Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 91.djvu/1442

 91 STAT. 1408

Reports to Congress and public.

PUBLIC LAW 95-192—NOV. 18, 1977 have effectively aided in the protection and improvement of the Nation's basic resources, including the restoration and maintenance of resources damaged by improper use, it is declared to be the policy of the United States that these arrangements and similar cooperative arrangements should be utilized to the fullest extent practicable to achieve the purpose of this Act consistent with the roles and responsibilities of the non-Federal agencies, landowners and land users. (c) The Secretary shall promote the attainment of the policies and purposes expressed in this Act 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 responsibilties of other Federal agencies and State 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 7. APPRAISAL

16 USC 2004.

Contents.



SEC. 5. (a) 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 and State 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; and (6) data on alternative irrigation techniques regarding their costs, benefits, and impact on soil and water conservation, crop production, and environmental factors. (b) The appraisal shall utilize data collected under this Act and pertinent data and information collected by the Department of Agriculture and other Federal, State, and local agencies and organizations. The Secretary shall establish an integrated system capable of using combinations of resource data to determine the quality and capabilities

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