To amend the Food Security Act of 1985 to permit the harvesting of crops
on land subject to conservation reserve contracts for recovery of biomass
used in energy production. (Introduced in the Senate)
S 1177 IS
106th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 1177
To amend the Food Security Act of 1985 to permit the harvesting
of crops on land subject to conservation reserve contracts for recovery
of biomass used in energy production.
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
May 27, 1999
Mr. HARKIN (for himself, Mr. KERREY, and Mr. GRASSLEY) introduced the following
bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture,
Nutrition, and Forestry
A BILL
To amend the Food Security Act of 1985 to permit the harvesting
of crops on land subject to conservation reserve contracts for recovery
of biomass used in energy production.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. USE OF CONSERVATION RESERVE LAND FOR RECOVERY OF BIOMASS USED
IN ENERGY PRODUCTION.
Section 1232(a)(7) of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3832(a)(7))
is amended--
(1) by striking `except that the Secretary may permit harvesting' and
inserting `except that the Secretary may permit--
(2) by striking `emergency, and the Secretary may permit limited' and
inserting `emergency;
(3) by inserting `and' after the semicolon at the end; and
(4) by adding at the end the following:
`(C) harvesting of crops on land subject to the contract for recovery
of biomass used in energy production if--
`(i) the land is harvested not more than once annually;
`(ii) no portion of the crop is used for any commercial purpose other
than energy production from biomass;
`(iii) the owner or operator agrees to a payment reduction under this
section in an amount determined by the Secretary, except that the payment
reduction shall not be in an amount that prevents the owner or operator
from realizing a reasonable economic return; and
`(iv) the owner or operator agrees to such other terms and conditions
as the Secretary, in consultation with the State technical committee for
the State, may establish to ensure that the harvesting minimizes disturbance
of wildlife habitat and is otherwise consistent with the purposes of the
program established under this subchapter.'.