (2)—</text>
<clause id="HB6E20D9B75414CD4A6027B47D8C57675"><enum>(i)</enum><text>paragraph (2)
shall apply to 65 percent of the transitional yield of the producer; and</text>
</clause><clause id="HC553E9C1FCFD47768930756B72691747"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>the crop
insurance premium subsidy provided for the producer under this subtitle shall
be 50 percentage points less than the premium subsidy that would otherwise
apply.</text>
</clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H7610766E5A3742728AA45C2394CA3533"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Yield
substitution</header><text>During the period native sod acreage is covered by
this subsection, a producer may not substitute yields for the native sod
acreage.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="HE61E66EB844D468296800145B5678B26"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Noninsured crop
disaster assistance amendment</header><text>Section 196(a)(4) of the Federal
Agriculture Improvement and Reform Act of 1996 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/7/7333">7 U.S.C. 7333(a)(4)</external-xref>) is
amended—</text>
<paragraph id="HB378B34D9D504CA7B971939364600A41"><enum>(1)</enum><text>in subparagraph
(A)(ii), by inserting <quote>, or the producer cannot substantiate that the
ground has ever been tilled,</quote> after <quote>tilled</quote>;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H7026A6D4C6034D73901262B19D53C25D"><enum>(2)</enum><text>in subparagraph
(B)—</text>
<subparagraph id="H7036F0889B824B5D8E6733226072B795"><enum>(A)</enum><text>in the
subparagraph heading, by striking <quote><header-in-text level="subparagraph" style="OLC">Ineligibility</header-in-text></quote> and inserting
<quote><header-in-text level="subparagraph" style="OLC">Reduction
in</header-in-text></quote>; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H149A34FDA7054D37A2E78AA60169F9A1"><enum>(B)</enum><text>in clause (i), by
striking <quote>for benefits under—</quote> and all that follows through the
period at the end and
inserting</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="H3E56928BA5EC40E6ACC56EFCF757A807" style="OLC">
<text>for—</text><subclause id="HAFA96C817BD142E882883946926BCF66"><enum>(I)</enum><text>benefits under
this section;</text>
</subclause><subclause id="HEC6F04ADDA424CC4B6381768AA7EB22C"><enum>(II)</enum><text>a portion of crop
insurance premium subsidies under the Federal Crop Insurance Act (7 U.S.C. 1501
et seq.) in accordance with subparagraph (C); and</text>
</subclause><subclause id="HDF84C24D77A64CBB82DA6D7BCAE4066A"><enum>(III)</enum><text>payments
described in subsection (b) of section 1001 of the Food Security Act of 1985 (7
U.S.C. 1308).</text>
</subclause><after-quoted-block>;
and</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="HB23A3B5C81024798ABBC5C500DFE24CF"><enum>(3)</enum><text>by striking
subparagraph (C) and inserting the following new subparagraphs:</text>
<quoted-block id="H111F291D43254B0B95501A9BA9D2B64A" style="OLC">
<subparagraph id="H72DCD21D57F44816B943A2012038D835"><enum>(C)</enum><header>Administration</header>
<clause id="HBDB272615C554F9282E6969A2FF563C1"><enum>(i)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>During the first 4 crop years of planting on native sod
acreage by a producer described in subparagraph (B)—</text>
<subclause id="H07030039BD034149B958252E4A5AEA2B"><enum>(I)</enum><text>subparagraph (B)
shall apply to 65 percent of the transitional yield of the producer; and</text>
</subclause><subclause id="HF6F36442DA344B78AA4D10891BDD0507"><enum>(II)</enum><text>the crop
insurance premium subsidy provided for the producer under the Federal Crop
Insurance Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/7/1501">7 U.S.C. 1501 et seq.</external-xref>) shall be 50 percentage points less than
the premium subsidy that would otherwise apply.</text>
</subclause></clause><clause id="H0843208A05234EE5A7B547158C272F56"><enum>(ii)</enum><header>Yield
substitution</header><text>During the period native sod acreage is covered by
this paragraph, a producer may not substitute yields for the native sod
acreage.</text>
</clause></subparagraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</paragraph></subsection></section><enum>III</enum><header>Repeals and
transitional provisions; technical and conforming amendments; effective
date</header>
<section id="H4F8E887BD2014CA19C7161228FB157E0"><enum>3001.</enum><header>Repeals and
transitional provisions</header>
<subsection display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HCEEF1E2F2E224461AE9ADB012732963C"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Emergency
forestry conservation reserve program</header>
<paragraph id="H6FF2EE0AE4BE4F38ADEBBA7A0327197B"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Repeal</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 1231A of the Food Security Act of
1985 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/3831a">16 U.S.C. 3831a</external-xref>) is repealed.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HED855E662D884A009E535C39FE1EC82C"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Transitional
provisions</header>
<subparagraph id="HF48804FDB9C44F30AF1EB536BE1B1F85"><enum>(A)</enum><header>Effect on
existing contracts</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The
amendment made by this subsection shall not affect the validity or terms of any
contract entered into by the Secretary of Agriculture under section 1231A of
the Food Security Act of 1985 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/3831a">16 U.S.C. 3831a</external-xref>) before October 1, 2013, or any
payments required to be made in connection with the contract.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" id="HA5A7DA99B0E84052B752E8644A1BB63D"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Funding</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Secretary may use funds made available
to carry out the agricultural conservation easement program under subtitle H of
title XII of the Food Security Act of 1985, as added by section 1801 of this
Act, to continue to carry out contracts referred to in subparagraph (A) using
the provisions of law and regulation applicable to such contracts as in
existence on September 30, 2013.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H5DD363E0A1BC45DC8B029861B483135E"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Wetlands reserve
program</header>
<paragraph id="HD69600D687AD4EA4BCEC4DBEC0046CD0"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Repeal</header><text>Subchapter
C of chapter 1 of subtitle D of title XII of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16
U.S.C. 3837 et seq.) is repealed.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HCFDDDA712A79433D9058141A8FBFFA0B"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Transitional
provisions</header>
<subparagraph id="H65141E7B3AC84733A72D786873C4F1C6"><enum>(A)</enum><header>Effect on
existing contracts and easements</header><text>The amendment made by this
subsection shall not affect the validity or terms of any contract or easement
entered into by the Secretary of Agriculture under subchapter C of chapter 1 of
subtitle D of title XII of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3837 et
seq.) before October 1, 2013, or any payments required to be made in connection
with the contract or easement.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HFFE91D35B71048EA820CBF361D589FBE"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Funding</header>
<clause id="H533F5B059F6747A697D8ACCF78ACD85C"><enum>(i)</enum><header>Use of prior
year funds</header><text>Notwithstanding the repeal of subchapter C of chapter
1 of subtitle D of title XII of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3837
et seq.), any funds made available from the Commodity Credit Corporation to
carry out the wetlands reserve program under that subchapter for fiscal years
2009 through 2013 shall be made available to carry out contracts or easements
referred to in subparagraph (A) that were entered into prior to October 1, 2013
(including the provision of technical assistance), provided that no such
contract or easement is modified so as to increase the amount of the payment
received.</text>
</clause><clause id="HFB4495C759DC4933B9656DB42B197C32"><enum>(ii)</enum><header>Other</header><text>The
Secretary may use funds made available to carry out the agricultural
conservation easement program under subtitle H of title XII of the Food
Security Act of 1985, as added by section 1801 of this Act, to continue to
carry out contracts and easements referred to in subparagraph (A) using the
provisions of law and regulation applicable to such contracts and easements as
in existence on September 30, 2013.</text>
</clause></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="HC969F5AC9628435D93621FBBE97525B9"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Farmland
protection program and farm viability program</header>
<paragraph id="H8885BBAD14824BD3A6A53A5058627144"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Repeal</header><text>Subchapter
C of chapter 2 of subtitle D of title XII of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16
U.S.C. 3838h et seq.) is repealed.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HC69796394CA14015BD38A718C7F60512"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Transitional
provisions</header>
<subparagraph id="H2FF88D39A5C849CEA6DA4CF114872C10"><enum>(A)</enum><header>Effect on
existing agreements and easements</header><text>The amendment made by this
subsection shall not affect the validity or terms of any agreement or easement
entered into by the Secretary of Agriculture under subchapter C of chapter 2 of
subtitle D of title XII of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3838h et
seq.) before October 1, 2013, or any payments required to be made in connection
with the agreement or easement.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HAA13E3B49B6C44ECBFA8CF7FA7119FD2"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Funding</header>
<clause id="H2F1D505F9613466D9E1E58FFA017D031"><enum>(i)</enum><header>Use of prior
year funds</header><text>Notwithstanding the repeal of subchapter C of chapter
2 of subtitle D of title XII of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3838h
et seq.), any funds made available from the Commodity Credit Corporation to
carry out the farmland protection program under that subchapter for fiscal
years 2009 through 2013 shall be made available to carry out agreements and
easements referred to in subparagraph (A) that were entered into prior to
October 1, 2013 (including the provision of technical assistance).</text>
</clause><clause id="H310530B90EFE4CE3B12714C9DB3BF9AE"><enum>(ii)</enum><header>Other</header><text>On
exhaustion of funds made available under clause (i), the Secretary may use
funds made available to carry out the agricultural conservation easement
program under subtitle H of title XII of the Food Security Act of 1985, as
added by section 1801 of this Act, to continue to carry out agreements and
easements referred to in subparagraph (A) using the provisions of law and
regulation applicable to such agreements and easements as in existence on
September 30, 2013.</text>
</clause></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HA5E38C1FAD1045FFB30AFB9E08D26358"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Grassland
reserve program</header>
<paragraph id="H106A2148E25D493C82B06B58294B83E9"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Repeal</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Subchapter D of chapter 2 of subtitle D of
title XII of the Food Security Act of 1985 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/3838n">16 U.S.C. 3838n et seq.</external-xref>) is
repealed.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HB0F0164803CB4AB2BF6789FDE5F32F6A"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Transitional
provisions</header>
<subparagraph id="H61AC87E70CB34A9DA15747B616991995"><enum>(A)</enum><header>Effect on
existing contracts, agreements, and easements</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The amendment made by this subsection shall
not affect the validity or terms of any contract, agreement, or easement
entered into by the Secretary of Agriculture under subchapter D of chapter 2 of
subtitle D of title XII of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3838n et
seq.) before October 1, 2013, or any payments required to be made in connection
with the contract, agreement, or easement.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HFA6B16C3C0DB4F59B9F4D56C70397864"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Funding</header>
<clause id="H5B0C9199DE71486B9435B5F417B8462F"><enum>(i)</enum><header>Use of prior
year funds</header><text>Notwithstanding the repeal of subchapter D of chapter
2 of subtitle D of title XII of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3838n
et seq.), any funds made available from the Commodity Credit Corporation to
carry out the grassland reserve program under that subchapter for fiscal years
2009 through 2013 shall be made available to carry out contracts, agreements,
or easements referred to in subparagraph (A) that were entered into prior to
October 1, 2013 (including the provision of technical assistance), provided
that no such contract, agreement, or easement is modified so as to increase the
amount of the payment received.</text>
</clause><clause id="H53B71DAA98944067AA4AE35C319E289F"><enum>(ii)</enum><header>Other</header><text>The
Secretary may use funds made available to carry out the agricultural
conservation easement program under subtitle H of title XII of the Food
Security Act of 1985, as added by section 1801 of this Act, to continue to
carry out contracts, agreements, and easements referred to in subparagraph (A)
using the provisions of law and regulation applicable to such contracts,
agreements, and easements as in existence on September 30, 2013.</text>
</clause></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" id="HC7B8763477D44D32891687E7F3A9C6FA"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Environmental
easement program</header><text>Chapter 3 of subtitle D of title XII of the Food
Security Act of 1985 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/3839">16 U.S.C. 3839 et seq.</external-xref>) is repealed.</text>
</subsection><subsection display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HC06CB65F17F749ABA64DFD66C102A5EC"><enum>(f)</enum><header>Conservation
innovation grants and payments</header>
<paragraph id="H5FC1FA3AFB8E4ECF9E065A266C754E7E"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Repeal</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 1240H of the Food Security Act of
1985 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/3839aa-8">16 U.S.C. 3839aa–8</external-xref>) is repealed.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HBD3C2009DE4B4BE9ACB407E8EB4D9065"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Transitional
provisions</header>
<subparagraph id="H2AD7040924784292816ED424184DFDE3"><enum>(A)</enum><header>Effect on
existing contracts</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The
amendment made by this subsection shall not affect the validity or terms of any
contract entered into by the Secretary of Agriculture under section 1240H of
the Food Security Act of 1985 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/3839aa-8">16 U.S.C. 3839aa–8</external-xref>) before October 1, 2013, or
any payments required to be made in connection with the contract.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" id="HA3CB560A8C1748ABADD97DC7B5FA7CAF"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Funding</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Secretary may use funds made available
to carry out conservation innovation grants and payments under section 1240S of
title XII of the Food Security Act of 1985, as added by section 1601 of this
Act, to continue to carry out contracts referred to in subparagraph (A) using
the provisions of law and regulation applicable to such contracts as they
existed on September 30, 2013.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HB9DA8C9FC5514EB296D7F54D13939295"><enum>(g)</enum><header>Agricultural
water enhancement program</header>
<paragraph id="HF1EBC03AEB6C4497B8B8A5D23D29E4C2"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Repeal</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 1240I of the Food Security Act of
1985 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/3839aa-9">16 U.S.C. 3839aa–9</external-xref>) is repealed.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H78671EABE5E446A2A4CEAA2BDBA1DA81"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Transitional
provisions</header>
<subparagraph id="H250E14893F464D27B9066AA7D4A49B5A"><enum>(A)</enum><header>Effect on
existing contracts and agreements</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The amendment made by this subsection shall
not affect the validity or terms of any contract or agreement entered into by
the Secretary of Agriculture under section 1240I of the Food Security Act of
1985 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/3839aa-9">16 U.S.C. 3839aa–9</external-xref>) before October 1, 2013, or any payments required to
be made in connection with the contract or agreement.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HD3CAB2B4A6F149AEB68D56B108854E9D"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Funding</header>
<clause id="HD01160D17B174177A4CBBD8F35FBF1F5"><enum>(i)</enum><header>Use of prior
year funds</header><text>Notwithstanding the repeal of section 1240I of the
Food Security Act of 1985 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/3839aa-9">16 U.S.C. 3839aa–9</external-xref>), any funds made available from
the Commodity Credit Corporation to carry out the agricultural water
enhancement program under that section for fiscal years 2009 through 2013 shall
be made available to carry out contracts and agreements referred to in
subparagraph (A) that were entered into prior to October 1, 2013 (including the
provision of technical assistance).</text>
</clause><clause commented="no" id="H69F7C0A99AD047C9B475BF50485E0545"><enum>(ii)</enum><header>Other</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">On exhaustion of funds made available under
clause (i), the Secretary may use funds made available to carry out the
agricultural conservation easement program under subtitle H of title XII of the
Food Security Act of 1985, as added by section 1801 of this Act, to continue to
carry out contracts and agreements referred to in subparagraph (A) using the
provisions of law and regulation applicable to such contracts and agreements as
in existence on September 30, 2013.</text>
</clause></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HE18FF5D7D0D044DE92C1A33B3397C7DB"><enum>(h)</enum><header>Wildlife habitat
incentive program</header>
<paragraph id="H010859D8BEA843C6916040F890DDD4E7"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Repeal</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 1240N of the Food Security Act of
1985 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/3839bb-1">16 U.S.C. 3839bb–1</external-xref>) is repealed.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H88BCC88ADEC241EBBC2D3C5532D5F869"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Transitional
provisions</header>
<subparagraph id="H4B61FFD14778440CB6556670DFC4174D"><enum>(A)</enum><header>Effect on
existing contracts</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The
amendment made by this subsection shall not affect the validity or terms of any
contract entered into by the Secretary of Agriculture under section 1240N of
the Food Security Act of 1985 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/3839bb-1">16 U.S.C. 3839bb–1</external-xref>) before October 1, 2013, or
any payments required to be made in connection with the contract.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H35F85A1DA86340B8A9B2AC6EAED0B7E3"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Funding</header>
<clause id="H3E1CF08D0799439BBCC1B399EDA17645"><enum>(i)</enum><header>Use of prior
year funds</header><text>Notwithstanding the repeal of section 1240N of the
Food Security Act of 1985 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/3839bb-1">16 U.S.C. 3839bb–1</external-xref>), any funds made available from
the Commodity Credit Corporation to carry out the wildlife habitat incentive
program under that section for fiscal years 2009 through 2013 shall be made
available to carry out contracts referred to in subparagraph (A) which were
entered into prior to October 1, 2013 (including the provision of technical
assistance).</text>
</clause><clause id="HF21FF2DF356C4FF1B34FF4FEBB286A5B"><enum>(ii)</enum><header>Other</header><text>On
exhaustion of funds made available under clause (i), the Secretary may use
funds made available to carry out the environmental quality incentives program
under chapter 4 of subtitle D of title XII of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16
U.S.C. 3839aa et seq.) to continue to carry out contracts referred to in
subparagraph (A) using the provisions of law and regulation applicable to such
contracts as in existence on September 30, 2013.</text>
</clause></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="HC2FB4663678648BFB3AED3C2A2BFB057"><enum>(i)</enum><header>Great Lakes
basin program</header><text>Section 1240P of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16
U.S.C. 3839bb–3) is repealed.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="HEAB89A3F98A14FB892F52AE1B82F5A71"><enum>(j)</enum><header>Chesapeake Bay
watershed program</header>
<paragraph id="HFC45532685F6415B8B99A6881ECA3041"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Repeal</header><text>Section
1240Q of the Food Security Act of 1985 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/3839bb-4">16 U.S.C. 3839bb–4</external-xref>) is repealed.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HA03B62D3E57F4824901731D8D427DE18"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Transitional
provisions</header>
<subparagraph id="HF52702D40C38450A963980798DBB3EAA"><enum>(A)</enum><header>Effect on
existing contracts, agreements, and easements</header><text>The amendment made
by this subsection shall not affect the validity or terms of any contract,
agreement, or easement entered into by the Secretary of Agriculture under
section 1240Q of the Food Security Act of 1985 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/3839bb-4">16 U.S.C. 3839bb–4</external-xref>) before
October 1, 2013, or any payments required to be made in connection with the
contract, agreement, or easement.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H6C905FE12FDB4C70820C63A89369433F"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Funding</header>
<clause id="H1D3A1BE3900B4650AFB8F9B5C0B0A738"><enum>(i)</enum><header>Use of prior
year funds</header><text>Notwithstanding the repeal of section 1240Q of the
Food Security Act of 1985 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/3839bb-4">16 U.S.C. 3839bb–4</external-xref>), any funds made available from
the Commodity Credit Corporation to carry out the Chesapeake Bay watershed
program under that section for fiscal years 2009 through 2013 shall be made
available to carry out contracts, agreements, and easements referred to in
subparagraph (A) that were entered into prior to October 1, 2013 (including the
provision of technical assistance).</text>
</clause><clause id="H05E9AF5AD4B04C419D11FE3CD35C0E61"><enum>(ii)</enum><header>Other</header><text>The
Secretary may use funds made available to carry out the regional conservation
partnership program under subtitle I of title XII of the Food Security Act of
1985, as added by section 1901 of this Act, to continue to carry out contracts,
agreements, and easements referred to in subparagraph (A) using the provisions
of law and regulation applicable to such contracts, agreements, and easements
as in existence on September 30, 2013.</text>
</clause></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="HE04A495754E7443DA9E9382495FC0654"><enum>(k)</enum><header>Cooperative
conservation partnership initiative</header>
<paragraph id="H5DF6522639424944A41457DE8AFB533A"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Repeal</header><text>Section
1243 of the Food Security Act of 1985 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/3843">16 U.S.C. 3843</external-xref>) is repealed.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H30173DB9698E4D63B36310B10742DD1A"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Transitional
provisions</header>
<subparagraph id="H4059F8D6E58E487F8ACF80ADF5B25578"><enum>(A)</enum><header>Effect on
existing contracts and agreements</header><text>The amendment made by this
subsection shall not affect the validity or terms of any contract or agreement
entered into by the Secretary of Agriculture under section 1243 of the Food
Security Act of 1985 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/3843">16 U.S.C. 3843</external-xref>) before October 1, 2013, or any payments
required to be made in connection with the contract or agreement.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H1178EF2DA4F04DD0B8A77FF1E6C77394"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Funding</header>
<clause id="H0095EE4EED6D407692320F4FCD4E5C45"><enum>(i)</enum><header>Use of prior
year funds</header><text>Notwithstanding the repeal of section 1243 of the Food
Security Act of 1985 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/3843">16 U.S.C. 3843</external-xref>), any funds made available from the
Commodity Credit Corporation to carry out the cooperative conservation
partnership initiative under that section for fiscal years 2009 through 2013
shall be made available to carry out contracts and agreements referred to in
subparagraph (A) that were entered into prior to October 1, 2013 (including the
provision of technical assistance).</text>
</clause><clause id="H0BAD1F5EB1934622828D3F58E7D85F3E"><enum>(ii)</enum><header>Other</header><text>On
exhaustion of funds made available under clause (i), the Secretary may use
funds made available to carry out the regional conservation partnership program
under subtitle I of title XII of the Food Security Act of 1985, as added by
section 1901 of this Act, to continue to carry out contracts and agreements
referred to in subparagraph (A) using the provisions of law and regulation
applicable to such contracts and agreements as in existence on September 30,
2013.</text>
</clause></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="HC43F4C177B3B4CFB97B5AEC9D137EE87"><enum>(l)</enum><header>Desert terminal
lakes program</header>
<paragraph id="H960B66F367274E11A8CE27EA40307205"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Repeal</header><text>Section
2507 of the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 (43 U.S.C. 2211
note) is repealed.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="HCD79A055661F4A8BAA76A6991826802C"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Transitional
provisions</header>
<subparagraph commented="no" id="H14B3BFA762054E039541F9D30D0E3C1B"><enum>(A)</enum><header>Effect on
existing contracts</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The
amendment made by this subsection shall not affect the validity or terms of any
contract entered into by the Secretary of Agriculture under section 2507 of the
Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/43/2211">43 U.S.C. 2211</external-xref> note) before
October 1, 2013, or any payments required to be made in connection with the
contract.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" id="H76D881D742684A11AA689DD579A34FBF"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Funding</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Secretary may use funds made available
to carry out the agricultural conservation easement program under subtitle H of
title XII of the Food Security Act of 1985, as added by section 1801 of this
Act, to continue to carry out contracts referred to in subparagraph (A) using
the provisions of law and regulation applicable to such contracts as in
existence on September 30, 2013.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph></subsection></section><section id="H97EE00C23A554C15A4B0AC6D50FAA743"><enum>3002.</enum><header>Technical and
conforming amendments</header>
<subsection id="H7AACB68248AF49F2AA3BED90BAAEACF9"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Definitions</header><text>Section
1201(a) of the Food Security Act of 1985 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/3801">16 U.S.C. 3801(a)</external-xref>) is amended in the
matter preceding paragraph (1) by inserting <quote>, H, and I</quote> after
<quote>E</quote>.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="H654C46D78655453185B5035A1125F454"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Priority
resource concern</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The
following sections of the Food Security Act of 1985 are amended by inserting
<quote>priority</quote> before <quote>resource concerns</quote>:</text>
<paragraph id="H6BCE75B331164D6E96EC691B54B9DCE9"><enum>(1)</enum><text>Section
1238A(e)(4)(B)(ii) (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/3838a">16 U.S.C. 3838a(e)(4)(B)(ii)</external-xref>).</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H795B532ED3454078A00AF8D0678C0B0B"><enum>(2)</enum><text>Section
1238D(3)(A) (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/3838d">16 U.S.C. 3838d(3)(A)</external-xref>).</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H127A227F188840D6A600393622280631"><enum>(3)</enum><text>Section
1240A(1)(B)(vi) (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/3839aa-1">16 U.S.C. 3839aa–1(1)(B)(vi)</external-xref>).</text>
</paragraph></subsection></section><section id="H5DED4B0BBC3F4796A5467C8AB838BFF4"><enum>3003.</enum><header>Effective
date</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">This Act, and the
amendments made by this Act, shall take effect on October 1, 2013.</text>
</section>