Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 86.djvu/712

 670

Other Federal

^^po""'-

PUBLIC LAW 92-419-AUG. 30, 1972

[86 STAT.

<:)ii the unpaid balance shall be the average rate, as determined b j the Secretary of the Treasury, payable by the Treasury upon its marketable public oblioations outstanding at the beginning of the fiscal year in which the advancement for such water supply is first made, which are neither due nor callable for redemption for fifteen years from date of issue; "(2) To provide, for the benefit of rural communities, technical and other assistance and such proportionate share of the costs of installing measures and facilities for water quality management, for the control and abatement of agriculture-related poUuticm, for the disposal of solid wastes, and foi- the storage of water in reservoirs, farm ponds, or other impoundments, togethei- with necessary water withdrawal appurtenances, for rural fire protection, as is determined by the Secretary to be equitable iu consideration of national needs and assistance authorized for similai- purposes undei' other Federal programs." SEC. H2. SOIL. WATER AXU RELATED RESOURCE DATA.—In recognition of the increasing need for soil, water', and related resource data for land conservation, use, and development, for guidance of community development for a balanced rural-urban growth, for identification of prime agriculture producing areas that should be protected, and for use in protecting the quality of the environment, the Secretary of Agriculture is directed to carry out a land inventory and monitoring program to include, but not be limited to. studies and surveys of erosion and sediment damages, flood plain identification and utilization, land use changes and tr-ends, and degradation of the environment resulting from impropei- use of soil, water, and r-elated resources. The Secretary shall issue at not less than five-year intervals a land inventory report reflecting soil, water, and related I'esource conditions. TITLE IV — R U R A L COMMUNTrY F I R E PROTECTION -tOl. AVILDFIRE PROTECTION ASSISTANCE.—In order to shield human and natural resources, financial investments, and environmental (juality from losses due to wildfires in unprotected or poorly protected rural areas there is a need to strengthen and synergize Federal, State, and local efforts to establish an adequate protection capability wherever the lives and property of Americans are endangered by wildfire in rural communities and areas. The Congress hereby finds that inade(|uate fire protection and the resultant threat of substantial losses of life and property is a significant deterrent to the investment of the laboi' and capital needed to help revitalize rural America, and thai well-organized, equipped, and trained firefighting forces are needed in many rural areas to encourage and safeguard public and private investments in the improvement and development of areas of rural America where organized protection against losses from wildfire is lacking or inadequate. To this end, the Secretary of Agriculture is authorized and directed to provide financial, technical, and other assistance to State foresters or other appropriate officials of the several States in cooperative efforts to organize, train, and equip local forces, including those of Indian tribes on Federal and State reservations or other federally recognized Indian tribal groups to prevent, control, and suppress wildfires threatening human life, livestock, wildlife, crops, pastures, orchards, rangeland, woodland, farmsteads, or other improvements, and other values in rural areas as defined in section
 * }06(a)(7) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act.

gj-Q^ 402. ]MATCiriNG.—The Secretary shall carry out this title in accordance with cooperativ^e agreements, made with appropriate State officials, vv'hich include such terms and conditions as the Secretary deems necessary to achieve the purposes of this title. No such agreement shall provide for financial assistance by the Secretary under SEC.

Ante. p. 659. Cooperative sfate^^fficlaTs.

�