The purposes of the environmental quality incentives program established by this part are to promote agricultural production, forest management, and environmental quality as compatible goals, and to optimize environmental benefits, by—

1. (1) assisting producers in complying with local, State, and national regulatory requirements concerning—

   1. (A) soil, water, and air quality;
   2. (B) wildlife habitat; and
   3. (C) surface and ground water conservation;
2. (2) avoiding, to the maximum extent practicable, the need for resource and regulatory programs by assisting producers in protecting soil, water, air, and related natural resources and meeting environmental quality criteria established by Federal, State, tribal, and local agencies;

3. (3) providing flexible assistance to producers to install and maintain conservation practices that sustain food and fiber production while—

   1. (A) enhancing soil, water, and related natural resources, including grazing land, forestland, wetland, and wildlife;
   2. (B) developing and improving wildlife habitat; and
   3. (C) conserving energy; and
4. (4) assisting producers to make beneficial, cost effective changes to production systems (including conservation practices related to organic production), grazing management, fuels management, forest management, nutrient management associated with livestock, pest or irrigation management, or other practices on agricultural and forested land.

(Pub. L. 99–198, title XII, § 1240, as added Pub. L. 107–171, title II, § 2301, May 13, 2002, 116 Stat. 253; amended Pub. L. 110–234, title II, § 2501(a), May 22, 2008, 122 Stat. 1057; Pub. L. 110–246, § 4(a), title II, § 2501(a), June 18, 2008, 122 Stat. 1664, 1785; Pub. L. 113–79, title II, § 2201, Feb. 7, 2014, 128 Stat. 728.)

Codification

Pub. L. 110–234 and Pub. L. 110–246 made identical amendments to this section. The amendments by Pub. L. 110–234 were repealed by section 4(a) of Pub. L. 110–246.

Prior Provisions

A prior section 3839aa, Pub. L. 99–198, title XII, § 1240, as added Pub. L. 104–127, title III, § 334, Apr. 4, 1996, 110 Stat. 996, related to purposes, prior to the general amendment of this part by Pub. L. 107–171.

Amendments

2014—Par. (3). Pub. L. 113–79, § 2201(1), added subpar. (B) and redesignated former subpar. (B) as (C).

Par. (5). Pub. L. 113–79, § 2201(2), (3), struck out par. (5) which read as follows: “consolidating and streamlining conservation planning and regulatory compliance processes to reduce administrative burdens on producers and the cost of achieving environmental goals.”

2008—Pub. L. 110–246, § 2501(a)(1), inserted “, forest management,” after “agricultural production” in introductory provisions.

Pars. (3), (4). Pub. L. 110–246, § 2501(a)(2), added pars. (3) and (4) and struck out former pars. (3) and (4) which read as follows:

“(3) providing flexible assistance to producers to install and maintain conservation practices that enhance soil, water, related natural resources (including grazing land and wetland), and wildlife while sustaining production of food and fiber;

“(4) assisting producers to make beneficial, cost effective changes to cropping systems, grazing management, nutrient management associated with livestock, pest or irrigation management, or other practices on agricultural land; and”.

Effective Date of 2008 Amendment

Amendment of this section and repeal of Pub. L. 110–234 by Pub. L. 110–246 effective May 22, 2008, the date of enactment of Pub. L. 110–234, see section 4 of Pub. L. 110–246, set out as an Effective Date note under section 8701 of Title 7, Agriculture.

Effect on Existing Contracts

Pub. L. 113–79, title II, § 2208, Feb. 7, 2014, 128 Stat. 731, provided that:

“The amendments made by this subtitle [subtitle C (§§ 2201–2208) of title II of

Pub. L. 113–79, see Tables for classification] shall not affect the validity or terms of any contract entered into by the Secretary of Agriculture under chapter 4 of subtitle D of title XII of the Food Security Act of 1985 (

16 U.S.C. 3839aa et seq.) before the date of enactment of the Agricultural Act of 2014 [

Feb. 7, 2014], or any payments required to be made in connection with the contract.”