12 2 STA T . 1 9 2 3PUBLIC LA W 11 0– 2 46—J U NE 1 8, 2008 TI T LEV I —RU R A L D EVEL OPM E N T Subti t le A— Cons oli da ted F a rm and Rural De v elo p ment A c t SEC.60 0 1 . WAT E R, WASTE DI S PO SA L ,A N D WASTEWATER F ACILIT YG RANTS. Section306(a) ( 2 )( B )( v ii) o f t h e C on s o l i d ated F a rm and Ru ral D evelo p ment A ct( 7U. S.C. 19 26(a)(2)(B)(vii)) is amended by stri k in g‘ ‘2002 through 2007 ’ ’ and inserting ‘‘200 8 through 2012’’. SEC. 600 2 . SEARC H GRANTS. (a) INGE NE RAL . — Section 306(a)(2) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1926(a)(2)) is amended by adding at the end the follo w ing
‘‘(C) S P E CI ALE V AL U A T I O NA S SISTANCE F OR RURAL CO M MUNITIES AN DH OUSEHOLDS PRO G RAM.— ‘‘(i) IN GENERAL.— T he Secretary may establish the Special E valuation Assistance for Rural Communities and H ouseholds (SEARCH) program , to make predevelopment planning grants for feasibility studies, design assistance, and technical assistance, to finan - cially distressed communities in rural areas with popu- lations of 2, 5 00 or fewer inhabitants for water and waste disposal pro j ects described in paragraph (1), this paragraph, and paragraph (2 4 ). ‘‘(ii) TERMS.— ‘‘(I) DOCUMENTATION.— W ith respect to grants made under this subparagraph, the Secretary shall re q uire the lowest amount of documentation prac- ticable. ‘‘(II) M ATCHING.— N otwithstanding any other provisions in this subsection, the Secretary may fund up to 100 percent of the eligible costs of grants provided under this subparagraph, as deter- mined by the Secretary. ‘‘(iii) FUNDING.—The Secretary may use not more than 4 percent of the total amount of funds made available for a fiscal year for water, waste disposal, and essential community facility activities under this title to carry out this subparagraph. ‘‘(iv) RELATIONSHIP TO OTHER AUTHORIT Y .—The funds and authorities provided under this subpara- graph are in addition to any other funds or authorities the Secretary may have to carry out activities described in clause (i).’’. (b) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—Subtitle D of title V Iofthe Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 (7 U.S.C. 2009ee et seq.) is repealed. SEC. 600 3 .R U RAL B USINESS OPPORTUNITY GRANTS. Section 306(a)(11)(D) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1926(a)(11)(D)) is amended by striking ‘‘1996 through 2007’’ and inserting ‘‘2008 through 2012’’. 7USC20 0 9e e — 2009ee –3.
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