110 STAT. 994 PUBLIC LAW 104-127—APR. 4, 1996 "(B) the structural practices or land management practices that best address the problems, and that maximize environmental benefits for each dollar expended, as determined by the Secretary.". SEC. 332. CONSERVATION RESERVE PROGRAM. (a) PROGRAM EXTENSIONS. — (1) CONSERVATION RESERVE PROGRAM. —Section 1231 of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3831) is amended by striking "1995" each place it appears and inserting "2002". (2) DUTIES OF OWNERS AND OPERATORS. —Section 1232(c) of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3832(c)) is amended by striking "1995" and inserting "2002". (b) MAXIMUM ENROLLMENT.— Section 1231 of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3831) is amended by striking subsection (d) and inserting the following: "(d) MAXIMUM ENROLLMENT. —The Secretary may maintain up to 36,400,000 acres in the conservation reserve at any one time during the 1986 through 2002 calendar years (including contracts extended by the Secretary pursuant to section 1437(c) of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 (Public Law 101- 624; 16 U.S.C. 3831 note)).". (c) OPTIONAL CONTRACT TERMINATION BY PRODUCERS.— Section 1235 of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3835) is amended— (1) in subsection (a)— (A) in paragraph (1), by striking "3-year" and inserting "1-year"; and (B) in paragraph (2)(B)(i), by striking "3 years" and inserting "1 year"; and (2) by adding at the end the following: " (e) TERMINATION BY OWNER OR OPERATOR.— "(1) EARLY TERMINATION AUTHORIZED.— Subject to the other provisions of this subsection, the Secretary shall allow a participant who entered into a contract before January 1, 1995, to terminate the contract at any time if the contract has been in effect for at least 5 years. The termination shall not relieve the participant of liability for a contract violation occurring before the date of the termination. The participant shall provide the Secretary with reasonable notice of the participant's desire to terminate the contract. "(2) CERTAIN LANDS EXCEPTED.— The following lands shall not be subject to an early termination of contract under this subsection: "(A) Filterstrips, waterways, strips adjacent to riparian areas, windbreaks, and shelterbelts. "(B) Land with an erodibility index of more than 15. "(C) Other lands of high environmental value (including wetlands), as determined by the Secretary. "(3) EFFECTIVE DATE.— The contract termination shall become effective 60 days after the date on which the owner or operator submits the notice required under paragraph (1). "(4) PRORATED RENTAL PAYMENT. — If a contract entered into under this subchapter is terminated under this subsection before the end of the fiscal year for which a rental payment is due, the Secretary shall provide a prorated rental payment covering the portion of the fiscal year during which the contract was in effect.
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