§590p–1 Limitation on wetlands drainage assistance to aid wildlife preservation; termination of limitation; redetermination of need for assistance upon change of ownership of lands

Summary

The Agriculture Secretary must not agree to help pay for or give technical help to drain wetlands on farms in North Dakota, South Dakota, or Minnesota if the Interior Secretary finds that draining the wetland would significantly hurt wildlife and that keeping the land undrained would significantly help wildlife, and that finding, naming the specific farm and area, was sent to the Agriculture Secretary within 90 days after the drainage-assistance application was filed. That ban ends if the Interior Secretary tells the Agriculture Secretary it should end, or one year after the finding unless the Interior or a State agency has offered to buy or lease the wetland as a waterfowl resource during that year, or five years after the finding if no such offer has been accepted by the owner. If the land changes owners, eligibility for drainage help must be checked again under these rules.