226 
the efficient administration of the easements 
under this program. 
‘‘(4) PROGRAM.—The term ‘program’ means 
the Agricultural Conservation Easement Program 
established by this subtitle. 
‘‘(5) WETLAND
RESERVE
EASEMENT.—The 
term ‘wetland reserve easement’ means a reserved 
interest in eligible land that— 
‘‘(A) is defined and delineated in a deed; 
and 
‘‘(B) stipulates— 
‘‘(i) the rights, title, and interests in 
land conveyed to the Secretary; and 
‘‘(ii) the rights, title, and interests in 
land that are reserved to the landowner. 
‘‘SEC. 1265B. AGRICULTURAL LAND EASEMENTS. 
‘‘(a) AVAILABILITY OF ASSISTANCE.—The Secretary 
shall facilitate and provide funding for— 
‘‘(1) the purchase by eligible entities of agricul-
tural land easements and other interests in eligible 
land; and 
‘‘(2) technical assistance to provide for the con-
servation of natural resources pursuant to an agri-
cultural land easement plan. 
‘‘(b) COST-SHARE ASSISTANCE.— 
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227 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall provide 
cost-share assistance to eligible entities for pur-
chasing agricultural land easements to protect the 
agricultural use, including grazing, and related con-
servation values of eligible land. 
‘‘(2) SCOPE OF ASSISTANCE AVAILABLE.— 
‘‘(A) FEDERAL
SHARE.—Subject to sub-
paragraph (C), an agreement described in para-
graph (4) shall provide for a Federal share de-
termined by the Secretary of an amount not to 
exceed 50 percent of the fair market value of 
the agricultural land easement or other interest 
in land, as determined by the Secretary using— 
‘‘(i) the Uniform Standards of Profes-
sional Appraisal Practices; 
‘‘(ii) an area-wide market analysis or 
survey; or 
‘‘(iii) another industry approved meth-
od. 
‘‘(B) NON-FEDERAL SHARE.— 
‘‘(i) IN
GENERAL.—Subject to sub-
paragraph (C), under the agreement, the 
eligible entity shall provide a share that is 
at least equivalent to that provided by the 
Secretary. 
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‘‘(ii) SOURCE OF CONTRIBUTION.—An 
eligible entity may include as part of its 
share a charitable donation or qualified 
conservation contribution (as defined by 
section 170(h) of the Internal Revenue 
Code of 1986) from the private landowner 
if the eligible entity contributes its own 
cash resources in an amount that is at 
least 50 percent of the amount contributed 
by the Secretary. 
‘‘(C) WAIVER AUTHORITY.— 
‘‘(i) GRASSLAND.—In the case of 
grassland of special environmental signifi-
cance, as determined by the Secretary, the 
Secretary may provide up to 75 percent of 
the fair market value of the agricultural 
land easement. 
‘‘(ii) CASH CONTRIBUTION.—For pur-
poses of subparagraph (B)(ii), the Sec-
retary may waive any portion of the eligi-
ble entity cash contribution requirement 
for projects of special significance, subject 
to an increase in the private landowner do-
nation that is equal to the amount of the 
waiver, if the donation is voluntary. 
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