Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 104 Part 5.djvu/262

 104 STAT. 3584 PUBLIC LAW 101-624—NOV. 28, 1990 16 USC 3831 SEC. 1437. STUDY OF LAND USE FOR EXPIRING CONTRACTS AND EXTEN- note. SION OF AUTHORITY. (a) IN GENERAL.— The Secretary of Agriculture shall conduct a study of cropland subject to expiring conservation reserve contracts entered into prior to the date of enactment of this Act under subtitle D of title XII of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3831 et seq.). Such study shall include the consideration of— (1) the environmental benefits of such lands that remain out of crop production as compared to the economic benefits that would result from returning such lands to production under adequate stewardship and mansigement; (2) the renewal of the contracts in a manner that allows for certain sustainable economic uses of cropland in return for lower rental payments; (3) the purchase of permanent easements permitting specified economic uses of cropland subject to the contracts; (4) the purchase of the cropland subject to the contracts; (5) the preservation of crop acresige bases associated with cropland subject to the contracts if the owner or operator continues to devote the cropland to conserving uses; (6) the purchase of crop acreage bases associated with cropland subject to the contracts; and (7) the expiration of the contracts. (b) REPORT.— Not later than December 31, 1993, the Secretary of Agriculture shall prepare and submit to the Committee on Agriculture of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate a report concerning the results of the study conducted under subsection (a) and recommendations concerning the treatment of lands subject to expiring contracts under subtitle D of title XII of the Food Security Act of 1985, proposed legislation addressing the treatment of such lands, and the projected cost of such treatment. (c) EXTENSIONS.— During the 1996 through 2000 calendar years, the Secretary of Agriculture may— (1) extend up to 10 years contracts entered into under subchapter B of chapter 1 of subtitle D of title XII of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3831) prior to the date of enactment of this Act; or (2) purchase long-term or permanent easements as provided for in chapter 3; at the option of the owner or operator on land that the Secretary has determined under the study conducted under subsection (a) should remain in conserving uses. SEC. 1438. WETLANDS RESERVE PROGRAM. Subtitle D of title XII of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3831 et seq.) is amended by adding after section 1236 the following new subchapter: "Subchapter C—Wetlands Reserve Program 16 USC 3837. "SEC. 1237. WETLANDS RESERVE PROGRAM. "(a) ElsTABUSHMENT.— The Secretary shall establish a wetlands reserve program to assist owners of eligible lands in restoring and protecting wetlands.

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