Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 110 Part 1.djvu/1021

 PUBLIC LAW 104-127—APR. 4, 1996 110 STAT. 997 "CHAPTER 4—ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY INCENTIVES PROGRAM "SEC. 1240. PURPOSES. 16 USC 3839aa. "The purposes of the environmental quality incentives program established by this chapter are to— "(1) combine into a single program the functions of— "(A) the agricultural conservation program authorized by sections 7 and 8 of the Soil Conservation and Domestic Allotment Act (16 U.S.C. 590g and 590h) (as in effect before the amendments made by section 336(a)(1) of the Federal Agriculture Improvement and Reform Act of 1996); "(B) the Great Plains conservation program established under section 16rb) of the Soil Conservation and Domestic Allotment Act (16 U.S.C. 590p(b)) (as in effect before the amendment made by section 336(b)(1) of the Federal Agriculture Improvement and Reform Act of 1996); "(C) the water quality incentives program established under chapter 2 (as in effect before the amendment made by section 336(h) of the Federal Agriculture Improvement and Reform Act of 1996); and "(D) the Colorado River Basin salinity control program established under section 202(c) of the Colorado River Basin Salinity Control Act (43 U.S.C. 1592(c)) (as in effect before the amendment made by section 336(c)(1) of the Federal Agriculture Improvement and Reform Act of 1996); and "(2) carry out the single program in a manner that maximizes environmental benefits per dollar expended, and that provides— "(A) flexible technical and financial assistance to farmers and ranchers that face the most serious threats to soil, water, and related natural resources, including grazing lands, wetlands, and wildlife habitat; "(B) assistance to farmers and ranchers in complying with this title and Federal and State environmental laws, and encourages environmental enhancement; "(C) assistance to farmers and ranchers in making beneficial, cost-effective changes to cropping systems, grazing management, manure, nutrient, pest, or irrigation management, land uses, or other measures needed to conserve and improve soil, water, and related natural resources; and "(D) for the consolidation and simplification of the conservation planning process to reduce administrative burdens on producers. "SEC. 1240A. DEFINITIONS. 16 USC «T 4.U- u 4- 3839aa-l. In this chapter: "(1) ELIGIBLE LAND.— The term 'eligible land' means agricultural land (including cropland, rangeland, pasture, and other land on which crops or livestock are produced), including agricultural land that the Secretary determines poses a serious threat to soil, water, or related resources by reason of the soil types, terrain, climatic, soil, topographic, flood, or saline characteristics, or other factors or natural hazards. "(2) LAND MANAGEMENT PRACTICE.—The term 'land management practice' means a site-specific nutrient or manure

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