Conservation innovation grants and payments

Section 1240H of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3939aa–8) is amended—(1)in subsection (a)(1)—(A)by striking pay the cost of and inserting award;(B)by inserting the development and evaluation of new and before innovative approaches; and(C)by inserting , including for the purpose of incorporating innovation and new technologies into existing conservation practice standards or establishing new conservation practice standards before the period at the end; and(2)in subsection (d)(2)(A)—(A)in clause (i)—(i)by striking practices and inserting practices, including both management and structural practices,; and(ii)by striking and at the end;(B)by redesignating clause (ii) as clause (iii);(C)by inserting after clause (i) the following:

(ii)evaluation data for new and emerging technology and recommendations for State and regional applications; and

; and

(D)in clause (iii) (as so redesignated), by striking practices. and inserting practices for consideration through the process established under section 1242(h)(3)..

Establishment and review of conservation practice standards

Section 1242(h) of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3842(h)) is amended—(1)in the subsection heading, by inserting

Establishment and

before

Review

;(2)in paragraph (1)—(A)in subparagraph (A)—(i)by striking not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 and inserting not less frequently than once every 5 years;(ii)by inserting on a rolling basis, after standard,; and(iii)by striking that Act and inserting the Streamlining Conservation Practice Standards Act of 2023;(B)in subparagraph (C), by striking and at the end;(C)in subparagraph (D), by striking the period at the end and inserting a semicolon; and(D)by adding at the end the following:

(E)provide an opportunity for public input on each conservation practice standard under review;(F)publicly post a summary of comments received under subparagraph (E) and decisions made or not made due to those comments; and(G)publish each revised conservation practice standard.

;

(3)by striking paragraph (3) and inserting the following:

(3)

Establishment of conservation practice standards

(A)

In general

Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of the Streamlining Conservation Practice Standards Act of 2023, the Secretary shall—(i)develop, for the programs under this title, a streamlined, publicly accessible, administrative process for establishing, including proposing, reviewing, and adopting, interim conservation practice standards and conservation practice standards; and (ii)publish a detailed description of the process developed under clause (i), including—(I)specific thresholds appropriate for expedited review; and (II)an associated timeline for the implementation of the review.(B)

Requirements

Under the process established under subparagraph (A), the Secretary shall—(i)consider conservation innovations and scientific and technological advancements, including from projects developed under section 1240H;(ii)allow State and local flexibility in the creation of—(I)interim conservation practice standards and supplements to existing conservation practice standards to address the considerations described in clause (i); and (II)partnership-led proposals for new and innovative techniques to facilitate implementing agreements and grants under this title; (iii)solicit regular input from State technical committees established under section 1261(a) for recommendations that identify innovations or advancements described in clause (i); and(iv)allow for public submission of conservation practices for consideration as interim conservation practice standards.(C)

Priority updates

The Secretary shall prioritize the review of proposed interim conservation practice standards and conservation practice standards under the process established under subparagraph (A) that—(i)address underused conservation practice standards, including the Nutrient Management Standard; and(ii)reduce the use of synthetic chemicals and fertilizers. (D)

Public information

Under the process established under subparagraph (A), the Secretary shall make publicly available information describing—(i)what constitutes—(I)a conservation practice standard; and (II)an interim conservation practice standard;(ii)the process by which the public can submit to the Secretary conservation practices for consideration as interim conservation practice standards, including a template and written instructions for how to submit a conservation practice for consideration;(iii)the data, metrics, third-party or scientific information, and other relevant information that the Secretary needs to consider in the establishment of interim conservation practice standards;(iv)the process by which an interim conservation practice standard becomes a conservation practice standard;(v)the means by which the public can engage State technical committees established under section 1261(a) to consider interim conservation practice standards already in effect in other States; and (vi)such other information as the Secretary determines to be appropriate.

; and

(4)in paragraph (4)—(A)in the matter preceding subparagraph (A)—(i)by striking Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 and inserting

Streamlining Conservation Practice Standards Act of 2023

; and(ii)by striking Congress a report on— and inserting Congress and make publicly available on a website of the Department of Agriculture a report describing—;(B)in subparagraph (A), by inserting a detailed description of before the administrative;(C)in subparagraph (B)—(i)by striking or revised; and(ii)by striking and at the end; (D)in subparagraph (C), by striking the period at the end and inserting ; and; and(E)by adding at the end the following:

(D)such other information as the Secretary determines to be appropriate with respect to improving the process for reviewing and establishing conservation practice standards.