Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 91.djvu/1443

 PUBLIC LAW 95-192—NOV. 18, 1977 for alternative uses of the resource base and to identify areas of local, State, and National concerns and related roles pertaining to soil and water conservation, resource use and development, and environmental improvement. (c) The appraisal shall be made in cooperation with conservation districts, State soil and water conservation agencies, and other appropriate citizen groups, and local and State agencies under such procedures as the Secretary may prescribe to insure public participation. (d) The appraisal shall be completed by December 31, 1979, and at each five-year interval thereafter during the period this Act is in effect.

91 STAT. 1409

Public participation.

Completion dates.

SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION PROGRAM

SEC. 6. (a) The Secretary is hereby authorized and directed to Development. develop in cooperation with and participation by the public through 16 USC 2005. conservation districts, State and national organizations and agencies, and other appropriate means, a national soil and water conservation program (hereinafter called the "program") to be used as a guide in carrying out the activities of the Soil Conservation Service which assist landowners and land users, at their request, in furthering soil and water conservation on the private and non-Federal lands of the Nation. The program shall set forth direction for future soil and water conservation efforts of the United States Department of Agriculture based on the current soil, water, and related resource appraisal developed in accordance with section 5 of this Act, taking into consideration both the long- and short-term needs of the Nation, the landowners, and the land users, and the roles and responsibilities of Federal, State, and local governments in such conservation efforts. The program shall also Contents, include but not be limited to— (1) analysis of the Nation's soil, water, and related resource problems; (2) analysis of existing Federal, State, and local government authorities and adjustments needed; (3) an evaluation of the effectiveness of the soil and water conservation ongoing programs and the overall progress being achieved by Federal, State, and local programs and the landowners and land users in meeting the soil and water conservation objectives of this Act; (4) identification and evaluation of alternative methods for the conservation, protection, environmental improvement, and enhancement of soil and water resources, in the context of alternative time frames, and a recommendation of the preferred alternatives and the extent to which they are being implemented; (5) investigation and analysis of the practicability, desirability, and feasibility of collecting organic waste materials, including manure, crop and food wastes, industrial organic waste, municipal ^; sewage sludge, logging and wood-manufacturing residues, and any other organic refuse, composting, or similarly treating such materials, transporting and placing such materials onto the

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