Wetland Determinations Efficiency and Transparency Act

To amend the Food Security Act of 1985 with respect to the administration of wetland determinations, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Wetland Determinations Efficiency and Transparency Act 2. Administration of wetland determinations Section 1222(a) of the Food Security Act of 1985 ( 16 U.S.C. 3822(a) (1) in paragraph (1), by striking subsection (b) and paragraph (6) subsection (b), paragraphs (6) and (7), and paragraphs (1)(B) and (2) of section 1244(e) (2) by adding at the end the following: (7) Administration (A) Timely completion (i) In general The Secretary, acting through the Chief of the Natural Resources Conservation Service, shall ensure the completion of a wetland delineation, determination, or certification by the date that is 60 days after the date on which a person subject to this subtitle requests the delineation, determination, or certification. (ii) Effect of delay If a wetland delineation, determination, or certification is not completed by the date described in clause (i), upon completion of the wetland delineation, determination, or certification, the Secretary shall provide for a reasonable transition period for coming into compliance with the wetland delineation, determination, or certification, as necessary, and a person shall not become ineligible under section 1221 for program loans or payments as a result of actions taken, between the date described in clause (i) and the date on which such transition period ends, in violation of the wetland delineation, determination, or certification. (B) Final agency action A wetland delineation, determination, or certification made by the Secretary shall be considered a final agency action subject to judicial review, and a person challenging a wetland delineation, determination, or certification shall not be required to exhaust all administrative remedies prior to bringing a suit in Federal court. (C) Duty to disclose In the case of a wetland delineation, determination, or certification for which there exists a dispute, the Secretary shall make available a copy of the agency record, to a person involved in the dispute who requests such a copy, not later than 30 days after the date on which the person makes the request. (D) Burden of proof In the case of a wetland delineation, determination, or certification for which there exists a dispute, the Secretary shall bear the burden of proof by a preponderance of the evidence. (E) Effect on existing process Nothing in this paragraph shall be construed to prohibit a person challenging a wetland delineation, determination, or certification from using the administrative appeal process in place before the date of enactment of this paragraph. . 3. Technical assistance permitted Section 1244(e) of the Food Security Act of 1985 ( 16 U.S.C. 3844(e) (e) Provision of technical assistance by other sources (1) Third-party technical assistance permitted The Secretary shall permit a person to secure technical assistance from an approved source, as determined by the Secretary, other than the Natural Resources Conservation Service— (A) in the preparation and application of a conservation plan under subtitle B or similar plan required as a condition for assistance from the Department of Agriculture; and (B) in the preparation of a wetland delineation or determination to submit to the Secretary under section 1222. (2) Rejection If the Secretary rejects a technical determination made by an approved source pursuant to paragraph (1)(A), or a wetland delineation or determination made by an approved source pursuant to paragraph (1)(B), the basis of the Secretary's rejection must be supported by documented evidence. . 4. Date of return of wetland characteristics Section 1222(b)(1)(G) of the Food Security Act of 1985 ( 16 U.S.C. 3822 after that date after such original conversion

Summary: Wetland Determinations Efficiency and Transparency Act This bill amends the Food Security Act of 1985 to revise the process that the Department of Agriculture's (USDA's) Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) uses to make a wetland determination, delineation, or certification. The NRCS must make a determination, delineation, or certification within 60 days. If the NRCS misses the deadline, it must provide a reasonable transition period for a person to come into compliance with the decision without losing eligibility for certain payments and loans. A decision is subject to judicial review, and a person is not required to exhaust all administrative remedies prior to bringing a suit in federal court. In the case of a dispute, the NRCS must bear the burden of proof by a preponderance of the evidence and provide a copy of the agency record upon request. USDA must permit a person to secure technical assistance from an approved source, other than the NRCS, for the preparation of: (1) a conservation plan or similar plan required as a condition for USDA assistance, and (2) a wetland delineation or determination.