Sec. 231. Improvements to the regional conservation partnership program
1,059 words·~5 min read·
/bill/115/hr/4425/ih/section-231A research copy — for the controlling text, always check the official state or federal source. Not legal advice.
Section 1271(b) of the Food Security Act of 1985 ( 16 U.S.C. 3871(b) ) is amended— in paragraph (1), by striking use covered programs to ; and by striking paragraph
(3)and inserting the following new paragraphs: To encourage eligible partners to cooperate with producers in implementing projects that enhance and protect the health and quality of life of individuals in the United States by— enhancing and protecting the quality and quantity of source water (as that term is used in the Safe Drinking Water Act ( 42 U.S.C. 300f et seq.)); reducing the use of antibiotics and pesticides in crop and livestock production; enhancing opportunities for natural-resource-based recreation by improving water quality and fish and wildlife habitat; and addressing other opportunities to improve public health and quality of life, as determined by the Secretary. To avoid, to the maximum extent practicable, the need for statutory and regulatory programs related to the conservation of natural resources by assisting producers in protecting soil, water, air, and related natural resources and in meeting environmental quality criteria established by Federal, State, tribal, and local governmental agencies. . Section 1271A of the Food Security Act of 1985 ( 16 U.S.C. 3871a ) is amended— by striking paragraph (1); in paragraph (2), by striking subparagraph
(A)and inserting the following new subparagraph: Water quality restoration or enhancement projects relating to the quality of surface water and groundwater used to supply drinking water by community water systems and domestic wells, including projects that— improve the management of crops and livestock production systems to avoid or control runoff and leaching of farm chemicals and manure; change (including through diversifying) the agricultural practices, including crop rotations; and trap or capture pollutants before the pollutants enter surface water or ground water. ; and by redesignating paragraphs
(2)through
(6)as paragraphs
(1)through (5), respectively. Section 1271B of the Food Security Act of 1985 ( 16 U.S.C. 3871b ) is amended— in subsection (b), by striking a period not to exceed and all that follows through the period at the end and inserting a period of at least 10 years, but shall not exceed 15 years. ; in subsection (c)(1)— by redesignating subparagraphs
(A)through
(F)as subparagraphs
(B)through (G); by inserting before subparagraph
(B)(as so redesignated) the following new subparagraph: complete natural resource and watershed assessments to effectively support planning and implementation of the proposed project that is the subject of the agreement; ; and in subparagraph
(F)(as redesignated by subparagraph (A)), by inserting monitor results and before conduct ; and in subsection (d)— in paragraph (3), in subparagraph (C), by striking , including the covered programs to be used and estimated funding needed from the Secretary ; and in paragraph (4)— in subparagraph (E), by striking or ; in subparagraph (F), by striking the period at the end and inserting ; or ; and by adding at the end the following: enhance the quality of surface water and groundwater used to supply drinking water by community water systems (as defined in the Safe Drinking Water Act) and domestic wells. . Section 1271C of the Food Security Act of 1985 ( 16 U.S.C. 3871c ) is amended— in subsection (a), by striking assistance to and all that follows through of an eligible partner. and inserting the following: assistance, under the programs under this subtitle, to producers proposing to implement conservation activities that meet the objectives of the partnership agreement entered into under section 1271B. ; by striking subsection
(b)and inserting the following new subsection: For the purposes of providing assistance for land described in subsection
(a)and section 1271F, the Secretary may enter into alternative funding arrangements with a multistate water resource agency or authority if— the Secretary determines that the goals and objectives of the program will be met by the alternative funding arrangements; the agency or authority certifies that the limitations established under this section on agreements with individual producers will not be exceeded; and all participating producers meet applicable payment eligibility provisions. As a condition of receiving funding under paragraph (1), the multistate water resource agency or authority shall agree— to submit an annual independent audit to the Secretary that describes the use of funds under this paragraph; to provide any data necessary for the Secretary to issue a report on the use of funds under this paragraph; and not to use any of the funds provided pursuant to paragraph
(1)for administration or to provide for administrative costs through contracts with another entity. The Secretary may enter into not more than 20 alternative funding arrangements under this subsection. ; and in subsection (c)— in paragraph (1), by striking In accordance with statutory requirements of the covered programs involved, the Secretary and inserting The Secretary ; and in paragraph (2)— in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by striking a period of 5 years and inserting a period of at least 10 years, but that does not exceed 15 years ; in subparagraph (A), by striking and at the end; in subparagraph (B), by striking the period at the end and inserting ; and ; and by adding at the end the following new subparagraph: to producers participating in a project involving an activity described in section 1271A(2)(A). . Section 1271D of the Food Security Act of 1985 ( 16 U.S.C. 3871d ) is amended— in subsection (a), by striking each of fiscal years 2014 through 2018 and inserting fiscal year 2018 and $500,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2019 through 2023 ; by amending subsection
(c)to read as follows: Of the funds made available for the program under subsection (a), the Secretary shall allocate 10 percent to eligible partners to share the cost of implementing the duties under section 1271B(c). ; and in subsection (d), in the matter preceding paragraph (1)— by striking and acres ; and by striking and reserved for the program under subsection
(c). Section 1271F(b)(1)(C) of the Food Security Act of 1985 ( 16 U.S.C. 3871f(b)(1)(C) ) is amended by inserting enhancing the quality of surface water and groundwater used to supply drinking water by community water systems (as defined in the Safe Drinking Water Act) and domestic wells, after sediment control, . The amendments made by this section shall apply with respect to partnership agreements entered into on or after October 1, 2018.
Connectionstraces to 7
Citation graph
cites case law
Sec. 231
Improvements to the regional conservation partnership program
Cites 7Cited by 0 across 0 sources