An Act to provide for furthering the conservation, protection, and enhancement of the Nation's soil, water, and related resources for sustained use, and for other purposes.
PL 95-192 (S.106), enacted 11/18/1977

PUBLIC LAW 95-192—NOV. 18, 1977 
91 STAT. 1407 
Public Law 95-192 
95th Congress 
An Act 
Nov. 18, 1977 
[S. 106] 
Soil and Water 
Resources 
Conservation Act 
of 1977. 
16 use 2001 
note. 
16 use 2001. 
To provide for furthering the conservation, protection, and enhancement of the 
Nation's soil, water, and related resources for sustained use, and for other 
purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled, That this Act may 
be cited as the "Soil and Water Resources Conservation Act of 1977". 
FINDINGS 
SEC. 2. The Congress finds that: 
(1) There is a growing demand on the soil, water, and related 
resources of the Nation to meet present and future needs. 
(2) The Congress, in its concern for sustained use of the resource 
base, created the Soil Conservation Service of the United States 
Department of Agriculture which possesses information, technical 
expertise, and a delivery system for providing assistance to land users 
with respect to conservation and use of soils; plants; woodlands; 
watershed protection and flood prevention; the conservation, develop-
ment, utilization, and disposal of water; animal husbandry; fish and 
wildlife management; recreation; community development; and 
related resource uses. 
(3) Resource appraisal is basic to effective soil and water conserva-
tion. Since individual and governmental decisions concerning soil and 
water resources often transcend administrative boundaries and affect 
other programs and decisions, a coordinated appraisal and program 
framework are essential. 
DEFINITIONS 
SEC. 3. As used in this Act: 
(1) The term "Secretary" means the Secretary of Agriculture. 
(2) The term "soil, water, and related resources" means those 
resources which come within the scope of the programs administered 
and participated in by the Secretary of Agriculture through the Soil 
Conservation Service. 
(3) The term "soil and water conservation program" means a set of 
guidelines for attaining the purposes of this Act. 
DECLARATIONS OF POLICY AND PURPOSE : PROMOTION THEREOF 
SEC. 4. (a) In order to further the conservation of soil, water, and 16 USC 2003. 
related resources, it is declared to be the policy of the United States 
and purpose of this Act that the conduct of programs administered 
by the Secretary of Agriculture for the conservation of such resources 
shall be responsive to the long-term needs of the Nation, as determined 
under the provisions of this Act. 
(b) Recognizing that the arrangements under which the Federal 
Government cooperates with State soil and water conservation agen-
cies and other appropriate State natural resource agencies such as those 
concerned with forestry and fish and wildlife and, through conserva-
tion districts, with other local units of government and land users, 
16 USC 2002. 
91 STAT. 1408 
PUBLIC LAW 95-192—NOV. 18, 1977 
Reports to 
Congress and 
public. 
have effectively aided in the protection and improvement of the 
Nation's basic resources, including the restoration and maintenance 
of resources damaged by improper use, it is declared to be the policy 
of the United States that these arrangements and similar cooperative 
arrangements should be utilized to the fullest extent practicable to 
achieve the purpose of this Act consistent with the roles and respon-
sibilities of the non-Federal agencies, landowners and land users. 
(c) The Secretary shall promote the attainment of the policies and 
purposes expressed in this Act by— 
(1) appraising on a continuing basis the soil, water, and related 
resources of the Nation; 
(2) developing and updating periodically a program for fur-
thering the conservation, protection, and enhancement of the soil, 
water, and related resources of the Nation consistent with the roles 
and program responsibilties of other Federal agencies and State 
and local governments; and 
(3) providing to Congress and the public, through reports, the 
information developed pursuant to paragraphs (1) and (2) of 
this subsection, and by providing Congress with an annual evalua-
tion report as provided in section 7. 
APPRAISAL 
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SEC. 5. (a) In recognition of the importance of and need for obtain-
ing and maintaining information on the current status of soil, water, 
and related resources, the Secretary is authorized and directed to carry 
out a continuing appraisal of the soil, water, and related resources of 
Contents. 
the Nation! The appraisal shall include, but not be limited to— 
(1) data on the quality and quantity of soil, water, and related 
resources, including fish and wildlife habitats; 
(2) data on the capability and limitations of those resources for 
meeting current and projected demands on the resource base; 
(3) data on the changes that have occurred in the status and 
condition of those resources resulting from various past uses, 
including the impact of farming technologies, techniques, and 
practices; 
(4) data on current Federal and State laws, policies, programs, 
rights, regulations, ownerships, and their trends and other con-
siderations relating to the use, development, and conservation of 
soil, water, and related resources; 
(5) data on the costs and benefits of alternative soil and water 
conservation practices; and 
(6) data on alternative irrigation techniques regarding their 
costs, benefits, and impact on soil and water conservation, crop 
*' ^ ' 
production, and environmental factors. 
(b) The appraisal shall utilize data collected under this Act and 
pertinent data and information collected by the Department of Agri-
culture and other Federal, State, and local agencies and organizations. 
The Secretary shall establish an integrated system capable of using 
combinations of resource data to determine the quality and capabilities 
PUBLIC LAW 95-192—NOV. 18, 1977 
91 STAT. 1409 
for alternative uses of the resource base and to identify areas of local, 
State, and National concerns and related roles pertaining to soil and 
water conservation, resource use and development, and environmental 
improvement. 
(c) The appraisal shall be made in cooperation with conservation 
districts, State soil and water conservation agencies, and other appro-
priate citizen groups, and local and State agencies under such proce-
dures as the Secretary may prescribe to insure public participation. 
(d) The appraisal shall be completed by December 31, 1979, and at 
each five-year interval thereafter during the period this Act is in 
effect. 
SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION PROGRAM 
Public 
participation. 
Completion 
dates. 
Development. 
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SEC. 6. (a) The Secretary is hereby authorized and directed to 
develop in cooperation with and participation by the public through 
conservation districts, State and national organizations and agencies, 
and other appropriate means, a national soil and water conservation 
program (hereinafter called the "program") to be used as a guide in 
carrying out the activities of the Soil Conservation Service which 
assist landowners and land users, at their request, in furthering soil and 
water conservation on the private and non-Federal lands of the Nation. 
The program shall set forth direction for future soil and water con-
servation efforts of the United States Department of Agriculture based 
on the current soil, water, and related resource appraisal developed in 
accordance with section 5 of this Act, taking into consideration both 
the long- and short-term needs of the Nation, the landowners, and the 
land users, and the roles and responsibilities of Federal, State, and 
local governments in such conservation efforts. The program shall also Contents, 
include but not be limited to— 
(1) analysis of the Nation's soil, water, and related resource 
problems; 
(2) analysis of existing Federal, State, and local government 
authorities and adjustments needed; 
(3) an evaluation of the effectiveness of the soil and water 
conservation ongoing programs and the overall progress being 
achieved by Federal, State, and local programs and the land-
owners and land users in meeting the soil and water conservation 
objectives of this Act; 
(4) identification and evaluation of alternative methods for 
the conservation, protection, environmental improvement, and 
enhancement of soil and water resources, in the context of alterna-
tive time frames, and a recommendation of the preferred alterna-
tives and the extent to which they are being implemented; 
(5) investigation and analysis of the practicability, desirability, 
and feasibility of collecting organic waste materials, including 
manure, crop and food wastes, industrial organic waste, municipal 
^; 
sewage sludge, logging and wood-manufacturing residues, and 
any other organic refuse, composting, or similarly treating such 
materials, transporting and placing such materials onto the 
91 STAT. 1410 
PUBLIC LAW 95-192—NOV. 18, 1977 
Completion 
dates. 
land to improve soil tilth and fertility. The analysis shall include 
the projected cost of such collection, transportation, and place-
ment in accordance with sound locally approved soil and water 
conservation practices; 
(6) analysis of the Federal and non-Federal inputs required 
to implement the program; 
(7) analysis of costs and benefits of alternative soil and water 
conservation practices; and 
(8) investigation and analysis of alternative irrigation tech-
niques regarding their costs, benefits, and impact on soil and 
water conservation, crop production, and environmental factors. 
(b) The program plan shall be completed not later than December 
31, 1979, and be updated at each five-year interval thereafter during 
the period this Act is in effect. 
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Legislative 
recommenda-
tions. 
REPORT TO CONGRESS 
SEC. 7. (a) On the first day Congress convenes in 1980 and at each 
five-year interval thereafter during the period this Act is in effect 
the President shall transmit to the Speaker of the House of Repre-
sentatives and the President of the Senate, the appraisal and the pro-
gram as required by sections 5 and 6 of this Act, together with a 
detailed statement of policy regarding soil and water conservation 
activities of the United States Department of Agriculture. 
(b) Commencing with the fiscal year ending September 30, 1982, 
the President shall, not later than thirty days after the submission of 
the budget for each fiscal year, prepare and transmit to Congress a 
report expressing in qualitative and quantitative terms the extent to 
which the programs and policies projected under the budget meet the 
statement of policy submitted under subsection (a) of this section. 
In any case in which the budget recommends a course which fails to 
meet the statement of policy, the President shall set forth in his report 
under this subsection the reasons for requesting Congress to approve 
the lesser program or policies presented in the budget. 
(c) The Secretary, during budget preparation for fiscal year 1982 
and annually thereafter during the period this Act is in effect, shall 
prepare and transmit to the Congress, through the President, a report 
to accompany the budget which evaluates the program's effectiveness 
in attaining the purposes of this Act, The report, prepared in concise 
summary form with appropriate detailed appendices, shall contain 
pertinent data from the current resource appraisal required to be pre-
pared by section 5 of this Act, shall set forth the progress in imple-
menting the program required to be developed by section 6 of this 
Act, and shall contain appropriate measurements of pertinent costs 
and benefits. The evaluation shall assess the balance between economic 
factors and environmental quality factors. The report shall also indi-
cate plans for implementing action and recommendations for new 
legislation where warranted. 
PUBLIC LAW 95-192—NOV. 18, 1977 
91 STAT. 1411 
AUTHORIZATION FOR APPROPRIATIONS 
SEC. 8. There are authorized to be appropriated such funds as may 16 USC 2007. 
be necessary to carry out the purposes of this Act. 
EFFECTIVE DATE 
SEC. 9. In the implementation of this Act, the Secretary shall utilize 16 USC 2008. 
information and data available from other Federal, State, and local 
governments, and private organizations and he shall coordinate his 
actions with the resource appraisal and planning efforts of other Fed-
eral agencies and avoid unnecessary duplication and overlap of plan-
ning and program efforts. 
SEC. 10. The provisions of this Act shall terminate on December 31, Termination date. 
1985. 
16 USC 2009. 
Approved November 18, 1977. 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY: 
HOUSE REPORT No. 95-344 accompanying H.R. 75 (Comm. on Agriculture). 
SENATE REPORT No. 95-59 (Comm. on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry). 
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 123 (1977): 
Mar. 23, considered and passed Senate. 
June 6, considered and passed House, amended, in lieu of H.R. 75. 
Nov. 2, Senate concurred in House amendments with an amendment. 
Nov. 3, House agreed to Senate amendment.