§3839bb–6 — Title 16 Conservation | U.S. Code

Summary

Creates a voluntary program that lets States buy privately owned farm land hurt by a "terminal lake" — a lake with no natural outlet that stays flooded or that is at risk and has needed federal help in the past. Eligible land must be privately owned agricultural land (a State’s water-law interest can count), offered for sale by the landowner, not eligible for a wetland reserve easement, flooded on average at least 6.5 feet or otherwise beyond the State’s or owner’s control or made unusable by flooding, located in a watershed where water rights can be leased or bought, and used at least 5 of the last 30 years for crops, hay, or grazing. The Secretary must give states grants to buy eligible land. A grant can pay up to half the purchase price per acre, but no more than $400 per acre for cropland or $200 per acre for pasture. States must match the grant with equal non‑Federal money. States taking the land must get full, clear title, keep the land forever in conservation use, pay closing costs with other funds, and the land loses eligibility for certain federal farm benefits. The Interior Department may use a separate pot of money (a required transfer of $150,000,000 from the Commodity Credit Corporation) to lease water, buy land or water rights, and fund related conservation and research for at‑risk terminal lakes (but not for the Great Salt Lake or dry lakes). No new funds are authorized here, some older funds keep their old rules, money made available before December 20, 2018 may remain until spent, and the authority ends October 1, 2025.

Title 16, §3839bb–6

Conservation — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)In this section:

(1)The term “eligible land” means privately owned agricultural land (including land in which a State has a property interest as a result of State water law)—

(A)that a landowner voluntarily agrees to sell to a State; and

(B)which—

(i)(I)is ineligible for enrollment as a wetland reserve easement established under the agricultural conservation easement program under subtitle H 11 See References in Text note below. of the Food Security Act of 1985;

(II)is flooded to—

(aa)an average depth of at least 6.5 feet; or

(bb)a level below which the State determines the management of the water level is beyond the control of the State or landowner; or

(III)is inaccessible for agricultural use due to the flooding of adjoining property (such as islands of agricultural land created by flooding);

(ii)is located within a watershed with water rights available for lease or purchase; and

(iii)has been used during at least 5 of the immediately preceding 30 years—

(I)to produce crops or hay; or

(II)as livestock pasture or grazing.

(2)The term “program” means the voluntary land purchase program established under this section.

(3)The term “terminal lake” means a lake and its associated riparian and watershed resources that is—

(A)considered flooded because there is no natural outlet for water accumulating in the lake or the associated riparian area such that the watershed and surrounding land is consistently flooded; or

(B)considered terminal because it has no natural outlet and is at risk due to a history of consistent Federal assistance to address critical resource conditions, including insufficient water available to meet the needs of the lake, general uses, and water rights.

(b)The Secretary shall—

(1)provide grants under subsection (c) for the purchase of eligible land impacted by a terminal lake described in subsection (a)(3)(A); and

(2)provide funds to the Secretary of the Interior pursuant to subsection (e)(2) with assistance in accordance with subsection (d) for terminal lakes described in subsection (a)(3)(B).

(c)(1)Using funds provided under subsection (e)(1), the Secretary shall make available land purchase grants to States for the purchase of eligible land in accordance with this subsection.

(2)(A)A land purchase grant shall be in an amount not to exceed the lesser of—

(i)50 percent of the total purchase price per acre of the eligible land; or

(ii)(I)in the case of eligible land that was used to produce crops or hay, $400 per acre; and

(II)in the case of eligible land that was pasture or grazing land, $200 per acre.

(B)A State purchasing eligible land with a land purchase grant shall ensure, to the maximum extent practicable, that the purchase price of such land reflects the value, if any, of other encumbrances on the eligible land to be purchased, including easements and mineral rights.

(C)To be eligible to receive a land purchase grant, a State shall provide matching non-Federal funds in an amount equal to 50 percent of the amount described in subparagraph (A), including additional non-Federal funds.

(D)To receive a land purchase grant, a State shall agree—

(i)to ensure that any eligible land purchased is—

(I)conveyed in fee simple to the State; and

(II)free from mortgages or other liens at the time title is transferred;

(ii)to maintain ownership of the eligible land in perpetuity;

(iii)to pay (from funds other than grant dollars awarded) any costs associated with the purchase of eligible land under this section, including surveys and legal fees; and

(iv)to keep eligible land in a conserving use, as defined by the Secretary.

(E)Eligible land purchased with a grant under this section shall lose eligibility for any benefits under other Federal programs, including—

(i)benefits under title XII of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3801 et seq.);

(ii)benefits under the Federal Crop Insurance Act (7 U.S.C. 1501 et seq.); and

(iii)covered benefits described in section 1001D(b) of the Food Security Act of 1985 (7 U.S.C. 1308–3a).

(F)Any Federal rights or benefits associated with eligible land prior to purchase by a State may not be transferred to any other land or person in anticipation of or as a result of such purchase.

(d)(1)The Secretary of the Interior, acting through the Commissioner of Reclamation, may use the funds described in subsection (e)(2) to administer and provide financial assistance to carry out this subsection to provide water and assistance to a terminal lake described in subsection (a)(3)(B) through willing sellers or willing participants only—

(A)to lease water;

(B)to purchase land, water appurtenant to the land, and related interests; and

(C)to carry out research, support, and conservation activities for associated fish, wildlife, plant, and habitat resources.

(2)The Secretary of the Interior may not use this subsection to deliver assistance to the Great Salt Lake in Utah, lakes that are considered dry lakes, or other lakes that do not meet the purposes of this section, as determined by the Secretary of the Interior.

(3)(A)Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, any funds made available before February 7, 2014, under a provision of law described in subparagraph (B) shall remain available using the provisions of law (including regulations) in effect on the day before February 7, 2014.

(B)The provisions of law described in this section are—

(i)section 2507 of the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 (43 U.S.C. 2211 note; Public Law 107–171) (as in effect on the day before February 7, 2014);

(ii)section 207 of the Energy and Water Development Appropriations Act, 2003 (Public Law 108–7; 117 Stat. 146);

(iii)section 208 of the Energy and Water Development Appropriations Act, 2006 (Public Law 109–103; 119 Stat. 2268, 123 Stat. 2856); and

(iv)section 208 of the Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2010 (Public Law 111–85; 123 Stat. 2858, 123 Stat. 2967, 125 Stat. 867).

(e)(1)As soon as practicable after February 7, 2014, the Secretary shall transfer to the “Bureau of Reclamation—Water and Related Resources” account $150,000,000 from the funds of the Commodity Credit Corporation to carry out subsection (d), to remain available until expended.

(2)(A)Nothing in this section authorizes any additional funds to carry out this section.

(B)Any funds made available to carry out this section before December 20, 2018, may remain available until expended.

(f)The authority provided by this section shall terminate on October 1, 2025.

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

References in Text

The Food Security Act of 1985, referred to in subsecs. (a)(1)(B)(i)(I) and (c)(2)(E)(i), is Pub. L. 99–198, Dec. 23, 1985, 99 Stat. 1354. Title XII of the Act is classified principally to this chapter. Subtitle H of the Food Security Act of 1985 probably means subtitle H (§ 1265 et seq.) of title XII of Pub. L. 99–198, which is classified generally to subchapter VII of this chapter. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see

Short Title

of 1985 Amendment note set out under section 1281 of Title 7, Agriculture, and Tables. The Federal Crop Insurance Act, referred to in subsec. (c)(2)(E)(ii), is subtitle A of title V of act Feb. 16, 1938, ch. 30, 52 Stat. 72, which is classified generally to subchapter I (§ 1501 et seq.) of chapter 36 of Title 7, Agriculture. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see section 1501 of Title 7 and Tables. section 2507 of the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 (43 U.S.C. 2211 note; Public Law 107–171) (as in effect on the day before

February 7, 2014), referred to in subsec. (d)(3)(B)(i), is section 2507 of Pub. L. 107–171, title II,

May 13, 2002, 116 Stat. 275, which was classified as a note under section 2211 of Title 43, Public Lands, prior to being amended generally by Pub. L. 113–79 and editorially reclassified as this section. section 207 of the Energy and Water Development Appropriations Act, 2003, referred to in subsec. (d)(3)(B)(ii), is section 207 of Pub. L. 108–7, div. D, title II, Feb. 20, 2003, 117 Stat. 146, which is not classified to the Code. section 208 of the Energy and Water Development Appropriations Act, 2006, referred to in subsec. (d)(3)(B)(iii), is section 208 of Pub. L. 109–103, title II, Nov. 19, 2005, 119 Stat. 2268, which is not classified to the Code. section 208 of the Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2010, referred to in subsec. (d)(3)(B)(iv), is section 208 of Pub. L. 111–85, title II, Oct. 28, 2009, 123 Stat. 2858, which is not classified to the Code. Codification Pub. L. 110–234 and Pub. L. 110–246 enacted identical sections. Pub. L. 110–234 was repealed by section 4(a) of Pub. L. 110–246. Section was enacted as part of the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002, and not as part of title XII of Pub. L. 99–198 which comprises this chapter. Section was formerly set out as a note under section 2211 of Title 43, Public Lands.

Amendments

2023—Subsec. (f). Pub. L. 117–361 substituted “2025” for “2023”. 2018—Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 115–334, § 2821(d)(1), added par. (2), redesignated former par. (2) as (1), and struck out former par. (1). Prior to amendment, text of par. (1) read as follows: “There is authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary to carry out subsection (c) $25,000,000, to remain available until expended.” Subsec. (f). Pub. L. 115–334, § 2821(d)(2), added subsec. (f). 2014—Pub. L. 113–79 amended section generally. Prior to amendment, section directed Secretary of Agriculture, subject to certain other provisions, to transfer $175,000,000 of the funds of the Commodity Credit Corporation to the Bureau of Reclamation Water and Related Resources Account to provide water to at-risk natural desert terminal lakes. 2011—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 112–74, § 208(a)(1), substituted “For the benefit of at-risk natural desert terminal lakes and associated riparian and watershed resources, in any case in which there are willing sellers or willing participants” for “In any case in which there are willing sellers” in introductory provisions. Subsec. (b)(2). Pub. L. 112–74, § 208(a)(2), struck out “in the Walker River Basin in accordance with section 208(a)(1)(A) of the Energy and Water Development Appropriations Act, 2006 (Public Law 109–103; 119 Stat. 2268)” before “; and”. Subsec. (b)(3). Pub. L. 112–74, § 208(a)(3), struck out “in the Walker River Basin” before period at end. 2009—Subsec. (b)(3). Pub. L. 111–85 added par. (3). 2008—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 110–246, § 2807(1), substituted “Transfer” for “In general” in heading and “Subject to subsection (b) and paragraph (1) of section 207(a) of Public Law 108–7 (117 Stat. 146), notwithstanding paragraph (3) of that section, on the date of enactment of the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008, the Secretary of Agriculture shall transfer $175,000,000” for “Subject to subsection (b), as soon as practicable after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Agriculture shall transfer $200,000,000” in text and deleted quotation marks before “(1)” and “(2)”. Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 110–246, § 2807(2), added subsec. (b) and struck out former subsec. (b). Prior to amendment, text read as follows: “The funds described in subsection (a) shall not be used to purchase or lease water rights.”

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Transfer of Funds Pub. L. 107–206, title I, § 103, Aug. 2, 2002, 116 Stat. 823, provided that not later than 14 days after Aug. 2, 2002, the Secretary of Agriculture was to carry out a transfer of funds under former section 2507(a) of Pub. L. 107–171.

§3839bb–6 Terminal lakes assistance