Collapse to view only § 2007. Authorization of appropriations
- § 2001. Congressional findings
- § 2002. Definitions
- § 2003. Congressional policy and declaration of purpose
- § 2004. Continuing appraisal of soil, water, and related resources
- § 2005. Soil and water conservation program
- § 2005a. Repealed.
- § 2005b. Repealed.
- § 2006. Reports to Congress
- § 2007. Authorization of appropriations
- § 2008. Utilization of available information and data
- § 2009. Termination of program
§ 2001. Congressional findings
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 of the United States, has ensured that the Department of Agriculture 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, development, utilization, and disposal of water; animal husbandry; fish and wildlife management; recreation; community development; and related resource uses.
(3) Appraisal and inventory of resources, assessment and inventory of conservation needs, evaluation of the effects of conservation practices, and analyses of alternative approaches to existing conservation programs are basic to effective soil, water, and related natural resource conservation.
(4) 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.
(Pub. L. 95–192, § 2, Nov. 18, 1977, 91 Stat. 1407; Pub. L. 103–354, title II, § 246(f)(2)(A), Oct. 13, 1994, 108 Stat. 3225; Pub. L. 110–234, title II, § 2804(a), May 22, 2008, 122 Stat. 1086; Pub. L. 110–246, § 4(a), title II, § 2804(a), June 18, 2008, 122 Stat. 1664, 1814.)
§ 2002. Definitions
As used in this chapter:
(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.
(3) The term “soil and water conservation program” means a set of guidelines for attaining the purposes of this chapter.
(Pub. L. 95–192, § 3, Nov. 18, 1977, 91 Stat. 1407; Pub. L. 103–354, title II, § 246(f)(2)(B), Oct. 13, 1994, 108 Stat. 3225.)
§ 2003. Congressional policy and declaration of purpose
(a) Responsiveness to long-term needs
(b) Full utilization of cooperative arrangements with State and tribal agencies
(c) Attainment of policies and purposes
The Secretary shall promote the attainment of the policies and purposes expressed in this chapter by—
(1) appraising on a continuing basis the soil, water, and related resources of the Nation;
(2) developing and updating periodically a program for furthering the conservation, protection, and enhancement of the soil, water, and related resources of the Nation consistent with the roles and program responsibilities of other Federal agencies and State, tribal, 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 evaluation report as provided in section 2006 of this title.
(Pub. L. 95–192, § 4, Nov. 18, 1977, 91 Stat. 1407; Pub. L. 113–79, title II, § 2508(a), Feb. 7, 2014, 128 Stat. 756.)
§ 2004. Continuing appraisal of soil, water, and related resources
(a) Data
In recognition of the importance of and need for obtaining 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 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, State, and tribal laws, policies, programs, rights, regulations, ownerships, and their trends and other considerations 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;
(6) data on alternative irrigation techniques regarding their costs, benefits, and impact on soil and water conservation, crop production, and environmental factors; and
(7) data on conservation plans, conservation practices planned or implemented, environmental outcomes, economic costs, and related matters under conservation programs administered by the Secretary.
(b) Collection of data
(c) Public participation
(d) Evaluation of appraisal
(e) Completion dates
(Pub. L. 95–192, § 5, Nov. 18, 1977, 91 Stat. 1408; Pub. L. 99–198, title XII, § 1252(a), Dec. 23, 1985, 99 Stat. 1516; Pub. L. 110–234, title II, § 2804(b), May 22, 2008, 122 Stat. 1086; Pub. L. 110–246, § 4(a), title II, § 2804(b), June 18, 2008, 122 Stat. 1664, 1814; Pub. L. 113–79, title II, § 2508(b), Feb. 7, 2014, 128 Stat. 756; Pub. L. 115–334, title II, § 2402(1), Dec. 20, 2018, 132 Stat. 4570.)
§ 2005. Soil and water conservation program
(a) Program development
The Secretary is hereby authorized and directed to develop in cooperation with and participation by the public through conservation districts, State, tribal, 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 Secretary which assist landowners and land users, at their request, in furthering soil and water conservation on the private, tribal, and non-Federal lands of the Nation. The program shall set forth direction for future soil and water conservation efforts of the United States Department of Agriculture based on the current soil, water, and related resource appraisal developed in accordance with section 2004 of this title, 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, tribal, and local governments in such conservation efforts. The program shall also include but not be limited to—
(1) analysis of the Nation’s soil, water, and related resource problems;
(2) analysis of existing Federal, State, tribal, 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, tribal, and local programs and the landowners and land users in meeting the soil and water conservation objectives of this chapter;
(4) identification and evaluation of alternative methods for the conservation, protection, environmental improvement, and enhancement of soil and water resources, in the context of alternative time frames, and a recommendation of the preferred alternatives 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 land to improve soil tilth and fertility. The analysis shall include the projected cost of such collection, transportation, and placement 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 techniques regarding their costs, benefits, and impact on soil and water conservation, crop production, and environmental factors.
(b) Evaluation of existing conservation programs
(c) Improvement to program
(d) Completion dates
(Pub. L. 95–192, § 6, Nov. 18, 1977, 91 Stat. 1409; Pub. L. 99–198, title XII, § 1252(b), Dec. 23, 1985, 99 Stat. 1516; Pub. L. 103–354, title II, § 246(f)(2)(C), Oct. 13, 1994, 108 Stat. 3225; Pub. L. 110–234, title II, § 2804(c), May 22, 2008, 122 Stat. 1087; Pub. L. 110–246, § 4(a), title II, § 2804(c), June 18, 2008, 122 Stat. 1664, 1815; Pub. L. 113–79, title II, § 2508(c), Feb. 7, 2014, 128 Stat. 756; Pub. L. 115–334, title II, § 2402(2), Dec. 20, 2018, 132 Stat. 4571.)
§ 2005a. Repealed. Pub. L. 104–127, title III, § 336(e), Apr. 4, 1996, 110 Stat. 1007
§ 2005b. Repealed. Pub. L. 107–171, title II, § 2502(b), May 13, 2002, 116 Stat. 267
§ 2006. Reports to Congress
(a) Appraisal
(b) Program and statement of policy
Not later than the date on which Congress convenes in 2012, 2017, and 2023, the President shall transmit to the Committee on Agriculture of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate—
(1) the initial program or updated program developed under section 2005 of this title and completed before the end of the previous year;
(2) a detailed statement of policy regarding soil and water conservation activities of the Department of Agriculture; and
(3) a special evaluation of the status, conditions, and trends of soil quality on cropland in the United States that addresses the challenges and opportunities for reducing soil erosion to tolerance levels.
(c) Improvements to appraisal and program
(
§ 2007. Authorization of appropriations
There are authorized to be appropriated such funds as may be necessary to carry out the purposes of this chapter.
(Pub. L. 95–192, § 8, Nov. 18, 1977, 91 Stat. 1411.)
§ 2008. Utilization of available information and data
In the implementation of this chapter, the Secretary shall utilize information and data available from other Federal, State, tribal, and local governments, and private organizations and he shall coordinate his actions with the resource appraisal and planning efforts of other Federal agencies and avoid unnecessary duplication and overlap of planning and program efforts.
(Pub. L. 95–192, § 9, Nov. 18, 1977, 91 Stat. 1411; Pub. L. 113–79, title II, § 2508(d), Feb. 7, 2014, 128 Stat. 756.)
§ 2009. Termination of program
The provisions of this chapter shall terminate on December 31, 2023.
(Pub. L. 95–192, § 10, Nov. 18, 1977, 91 Stat. 1411; Pub. L. 99–198, title XII, § 1252(d), Dec. 23, 1985, 99 Stat. 1517; Pub. L. 110–234, title II, § 2804(e), May 22, 2008, 122 Stat. 1088; Pub. L. 110–246, § 4(a), title II, § 2804(e), June 18, 2008, 122 Stat. 1664, 1816; Pub. L. 115–334, title II, § 2402(4), Dec. 20, 2018, 132 Stat. 4571.)