Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 110 Part 1.djvu/1015

 PUBLIC LAW 104-127—APR. 4, 1996 110 STAT. 991 "(G) with respect to the restored, enhanced, or created wetland, made subject to an easement that— "(i) is recorded on public land records; "(ii) remains in force for as long as the converted wetland for which the restoration, enhancement, or creation to be mitigated remains in agricultural use or is not returned to its original wetland classification with equivalent functions and values; and "(iii) prohibits making alterations to the restored, enhanced, or created wetland that lower the wetland's functions and values. "(3) The wetland was converted after December 23, 1985, but before November 28, 1990, and the wetland values, acreage, and functions are mitigated by the producer through the requirements of subparagraphs (A), (B),(C), (D), (F), and (G) of paragraph (2). "(4) The action was authorized by a permit issued under section 404 of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1344) and the wetland values, acreage, and functions of the converted wetland were adequately mitigated for the purposes of this subtitle. ". (e) REFERENCES TO PRODUCER. — Section 1222(g) of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3822(g)) is amended by striking "producer" and inserting "person". (f) GOOD FAITH EXEMPTION.— Section 1222 of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3822) is amended by striking subsection (h) and inserting the following: " (h) GOOD FAITH EXEMPTION.— "(1) EXEMPTION DESCRIBED.—The Secretary may waive a person's ineligibility under section 1221 for program loans, payments, and benefits as the result of the conversion of a wetland subsequent to November 28, 1990, or the production of an agricultural commodity on a converted wetland, if the Secretary determines that the person has acted in good faith and without intent to violate this subtitle. "(2) PERIOD FOR COMPLIANCE.— The Secretary shall provide a person who the Secretary determines has acted in good faith and without intent to violate this subtitle with a reasonable period, but not to exceed 1 year, during which to implement the measures and practices necessary to be considered to actively restoring the subject wetland.". (g) RESTORATION.—Section 1222(i) of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3822(i)) is amended by inserting before the period at the end the following: "or has otherwise mitigated for the loss of wetland values, as determined by the Secretary, through the restoration, enhancement, or creation of wetland values in the same general area of the local watershed as the converted wetland". (h) DETERMINATIONS.—Section 1222 of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3822) is amended by striking subsection (j) and inserting the following: " (j) DETERMINATIONS; RESTORATION AND MITIGATION PLANS; MONITORING ACTIVITIES. —Technical determinations, the development of restoration and mitigation plans, and monitoring activities under this section shall be made by the National Resources Conservation Service.".

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