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16 U.S.C. § 3830

Section 3830 · Comprehensive conservation enhancement program

Current version, with additions and removals from the April 4, 1996 version.

Current — May 13, 2002
As of April 4, 1996
(a) Establishment
(a) Establishment

(1) In general

(1) In general

During the 1996 through 2002 calendar years, the Secretary shall establish an environmental conservation acreage reserve program (referred to in this section as “ECARP”) to be implemented through contracts and the acquisition of easements to assist owners and operators of farms and ranches to conserve and enhance soil, water, and related natural resources, including grazing land, wetland, and wildlife habitat.
During the 1996 through 2002 calendar years, the Secretary shall establish a comprehensive conservation enhancement program (referred to in this section as “CCEP”) to be implemented through contracts and the acquisition of easements to assist owners and operators of farms and ranches to conserve and enhance soil, water, and related natural resources, including grazing land, wetland, and wildlife habitat.

(2) Means

(2) Means

The Secretary shall carry out the ECARP by—
The Secretary shall carry out the CCEP by—

(A) providing for the long-term protection of environmentally sensitive land; and

(A) providing for the long-term protection of environmentally sensitive land; and

(B) providing technical and financial assistance to farmers and ranchers to—

(B) providing technical and financial assistance to farmers and ranchers to—

(i) improve the management and operation of the farms and ranches; and

(i) improve the management and operation of the farms and ranches; and

(ii) reconcile productivity and profitability with protection and enhancement of the environment.

(ii) reconcile productivity and profitability with protection and enhancement of the environment.

(3) Programs

(3) Programs

The ECARP shall consist of—
The CCEP shall consist of—

(A) the conservation reserve program established under subpart B;

(A) the conservation reserve program established under subpart B;

(B) the wetlands reserve program established under subpart C; and

(B) the wetlands reserve program established under subpart C; and

(C) the environmental quality incentives program established under part IV of this subchapter.

(C) the environmental quality incentives program established under part IV of this subchapter.

(b) Administration
(b) Administration

(1) In general

(1) In general

In carrying out the ECARP, the Secretary shall enter into contracts with owners and operators and acquire interests in land through easements from owners, as provided in this part and part IV of this subchapter.
In carrying out the CCEP, the Secretary shall enter into contracts with owners and operators and acquire interests in land through easements from owners, as provided in this part and part IV of this subchapter.

(2) Prior enrollments

(2) Prior enrollments

Acreage enrolled in the conservation reserve or wetlands reserve program prior to April 4, 1996, shall be considered to be placed into the ECARP.
Acreage enrolled in the conservation reserve or wetlands reserve program prior to April 4, 1996, shall be considered to be placed into the CCEP.
(c) Conservation priority areas

(1) Designation

The Secretary may designate watersheds, multistate areas, or regions of special environmental sensitivity as conservation priority areas that are eligible for enhanced assistance under this part and part IV of this subchapter.

(2) Assistance

The Secretary may designate areas as conservation priority areas to assist, to the maximum extent practicable, agricultural producers within the conservation priority areas to comply with nonpoint source pollution requirements under the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1251 et seq.) and other Federal and State environmental laws and to meet other conservation needs.

(3) Producers

The Secretary may provide technical assistance, cost-share payments, and incentive payments to producers in a conservation priority area under this part and part IV of this subchapter based on—

(A) the significance of the soil, water, wildlife habitat, and related natural resource problems in a watershed, multistate area, or region; and

(B) the structural practices or land management practices that best address the problems, and that maximize environmental benefits for each dollar expended, as determined by the Secretary.

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