I
103D CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
H. R. 941
To encourage soil and water protection and energy conservation among
farmers, ranchers, forest industry, and for other purposes.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
FEBRUARY 17, 1993
Mr. CAMP (for himself, Mr. HENRY, and Mr. HOBSON) introduced the
following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Agriculture
A BILL
To encourage soil and water protection and energy conserva-
tion among farmers, ranchers, forest industry, and for
other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Soil and Water Protec-
tion Act of 1992’’.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
The Congress finds that—
(1) farmers, ranchers, and foresters have a
sound understanding of protecting the Nation’s rich
natural resources;
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(2) soil and water damage and contamination
have occurred and may occur in the future;
(3) energy shortages have occurred and may
occur in the future;
(4) farmers, ranchers, and foresters are energy
driven enterprises in conjunction with substantial
soil and water usage;
(5) farmers, ranchers and foresters can sub-
stantially make more efficient energy expenditures
using energy saving management techniques;
(6) practices such as fertility management, con-
servation tillage, and integrated pest management
will provide future generations the enjoyment of im-
proved environmental conditions such as better
ground and surface water quality and soil fertility;
(7) saving and conserving energy will benefit
the public land; and
(8) Federal agricultural policies and programs
influence sound energy conservation and environ-
mental objectives.
SEC. 3. FEDERAL ENERGY CONSERVATION PROGRAM.
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Secretary of Agriculture,
acting through the Soil Conservation Service, shall estab-
lish a Federal energy conservation program.
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(b) CRITERIA.—The Federal energy conservation
program shall target and promote more efficient energy
use in, and the conservation of energy with respect to, till-
age practices, chemical and fertilizer management, irriga-
tion management, livestock facility management, horti-
culture, and wood utilization. The Secretary shall provide
grants and technical and educational assistance for
projects in eligible States including (but not limited to)
projects for—
(1) demonstrating the advantages of conserva-
tion tillage practices that promote energy efficiency
and conservation;
(2) training, pest scouting, and soil sampling in
order to promote education concerning prescription
application of animal manures, fertilizers, lime, soil
conditioners and pesticide usage;
(3) improving the efficient use of irrigation sys-
tems to reduce energy consumption;
(4) managing livestock facilities for energy con-
servation;
(5) managing horticultural facilities for energy
conservation; and
(6) improving efficiency in utilization of wood,
including milling of forest products and the use of
wood for production of energy.
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SEC. 4. FEDERAL GRANTS.
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary, through the Soil
Conservation Service, shall make grants to individuals or
institutions that present to the Secretary an application
and a plan for the energy conservation project—
(1) which was developed in consultation with an
individual recognized by the Secretary to have exper-
tise in energy conservation; and
(2) that is within an eligible State which has an
energy conservation program.
(b) ADVICE FROM STATE AGRICULTURE ENERGY
CONSERVATION
REVIEW
PANEL.—In making grants
under this section, the Secretary shall take into consider-
ation the advice received from the State agriculture energy
conservation review panel pursuant to section 6(c)(2).
(c) LIMITATIONS.—(1) Except as provided in para-
graph (2), the Federal grant under this section for a
project may not exceed $5,000.
(2) In the case of a project in which a school, hos-
pital, or other similar institution that is improving its en-
ergy efficiency by converting its heating system to a wood
burning system, the Federal grant may not exceed
$150,000.
(3) Funds made available under this Act may not be
used to pay for labor costs associated with a project.
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(4) Grants for a project may not be made until after
receipts have been provided to the Secretary for the actual
cost incurred for the project.
SEC. 5. ALLOCATION AMONG ELIGIBLE STATES.
The Secretary shall allocate funds made available to
carry out this Act for a fiscal year to each State which
is eligible for assistance. The allocation among States shall
be equitable, based on the following:
(1) The number and size of farms.
(2) The potential for energy conservation.
(3) The number and size of forest industries.
The Secretary may allocate up to 25 percent of the
funds allocated to any State with substantial forest indus-
try to forest energy conservation projects.
SEC. 6. STATE PARTICIPATION AND ASSISTANCE.
(a) ELIGIBLE STATE.—The Secretary may provide
assistance under this Act in a fiscal year for projects in
a State which, before the beginning of that fiscal year—
(1) submits to the Secretary a plan describing
in detail how the State will cooperate with the Unit-
ed States in carrying out this Act, including provid-
ing for—
(A) encouragement to persons to partici-
pate in the energy conservation program;
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(B) criteria to be used for recommending
projects to be funded by the program; and
(C) individuals with expertise in energy ef-
ficiency to advise program participants on en-
ergy conservation matters; and
(2) has established an agriculture energy con-
servation review panel in accordance with subsection
(c).
(b) COST SHARE.—The State may offer assistance
and services in cooperation with the Secretary to enhance
energy conservation efforts under this Act.
(c) STATE AGRICULTURE ENERGY CONSERVATION
REVIEW PANEL.—(1) An eligible State, together with the
United States, shall establish an energy conservation re-
view panel comprised of 6 members as follows:
(A) The head of the State agricultural agency,
or his designee.
(B) The State forester or equivalent State offi-
cial, or his designee.
(C) The president of that State’s Association of
Conservation Districts, or his designee.
(D) The State conservationist of the Soil Con-
servation Service for that State, or his designee.
(E) The Cooperative Research Service Director
for that State, or his designee.
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(F) The Cooperative Extension Director for the
State, or his designee.
(2) The State agriculture energy conservation review
panel shall advise and recommend to the Secretary those
projects that meet the requirements of this Act. In provid-
ing such advice and recommendations, the panel shall re-
view and evaluate each project using the criteria referred
to in subsection (a)(1)(B).
SEC. 7. DEMONSTRATIONS, EDUCATION, AND TECHNICAL
ASSISTANCE.
(a) AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATIONS.—The
Secretary shall establish and maintain demonstrations of
energy-saving and energy efficient practices at agricultural
experiment stations that can be implemented by agri-
culture procedures and the public.
(b) EXTENSION SERVICE.—The Secretary, through
the Extension Service, shall disseminate informational and
educational materials and conduct demonstrations and
training sessions.
(c) TECHNICAL
AND MATERIAL ASSISTANCE.—In
carrying out the Federal energy conservation program, the
Secretary, acting through the Soil Conservation Service,
shall provide such technical and material assistance to
participants as the Secretary determines appropriate.