To promote the conservation and preservation of working farms, ranches, and private forests.

To promote the conservation and preservation of working farms, ranches, and private forests.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.

(a) SHORT TITLE- This Act may be cited as the `Working Lands Stewardship Act of 2001'.

(b) TABLE OF CONTENTS- The table of contents of this Act is as follows:

Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.

Sec. 2. Findings and purposes.

Sec. 3. Definitions.

TITLE I--FARM, RANCH, AND RURAL COMMUNITY PRESERVATION

Sec. 101. Farmland protection program.

Sec. 102. Expansion of State marketing programs.

Sec. 103. Farmer-to-consumer marketing.

Sec. 104. Program to promote purchase of locally grown fruits and vegetables.

Sec. 105. Socially disadvantaged farmers.

TITLE II--ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP ON WORKING LANDS

Sec. 201. Environmental quality incentives program.

Sec. 202. Manure reuse loans and grants.

TITLE II--PRESERVATION OF WILDLIFE HABITAT

Sec. 301. Wildlife habitat incentives program.

Sec. 302. Wetlands reserve program.

Sec. 303. Wetlands reserve enhancement program.

Sec. 304. Conservation reserve program.

Sec. 305. Conservation of private grazing lands.

Sec. 306. Grassland reserve program.

TITLE IV--ORGANIC FARMING

Sec. 401. Program to assist transition to organic farming.

TITLE V--FORESTRY

Sec. 501. Forest stewardship program.

Sec. 502. Urban and community forestry.

Sec. 503. Elimination of repetition in Federal cooperative forestry assistance programs.

TITLE VI--TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE

Sec. 601. Conservation technical assistance.

Sec. 602. Reimbursement for program administration and outreach.

Sec. 603. Technical assistance by others.

Sec. 604. Conservation practice standards.

TITLE VII--MISCELLANEOUS CONSERVATION PROVISIONS

Sec. 701. Regional equity.

Sec. 702. Conservation program performance review and evaluation.

TITLE VIII--CONSERVATION CORRIDOR DEMONSTRATION PROGRAM

Sec. 801. Demonstration program to promote and support ecosystem- and watershed-based conservation.

Sec. 802. Conservation plan.

Sec. 803. Funding requirements.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND PURPOSES.

(a) FINDINGS- Congress finds the following:

(1) In addition to producing food and fiber, American farmers, ranchers, and private forest landowners can contribute to cleaner water, wildlife habitat and open space.

(2) Thousands of farmers, ranchers, and private forest landowners who seek Federal financial and technical assistance to further promote the conservation and related benefits of food and fiber production are rejected each year due to inadequate funding for these Federal financial and technical assistance programs.

(3) Increased conservation assistance will reduce long-term water treatment and dredging costs, protect rare species, and preserve open space.

(4) A voluntary, incentive-based approach to conservation will reward farmer stewardship, help producers comply with regulations, and increase farm profitability.

(5) Increasing the income to farmers, ranchers, and private forest landowners is one of the most effective tools available for reducing the loss of open space and maintaining the nation's working landscapes.

(b) PURPOSES- The purposes of this Act are--

(1) to contribute to farmer, rancher and private forester profitability;

(2) to develop new markets for agricultural and forestry products;

(3) to reward farmers, ranchers, and private forest landowners when they contribute to clean water, fish and wildlife habitat, and open space;

(4) to meet farmer, rancher, and private forester demand for Federal financial and technical assistance; and

(5) to reduce long-term drinking water treatment and dredging costs.

SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.

In this Act:

(1) SECRETARY- The term `Secretary' means the Secretary of Agriculture.

(2) INNOVATIVE MANURE MANAGEMENT- The term `innovative manure management' means manure management technologies that--

(A) eliminate the discharge of animal waste to surface and groundwaters through direct discharge, seepage and runoff;

(B) substantially eliminate atmospheric emissions of ammonia;

(C) substantially eliminate the emission of odor that is detectable beyond the boundaries of the animal operation;

(D) substantially eliminate the release of disease-transmitting vectors and airborne pathogens; or

(E) substantially eliminate nutrient heavy metal contamination.

SEC. 101. FARMLAND PROTECTION PROGRAM.

(a) IN GENERAL- Section 388 of the Federal Agriculture Improvement and Reform Act of 1996 (Public Law 104-127; 16 U.S.C. 3830 note) is amended to read as follows:

`SEC. 388. FARMLAND PROTECTION PROGRAM.

`(a) ESTABLISHMENT AND PURPOSE- The Secretary of Agriculture shall carry out a farmland protection program for the purpose of protecting farm, ranch, and forest lands with prime, unique, or other productive uses by limiting the nonagricultural uses of the lands. Under the program, the Secretary may provide matching grants to eligible entities described in subsection (d) to facilitate their purchase of--

`(1) permanent conservation easements in such lands; or

`(2) conservation easements or other interests in such lands when the lands are subject to a pending offer from a State or local government.

`(b) CONSERVATION PLAN- Any highly erodible land for which a conservation easement or other interest is purchased using funds made available under this section shall be subject to the requirements of a conservation plan that requires, at the option of the Secretary of Agriculture, the conversion of the cropland to less intensive uses.

`(c) MAXIMUM FEDERAL SHARE- The Federal share of the cost of purchasing a conservation easement described in subsection (a)(1) may not exceed 50 percent of the total cost of purchasing the easement.

`(d) ELIGIBLE ENTITY DEFINED- In this section, the term `eligible entity' means any of the following:

`(1) An agency of a State or local government.

`(2) A federally recognized Indian tribe.

`(3) Any organization that is organized for, and at all times since its formation has been operated principally for, one or more of the conservation purposes specified in clause (i), (ii), or (iii) of section 170(h)(4)(A) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 and--

`(A) is described in section 501(c)(3) of the Code;

`(B) is exempt from taxation under section 501(a) of the Code; and

`(C) is described in paragraph (2) of section 509(a) of the Code, or paragraph (3) of such section, but is controlled by an organization described in paragraph (2) of such section.

`(e) GRANT FACTORS- Among the factors the Secretary shall use to make grants under this section, the Secretary shall consider the extent to which States are encouraging or adopting measures to protect farmland and ranchland from conversion to urban uses.

`(f) TITLE; ENFORCEMENT- Any eligible entity may hold title to a conservation easement purchased using grant funds provided under subsection (a)(1) and enforce the conservation requirements of the easement.

`(g) STATE CERTIFICATION- As a condition of the receipt by an eligible entity of a grant under subsection (a)(1), the attorney general of the State in which the conservation easement is to be purchased using the grant funds shall certify that the conservation easement to be purchased is in a form that is sufficient, under the laws of the State, to achieve the purposes of the farmland protection program and the terms and conditions of the grant.

`(h) FUNDING-

`(1) USE OF COMMODITY CREDIT CORPORATION FUNDS- The Secretary shall use not more than $500,000,000 of the funds of the Commodity Credit Corporation for each of the fiscal years 2003 through 2008 to carry out this section.

`(2) LIMITATION ON TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE- To provide technical assistance to carry out this section, the Secretary may not use more than 10 percent of the amount made available for any fiscal year under paragraph (1).'.

(b) GRANTS AND ASSISTANCE TO ENHANCE FARM VIABILITY- To complement the farmland protection program required by section 388 of the Federal Agriculture Improvement and Reform Act of 1996 (Public Law 104-127; 7 U.S.C. 3830 note), the Secretary of Agriculture shall establish a $10,000,000 program, using funds of the Commodity Credit Corporation, to provide market development grants and technical assistance to farm and ranch operators in exchange for a 5-year or 10-year agreement to forgo development of the lands covered by the agreement.

(1) BUSINESS PLANS- The Secretary shall establish teams of experts to assist a farm and ranch operator participating in the program to develop a business plan for the operator's farm or ranch.

(2) CONSULTATION- To the maximum extent possible, the Secretary shall consult with State or commonwealth agriculture departments, including the Agriculture Commission for the State of Massachusetts, in connection with the development and implementation of the program in each respective State.

SEC. 102. EXPANSION OF STATE MARKETING PROGRAMS.

(a) FEDERAL-STATE MARKET INCENTIVE PAYMENTS- Section 204(b) (7 USCA 1623) of the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 is amended by deleting `such sums as he may deem appropriate' with `$10 million from the Commodity Credit Corporation for each of the fiscal years 2003 through 2008.'

(b) MARKET DEVELOPMENT GRANTS- Section 203(e)(1) of the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 (7 U.S.C. 1622(e)) is amended by adding at the end the following new sentence: `The Secretary shall transfer to State departments of agriculture and other State marketing offices at least 10 percent of the funds appropriated for a fiscal year for this subsection to facilitate the development of local and regional markets for agricultural products, including direct farm-to-consumer markets.'.

(c) MARKETING SERVICE AND RESEARCH- Section 204(b) of the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 (7 U.S.C. 1623(b)) is amended by striking `authorized to make available from such funds such sums as he may deem appropriate for allotment' and inserting `directed to allocate at least 10 percent of annual appropriations under subsection (a)'.

SEC. 103. FARMER-TO-CONSUMER MARKETING.

The Farmer-to-Consumer Direct Marketing Act of 1976 (7 U.S.C. 3001-3006) is amended as follows:

(a) FARMERS MARKET GRANTS- The Secretary shall establish a program to provide grants to develop farmers markets. There is hereby authorized to be appropriated from the Commodity Credit Corporation $10,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 2003 through 2008.

(b) TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE- Section 5(a) is amended by inserting the following:

`(4) providing technical assistance to urban and suburban agricultural fairs.'.

(c) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS- Section 7(b) is amended by deleting `$1,500,000' and inserting `$5,000,000'.

(d) FARMER MARKET DEVELOPMENT- Section 3004(a)(3) is amended by inserting the following: `The Secretary shall work with States Departments of Agriculture to develop programs to train managers of farmers markets, and shall create opportunities to share information among farmers market managers.'.

(e) DIRECT MARKETING TRAINING- Section 3004(a)(5) is amended by inserting the following:

`(5) The Secretary shall establish a program to train cooperative extension service employees in the development of direct marketing techniques, and shall work with producers to develop farmers markets.'.

SEC. 104. PROGRAM TO PROMOTE PURCHASE OF LOCALLY GROWN FRUITS AND VEGETABLES.

(a) NATIONAL PROMOTIONAL CAMPAIGN- The Secretary shall establish a national campaign to urge Federal and non-Federal consumers to buy locally-grown fruits and vegetables and value-added products made from locally-grown fruits and vegetables, to highlight the nutritional value of fresh, locally-grown produce, and to highlight the connection between local food production, consumer buying behavior, and loss of open space.

(b) FEDERAL PURCHASES- The Secretary shall establish a memorandum of agreement with the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of Education to ensure that at least 75 percent of the fruits and vegetables and value-added products made from fruits and vegetables acquired by public schools and military installations is locally grown.

(c) FINANCIAL SUPPORT- To promote the use of locally grown fruits and vegetables and value-added products made from locally grown fruits and vegetables in schools, the Secretary shall provide such sums as necessary for incorporating locally grown fruits and vegetables and value-added products thereof into school-provided meals.

SEC. 105. SOCIALLY DISADVANTAGED FARMERS.

Section 2501(a)(3) of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 2279(a)(3)) is amended by striking `$10,000,000' and inserting `$25,000,000'.

SEC. 201. ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY INCENTIVES PROGRAM.

(a) EXTENSION AND FUNDING INCREASE- Section 1241(b)(1) of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3841(b)(1)) is amended--

(1) by striking `1996, and' and inserting `2002,'; and

(2) by striking `2002,' and inserting `2008, and $1,000,000,000 of the funds allocated by the Commodity Credit Corporation for each of the fiscal years 2003 through 2008.'.

(b) SET ASIDES- Section 1241(b) of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3841(b)) is amended by striking paragraph (2) and inserting the following new paragraph:

`(2) SET ASIDES FOR LIVESTOCK, AND WATER CONSERVATION- For each of the fiscal years 2003 through 2008:

`(A) MANAGED GRAZING- Not less than 20 percent of the funding available for technical assistance, cost-sharing payments, and incentive payments shall be targeted at managed grazing systems;

`(B) INNOVATIVE MANURE MANAGEMENT- Not less than 10 percent of the funding available for technical assistance, cost-sharing payments, and incentive payments shall be targeted for innovative manure management systems, including digesters.

`(C) WATER CONSERVATION- Not less than 20 percent of the funding available for technical assistance, cost-sharing payments, and incentive payments shall be made available for innovative irrigation efficiency infrastructure and practices. Not less than half of the set aside available for water conservation shall be provided for measures that improve habitat conditions for fisheries.

`(D) PESTICIDE REDUCTION- Not less than 10 percent of the funding available for technical assistance, cost-sharing payments, and incentive payments shall be targeted for practices which reduce the use and toxicity of pesticides.'.

(c) WATERSHED QUALITY INCENTIVE CONTRACTS-

(1) IN GENERAL- The Secretary shall provide incentive payments to reward private landowners who implement nutrient management, pest management, or soil erosion practices that protect public drinking water supplies.

(2) CONTRACTS- The Secretary shall enter into multi-year contracts with private landowners whose activities affect public drinking water supplies to reduce soil loss, improve water quality, and protect human health.

(3) PLAN- To be eligible to receive incentive payments, landowners whose activities affect public drinking water supplies shall submit a plan, and shall enter into a watershed quality incentives contract with the Secretary to carry out the plan. The plan shall--

(A) describe the nutrient management, pest management or soil loss practices to be implemented, maintained, or improved;

(B) contain a schedule of implementation;

(C) address water quality priorities of the watershed in which the operation is located to the greatest extent possible; and

(D) contain such other terms as the Secretary determines to be appropriate.

(4) CONSISTENCY WITH WATERSHED PLAN- Conservation practices proposed in the plan required by paragraph (3) must be consistent with a watershed plan developed by the Secretary, based upon the best available science, that identifies and ranks measures, such as nutrient management, pest management and conservation tillage, needed to improve the quality of public drinking water supplies in a watershed.

(5) ROLE OF WATERSHED COUNCILS- The Secretary shall, to the maximum extent possible, work with conservation districts and existing and new watershed councils to develop the watershed plan under paragraph (4).

(6) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS- There is hereby authorized to be appropriated $1,000,000,000 from the Commodity Credit Corporation to carry out the purposes of this subsection.

(7) ANNUAL PAYMENTS- The Secretary is authorized to make annual payments to farm and ranch operators not to exceed $50,000.

(8) MONITORING- To provide incentives and cost-sharing payments under this subsection, the Secretary shall collaborate with other Federal and non-Federal interests to maintain or establish a water quality monitoring network to measure the benefits of funds allocated under this subsection and must annually share the results of such monitoring.

(9) PRIVACY- Data collected will not be subject to mandatory disclosure provisions (5 U.S.C. 552), but may be used in an aggregate form to measure expected benefits.

(10) GUIDANCE- The Secretary shall collaborate with other local, state and Federal agencies to develop guidance for locally-led water quality monitoring networks.

(11) ROLE OF DRINKING WATER SUPPLIES-

(1) IN GENERAL- The Secretary shall work with drinking water utilities to allocate payments under this section.

(2) PILOT PROGRAM- The Secretary shall permit drinking water utilities in 10 watersheds to allocate payments under this section, provided that drinking water utilities maintain monitoring networks which can target incentive and cost-sharing payments and measure results.

(12) RECOGNITION OF STATE EFFORTS- The Secretary shall recognize the financial contribution of States, among other factors, during the allocation of funding under this subsection.

(d) EXCEPTION TO LIMITATION ON PAYMENTS-

(1) Section 1240G(b) of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 USC 3839aa-7(a)) is amended by inserting the following:

`(3) to share the cost of digesters.'.

(2) No funding may be provided to livestock producers who must comply with permit requirements under the Federal Water Pollution Control Act.

(e) LIMITATION ON PAYMENTS- Section 1240G(c) is repealed.

(f) EVALUATION OF OFFERS AND PAYMENTS- Section 1240C is amended by inserting the following:

`(a) The Secretary shall establish a ranking process and benefits index to prioritize technical assistance, cost-share payments, and incentives to producers to maximize soil and water quality and wildlife habitat benefits. The ranking process shall be weighted to ensure that technical assistance, cost-share payments, and incentives are provided to small and socially-disadvantaged farmers, and shall recognize the extent to which producers have previously implemented resource-conserving practices. The Secretary shall consult with local, State, and Federal public and private to entities to develop the ranking process and benefits index.'.

(g) NON-FEDERAL ASSISTANCE- Section 1240B(g) is amended by inserting `drinking water utility' after `forestry agency,' and by inserting `cost-share payments, and incentives' after `technical assistance'.

(h) PRIORITY AREAS- Section 1240(c)(1) is amended by adding the following: `State allocations shall reflect, among other appropriate factors, the extent to which

(i) ANIMAL ANTIBIOTICS USE- When providing funds for livestock operators under this section, the Secretary shall consider, among other factors, the extent to which operators reduce and limit the use of antibiotics to those levels necessary to ensure animal health.

SEC. 202. MANURE REUSE LOANS AND GRANTS.

(a) LOANS FOR FARM OWNERS AND TENANTS- Section 304(a) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1924(a)) is amended--

(1) by striking `and' at the end of paragraph (5);

(2) by re-designating paragraph (6) as paragraph (7); and

(3) by inserting after paragraph (5) the following:

`(6) the installation of animal waste biogas recovery facilities; and'.

(b) LOANS FOR ORGANIZATIONS- Section 306(a) of such Act (7 U.S.C. 1926(a)) is amended by inserting `the installation of animal waste biogas recovery facilities' after `waste disposal facilities,'.

(c) INCREASE IN MAXIMUM LOAN- Section 304(c)(2) of such Act (7 U.S.C. 1924(c)(2)) is amended by inserting the following: `Loans for digesters may exceed $50,000.'.

SEC. 301. WILDLIFE HABITAT INCENTIVES PROGRAM.

(a) EXTENSION AND FUNDING INCREASE- Subsection (c) of section 387 of the Federal Agriculture Improvement and Reform Act of 1996 (16 U.S.C. 3836a) is amended by inserting after `2002' the following: `a total of $500,000,000 from the Commodity Credit Corporation' for fiscal years 2003 through 2008,'.

(b) PROGRAM MODIFICATIONS- Such section is further amended by adding at the end the following new subsections:

`(d) FUNDING PRIORITY- Beginning with fiscal year 2003, not less than 50 percent of the funds made available under subsection (c) shall be targeted at ecologically significant habitat for imperiled native species, including species identified as endangered, threatened or of special concern by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service or species that are considered imperiled by State natural heritage programs; The Secretary shall establish a panel of experts from Federal and State fish, wildlife and natural resource agencies to assist the Secretary in meeting this goal.

`(e) SAFE HARBOR- The Secretary is authorized to assist landowners entering safe harbor agreements by sharing the costs of wildlife assessments or other costs related to safe harbor agreements.

`(f) ACQUISITION OF EASEMENTS AND WATER RIGHTS- Beginning with fiscal year 2003, not less than 20 percent of the funds made available under subsection (c) shall be used to acquire permanent easements and water rights to preserve important and declining fish and wildlife habitats as identified by the Secretary for each State in consultation with the State fish and wildlife agency.

`(g) INCENTIVE PAYMENTS- The Secretary may provide incentive payments to landowners in exchange for the implementation of land management practices designed to create or preserve wildlife habitat. The payments may be in an amount and at a rate determined by the Secretary to be necessary to encourage a landowner to engage in the practice.

`(h) CRITERIA FOR ENROLLMENT- The Secretary shall work with local, State and Federal experts to revise enrollment criteria not later than six months after the date of enactments to ensure that projects maximize conservation benefits, are regionally equitable, and to encourage the implementation of projects that also contribute to producer profitability.'.

SEC. 302. WETLANDS RESERVE PROGRAM.

(a) ENROLLMENT AUTHORITY- Section 1237(b) of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3837(b)) is amended by striking paragraph (1) and inserting the following new paragraph:

`(1) ENROLLMENT- The Secretary shall enroll a total of not less than 250,000 acres per fiscal year in the wetlands reserve program during the fiscal years 2003 through 2008, and the total number of acres enrolled in the wetlands reserve program shall not exceed 2,500,000 acres.'.

(b) REGIONAL EQUITY- Section 1237A(f) of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3837a(f)) is amended by adding at the end the following new sentence:

`Not later than October 1, 2002, the Secretary shall reform compensation policies to ensure that the enrollment of lands under this subchapter is equitable on a regional basis, taking into account historic wetlands distribution and existing opportunities for restoration.'.

SEC. 303. WETLANDS RESERVE ENHANCEMENT PROGRAM.

(a) IN GENERAL- The Secretary of Agriculture shall establish a cost-share program with any State or States to enter into annual incentive payment contracts and easements with private landowners or operators to protect 250,000 acres of wetlands that have been identified by the State or States--

(1) as habitat for animal or plant populations of significant ecological value;

(2) as having significant water quality value; or

(3) as having the potential to reduce flood losses.

(b) ELIGIBLE LANDS- Land shall be eligible to be enrolled in the program if the Secretary of Agriculture determines that the land--

(1) is a wetland or prior converted wetland;

(2) once served as a natural wetland, and is located in an area that has potential to serve as wetland habitat for animal or plant populations of significant ecological value;

(3) is located within 150 feet of land described in paragraph (1) or (2); or

(4) is incidental to land described in paragraph (1), (2) or (3), if the Secretary also determines that enrollment of the incidental land is necessary for the efficient administration of the other land.

(c) ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS FOR STATES- To be eligible for this program, a State must--

(1) Submit a wetland conservation plan which identifies, by county or parish, wetlands in the respective State that have been identified by the State as habitat for animal or plant populations of significant ecological value; and

(2) Provide documentation to the Secretary of potential and likely sources of in-kind or in-cash contributions available from the State to meet the cost-share requirements of the program created by this subsection. In-kind and in-cash contributions from the State necessary to meet the requirements of the program may include State and local governments, private non-profit and for-profit organizations, and any private group and individual.

(d) COST SHARE REQUIREMENTS- States eligible for this program must provide at least 25 percent of the funds (in-kind and/or in-cash) necessary to negotiate, execute, maintain, and enforce a contract or easement under this program.

(e) TERMS OF CONTRACT-

(1) PERMITTED ACTIVITIES- A contract or easement under this section may permit the following activities on the land subject to the contract or easement:

(A) The use of common grazing practices on the enrolled land in a manner that is consistent with maintaining the viability of wetlands, riparian areas, and adjacent uplands.

(B) Haying, mowing, or haying for seed production, except that such uses shall not be permitted until after the end of the nesting and brood-rearing seasons for birds in the local area which are in significant decline or are conserved pursuant to State or Federal law, as determined by the Natural Resources Conservation Service State Conservationist, in consultation with the State Technical Committee, the State wildlife agency and the Secretary of the Interior.

(C) The construction of fire breaks and fences, including placement of the posts necessary for fences.

(2) PROHIBITED ACTIVITIES- Enrolled land under this section may not be used for the following:

(A) The production of row-crops, fruit trees, vineyards, or any other agricultural commodity that requires breaking the soil surface.

(B) The conduct of any other activities that would disturb the surface of the land covered by the contract, including plowing and disking.

(3) SPECIAL RULES FOR PERMANENT EASEMENTS- In the case of a permanent easement under this section, the terms of the easement shall--

(A) permit wetland, grass and shrub restoration;

(B) prohibit commercial timber production or row crop production; and

(C) prohibit development.

(f) PAYMENTS- The Secretary of Agriculture shall establish a system to fairly compensate landowners for the value of an annual incentive payment contract or easement entered into under this section.

(g) TERM OF CONTRACTS OR EASEMENTS-

(1) CONTRACTS- The Secretary is authorized to enter into annual incentive payment contracts with State(s) and owners and/or operators of private land under this section that have a duration of no less than 10 years and no more than 30 years.

(2) EASEMENTS- The Secretary is authorized to purchase 30-year or perpetual easements under this section from owners and/or operators of private land.

(h) SPECIAL EMPHASIS- Special emphasis should be placed on enrollment of wetlands which are declining or endangered regionally or nationally, and on those wetlands which are not adequately protected by local, State, and Federal statute or regulation, including isolated wetlands.

SEC. 304. CONSERVATION RESERVE PROGRAM.

(a) ENROLLMENT AUTHORITY- Section 1231 of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3831) is amended--

(1) in subsection (a), by striking `2002' and inserting `2008';

(2) in subsection (b)(3), by striking `2002' and inserting `2008';

(3) in subsection (d)--

(A) by striking `36,400,000' and inserting `45,000,000'; and

(B) by striking `2002' and inserting `2008'; and

(4) in subsection (h)(1), by striking `and 2002' and inserting `through 2008'.

(b) ENVIRONMENTALLY-SENSITIVE LANDS AND BUFFER STRIPS- Section 1231(d) of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3831(d)) is amended by adding at the end the following new sentence:

`Of the acreage authorized for enrollment, not less than 9,000,000 acres shall be used to enroll environmentally-sensitive lands, including buffers and conservation enhancement program easements; and not less than 5,000,000 acres shall be used to enroll buffers to restore wetlands, shrublands, grasslands, and other rare habitat.'.

(c) LIMITED PERMANENT EASEMENT AUTHORITY- Section 1231(e) of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3831(e)) is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph:

`(3) PERMANENT EASEMENTS- Notwithstanding paragraph (1), the Secretary may enroll up to 3,000,000 acres in the conservation reserve using permanent easements to protect critically-important environmentally-sensitive lands, including 1,000,000 acres for isolated wetlands, and habitats such as native prairies, native shrublands, small wetlands, springs, seeps, fens, and other rare and declining habitats. The Secretary may provide a payment equal to not more than 14 percent of the cost of enrollment to qualified private entities providing technical assistance, including conservation districts.

`(4) FRUIT AND VEGETABLES- Producers of fruits and vegetables, sod, orchards, and specialty

`(5) STATE AND LOCAL ROLE- The Secretary shall attempt to implement paragraph (3) of this section through qualified State and local governments and non-profit land conservation organizations.'.

(d) PASTURE, HAY, AND RANGELANDS-

(1) ELIGIBLE LANDS- Section 1231(b) of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3831(b)) is amended by striking paragraph (3) and inserting the following new paragraph:

`(3) pasture, hay, and rangelands if the land (A) will be restored as wetlands or (B) is in or within 300 feet of a riparian area, will be restored in native riparian vegetation, and will be managed to prohibit livestock access;'.

(2) SPECIAL ENROLLMENT AUTHORITY- Section 1231 of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3831) is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:

`(i) ENROLLMENT OF GRASSLANDS AND RANGELANDS-

`(1) ENROLLMENT AUTHORITY- The Secretary may enroll up to 3,000,000 acres of grasslands and rangelands in the conservation reserve if the conservation plan for the acreage--

`(A) prohibits all economic use, including emergency haying and grazing;

`(B) ensures a mixture of predominantly native species;

`(C) will benefit declining, rare, and/or endangered species;

`(D) promotes the establishment of plant communities that benefit wildlife; and

`(E) contributes to improvement in water quality.

`(2) RELATION TO OTHER ENROLLMENTS- Lands enrolled under the authority of this subsection shall be in addition to any lands enrolled pursuant to subsection (b)(3).'.

(e) CONTINUOUS ENROLLMENT OF BUFFER STRIPS- Section 1234(c) of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3834(c)) is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraphs:

`(5) CONTINUOUS ENROLLMENT OF BUFFER STRIPS AND SMALL WETLANDS- The Secretary shall allow continuous enrollment of small wetlands (5 acres or less) and buffers whose width and vegetation is designed to provide significant wildlife or water quality benefits, as determined by the Secretary.

`(6) CONTOUR STRIPS- The Secretary shall extend these incentives to contour buffer strips and other in-field strip practices.

`(7) IRRIGATED LANDS- Irrigated lands shall be enrolled at irrigated land rates unless the Secretary determines that other compensation is appropriate.'.

(f) EXCEPTION TO PAYMENT LIMITATION- Payments made in connection with the enrollment of lands pursuant to the continuous enrollment or the conservation reserve enhancement program shall not be subject to any payment limitations.

(g) NATIVE SEED COLLECTION- The collection of native seeds is permitted on lands enrolled in the Conservation Reserve Program.

SEC. 305. CONSERVATION OF PRIVATE GRAZING LANDS.

Section 386 of the Federal Agriculture Improvement and Reform Act of 1996 (16 U.S.C. 2005b) is amended by striking subsection (f) and inserting the following new subsections:

`(f) INCENTIVE PAYMENTS- The Secretary may enter into 5-year, 10-year and 20-year contracts with landowners to provide financial assistance for landowner efforts to improve the ecological health of grazing lands, including practices that reduce erosion, employ prescribed burns, restore riparian area, control or eliminate exotic species, reestablish native grasses, or otherwise enhance wildlife habitat.

`(g) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS- There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section $100,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 2003 through 2008 from the Commodity Credit Corporation.'.

SEC. 306. GRASSLAND RESERVE PROGRAM.

(a) IN GENERAL- The Secretary of Agriculture shall establish a program to use contracts and easements to protect 3,000,000 acres of environmentally-critical grasslands, shrublands, and blufflands. At least half of the acres may be enrolled using permanent easements, and the balance shall be enrolled in contracts through which the Secretary shall provide assistance and incentive payments.

(b) ELIGIBLE LANDS- Land shall be eligible to be enrolled in the program if the Secretary of Agriculture determines that the land--

(1) is native grass or native shrubs;

(2) is located in area that has been historically dominated by native grass or shrubland and has potential to serve as habitat for animal or plant populations of significant ecological value if the land is restored to native grass or native shrubland; or

(3) is incidental to land described in paragraph or if the Secretary also determines that enrollment of the incidental land is necessary for the efficient administration of the other land to ensure the success of maintaining or restoring native grassland or native shrubland.

(c) TERMS OF CONTRACT-

(1) IN GENERAL- The Secretary shall enter into contracts of 10 years through which the Secretary may provide the costs of management practices and incentive payments.

(2) PERMITTED ACTIVITIES- A contract or easement under this section may permit the following activities on the land subject to the contract or easement:

(A) The use of common grazing practices on the enrolled land in a manner that is consistent with maintaining the viability of native grass and shrub species and native wildlife species indigenous to that locality.

(B) Haying, mowing, or haying for seed production, except that such uses shall not be permitted until after the end of the nesting and brood-rearing seasons for birds in the local area which are in significant decline or are conserved pursuant to State or Federal law, as determined by the Natural Resources Conservation Service State Conservationist, in consultation with the State Technical Committee, state wildlife agency and the US Fish and Wildlife Service.

(C) The construction of fire breaks and fences, including placement of the posts necessary for fences.

(D) Practices which reduce erosion, restore native species, control and eradicate exotic species, enhance habitat for native wildlife, and improve the health of riparian areas.

(2) PROHIBITED ACTIVITIES- Enrolled land under this section may not be used for the following:

(A) The production of row-crops, fruit trees, vineyards, or any other agricultural commodity that requires breaking the soil surface.

(B) The conduct of any other activities that would disturb the surface of the land covered by the contract, including plowing and disking .

(C) Development of homes, businesses or other permanent structures.

(3) SPECIAL RULES FOR PERMANENT EASEMENTS- In the case of a permanent easement under this section, the terms of the easement shall--

(A) permit grass and shrub restoration;

(B) permit the use of common grazing practices in a manner consistent with maintaining the viability of native grass and shrub species and native wildlife species indigenous to that locality;

(C) prohibit forestry or row crop production; and

(D) prohibit development.

(d) ESTABLISHMENT OF CRITERIA- The Secretary of Agriculture shall establish criteria to evaluate and rank applications for the enrollment of land under this section. In establishing the criteria, the Secretary shall emphasize support for native grass and shrubland, grazing operations, and plant and animal biodiversity, and the protection of large contiguous tracts of working farmland and ranchland.

(e) PAYMENTS- The Secretary of Agriculture shall establish a system to fairly compensate landowners for the value of a contract or easement entered into under this section. Easement payments for permanent easements should be the fair appraised market value of the land unencumbered by the easement less the appraised market value of the land encumbered by the easement.

SEC. 401. PROGRAM TO ASSIST TRANSITION TO ORGANIC FARMING.

(a) ASSISTANCE AUTHORIZED- The Secretary of Agriculture shall expand the National Organic Program to include a voluntary program to assist agricultural producers and organic certification organizations in making the transition from conventional to organic farming and to reward existing organic farmers. Under the program, the Secretary may make payments to cover all or a portion of--

(1) losses incurred while the producer develops markets for the organic products;

(2) conservation practices related to organic food production;

(3) certification costs;

(4) technical assistance by qualified third parties;

(5) educational materials;

(6) farm-to-consumer market development; and

(7) monitoring by producers.

(b) LIMIT ON EXPENDITURES- Payments to new and existing individual farm and ranch operators shall not exceed $5,000 per year and payments shall not be made to individual farm and ranch operators in more than three fiscal years.

(c) ORGANIC CERTIFICATION REIMBURSEMENT PROGRAM- The Secretary shall establish a national organic certification program to reimburse producers for the cost of organic certification. To expedite certification, certified organic farmers shall be eligible for a direct reimbursement of up to $500 by the Secretary of certification costs, so long as producers present an organic certificate and receipt.

(d) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS- There is authorized to be appropriated from the Commodity Credit Corporation to carry out this section $100,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 2003 through 2008.

SEC. 501. FOREST STEWARDSHIP PROGRAM.

(a) ENROLLMENT AUTHORITY AND FUNDING INCREASE- Section 5 of the Cooperative Forestry Assistance Act of 1978 (16 U.S.C. 2103a) is amended--

(1) in subsection (b)--

(A) by striking `25,000,000' and inserting `75,000,000'; and

(B) by striking `by December 31, 1995'; and

(2) in subsection (h), by inserting after `1995,' the following: `$270,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 2003 through 2008,'.

(b) ALTERNATIVE ACTIONS- Section 5(d) of the Cooperative Forestry Assistance Act of 1978 (16 U.S.C. 2103a(d)) is amended--

(1) by striking `IMPLEMENTATION- ' and inserting `INFORMATION AND PROFESSIONAL ASSISTANCE- ';

(2) by inserting `and' at the end of paragraph (2); and

(3) by striking paragraphs (3) and (4) and inserting the following new paragraph:

`(3) promoting sustainable timber management.'.

(c) NEW ELEMENTS OF PROGRAM- Section 5 of the Cooperative Forestry Assistance Act of 1978 (16 U.S.C. 2103a) is amended--

(1) by redesignating subsections (e), (f), (g), and (h) as subsections (j), (k), (l), and (m), respectively; and

(2) by inserting after subsection (d) the following new subsections:

`(e) COST SHARING OF NEW LAND MANAGEMENT PRACTICES-

`(1) FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE- The Secretary shall use not less than $150,000,000 of the amount appropriated for a fiscal year pursuant to the authorization of appropriations in subsection (m) to share the cost of land management practices that improve water quality and wildlife habitat. The Secretary shall consider the extent to which States have adopted minimum mandatory forestry practices when making allocations of such funds to States.

`(2) ELIGIBLE PRACTICES- Practices that are eligible for funding under this subsection include the following:

`(A) Natural forest regeneration.

`(B) Prescribed burns.

`(C) Native species restoration, including the restoration of longleaf pine, ponderosa pine, chestnut, and atlantic white cedar.

`(D) Selective harvesting.

`(E) Stream and watershed restoration.

`(F) Road retirement.

`(G) Exotic species control.

`(H) Permanent conservation easements.

`(3) NON-FEDERAL SHARE- The non-Federal share of projects implemented under this subsection shall be 15 percent, which may be satisfied through in-kind contributions.

`(f) EASEMENTS- Not more than 20 percent of the funds available under this section may be used to acquire perpetual easements, and half of these funds may be used to acquire easements which permit sustainable timber management.

`(g) TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE- The Secretary may use up to $100,000,000 of the amount appropriated for a fiscal year pursuant to the authorization of appropriations in subsection (m) to provide technical assistance to private landowners implementing practices that improve water quality and wildlife habitat. Not more than $1,000,000 in technical assistance funding may be provided in the form of grants to qualified third-parties for the purpose of implementing independent certification programs.

`(h) WATERSHED FORESTRY INITIATIVE- The Secretary may use up to $20,000,000 of the amount appropriated for a fiscal year pursuant to the authorization of appropriations in subsection (m) to make grants to finance private, nonindustrial forestry activities that enhance the quality of municipal water supplies.

`(i) REGIONAL AND WATERSHED PLANNING- The Secretary shall make information on lands affected by Federal easement and incentive programs available to facilitate regional planning, and shall promote efforts to identify high priority watersheds.'.

SEC. 502. URBAN AND COMMUNITY FORESTRY.

Section 9 of the Cooperative Forestry Assistance Act of 1978 (16 U.S.C. 2105) is amended by striking subsection (i) and inserting the following new subsection:

`(i) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS- There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section $100,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 2003 through 2008.'.

SEC. 503. ELIMINATION OF REPETITION IN FEDERAL COOPERATIVE FORESTRY ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS.

The Secretary of Agriculture shall combine existing Federal cooperative forestry assistance programs, including the programs authorized by sections 6 and 9 of the Cooperative Forestry Assistance Act of 1978 (16 U.S.C. 2103b, 2105), into a single forest stewardship program designed to promote the health of private, nonindustrial forests by providing financial and technical assistance to landowners to improve water quality, wildlife habitat, and the preservation of open space near urban areas.

SEC. 601. CONSERVATION TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE.

16 U.S.C. 590(a) is amended by inserting the following: `There is hereby authorized to appropriated from the Commodity Credit Corporation $964,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 2003 through 2008 to provide technical assistance to farm and ranch operators.'.

SEC. 602. REIMBURSEMENT FOR PROGRAM ADMINISTRATION AND OUTREACH.

Subtitle E of title XII of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3841 et seq.) is amended to read as follows:

`SEC. 1241. FUNDING.

`(a) MANDATORY EXPENSES; TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE-

`(1) FUNDING- The Secretary shall allocate funding from the Commodity Credit Corporation for the provision of technical assistance to allow for full reimbursement of actual costs.

`(2) ELIGIBLE PROGRAMS- Programs authorized for this funding include--

`(A) Environmental Quality Incentives Program;

`(B) Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program;

`(C) Conservation Reserve Program;

`(D) Wetlands Reserve Program;

`(E) Farmland Protection Program;

`(F) Agricultural Management Assistance Program authorized under the Agricultural Risk Management Act of 2000; and

`(G) any other conservation programs administered through CCC for which technical assistance is required.

`(3) APPROVED REIMBURSEMENTS-

`(A) providing an eligibility assessment of the farming or ranching operation of the producer as a basis for developing the plan;

`(B) providing technical assistance in developing and implementing the plan;

`(C) providing technical assistance for designing and implementing 1 or more structural practices or 1 or more land management practices, as appropriate; and

`(D) providing the producer with information, education, and training to aid in implementation of the plan.'.

SEC. 603. TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE BY OTHERS.

Section 1243(d) of the 96 Farm Bill is deleted and replaced with the following:

`(a) TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE BY OTHERS-

`(1) GENERALLY- The Secretary shall contract with conservation districts, extension service employees, qualified nonprofit organizations, and other parties certified by the Secretary to provide technical assistance to landowners, so long as these organizations and individuals have been certified by the Secretary to provide technical assistance and these organizations and individuals comply with Federal guidelines for providing such assistance.

`(2) GUIDELINES AND CERTIFICATION- The Secretary shall develop guidelines to train and certify third-parties to provide technical assistance.

`(3) QUALIFIED NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS- Qualified nonprofit organizations shall include organizations whose missions primarily promote the stewardship of working farmland and ranchland.

`(4) QUALITY ASSURANCE PROGRAM- The Secretary shall establish a program to assess the quality of the technical assistance provided by third parties

`(5) NATIONAL TRAINING CENTERS- To facilitate the training and certification of Federal and non-Federal employees and qualified third parties, the Secretary shall establish training centers in the following cities:

`(A) Fresno, California.

`(B) Platteville, Wisconsin.

`(C) College Station, Texas.

`(D) Ithaca, New York.

`(E) Pullman, Washington.

`(F) Orono, Maine.

`(G) Gainesville, Florida.

`(H) College Park, Maryland.

`(6) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS- There is hereby authorized to be appropriated from the Commodity Credit Corporation $50,000,000 to carry out this subsection for each of the fiscal years 2003 through 2008.'.

SEC. 604. CONSERVATION PRACTICE STANDARDS.

The Secretary of Agriculture shall revise standards and, when necessary, establish standards for eligible conservation practices to include measurable goals for enhancing natural resources, including innovative practices. In particular, the Secretary shall immediately revise the National Handbook of Conservation Practices and field office technical guides, and shall update the Handbook and technical guides to reflect the best available science at least once every five years.

SEC. 701. REGIONAL EQUITY.

16 U.S.C. 3830 is amended--

(1) by inserting the following `In carrying out the programs in the Environmental Conservation Acreage Reserve Program, the Secretary shall recognize the importance of regional equity, and the importance of accomplishing many conservation objectives that can sometimes only be achieved on land of high value. Not later than October 1, 2002, the Secretary shall reform compensation and other policies to ensure that the enrollment of lands in ECARP are equitable on a regional basis.'; and

(2) by inserting `(D) the grassland preservation and enhancement program.'.

SEC. 702. CONSERVATION PROGRAM PERFORMANCE REVIEW AND EVALUATION.

(a) PERFORMANCE EVALUATION AS A CONDITION ON PAYMENTS- As a condition on the receipt of rental or incentive payments, a landowner or operator shall work with the Secretary, state and local governments, and local interests to develop a watershed-based or other scientifically appropriate evaluation program to measure the benefits of the conservation practices implemented using the payments.

(b) PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS- An evaluation program shall be deemed to satisfy the requirements of subsection (a) if the Secretary determines that--

(1) the evaluation program is administered by a voluntary organization possessing no direct or indirect regulatory authority;

(2) the membership of the organization administering the evaluation program is representative of interests within the watershed or other appropriately scaled geographical framework, including tribal, private, public, governmental, and nonprofit interests, as well as existing special purpose districts, as appropriate;

(3) the evaluation program has available to it, through its members or through cooperation with other Federal and non-Federal entities, the expertise necessary to perform the functions identified in this section; and

(4) the organization administering the evaluation program has adopted procedures to ensure public participation in the organization's activities.

(c) PRIORITIZATION- The Secretary shall use information collected through the evaluation programs required by this section to identify and rank measures needed to improve water quality, habitat, or other environmental goals that the programs seek to promote.

(d) EVALUATION GUIDELINES- The Secretary shall work with the National Academy of Sciences to develop guidelines to evaluate the benefits of conservation practices.

(e) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS- There is authorized to be appropriated from the Commodity Credit Corporation for each of the fiscal years 2003 through 2008 $10,000,000 to carry out the performance monitoring.

(f) PRIVACY OF DATA COLLECTED- Data collected pursuant to this section is not subject to the mandatory disclosure provisions of section 552 of title 5, United States Code, but may be used in an aggregate form to measure expected benefits.

SEC. 801. DEMONSTRATION PROGRAM TO PROMOTE AND SUPPORT ECOSYSTEM- AND WATERSHED-BASED CONSERVATION.

(a) ESTABLISHMENT AND PURPOSE-

(1) IN GENERAL- Recognizing the leveraged benefit of an ecosystem-based application of the Department of Agriculture conservation programs specified in paragraph (2), the increasing and extraordinary threats to economically important agriculture in many areas of the United States, and the importance of local involvement in the protection of economically and ecologically important agricultural lands, the Secretary of Agriculture shall establish a Conservation Corridor Demonstration Program to finance private land incentive contracts, acquire easement and development rights, and finance water quality, forestry, and wildlife incentives, as provided for in such conservation programs.

(2) COVERED CONSERVATION PROGRAMS- The Department of Agriculture conservation programs referred to in paragraph (1) are the following:

(A) The environmental quality incentives program authorized by chapter 3 of subtitle D of title XII of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3839aa et seq.).

(B) The wildlife habitat incentives program authorized by section 387 of the Federal Agriculture Improvement and Reform Act of 1996 (16 U.S.C. 3836a).

(C) The wetlands reserve program authorized by subchapter C of chapter 1 of subtitle D of title XII of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3837 et seq.).

(D) The conservation reserve program authorized by subchapter B of chapter 1 of subtitle D of title XII of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3831 et seq.).

(E) The forest stewardship program authorized by section 5 of the Cooperative Forestry Assistance Act of 1978 (16 U.S.C. 2103a).

(F) The urban and community forestry assistance program authorized by section 9 of the Cooperative Forestry Assistance Act of 1978 (16 U.S.C. 2105).

(G) Other conservation programs administered by the Secretary of Agriculture.

(b) LOCATION OF CONSERVATION CORRIDOR- Within 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall identify one or more priority regions, as defined and delineated by watershed or ecosystem, and potentially consisting of several States within which the Conservation Corridor Program will be carried out. In identifying a priority region for inclusion in the Program, the Secretary shall cooperate with State agencies responsible for natural resource and agriculture to develop maps and descriptions of economically and ecologically important agricultural lands that are under increasing and extraordinary threats and whose protection is a high priority.

(c) MEMORANDUM OF AGREEMENT- As part of the Conservation Corridor Program in a priority region, the Secretary may enter into a memorandum of agreement with the States in that region that--

(1) guarantees specific resources for implementation of the Program;

(2) establishes different or automatic enrollment criteria than otherwise established by regulation or policy, for specific levels of enrollments of specific conservation programs within the region;

(3) establishes different compensation rates to the extent the parties to the agreement consider justified;

(4) establishes different conservation practice criteria if doing so will achieve greater conservation benefits;

(5) provides more streamlined and integrated paperwork requirements; and

(6) otherwise alters or waives any other requirement established by policy and regulation to the extent not inconsistent with the statutory requirements of an individual conservation program.

SEC. 802. CONSERVATION PLAN.

(a) PREPARATION- To be eligible to participate in the Conservation Corridor Program, a State located within a priority region identified under section 801(b) shall prepare a conservation plan that describes efforts to prioritize and link Federal, State, and local natural resources that--

(1) improve the economic viability of agriculture by protecting contiguous tracts of land;

(2) improve the ecological integrity of the ecosystems or watersheds within the region by linking land with high ecological and natural resource value; and

(3) provide for a memorandum of agreement among the States in the priority region that accommodates ecosystem boundaries.

(b) CONSULTATION- The conservation plan shall be prepared in consultation with the National Resources Inventory of the Natural Resources Conservation Service.

(c) SUBMISSION AND REVIEW- The conservation plan shall be submitted to the Secretary for review within six months after the inclusion of the priority area in the Conservation Corridor Program. Within 30 days of receipt of the conservation plan, the Secretary shall review the plan and approve it for implementation and funding under the Conservation Corridor Program if the Secretary determines that the plan and memorandum of agreement meet the criteria specified in subsection (d).

(d) CRITERIA FOR PROGRAM- The Secretary may approve the conservation plan of a State for implementation and funding under the Conservation Corridor Program only if, as determined by the Secretary, the plan provides for each of the following:

(1) Actions taken under the conservation plan are voluntary and require the consent of willing landowners.

(2) Enrollments through the Conservation Corridor Program are of lands of exceptionally high agricultural or ecological value, as defined by the natural resource and agriculture agencies of the State or States in which the Program is located.

(3) The Conservation Corridor Program provides benefits greater than the benefits that would likely be achieved through individual application of the Federal conservation programs because of such factors as--

(A) ecosystem- or watershed-based enrollment criteria;

(B) lengthier conservation commitments;

(C) integrated treatment of special natural resource problems, including preservation and enhancement of natural resource corridors; and

(D) improved economic viability for agriculture.

(4) Staffing and marketing, considering both Federal and non-Federal resources, are sufficient to assure program success.

(e) IMPLEMENTATION- Within 30 days of the approval of the conservation plan of a State under this section, the Secretary shall begin to provide funds for the implementation of the Conservation Corridor Program in the ecosystem, watershed, or region described in the conservation plan.

SEC. 803. FUNDING REQUIREMENTS.

(a) COST-SHARING- As a further condition on the approval of the conservation plan submitted by a State under section 802, the Secretary shall require the State to contribute a specific dollar amount toward, or percentage of, the total cost of the project or activity funded under the Conservation Corridor Program, as required by the Department of Agriculture conservation program providing the Federal portion of the funds for the project or activity.

(b) EXCEPTION- The Secretary may reduce the cost-share requirement in the case of a specific activity under the Conservation Corridor Program upon demonstration that the project or activity is likely to achieve extraordinary natural resource benefits, as defined by the natural resource and agriculture agencies of the State in which the project or activity is conducted.

(c) COORDINATION- Non-Federal interests contributing financial resources for the Conservation Corridor Program shall implement streamlined paperwork requirements and other procedures to allow for integration with the Federal programs for participants in the Program.

(d) RESERVATION OF FUNDS- For each of the fiscal years 2003 through 2008, the Secretary shall reserve for obligation and expenditure under the Conservation Corridor Program a percentage of the funds made available to the Secretary to carry out conservation programs administered by the Secretary.