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(8C'I~heel Conservation " w ..... 00 CONSERVATION CJ The conservation pro....isions of the 1996 fann bill simplify exisling conservation programs and improve their nexibi]ily and efficiency. The bill also creates new programs 10 address high priority em'ironment:l.] protection goals. The fann bill authonzes more Ihan $2.2 billion in addilional funding for conservallon programs. cxtends the ConseI"\lation Rescrve Program iII1d Wetland Rcsel"\.c Program, and creales new inilialives 10 improve nalural resources on Amenca's privale lands. To qualify for markel transition payments under basic commodity programs which replace tradilional fann subsidies. fann operators must agree to abide by Consel"\'allon Compliance and Wellands Conservalion (Swampbuster) provisions in lhe 1996 farm bi]1. UMBRELLA PROGRAM REFORM The bill refonns an exisling progr2I1l, the Environmenlal Consemuion Acreage Reserve Program (ECARP), which encompasses the existing Conservation Reserve Program, the new Environmental Quality Incentives Program, and the Weiland Reserve Program. ConsC'I"\Iltion Reserve Prognm The CRP protecls highly erodible and environmentally sensilive lands with grass. trees. and olher ]ong-lenn cover. The farm bill: . Allows up 10 36A million acres to be enrolled al anyone time. Ne..... enrollments can replace expired or tenninated comracts. . A]lows owners or operalors who entered into a contract before 1995 to lerminate contracts un cenain acres after giving Vlrilten notice. Contracls must have been in eITecl for alleast five years. LaIlds with high en\'ironmenta] values are not eligib]e for early release. . Gives lhe SecretaI)' discretionary authorilY to offer fUlure early outs for CRP acres. Environmental Quality Inct'ntives The En\.ironmenlal Qua]ity Incentives Program (EQW) is a new program which combines the functions oflhe Agricultura] Conservation Program, Waler Qua]ity Incenti\.es Program, Grt'al Plains Conservalion Program and the Colorado River Basin Salinity Control Progr3l1l. EQW i::l funded al Sl30 millioo in fiscal year 19% and $100 million annually thereafter. Livestock.related conservation practices will receive 50 percen\ of program funding. The fann bill: . Establishes conservation priority ;\feas where significant waler. soil, iII1d related natural resource problems exist, in cooperation with state and federal agencies and with the stale technical committees. . Gives higher priority to areas where slale or local governmenls offer financial or technical assislance, or .....here agricullural improvemems will help meet wal.:r quality objectives. . Establishes 5-10 IO-year contract~ 10 provide technical assistance and pay up to 75 percent of the COsls of conservation praclices such as manure managemem syslems, pest managemelll. and elOsion control. . Defines land e]igible for EQW conlracts as agricultural land that poses a serious problem 10 soil. water, or relaled resources. . Does nol allow large livestock opt.-rations (10 be defined through a public rule-making process) fO be e]igible for casl-share assislance for animal waste management facilities, but they do remain eligible for technical assistance. . Requires activities under the contract to be carried out according to a conservalion plan. . Limils lotal cost-share and incenti\.e payments 1{1 any person 10 $]0,000 annually, and to $50,000 for the life of the contrllct . Phases in EQlP over the nexl si~ months, and lhen ends lhe Agricultura] Conservalion Program, Colorado River Basin Slllinily Control Program, Water Qualily lncenlives Program, and the Greal Plains Conservation Program. Weiland Resern Progrlm The WRP will have an enrollmenl cap of 975,000 acres. Program changes provide more nexibililY and help landowners work loward a goal of no net loss of wellands The revised WRP: . Requires lhat, beginning October I, 1996, one-third oftolal program acres be enrolled in pennanelll eas.:ments, one-third in 30-)ear easemenlS, and one-third In resloration only cost.share agreements. Individuals may choose Ihe category for their eligible land. . Slipulales that eITeclive October I, 1996, no new pennanent easements may be enrolled until alleast75.000 acres of temporary easemenls have enlercd lhe program. . Provides ]alldowners wilh 75 percent to 100 percent cosl.sharing for permanenl easements, 50 pen::ent 10 75 percenl for 30- year easemems, and 50 percent 10 is perecnt for resloration corot-share agreements. Co...t- sharing will help pay for reitoration. Weiland ConseI"\lation (S\oIo'ampbusttr) The 1996 fann bill makes several policy changes 10 cxisling Swampbuster pro\1sions 10 give fanners more flexibility in complYlllg with weiland conser"'.llion requirem~nts while protecting nalural resources. . Expands areas where mitigation can be used. This allows individuals 10 work Ylilh producers, conservation districls or other relevant entities to selecllhe best areaformlligatingwetlands. . Provides more oplions for miligaliun, lI1c1uding restoration, enhancemenl, or creation as lon~ as wetland funclions and values are maintained . Encollrages effective and timely use of "minimal eITecl" delerminalions. This change allows the Nalura] Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), working with state lechnical comminees, to identify praclices that have a minimal eITecl on the environment and put lhem on a "fast track:' . Stipulates that wetland conversion activities, authorized by a pennit issued under Seclion 404 of the Clean Water Act. .....hich make agricullure produclion possible, will be accepled for farm bill purposes if they were adequately miligated. . Revi~s the concept of "abandonment " to ensure Ihat as long as land is used fur agriculture, a certified Prior Converted cropland designation r.:mains in eITecl When done under an approved plan, landowners with Fanned Wetlands (FW) and Farmed Wetlands Pasture (FWP) may allow an area to revert to weiland stalus, and convert it back to an FW or FWP for agricullUral purposes without \iolating the Swampbusler provision. . Requires wetland delenninations \(l be certified by NRCS. Pre....ious wel]iII1d determinalions WIll be cenified to \.erify their accuracy. A cer1ified wellaJld detemlination will remain in eITect as long as the land LS used for agnculrural purposes or untillhe owner or operator requesls a review from the Secretary. . Provides me Secretary with Ihe discretion to waive penallles for ineligibility and 10 grant time 10 restore convened wetlands. hnpl!wwv.Il......a.lI""'"'o.lIlcoruhtm oIf.I1/'I6~ OS.S.lpm lorJ