US Code

Public Law 119-88 (05/04/2026)

16 U.S.C. § 3871a

Definitions

In this subchapter:
(1)

Covered program

The term “covered program” means the following:
(A)
The agricultural conservation easement program.
(B)
The environmental quality incentives program.
(C)
section 3839aa–25 of this title The conservation stewardship program, not including the grassland conservation initiative under .
(D)
section 6571 of this title The healthy forests reserve program established under .
(E)
The conservation reserve program established under subpart B of part I of subchapter IV.
(F)
16 U.S.C. 100116 U.S.C. 1012 The programs established by the Secretary to carry out the Watershed Protection and Flood Prevention Act ( et seq.), except for any program established by the Secretary to carry out section 14 () of that Act.
(2)

Eligible activity

The term “eligible activity” means a practice, activity, agreement, easement, or related conservation measure that is available under the statutory authority for a covered program.

(3)

Eligible land

The term “eligible land” means any agricultural or nonindustrial private forest land or associated land on which the Secretary determines an eligible activity would help achieve conservation benefits.

(4)

Eligible partner

The term “eligible partner” means any of the following:
(A)
An agricultural or silvicultural producer association or other group of producers.
(B)
A State or unit of local government.
(C)
An Indian tribe.
(D)
A farmer cooperative.
(E)
A water district, irrigation district, acequia, rural water district or association, or other organization with specific water delivery authority to producers on agricultural land.
(F)
A municipal water or wastewater treatment entity.
(G)
An institution of higher education.
(H)
An organization or entity with an established history of working cooperatively with producers on agricultural land, as determined by the Secretary, to address—
(i)
local conservation priorities related to agricultural production, wildlife habitat development, or nonindustrial private forest land management; or
(ii)
critical watershed-scale soil erosion, water quality, sediment reduction, or other natural resource issues.
(I)
section 3865a(3)(B) of this title An organization described in .
(J)
A conservation district.
(5)

Partnership agreement

section 3871b of this titleThe term “partnership agreement” means the programmatic agreement entered into between the Secretary and an eligible partner, subject to the terms and conditions under .

(6)

Program

The term “program” means the regional conservation partnership program established by this subchapter.

(7)

Program contract

(A)

In general

The term “program contract” means the contract between the Secretary and a producer entered into under this subchapter.

(B)

Exclusion

The term “program contract” does not include a contract under a covered program.

Pub. L. 99–198, title XII, § 1271APub. L. 113–79, title II, § 2401128 Stat. 745 Pub. L. 115–334, title II, § 2702132 Stat. 4593 (, as added , , ; amended , , .)

Editorial Notes

References in Text

act Aug. 4, 1954, ch. 656 68 Stat. 666 section 1001 of this titleThe Watershed Protection and Flood Prevention Act, referred to in par. (1)(F), is , , which is classified principally to chapter 18 (§ 1001 et seq.) of this title. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under and Tables.

Amendments

Pub. L. 115–334, § 2702(1)(A)section 3839aa–25 of this title2018—Par. (1)(C). , inserted “, not including the grassland conservation initiative under ” before period at end.

Pub. L. 115–334, § 2702(1)(B)Par. (1)(E), (F). , added subpars. (E) and (F).

Pub. L. 115–334, § 2702(2)Pars. (2), (3). , added pars. (2) and (3) and struck out former pars. (2) and (3), which defined “eligible activity” as a conservation activity for specified purposes and types of projects and “eligible land” as specified types of land or associated lands on which agricultural commodities, livestock, or forest-related products are produced.

Pub. L. 115–334, § 2702(3)(A)Par. (4)(E). , inserted “acequia,” after “irrigation district,”.

Pub. L. 115–334, § 2702(3)(B)Par. (4)(I), (J). , added subpars. (I) and (J).

Pub. L. 115–334, § 2702(4)section 3871b of this titlePar. (5). , added par. (5) and struck out former par. (5). Prior to amendment, text read as follows: “The term ‘partnership agreement’ means an agreement entered into under between the Secretary and an eligible partner.”

Pub. L. 115–334, § 2702(5)Par. (7). , added par. (7).