16 U.S.C. § 3844
Administrative requirements for conservation programs
Nothing in this section affects the availability of payment information (including payment amounts and the names and addresses of recipients of payments) under section 552 of title 5.
The Secretary may release or disclose to the Attorney General information covered by paragraph (1) to the extent necessary to enforce the natural resources conservation programs referred to in paragraph (1)(B)(i).
The Secretary may release or disclose information covered by paragraph (1) to a person or Federal, State, local, or tribal agency working in cooperation with the Secretary in providing technical and financial assistance described in paragraph (1)(B)(i) or collecting information from data gathering sites.
An owner, operator, or producer may consent to the disclosure of information described in paragraph (1).
The participation of the owner, operator, or producer in, and the receipt of any benefit by the owner, operator, or producer under, this chapter or any other program administered by the Secretary may not be conditioned on the owner, operator, or producer providing consent under this paragraph.
Section 2276(c) of title 7 shall apply with respect to the release of information collected in any manner or for any purpose prohibited by this subsection.
Except for a person who is a tenant on land that is subject to a conservation reserve contract that has been extended by the Secretary, the Secretary shall provide adequate safeguards to protect the interests of tenants and sharecroppers, including provision for sharing, on a fair and equitable basis, in payments under the programs established under subchapters II through IV, VII, and VIII.
In the preparation and application of a conservation compliance plan under subchapter II or similar plan required as a condition for assistance from the Department of Agriculture, the Secretary shall permit persons to secure technical assistance from approved sources, as determined by the Secretary, other than the Natural Resources Conservation Service. If the Secretary rejects a technical determination made by such a source, the basis of the Secretary’s determination must be supported by documented evidence.
The Secretary shall not enroll more than 25 percent of the cropland in any county in the conservation reserve program established under subpart B of part I of subchapter IV and wetland reserve easements under section 3865c of this title.
Not more than 15 percent of the cropland in a county may be subject to a wetland reserve easement under section 3865c of this title.
The Secretary may grant a waiver to exclude acreage enrolled under section 3831a of this title from the limitations in paragraph (1)(A) with the concurrence of the county government of the county involved.
The limitations established under paragraph (1) shall not apply to cropland that is subject to an easement under subpart B of part I of subchapter IV that is used for the establishment of shelterbelts and windbreaks.
For the purposes of enrolling land in a wetland reserve easement under section 3865c of this title, the limitations established under paragraph (1) shall not apply to cropland designated by the Secretary with subclass w in the land capability classes IV through VIII because of severe use limitations due to soil saturation or inundation.
In calculating the percentages described in paragraph (1), the Secretary shall include any acreage that was included in calculations of percentages made under such paragraph, as in effect on the day before
In carrying out each conservation program under this chapter, the Secretary shall ensure that the application process used by producers and landowners is streamlined to minimize complexity and eliminate redundancy.
The Secretary shall carry out a review of the application forms and processes for each conservation program covered by this subsection.
Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a written notification of completion of the requirements of this subsection.
In carrying out any conservation program administered by the Secretary, the Secretary shall encourage practices that relate to water quality and water quantity that protect source water for drinking water (including protecting against public health threats) while also benefitting agricultural producers.
An increased payment under subparagraph (A)(ii) shall not exceed 90 percent of practice costs associated with planning, design, materials, equipment, installation, labor, management, maintenance, or training.
In each of fiscal years 2019 through 2031, the Secretary shall use to carry out this subsection not less than 10 percent of any funds available for conservation programs administered by the Secretary under this chapter (other than the conservation reserve program established under subpart B of part I of subchapter IV).
Funds available for a specific conservation program shall not be transferred to fund a different conservation program under this chapter.
The Secretary may not prohibit, through a contract, easement, or agreement under this chapter, a participant in a conservation program administered by the Secretary under this chapter from participating in, and receiving compensation from, an environmental services market if 1 of the purposes of the market is the facilitation of additional conservation benefits that are consistent with the purposes of the conservation program administered by the Secretary.
Section 2279(e) of title 7, referred to in subsec. (a)(2)(E), was redesignated section 2279(a) of title 7 by Pub. L. 115–334, title XII, § 12301(b)(3),
This chapter, referred to in subsecs. (b)(2)(D)(ii), (i)(1), (j)(1)(A), (k), (l), (n)(3), and (o), was in the original “this title”, meaning title XII of Pub. L. 99–198, which enacted this chapter and former section 2005a of this title and amended sections 590g, 2004, 2005, 2006, and 2009 of this title, sections 4207 and 4209 of Title 7, Agriculture, and provisions set out as a note under section 1981 of Title 7.
The date of enactment of the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008, referred to in subsec. (i)(3), is the date of enactment of Pub. L. 110–246, which was approved
This Act, referred to in subsec. (l)(1), is Pub. L. 99–198,
The Agricultural Act of 1949, referred to in subsec. (l)(2), is act Oct. 31, 1949, ch. 792, 63 Stat. 1051, which is classified principally to chapter 35A (§ 1421 et seq.) of Title 7, Agriculture. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under section 1421 of Title 7 and Tables.
The Agricultural Act of 2014, referred to in subsec. (l)(3), is Pub. L. 113–79,
The text of section 3843(a), (c), and (d) of this title, which was transferred to this section and redesignated as subsecs. (c), (d), and (e), respectively, by Pub. L. 110–246, § 2707(a), was based on Pub. L. 99–198, title XII, § 1243(a), (c), (d), as added Pub. L. 104–127, title III, § 341,
Pub. L. 110–234 and Pub. L. 110–246 made identical amendments to this section. The amendments by Pub. L. 110–234 were repealed by section 4(a) of Pub. L. 110–246.
A prior section 3844, Pub. L. 99–198, title XII, § 1244,
2022—Subsec. (n)(3)(A). Pub. L. 117–169 substituted “2031” for “2023”.
2018—Subsec. (b)(4)(B). Pub. L. 115–334, § 2821(f), substituted “Government Accountability Office” for “General Accounting Office”.
Subsec. (c)(3). Pub. L. 115–334, § 2301(d)(1)(K), inserted “subpart A of” before “part IV”.
Subsec. (f)(1)(B). Pub. L. 115–334, § 2503(a)(1), substituted “15 percent” for “10 percent”.
Subsec. (f)(3). Pub. L. 115–334, § 2202(b)(2), substituted “section 3831a” for “subsection (d)(2)(A)(ii) or (g)(2) of section 3834”.
Subsec. (f)(5). Pub. L. 115–334, § 2503(a)(2), substituted “
Subsecs. (j), (k). Pub. L. 115–334, § 2503(b)(2), (3), added subsec. (j) and redesignated former subsec. (j) as (k). Former subsec. (k) redesignated (l).
Subsec. (l). Pub. L. 115–334, § 2503(b)(2), redesignated subsec. (k) as (l). Former subsec. (l) redesignated (m).
Pub. L. 115–334, § 2301(d)(1)(L), substituted “subpart B of part IV of subchapter IV” for “subpart B of part II of subchapter IV” and “subpart A of part IV of subchapter IV” for “part IV of subchapter IV”.
Subsec. (m). Pub. L. 115–334, § 2503(c), designated existing provisions as introductory provisions and pars. (1) and (3) and added par. (2), substituted “shall” for “may” in introductory provisions and “arrangements;” for “arrangements, and that” in par. (1), and inserted “, except that the Secretary may approve a waiver if the Secretary is authorized to approve a waiver under the statutory authority of the applicable program” before period at end of par. (3).
Pub. L. 115–334, § 2503(b)(2), redesignated subsec. (l) as (m).
Pub. L. 115–334, § 2503(b)(1), struck out subsec. (m) which related to exemption from certain reporting requirements.
Pub. L. 115–141 added subsec. (m).
Subsec. (n). Pub. L. 115–334, § 2503(d), added subsec. (n).
Subsec. (o). Pub. L. 115–334, § 2503(e), added subsec. (o).
Subsec. (p). Pub. L. 115–334, § 2503(f), added subsec. (p).
2014—Subsec. (a)(2)(E). Pub. L. 113–79, § 2606(1), added subpar. (E).
Subsec. (c)(1). Pub. L. 113–79, § 2301(b)(1)(A), inserted “and” after semicolon in subpar. (A), struck out “and” after semicolon in subpar. (B), and struck out subpar. (C) which read as follows: “the wetlands reserve program established under subpart C of part I of subchapter IV; and”.
Subsec. (c)(2), (3). Pub. L. 113–79, § 2301(b)(1)(B), (C), added par. (2) and redesignated former par. (2) as (3).
Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 113–79, § 2606(2), inserted “, VII, and VIII” before period at end.
Subsec. (f)(1)(A). Pub. L. 113–79, § 2301(b)(2)(A)(i), substituted “conservation reserve program established under subpart B of part I of subchapter IV and wetland reserve easements under section 3865c of this title” for “programs administered under subparts B and C of part I of subchapter IV”.
Subsec. (f)(1)(B). Pub. L. 113–79, § 2606(3)(A), substituted “county” for “country”.
Pub. L. 113–79, § 2301(b)(2)(A)(ii), substituted “a wetland reserve easement under section 3865c of this title” for “an easement acquired under subpart C of part I of subchapter IV”.
Subsec. (f)(3). Pub. L. 113–79, § 2606(3)(B), substituted “subsection (d)(2)(A)(ii) or (g)(2)” for “subsection (c)(2)(B) or (f)(4)”.
Subsec. (f)(4). Pub. L. 113–79, § 2301(b)(2)(B), added par. (4) and struck out former par. (4). Prior to amendment, text read as follows: “The limitations established under paragraph (1) shall not apply to cropland that is subject to an easement under subpart C of part I of subchapter IV that is used for the establishment of shelterbelts and windbreaks.”
Subsec. (f)(5). Pub. L. 113–79, § 2301(b)(2)(C), added par. (5).
Subsec. (h)(2). Pub. L. 113–79, § 2606(4), inserted “, including, to the extent practicable, practices that maximize benefits for honey bees” before period at end.
Subsecs. (j) to (l). Pub. L. 113–79, § 2606(5), added subsecs. (j) to (l).
2008—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 110–246, § 2708(1), added subsec. (a) and struck out former subsec. (a). Prior to amendment, text read as follows: “In carrying out any conservation program administered by the Secretary, the Secretary may provide to beginning farmers and ranchers and Indian tribes (as those terms are defined in section 3838 of this title) and limited resource agricultural producers incentives to participate in the conservation program to—
“(1) foster new farming and ranching opportunities; and
“(2) enhance environmental stewardship over the long term.”
Subsecs. (c) to (e). Pub. L. 110–246, § 2707(a), transferred subsecs. (a), (c), and (d) of section 3843 of this title and redesignated them as subsecs. (c) to (e), respectively, of this section. See Codification note above.
Subsecs. (f) to (i). Pub. L. 110–246, § 2708(2), added subsecs. (f) to (i).
Amendment of this section and repeal of Pub. L. 110–234 by Pub. L. 110–246 effective