to amounts made available under section 1241(a)(6) 
to carry out this chapter. 
‘‘SEC. 1240K. ENHANCED NUTRIENT AND MANURE MANAGE-
MENT. 
‘‘(a) DEMONSTRATION
AND IMPLEMENTATION
OF 
NUTRIENT AND MANURE MANAGEMENT CONSERVATION 
PRACTICES.—In carrying out the program under this 
chapter, the Secretary shall provide cost-share, incentive 
payments, and technical assistance to agricultural pro-
ducers to demonstrate and implement innovative and ad-
vanced conservation measures that hold substantial prom-
ise for producing cost-effective improvements to air and 
water quality by reducing the loss of nutrients to the envi-
ronment. Such conservation measures may include: 
‘‘(1) Manure processing and treatment tech-
nologies to permit more effective use and transport 
of manure nutrients, including energy production. 
‘‘(2) Innovative land management practices for 
nutrient loss reduction, such as soil amendments, in-
novative cropping or grazing systems, precision nu-
trient application, on-farm analysis of nutrient 
needs, and performance-based incentive systems. 
‘‘(3) Feed management. 
VerDate Aug 31 2005 
22:07 Mar 22, 2007
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00030
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H1551.IH
H1551
jlentini on PROD1PC65 with BILLS
‘‘(4) Other projects that demonstrate and 
transfer the most cost-effective measures and tech-
nologies to reduce nitrogen and phosphorus losses. 
‘‘(b) PRIORITIES.—The Secretary shall give priority 
to projects that— 
‘‘(1) involve multiple landowners implementing 
conservation measures described in subsection (a) in 
a coordinated way to address the purposes of this 
section; 
‘‘(2) have a high likelihood of advancing or 
demonstrating advanced manure or nutrient man-
agement measures; and 
‘‘(3) are anticipated to produce significant ben-
efits to air and water quality. 
‘‘(c) LOCATIONS OF PROJECTS.—To be eligible to re-
ceive assistance under this section, a project must be lo-
cated in a watershed or subwatershed of a body of water 
impaired by nutrients in which either— 
‘‘(1) the amount of nutrients contained in ma-
nure produced in the watershed or subwatershed ex-
ceeds the amount that can be applied to cropland at 
agronomic rates; or 
‘‘(2) conventional nutrient management tech-
niques are inadequate to meet water quality stand-
ards. 
VerDate Aug 31 2005 
22:07 Mar 22, 2007
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00031
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H1551.IH
H1551
jlentini on PROD1PC65 with BILLS
‘‘(d) REGIONAL
TECHNICAL
ADVISORY
COMMIT-
TEES.— 
‘‘(1) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Secretary shall es-
tablish regional technical advisory committees to as-
sist the Secretary in selecting projects for funding 
under this section. 
‘‘(2) PARTICIPATION.—A regional technical ad-
visory committee shall include scientists and other 
persons with expertise related to innovative and ad-
vanced nutrient management, to be appointed from 
agencies within the Department of Agriculture, other 
Federal and State agencies, producer associations, 
environmental organizations, and other interested 
groups. 
‘‘(3) RELATIONSHIP
TO
STATE
TECHNICAL 
COMMITTEES.—Subtitle G, relating to State tech-
nical committees shall apply to a regional technical 
advisory committee, except that members of the 
committee shall be appointed on a regional basis 
consistent with paragraph (2). 
‘‘(e) EQUAL TREATMENT.—In implementing this sec-
tion, the Secretary shall ensure that farms of all sizes are 
treated equitably. 
‘‘(f) FUNDING.—In addition to amounts made avail-
able under section 1241(a)(6) to carry out this chapter, 
VerDate Aug 31 2005 
22:07 Mar 22, 2007
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00032
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H1551.IH
H1551
jlentini on PROD1PC65 with BILLS
the Secretary shall use funds of the Commodity Credit 
Corporation to carry out this section in the following 
amounts: 
‘‘(1) $160,000,000 for fiscal year 2008. 
‘‘(2) $175,000,000 for fiscal year 2009. 
‘‘(3) $200,000,000 for each of fiscal years 
2010, 2011, 2012, and 2013. 
‘‘SEC. 1240L. PERFORMANCE INCENTIVES FOR STATES. 
‘‘(a) HIGH LEVEL OF PERFORMANCE BONUS.—For 
each of fiscal years 2008 through 2013, 10 percent of the 
funds made available under this chapter shall be reserved 
by the Secretary for bonus allocations to States that dem-
onstrate a high level of performance in implementing the 
environmental quality incentives program. 
‘‘(b) SPECIAL
CONSIDERATIONS.—In evaluating 
State performance under subsection (a), the Secretary 
shall reward States that— 
‘‘(1) consistently meet the requirements of sec-
tion 1240C in evaluating offers and payments; 
‘‘(2) dedicate a portion of their annual environ-
mental quality incentives program allocation to 
multi-producer cooperative efforts to address specific 
resource concerns; 
‘‘(3) collaborate with other Federal and State 
agencies, local governments, educational institutions, 
VerDate Aug 31 2005 
22:07 Mar 22, 2007
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00033
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H1551.IH
H1551
jlentini on PROD1PC65 with BILLS
and for-profit and nonprofit organizations to mon-
itor and evaluate the environmental outcomes associ-
ated with implementation of the environmental qual-
ity incentives program; 
‘‘(4) demonstrate effective and efficient pro-
gram delivery, including the provision of adequate 
technical assistance to all program participants 
through appropriate staffing and through coopera-
tion with other Federal, State, Tribal, and local 
agencies, for-profit and nonprofit organizations, and 
individuals with demonstrated expertise in the plan-
ning and implementation of conservation practices, 
systems, and approaches; 
‘‘(5) support and encourage innovative ap-
proaches to addressing resource concerns; and 
‘‘(6) demonstrate effective outreach and innova-
tive approaches to reaching and serving beginning 
farmers and ranchers, limited-resource producers, 
and operators with lower rates of historical partici-
pation in Federal farm and conservation programs.’’. 
SEC. 106. REAUTHORIZATION OF AND INCREASED FUNDING 
FOR WILDLIFE HABITAT INCENTIVE PRO-
GRAM. 
(a) EXTENSION AND FUNDING.—Section 1241(a)(7) 
of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3841(a)(7)) 
VerDate Aug 31 2005 
22:07 Mar 22, 2007
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00034
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H1551.IH
H1551
jlentini on PROD1PC65 with BILLS
is amended by striking subparagraphs (A) through (D) 
and inserting the following new subparagraphs: 
‘‘(A) $85,000,000 in fiscal year 2007; 
‘‘(B) $100,000,000 in fiscal year 2008; 
‘‘(C) $140,000,000 in fiscal year 2009; 
‘‘(D) $200,000,000 in each of fiscal years 
2010 and 2011; and 
‘‘(E) $300,000,000 in each of fiscal years 
2012 and 2013.’’. 
(b) FUNDING SET-ASIDE FOR LONG-TERM AGREE-
MENTS.—Section 1240N(b)(2) of such Act (16 U.S.C. 
3839bb–1(b)(2)) is amended by striking subparagraph 
(B) and inserting the following: 
‘‘(B) FUNDS
FOR
LONG-TERM
AGREE-
MENTS.—To the maximum extent practicable, 
the Secretary shall use 25 percent of the funds 
made available under section 1241(a)(7) for a 
fiscal year to carry out during that fiscal year 
contracts and agreements described in subpara-
graph (A).’’. 
(c) INCENTIVE PAYMENTS
AND PROGRAM PRIOR-
ITIES.—Section 1240N of such Act (16 U.S.C. 3839bb– 
1) is amended by adding at the end the following new sub-
section: 
VerDate Aug 31 2005 
22:07 Mar 22, 2007
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00035
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H1551.IH
H1551
jlentini on PROD1PC65 with BILLS
‘‘(d) INCENTIVE PAYMENTS AND PROGRAM PRIOR-
ITIES.— 
‘‘(1) PRIORITIES.—In carrying out this section, 
the Secretary shall give priority to agreements and 
contracts that will— 
‘‘(A) protect or restore habitat for a feder-
ally or State-listed rare, threatened, endan-
gered, and candidate species; or 
‘‘(B) further the goals and objectives of a 
State’s 
comprehensive 
wildlife 
conservation 
strategy. 
‘‘(2) INCENTIVE
PAYMENTS
FOR
CERTAIN 
AGREEMENTS
AND
APPLICATIONS.—In a case in 
which the Secretary enters into an agreement or 
contract described in paragraph (1), the Secretary 
may provide incentive payments to landowners under 
the agreement or contract, including the cost of 
management activities needed during the term of the 
agreement or contract.’’. 
(d) FISH HABITAT.—Section 1240N of such Act (16 
U.S.C. 3839bb–1) is further amended by inserting after 
subsection (d), as added by subsection (c), the following 
new subsection: 
‘‘(e) DEVELOPMENT OF FISH HABITAT.— 
VerDate Aug 31 2005 
22:07 Mar 22, 2007
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00036
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H1551.IH
H1551
jlentini on PROD1PC65 with BILLS
‘‘(1) PURPOSES OF COST-SHARE PAYMENTS.— 
Subsection (b)(1)(D) authorizes the Secretary to 
make cost-share payments to landowners to develop 
fish habitat. The development of fish habitat using 
such cost-share payments may include activities— 
‘‘(A) to protect streamside areas, including 
through the installation of riparian fencing and 
improved stream crossings; 
‘‘(B) to repair in-stream habitat; 
‘‘(C) to improve water flows and water 
quality, including through channel restoration; 
‘‘(D) to initiate watershed management 
and planning in areas in which streams are in 
a degraded condition due to past agricultural or 
forestry practices; and 
‘‘(E) to undertake other types of stream 
habitat improvement approved by the Secretary. 
‘‘(2) PRIORITY
PROJECTS.—When considering 
applications describing projects to protect or restore 
fish habitat, the Secretary shall give priority to ap-
plicants who will use the cost-share payments to 
carry out a project— 
‘‘(A) to remove a small dam or in-stream 
structure; 
VerDate Aug 31 2005 
22:07 Mar 22, 2007
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00037
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H1551.IH
H1551
jlentini on PROD1PC65 with BILLS
‘‘(B) to improve fish passage, including 
through culvert repair and maintenance; 
‘‘(C) to protect streamside areas; 
‘‘(D) to improve water flows, including 
through irrigation efficiency improvements; or 
‘‘(E) to improve in-stream flow quality or 
timing or temperature regimes. 
‘‘(3) PRIORITY FOR PROJECTS INCLUDING UP-
LAND IMPROVEMENTS.—In addition to the priority 
projects described in paragraph (2), to ensure that 
projects intended to protect or restore fish habitat 
also address the causes of stream habitat degrada-
tion, the Secretary shall give priority among applica-
tions describing such projects to applicants who 
demonstrate that upland improvements associated 
with the stream habitat improvement, including ero-
sion and nutrient management have been, or will be, 
carried out.’’. 
SEC. 107. COOPERATIVE CONSERVATION PARTNERSHIP 
INITIATIVE. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT OF GRANT PROGRAM.—Subtitle 
D of title XII of the Food Security Act of 1985 is amend-
ed by adding at the end the following new chapter: 
VerDate Aug 31 2005 
22:07 Mar 22, 2007
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00038
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H1551.IH
H1551
jlentini on PROD1PC65 with BILLS
‘‘CHAPTER 6—COOPERATIVE CONSERVA-
TION PARTNERSHIP INITIATIVE 
‘‘SEC. 1240W. COOPERATIVE CONSERVATION PARTNERSHIP 
INITIATIVE. 
‘‘(a) GRANTS
AND AGREEMENTS.—The Secretary 
shall make grants and enter into agreements for not short-
er than two-year or longer than five-year terms with eligi-
ble entities specified in subsection (c) to preferentially en-
roll producers in one or more of the programs specified 
in subsection (b) to carry out special projects and initia-
tives through which multiple producers and other inter-
ested persons cooperate to improve water quality or ad-
dress other specific resources of concern related to agricul-
tural production on a local, State, or regional scale. 
‘‘(b) COVERED PROGRAMS.—The conservation pro-
grams referred to in subsection (a) are the following: 
‘‘(1) Conservation reserve program, but only 
the continuous signup portion of the program. 
‘‘(2) Conservation reserve enhancement pro-
gram. 
‘‘(3) Environmental quality incentives program. 
‘‘(4) Farmland protection program. 
‘‘(5) Grassland reserve program. 
‘‘(6) Ground and surface water conservation 
program. 
VerDate Aug 31 2005 
22:07 Mar 22, 2007
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00039
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H1551.IH
H1551
jlentini on PROD1PC65 with BILLS
‘‘(7) Wetland reserve program. 
‘‘(8) Wildlife habitat incentive program. 
‘‘(c) ELIGIBLE PARTNERS.—Agreements may be en-
tered into under this section with any of the following (or 
a combination thereof): 
‘‘(1) States and agencies of States. 
‘‘(2) Political subdivisions of States, including 
State-sponsored conservation districts. 
‘‘(3) Indian tribes. 
‘‘(4) Nongovernmental organizations and asso-
ciations, including conservation organizations and 
producer associations and cooperatives. 
‘‘(d) APPLICATIONS.— 
‘‘(1) COMPETITIVE
PROCESS.—The Secretary 
shall establish a competitive process for considering 
applications for agreements under this section con-
sistent with the evaluation criteria listed in sub-
section (e). 
‘‘(2) 
PROGRAM
ALLOCATION.—Applications 
shall include— 
‘‘(A) specification of the amount of fund-
ing or acres of one or more covered programs 
specified in subsection (b) proposed to be allo-
cated to carry out the special project or initia-
tive; and 
VerDate Aug 31 2005 
22:07 Mar 22, 2007
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00040
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H1551.IH
H1551
jlentini on PROD1PC65 with BILLS
‘‘(B) a schedule for utilization of funding 
or acres over the life of the proposed project or 
initiative. 
‘‘(e) EVALUATION CRITERIA.—In evaluating applica-
tions for agreements under this section the Secretary shall 
consider the extent to which— 
‘‘(1) preferential enrollment in the covered pro-
grams specified in the application will effectively ad-
dress the environmental objectives established for 
the special project or initiative; and 
‘‘(2) the special project or initiative covered by 
the application— 
‘‘(A) enjoys broad local and regional sup-
port from producers and other interested per-
sons, including governmental and nongovern-
mental organizations with appropriate expertise 
on the issues the project or initiative seeks to 
address; 
‘‘(B) includes clear environmental objec-
tives and a high likelihood of success; 
‘‘(C) includes a well defined project or ini-
tiative plan that identifies sensitive areas re-
quiring treatment and prioritizes conservation 
systems, practices, and activities needed to 
achieve environmental objectives; 
VerDate Aug 31 2005 
22:07 Mar 22, 2007
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00041
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H1551.IH
H1551
jlentini on PROD1PC65 with BILLS
‘‘(D) promises adequate and coordinated 
participation to achieve the objectives of the 
project or initiative; 
‘‘(E) coordinates integration of local, 
State, and Federal efforts to make the best use 
of available resources and maximize cost-effec-
tive investments; 
‘‘(F) leverages financial and technical re-
sources from sources other than the programs 
authorized by this subtitle, including financial 
and technical resources provided by Federal 
and State agencies, local governments, non-
governmental organizations and associations, 
and other private sector entities; 
‘‘(G) describes how all necessary technical 
assistance will be provided to each producer 
participating in the project or initiative, includ-
ing cost estimates for technical assistance and 
whether such assistance will be provided by 
technical service providers; 
‘‘(H) addresses a local, State, regional, or 
national environmental priority or priorities, 
with particular emphasis on any priority for 
which there is an existing State or federally ap-
VerDate Aug 31 2005 
22:07 Mar 22, 2007
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00042
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H1551.IH
H1551
jlentini on PROD1PC65 with BILLS
proved plan in place for addressing that pri-
ority; 
‘‘(I) links environmental and conservation 
objectives with other objectives, such as spur-
ring rural economic development through in-
creased opportunities in the project area for 
recreation, value-added enterprises, or direct 
marketing of agricultural products, and assist-
ing beginning, limited resource, tribal, and 
other producers maintain the viability of their 
operations; 
‘‘(J) includes a plan to evaluate progress 
and measure results; and 
‘‘(K) clearly demonstrates that enrollment 
of producers in covered programs will be con-
sistent with the purposes and policies of each 
individual program, as established in statute, 
rules and regulations, and program guidance 
promulgated by implementing agencies. 
‘‘(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 full range of resource concerns facing pro-
VerDate Aug 31 2005 
22:07 Mar 22, 2007
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00043
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H1551.IH
H1551
jlentini on PROD1PC65 with BILLS
ducers, ranchers, and small private forest landowners, in-
cluding specifically projects and initiatives that are de-
signed— 
‘‘(1) to achieve improvements in water quality 
in watersheds impacted by agriculture, particularly 
by increasing the participation of producers in im-
plementing best management practices in a water-
shed 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 
impact air quality, especially an area that, as deter-
mined by the Administrator of the Environmental 
Protection Agency, is a nonattainment area with re-
spect to any of the national ambient air quality 
standards promulgated by the Administrator under 
section 109 of the Clean Air Act (42 U.S.C. 7409); 
‘‘(3) to conserve water for environmental pur-
poses such as enhanced in stream flows or aquifer 
recharge in regions, States, or local areas where 
water quantity is a concern; 
‘‘(4) to assist in the recovery of Federal or 
State-listed endangered species or species of special 
concern or to further the goals and objectives of a 
State’s comprehensive wildlife conservation plan 
VerDate Aug 31 2005 
22:07 Mar 22, 2007
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00044
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H1551.IH
H1551
jlentini on PROD1PC65 with BILLS
through the cooperative efforts of multiple pro-
ducers; 
‘‘(5) to control invasive species on rangeland or 
other agricultural land through the cooperative ef-
forts 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 envi-
ronment by engaging multiple producers in a geo-
graphic area in adoption of integrated pest manage-
ment practices and approaches; and 
‘‘(8) to keep working farms and ranches facing 
development pressures in agricultural use. 
‘‘(g) COST SHARE.— 
‘‘(1) MAXIMUM; EXCEPTIONS.—The Secretary 
shall not require more than 25 percent of the cost 
of a project or initiative supported under an agree-
ment entered into under this section to come from 
non-Federal sources. However, the Secretary may 
award more points to projects or initiatives offering 
to cover a higher percentage of the cost of the 
project or initiative from non-Federal sources. 
‘‘(2) IN-KIND
CONTRIBUTIONS.—If the Sec-
retary establishes a cost-share requirement for a 
VerDate Aug 31 2005 
22:07 Mar 22, 2007
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00045
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H1551.IH
H1551
jlentini on PROD1PC65 with BILLS
project or initiative, the Secretary shall allow the use 
of in-kind contributions to meet that requirement. 
‘‘(h) FUNDING.— 
‘‘(1) SET-ASIDE.—Of the funds provided each 
fiscal year to implement the programs specified in 
subsection (b), the Secretary shall use 20 percent to 
provide funds under agreements entered into under 
this section. 
‘‘(2) ALLOCATION TO STATES.—The Secretary 
shall allocate to States 60 percent of the funds re-
served under paragraph (1) to allow State Conserva-
tionists, with the advice of State technical commit-
tees, to select projects and initiatives for funding 
under this section at the State level. 
‘‘(3) WATER QUALITY.—To the maximum ex-
tent practicable and consistent with the other re-
quirements of this section, the Secretary shall ensure 
that 50 percent of the funds awarded each year 
under this section are awarded to projects and ini-
tiatives that will improve water quality.’’. 
(b) CONFORMING REPEAL.—Section 1243 of the 
Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3843) is amended 
by striking subsection (f). 
VerDate Aug 31 2005 
22:07 Mar 22, 2007
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00046
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H1551.IH
H1551
jlentini on PROD1PC65 with BILLS