249 
and ranchers, and limited resource farmers and 
ranchers. 
‘‘(f) PRIORITIES.—To the maximum extent prac-
ticable, consistent with the requirements of subsection (d), 
the Secretary shall ensure that, each fiscal year, grants are 
awarded and agreements are entered into under this section 
to support projects and initiatives that collectively address 
the resource concerns facing producers, ranchers, and non-
industrial private forest landowners, including specifically 
projects and initiatives that are designed— 
‘‘(1) to achieve improvements in water quality 
in watersheds impacted by agriculture, particularly 
by increasing the participation of producers in imple-
menting best management practices in a watershed or 
developing environmentally and economically viable 
alternative uses for manure and litter; 
‘‘(2) to achieve improvements in air quality in 
a geographical area where agricultural operations im-
pact air quality; 
‘‘(3) to support State activities to efficiently 
manage and utilize their water resources in regions, 
States or local areas where water quantity is a con-
cern; 
VerDate Aug 31 2005 
04:05 Jul 24, 2007
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00249
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6203
E:\BILLS\H2419.RH
H2419
cprice-sewell on PRODPC60 with BILLS
250 
‘‘(4) to assist in carrying out a State Wildlife 
Habitat Incentives Program plan or other State, re-
gional, or national conservation initiative. 
‘‘(5) to control invasive species on rangeland or 
other agricultural land through the cooperative efforts 
of multiple producers in a geographical area; 
‘‘(6) to address a specific resource of concern or 
set of concerns on private, non-industrial forest land; 
‘‘(7) to reduce losses of pesticides to the environ-
ment by engaging multiple producers in a geographic 
area in adoption of integrated pest management prac-
tices and approaches; 
‘‘(8) to protect farmland and ranch land facing 
development pressures from being converted to non-ag-
ricultural use; or 
‘‘(9) to assist producers in carrying out good 
management practices to enhance food safety. 
‘‘(g) 
DUTIES
OF
PARTNERS.—Eligible 
partners 
shall— 
‘‘(1) identify conservation issues affecting pro-
duction agriculture on local, regional, or State levels 
that could be addressed through special projects and 
initiatives; 
VerDate Aug 31 2005 
04:05 Jul 24, 2007
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00250
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6203
E:\BILLS\H2419.RH
H2419
cprice-sewell on PRODPC60 with BILLS
251 
‘‘(2) enter into agreements or obtain grants from 
the Secretary to carry out special projects and initia-
tives; 
‘‘(3) identify through outreach efforts producers 
that can participate in the special project or initia-
tive of the eligible entity if the producer is otherwise 
eligible to be enrolled, as determined by the Secretary, 
or has already enrolled, in the applicable program de-
scribed in subsection (b); and 
‘‘(4) carry out the special project and initiative. 
‘‘(h) DUTIES OF THE SECRETARY.— 
‘‘(1) ADDITIONAL DUTIES.—In addition to the 
normal administration of the programs described in 
subsection (b), the Secretary shall be responsible for 
basic administrative and oversight functions relating 
to the special projects and initiatives, including— 
‘‘(A) rules and procedures relating to con-
servation standards and specifications; 
‘‘(B) conservation compliance; 
‘‘(C) appeals; 
‘‘(D) adjusted gross income limitations; 
‘‘(E) direct attribution; and 
‘‘(F) such other similar functions as the 
Secretary might designate. 
VerDate Aug 31 2005 
04:05 Jul 24, 2007
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00251
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6203
E:\BILLS\H2419.RH
H2419
cprice-sewell on PRODPC60 with BILLS
252 
‘‘(2) FLEXIBILITY.—The Secretary may adjust 
eligibility criteria, approved practices, practice stand-
ards, innovative conservation practices, and other ele-
ments of the programs described in subsection (b) to 
better reflect unique local circumstances and purposes 
if the Secretary determines such adjustments would— 
‘‘(A) improve environmental enhancement 
and long-term sustainability of the natural re-
source base; and 
‘‘(B) be consistent with the purposes of the 
program and the special project and initiative. 
‘‘(3) PREFERENTIAL
ENROLLMENT.—Subject to 
the limitations under subsection (j), the Secretary 
shall provide preferential enrollment to producers that 
are eligible— 
‘‘(A) for the applicable program described 
in subsection (b); and 
‘‘(B) to participate in the special project 
and initiative of an eligible partner. 
‘‘(i) COST SHARE.—The Secretary shall not require 
more than 25 percent of the cost of a project or initiative 
supported under a grant or agreement entered into under 
this section to come from non-Federal sources. However, the 
Secretary may give higher priority to projects or initiatives 
VerDate Aug 31 2005 
04:05 Jul 24, 2007
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00252
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6203
E:\BILLS\H2419.RH
H2419
cprice-sewell on PRODPC60 with BILLS
253 
offering to cover a higher percentage of the cost of the project 
or initiative from non-Federal sources. 
‘‘(j) INCENTIVE AND BONUS PAYMENTS.— 
‘‘(1) 
AVAILABILITY.—Applications 
submitted 
under subsection (d)(2) may include proposals for 
special incentive and bonus payments, consistent with 
the statutory purposes of the programs involved, to 
producers that— 
‘‘(A) restore land, water, or habitat as a 
community development asset; or 
‘‘(B) provide public access to enrolled land. 
‘‘(2) CRITERIA.—The Secretary shall develop and 
publish criteria for providing special incentive or 
bonus payments to producers under paragraph (1). 
‘‘(k) FUNDING.— 
‘‘(1) SET-ASIDE.—Of the funds provided for each 
of fiscal years 2008 through 2012 to implement the 
programs specified in subsection (b), the Secretary 
shall reserve 10 percent to ensure an adequate source 
of funds for grants, agreements, financial assistance 
to producers under this section. 
‘‘(2) ALLOCATION
TO
STATES.—The Secretary 
shall allocate to States 90 percent of the funds re-
served under paragraph (1) for a fiscal year to allow 
State Conservationists, with the advice of State tech-
VerDate Aug 31 2005 
04:05 Jul 24, 2007
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00253
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6203
E:\BILLS\H2419.RH
H2419
cprice-sewell on PRODPC60 with BILLS