|
U.S. Code as of:
01/19/04
Section 1003. Assistance to local organizations
In order to assist local organizations in preparing and carrying
out plans for works of improvement, the Secretary is authorized,
upon application of local organizations if such application has
been submitted to, and not disapproved within 45 days by, the State
agency having supervisory responsibility over programs provided for
in this chapter, or by the Governor if there is no State agency
having such responsibility -
(1) to conduct such investigations and surveys as may be
necessary to prepare plans for works of improvement;
(2) to prepare plans and estimates required for adequate
engineering evaluation;
(3) to make allocations of costs to the various purposes to
show the basis of such allocations and to determine whether
benefits exceed costs;
(4) to cooperate and enter into agreements with and to furnish
financial and other assistance to local organizations: Provided,
That, for the land-treatment measures, the Federal assistance
shall not exceed the rate of assistance for similar practices
under existing national programs;
(5) to obtain the cooperation and assistance of other Federal
agencies in carrying out the purposes of this section;
(6) to enter into agreements with landowners, operators, and
occupiers, individually or collectively, based on conservation
plans of such landowners, operators, and occupiers which are
developed in cooperation with and approved by the soil and water
conservation district in which the land described in the
agreement is situated, to be carried out on such land during a
period of not to exceed ten years, providing for changes in
cropping systems and land uses and for the installation of soil
and water conservation practices and measures needed to conserve
and develop the soil, water, woodland, wildlife, energy, and
recreation resources of and enhance the water quality of lands
within the area included in plans for works of improvement, as
provided for in such plans, including watershed or subwatershed
work plans in connection with the eleven watershed improvement
programs authorized by section 13 of the Act of December 22, 1944
(58 Stat. 887), as amended and supplemented. Applications for
assistance in developing such conservation plans shall be made in
writing to the soil and water conservation district involved, and
the proposed agreement shall be reviewed by such district. In
return for such agreements by landowners, operators, and
occupiers the Secretary shall agree to share the costs of
carrying out those practices and measures set forth in the
agreement for which he determines that cost sharing is
appropriate and in the public interest. The portion of such
costs, including labor, to be shared shall be that part which the
Secretary determines is appropriate and in the public interest
for the carrying out of the practices and measures set forth in
the agreement, except that the Federal assistance shall not
exceed the rate of assistance for similar practices and measures
under existing national programs. The Secretary may terminate any
agreement with a landowner, operator, or occupier by mutual
agreement if the Secretary determines that such termination would
be in the public interest, and may agree to such modifications of
agreements, previously entered into hereunder, as he deems
desirable to carry out the purposes of this paragraph or to
facilitate the practical administration of the agreements
provided for herein. Notwithstanding any other provision of law,
the Secretary, to the extent he deems it desirable to carry out
the purposes of this paragraph, may provide in any agreement
hereunder for (1) preservation for a period not to exceed the
period covered by the agreement and an equal period thereafter of
the cropland, crop acreage, and allotment history applicable to
land covered by the agreement for the purpose of any Federal
program under which such history is used as a basis for an
allotment or other limitation on the production of any crop; or
(2) surrender of any such history and allotments.
|
|