16 U.S.C. § 3844 (CONSERVATION)
§ 3844. Administrative requirements for conservation programs
(a) Incentives for certain farmers and ranchers and Indian tribes
(1) Incentives authorized
In carrying out any conservation program administered by the Secretary, the Secretary may provide to a person or entity specified in paragraph (2) incentives to participate in the conservation program—
(A) to foster new farming and ranching opportunities; and
(B) to enhance long-term environmental goals.
(2) Covered persons
Incentives authorized by paragraph (1) may be provided to the following:
(A) Beginning farmers or ranchers.
(B) Socially disadvantaged farmers or ranchers.
(C) Limited resource farmers or ranchers.
(D) Indian tribes.
(E) Veteran farmers or ranchers (as defined in section 2279(e) of title 7).
(b) Privacy of personal information relating to natural resources conservation programs
(1) Information received for technical and financial assistance
(A) In general
In accordance with section 552(b)(3) of title 5, except as provided in subparagraph (C) and paragraph (2), information described in subparagraph (B)—
(i) shall not be considered to be public information; and
(ii) shall not be released to any person or Federal, State, local agency or Indian tribe (as defined by the Secretary) outside the Department of Agriculture.
(B) Information
The information referred to in subparagraph (A) is information—
(i) provided to the Secretary or a contractor of the Secretary (including information provided under subchapter IV) for the purpose of providing technical or financial assistance to an owner, operator, or producer with respect to any natural resources conservation program administered by the Natural Resources Conservation Service or the Farm Service Agency; and
(ii) that is proprietary (within the meaning of section 552(b)(4) of title 5) to the agricultural operation or land that is a part of an agricultural operation of the owner, operator, or producer.
(C) Exception
Nothing in this section affects the availability of payment information (including payment amounts and the names and addresses of recipients of payments) under section 552 of title 5.
(2) Exceptions
(A) Release and disclosure for enforcement
The Secretary may release or disclose to the Attorney General information covered by paragraph (1) to the extent necessary to enforce the natural resources conservation programs referred to in paragraph (1)(B)(i).
(B) Disclosure to cooperating persons and agencies
(i) In general
The Secretary may release or disclose information covered by paragraph (1) to a person or Federal, State, local, or tribal agency working in cooperation with the Secretary in providing technical and financial assistance described in paragraph (1)(B)(i) or collecting information from data gathering sites.
(ii) Use of information
The person or Federal, State, local, or tribal agency that receives information described in clause (i) may release the information only for the purpose of assisting the Secretary—
(I) in providing the requested technical or financial assistance; or
(II) in collecting information from data gathering sites.
(C) Statistical and aggregate information
Information covered by paragraph (1) may be disclosed to the public if the information has been transformed into a statistical or aggregate form without naming any—
(i) individual owner, operator, or producer; or
(ii) specific data gathering site.
(D) Consent of owner, operator, or producer
(i) In general
An owner, operator, or producer may consent to the disclosure of information described in paragraph (1).
(ii) Condition of other programs
The participation of the owner, operator, or producer in, and the receipt of any benefit by the owner, operator, or producer under, this chapter or any other program administered by the Secretary may not be conditioned on the owner, operator, or producer providing consent under this paragraph.
(3) Violations; penalties
Section 2276(c) of title 7 shall apply with respect to the release of information collected in any manner or for any purpose prohibited by this subsection.
(4) Data collection, disclosure, and review
Nothing in this subsection—
(A) affects any procedure for data collection or disclosure through the National Resources Inventory; or
(B) limits the authority of Congress or the Government Accountability Office to review information collected or disclosed under this subsection.
(c) Plans
The Secretary shall, to the extent practicable, avoid duplication in—
(1) the conservation plans required for—
(A) highly erodible land conservation under subchapter II; and
(B) the conservation reserve program established under subpart B of part I of subchapter IV;
(2) the agricultural conservation easement program established under subchapter VII; and
(3) the environmental quality incentives program established under part IV of subchapter IV.
(d) Tenant protection
Except for a person who is a tenant on land that is subject to a conservation reserve contract that has been extended by the Secretary, the Secretary shall provide adequate safeguards to protect the interests of tenants and sharecroppers, including provision for sharing, on a fair and equitable basis, in payments under the programs established under subchapters II through IV, VII, and VIII.
(e) Provision of technical assistance by other sources
In the preparation and application of a conservation compliance plan under subchapter II or similar plan required as a condition for assistance from the Department of Agriculture, the Secretary shall permit persons to secure technical assistance from approved sources, as determined by the Secretary, other than the Natural Resources Conservation Service. If the Secretary rejects a technical determination made by such a source, the basis of the Secretary’s determination must be supported by documented evidence.
(f) Acreage limitations
(1) Limitations
(A) Enrollments
The Secretary shall not enroll more than 25 percent of the cropland in any county in the conservation reserve program established under subpart B of part I of subchapter IV and wetland reserve easements under section 3865c of this title.
(B) Easements
Not more than 10 percent of the cropland in a county may be subject to a wetland reserve easement under section 3865c of this title.
(2) Exceptions
The Secretary may exceed the limitation in paragraph (1)(A), if the Secretary determines that—
(A) the action would not adversely affect the local economy of a county; and
(B) operators in the county are having difficulties complying with conservation plans implemented under section 3812 of this title.
(3) Waiver to exclude certain acreage
The Secretary may grant a waiver to exclude acreage enrolled under subsection (d)(2)(A)(ii) or (g)(2) of section 3834 of this title from the limitations in paragraph (1)(A) with the concurrence of the county government of the county involved.
(4) Exclusions
(A) Shelterbelts and windbreaks
The limitations established under paragraph (1) shall not apply to cropland that is subject to an easement under subpart B of part I of subchapter IV that is used for the establishment of shelterbelts and windbreaks.
(B) Wet and saturated soils
For the purposes of enrolling land in a wetland reserve easement under section 3865c of this title, the limitations established under paragraph (1) shall not apply to cropland designated by the Secretary with subclass w in the land capability classes IV through VIII because of severe use limitations due to soil saturation or inundation.
(5) Calculation
In calculating the percentages described in paragraph (1), the Secretary shall include any acreage that was included in calculations of percentages made under such paragraph, as in effect on the day before February 7, 2014, and that remains enrolled when the calculation is made after that date under paragraph (1).
(g) Compliance and performance
For each conservation program under subchapter IV, the Secretary shall develop procedures—
(1) to monitor compliance with program requirements;
(2) to measure program performance;
(3) to demonstrate whether the long-term conservation benefits of the program are being achieved;
(4) to track participation by crop and livestock types; and
(5) to coordinate activities described in this subsection with the national conservation program authorized under section 2004 of this title.
(h) Encouragement of pollinator habitat development and protection
In carrying out any conservation program administered by the Secretary, the Secretary may, as appropriate, encourage—
(1) the development of habitat for native and managed pollinators; and
(2) the use of conservation practices that benefit native and managed pollinators, including, to the extent practicable, practices that maximize benefits for honey bees.
(i) Streamlined application process
(1) In general
In carrying out each conservation program under this chapter, the Secretary shall ensure that the application process used by producers and landowners is streamlined to minimize complexity and eliminate redundancy.
(2) Review and streamlining
(A) Review
The Secretary shall carry out a review of the application forms and processes for each conservation program covered by this subsection.
(B) Streamlining
On completion of the review the Secretary shall revise application forms and processes, as necessary, to ensure that—
(i) all required application information is essential for the efficient, effective, and accountable implementation of conservation programs;
(ii) conservation program applicants are not required to provide information that is readily available to the Secretary through existing information systems of the Department of Agriculture;
(iii) information provided by the applicant is managed and delivered efficiently for use in all stages of the application process, or for multiple applications; and
(iv) information technology is used effectively to minimize data and information input requirements.
(3) Implementation and notification
Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a written notification of completion of the requirements of this subsection.
(j) Improved administrative efficiency and effectiveness
In administrating a conservation program under this chapter, the Secretary shall, to the maximum extent practicable—
(1) seek to reduce administrative burdens and costs to producers by streamlining conservation planning and program resources; and
(2) take advantage of new technologies to enhance efficiency and effectiveness.
(k) Relation to other payments
Any payment received by an owner or operator under this chapter, including an easement payment or rental payment, shall be in addition to, and not affect, the total amount of payments that the owner or operator is otherwise eligible to receive under any of the following:
(1) This Act.
(2) The Agricultural Act of 1949 (7 U.S.C. 1421 et seq.).
(3) The Agricultural Act of 2014.
(4) Any law that succeeds a law specified in paragraph (1), (2), or (3).
(l) Funding for Indian tribes
In carrying out the conservation stewardship program under subpart B of part II of subchapter IV and the environmental quality incentives program under part IV of subchapter IV, the Secretary may enter into alternative funding arrangements with Indian tribes if the Secretary determines that the goals and objectives of the programs will be met by such arrangements, and that statutory limitations regarding contracts with individual producers will not be exceeded by any tribal member.
(m) Exemption from certain reporting requirements
(1) Definition of exempted producer
In this subsection, the term “exempted producer” means a producer or landowner eligible to participate in any conservation program administered by the Secretary.
(2) Exemption
Notwithstanding the Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act of 2006 (Public Law 109–282; 31 U.S.C. 6101 note), the requirements of parts 25 and 170 of title 2, Code of Federal Regulations (and any successor regulations), shall not apply with respect to assistance received by an exempted producer from the Secretary, acting through the Natural Resources Conservation Service.
(Pub. L. 99–198, title XII, § 1244, as added Pub. L. 107–171, title II, § 2004(a), May 13, 2002, 116 Stat. 235; amended Pub. L. 108–271, § 8(b), July 7, 2004, 118 Stat. 814; Pub. L. 110–234, title II, §§ 2707(a), 2708, May 22, 2008, 122 Stat. 1077, 1079; Pub. L. 110–246, § 4(a), title II, §§ 2707(a), 2708, June 18, 2008, 122 Stat. 1664, 1805, 1807; Pub. L. 113–79, title II, §§ 2301(b), 2606, Feb. 7, 2014, 128 Stat. 743, 760; Pub. L. 115–141, div. A, title VII, § 766, Mar. 23, 2018, 132 Stat. 397.)
heading: References in Text
text: This chapter, referred to in subsecs. (b)(2)(D)(ii), (i)(1), (j), and (k), was in the original “this title”, meaning title XII of Pub. L. 99–198, which enacted this chapter and former section 2005a of this title and amended sections 590g, 2004, 2005, 2006, and 2009 of this title, sections 4207 and 4209 of Title 7, Agriculture, and provisions set out as a note under section 1981 of Title 7.
The date of enactment of the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008, referred to in subsec. (i)(3), is the date of enactment of Pub. L. 110–246, which was approved June 18, 2008.
This Act, referred to in subsec. (k)(1), is Pub. L. 99–198, Dec. 23, 1985, 99 Stat. 1354, known as the Food Security Act of 1985. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title of 1985 Amendment note set out under section 1281 of Title 7, Agriculture, and Tables.
The Agricultural Act of 1949, referred to in subsec. (k)(2), is act Oct. 31, 1949, ch. 792, 63 Stat. 1051, which is classified principally to chapter 35A (§ 1421 et seq.) of Title 7, Agriculture. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under section 1421 of Title 7 and Tables.
The Agricultural Act of 2014, referred to in subsec. (k)(3), is Pub. L. 113–79, Feb. 7, 2014, 128 Stat. 649. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Tables.
The Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act of 2006, referred to in subsec. (m), is Pub. L. 109–282, Sept. 26, 2006, 120 Stat. 1186, which is set out as a note under section 6101 of Title 31, Money and Finance.
heading: Codification
text: The text of section 3843(a), (c), and (d) of this title, which was transferred to this section and redesignated as subsecs. (c), (d), and (e), respectively, by Pub. L. 110–246, § 2707(a), was based on Pub. L. 99–198, title XII, § 1243(a), (c), (d), as added Pub. L. 104–127, title III, § 341, Apr. 4, 1996, 110 Stat. 1008, 1009.
Pub. L. 110–234 and Pub. L. 110–246 made identical amendments to this section. The amendments by Pub. L. 110–234 were repealed by section 4(a) of Pub. L. 110–246.
heading: Prior Provisions
text: A prior section 3844, Pub. L. 99–198, title XII, § 1244, Dec. 23, 1985, 99 Stat. 1515, related to issuance of regulations to carry out subchapters I to V of this chapter, prior to the general amendment of this subchapter by Pub. L. 104–127.
heading: Amendments
text: 2018—Subsec. (m). Pub. L. 115–141 added subsec. (m).
2014—Subsec. (a)(2)(E). Pub. L. 113–79, § 2606(1), added subpar. (E).
Subsec. (c)(1). Pub. L. 113–79, § 2301(b)(1)(A), inserted “and” after semicolon in subpar. (A), struck out “and” after semicolon in subpar. (B), and struck out subpar. (C) which read as follows: “the wetlands reserve program established under subpart C of part I of subchapter IV; and”.
Subsec. (c)(2), (3). Pub. L. 113–79, § 2301(b)(1)(B), (C), added par. (2) and redesignated former par. (2) as (3).
Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 113–79, § 2606(2), inserted “, VII, and VIII” before period at end.
Subsec. (f)(1)(A). Pub. L. 113–79, § 2301(b)(2)(A)(i), substituted “conservation reserve program established under subpart B of part I of subchapter IV and wetland reserve easements under section 3865c of this title” for “programs administered under subparts B and C of part I of subchapter IV”.
Subsec. (f)(1)(B). Pub. L. 113–79, § 2606(3)(A), substituted “county” for “country”.
Pub. L. 113–79, § 2301(b)(2)(A)(ii), substituted “a wetland reserve easement under section 3865c of this title” for “an easement acquired under subpart C of part I of subchapter IV”.
Subsec. (f)(3). Pub. L. 113–79, § 2606(3)(B), substituted “subsection (d)(2)(A)(ii) or (g)(2)” for “subsection (c)(2)(B) or (f)(4)”.
Subsec. (f)(4). Pub. L. 113–79, § 2301(b)(2)(B), added par. (4) and struck out former par. (4). Prior to amendment, text read as follows: “The limitations established under paragraph (1) shall not apply to cropland that is subject to an easement under subpart C of part I of subchapter IV that is used for the establishment of shelterbelts and windbreaks.”
Subsec. (f)(5). Pub. L. 113–79, § 2301(b)(2)(C), added par. (5).
Subsec. (h)(2). Pub. L. 113–79, § 2606(4), inserted “, including, to the extent practicable, practices that maximize benefits for honey bees” before period at end.
Subsecs. (j) to (l). Pub. L. 113–79, § 2606(5), added subsecs. (j) to (l).
2008—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 110–246, § 2708(1), added subsec. (a) and struck out former subsec. (a). Prior to amendment, text read as follows: “In carrying out any conservation program administered by the Secretary, the Secretary may provide to beginning farmers and ranchers and Indian tribes (as those terms are defined in section 3838 of this title) and limited resource agricultural producers incentives to participate in the conservation program to—
“(1) foster new farming and ranching opportunities; and
“(2) enhance environmental stewardship over the long term.”
Subsecs. (c) to (e). Pub. L. 110–246, § 2707(a), transferred subsecs. (a), (c), and (d) of section 3843 of this title and redesignated them as subsecs. (c) to (e), respectively, of this section. See Codification note above.
Subsecs. (f) to (i). Pub. L. 110–246, § 2708(2), added subsecs. (f) to (i).
2004—Subsec. (b)(4)(B). Pub. L. 108–271 substituted “Government Accountability Office” for “General Accounting Office”.
heading: Effective Date of 2008 Amendment
text: Amendment of this section and repeal of Pub. L. 110–234 by Pub. L. 110–246 effective May 22, 2008, the date of enactment of Pub. L. 110–234, see section 4 of Pub. L. 110–246, set out as an Effective Date note under section 8701 of Title 7, Agriculture.