Conservation Reserve Program Improvement and Rural Water Systems Access Act of 2018

To amend the Food Security Act of 1985 to improve the conservation reserve program, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Conservation Reserve Program Improvement and Rural Water Systems Access Act of 2018 2. Improvements to Conservation Reserve Program (a) Extension Section 1231(a) of the Food Security Act of 1985 ( 16 U.S.C. 3831(a) 2018 2023 (b) Species of economic significance Section 1231 of the Food Security Act of 1985 ( 16 U.S.C. 3831 (1) in subsection (f)— (A) in the subsection heading, by inserting and economic Conservation (B) by redesignating paragraphs (1) through (4) as paragraphs (2) through (5), respectively; (C) by inserting before paragraph (2) (as so redesignated) the following: (1) Definition of species of economic significance In this subsection, the term species of economic significance (A) the conservation reserve program is critical to maintain the habitat of which, as determined by the Secretary; and (B) that the Governor of a State verifies to the Secretary as providing more than $150,000,000 for each year to the economy of the State from hunting the wildlife species and other related activities (such as hunting supplies, lodging, and food sales), as determined by the Secretary. ; (D) in paragraph (2) (as so redesignated), by striking designate areas (A) areas of special economic sensitivity as economic priority areas; and (B) areas ; (E) in paragraph (3) (as so redesignated), by striking the paragraph designation and heading and all that follows through subsection (3) Eligible areas Areas eligible for designation under— (A) paragraph (2)(A) shall include areas with actual and significant declining habitat for species of economic significance; and (B) paragraph (2)(B) ; (F) in paragraph (4) (as so redesignated), by striking contains actual (A) actual and significant declining habitat for species of economic significance; or (B) actual ; and (G) in paragraph (5) (as so redesignated), by striking maximize water quality and habitat benefits in the watersheds described in paragraph (1) maximize, as applicable, significant declining habitat for species of economic significance or water quality and habitat benefits in the areas designated under subparagraph (A) or (B), respectively, of paragraph (2) (2) in subsection (i)— (A) by inserting and economic purposes conservation purposes (B) by striking habitat. habitat, including wildlife habitat for species of economic significance (as defined in subsection (f)(1)). (c) Cost-Share for fencing and water distribution Section 1233(a)(1) of the Food Security Act of 1985 ( 16 U.S.C. 3833(a)(1) interest; interest, including the cost of fencing and water distribution practices, if applicable; (d) Harvesting and grazing Section 1233 of the Food Security Act of 1985 ( 16 U.S.C. 3833 (1) in subsection (b)— (A) by striking paragraph (1); (B) by redesignating paragraphs (2), (3), (4), and (5) as paragraphs (1), (2), (5), and (6), respectively; (C) in paragraph (1) (as so redesignated)— (i) by redesignating subparagraphs (A) and (B) as clauses (i) and (ii), respectively, and indenting appropriately; (ii) in the matter preceding clause (i) (as so designated), by striking in permitting those activities (A) those activities ; (iii) in subparagraph (A)(ii) (as so designated), by adding and (iv) by adding at the end the following: (B) those activities and the activities described in paragraph (3), not more than 1/3 ; (D) in subparagraph (B) of paragraph (2) (as so redesignated), in the matter preceding clause (i), by striking grazing, grazing outside the normal grazing period described in paragraph (4), (E) by inserting after paragraph (2) (as so redesignated) the following: (3) mechanical harvesting of vegetative cover, without any restriction on the use of the vegetative cover harvested (except harvesting the vegetative cover for seed), subject to the conditions that— (A) the harvesting may not occur more frequently than once every 3 years; and (B) the annual rental rate for the acres harvested during a year shall be reduced by 25 percent; (4) grazing during the applicable normal grazing period determined under subclause (I) of section 1501(c)(3)(D)(i) of the Agricultural Act of 2014 ( 7 U.S.C. 9081(c)(3)(D)(i) (A) the grazing shall be at 25 percent of the normal carrying capacity determined under that subclause; and (B) the annual rental rate for the acres harvested during a year shall be reduced by 25 percent; ; and (F) in subparagraph (C) of paragraph (6) (as so redesignated), by striking (3) (2) (2) by adding at the end the following: (e) Harvesting and grazing (1) In general Except as provided in paragraph (2), the Secretary shall permit harvesting and grazing in accordance with paragraphs (1) through (4) and (6) of subsection (b) on any land subject to a contract under the conservation reserve program. (2) Exception The Secretary, in coordination with the applicable State Technical Committee established under section 1265(a), may determine for any year that harvesting or grazing described in paragraph (1) shall not be permitted on land subject to a contract under the conservation reserve program in a particular county if harvesting or grazing for that year would cause long-term damage to vegetative cover on that land. . 3. Right-of-way Section 504(g) of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 ( 43 U.S.C. 1764(g) (1) by striking (g) The holder (g) Right-of-Way (1) In general The holder ; (2) in paragraph (1) (as so designated), in the second sentence, by striking The Secretary (2) Payment The Secretary ; (3) in paragraph (2) (as so designated), in the second sentence, by striking The Secretary (3) Waiver of rentals The Secretary ; (4) in paragraph (3) (as so designated), in the second sentence, by striking The Secretary (4) Reimbursement of costs (A) In general Except as provided in subparagraph (B), the Secretary ; (5) in paragraph (4) (as so designated)— (A) in subparagraph (A) (as so designated), in the first sentence— (i) by striking incurred in processing incurred— (i) in processing ; (ii) in clause (i) (as so designated), by striking right-of-way and in inspection right-of-way; and (ii) in inspection ; and (iii) in clause (ii) (as so designated), by striking right-of-way: Provided, however, That the Secretary right-of-way. (B) Exception In carrying out subparagraph (A), the Secretary ; and (B) in subparagraph (B) (as so designated), in the second sentence, by striking Rights-of-way may be granted (C) Use of reimbursed money The moneys received for reimbursement of reasonable costs under subparagraph (A) shall be deposited with the Treasury in a special account and are authorized to be appropriated and made available until expended. (5) Holders of rights-of-way Rights-of-way may be granted ; (6) in paragraph (5) (as so designated)— (A) in the first sentence, by striking to a Federal to— (A) a Federal ; (B) in subparagraph (A) (as so designated), by striking thereof, to nonprofit thereof; (B) nonprofit ; (C) in subparagraph (B) (as so designated), by striking enterprises, or to a holder where he enterprises; (C) a holder where the holder ; (D) in subparagraph (C) (as so designated), by striking concerned, or to a holder concerned; and (D) a holder ; and (E) in subparagraph (D) (as so designated), by striking Such rights-of-way (6) Assignment of rights-of-way Rights-of-way ; (7) in paragraph (6), by striking The moneys received Rights-of-way shall be granted (7) Rental fees (A) Electric and telephone facilities Rights-of-way shall be granted ; and (8) in paragraph (7) (as so designated)— (A) in subparagraph (A) (as so designated), by striking facilities: Provided, That nothing in this sentence facilities. (B) Rural water pipelines Rights-of-way shall be granted, issued, or renewed, without rental fees— (i) to a rural water district or association; and (ii) for— (I) a rural water pipeline that crosses National Forest System land; and (II) any appurtenance to a pipeline described in subclause (I). (C) Authority to require reimbursement Nothing in this paragraph ; and (B) in subparagraph (C) (as so designated), by striking the second sentence of this subsection paragraph (4)

Summary: Conservation Reserve Program Improvement and Rural Water Systems Access Act of 2018 This bill amends the Food Security Act of 1985 to reauthorize through FY2023 and modify the Department of Agriculture (USDA) Conservation Reserve Program (CRP). (CRP provides payments to farmers who agree to remove environmentally sensitive land from agricultural production and plant species that will improve environmental health and quality.) The bill authorizes USDA to designate areas of special economic sensitivity as economic priority areas for CRP allocations. These areas include areas with actual and significant declining habitat for specifies of economic significance. A &quot;species of economic significance&quot; is a wildlife specifies: (1) for which CRP is critical to maintaining its habitat, and (2) that the governor of a state verifies provides more than $150 million each year to the economy of the state from hunting and related activities. Additionally, the bill: (1) authorizes cost-share assistance for fencing and water distribution practices, and (2) modifies policies regarding grazing and the mechanical harvesting of vegetative cover on CRP land. The bill also amends the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 to prohibit the Forest Service from charging rural water districts or associations rental fees for rights-of-way for rural water pipelines that cross National Forest System land.