PUBLIC LAW 104-127—APR. 4, 1996 110 STAT. 1001 "(5) to supply information as required by the Secretary to determine compliance with the environmental quality incentives program plan and requirements of the program; and "(6) to comply with such additional provisions as the Secretary determines are necessary to carry out the environmental quality incentives program plan. "SEC. 1240E. ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY INCENTIVES PROGRAM PLAN. "(a) IN GENERAL. — To be eligible to enter into a contract under the environmental quality incentives program, an owner or producer of a livestock or agricultural operation must submit to the Secretary for approval a plan of operations that incorporates such conservation practices, and is based on such principles, as the Secretary considers necessary to carry out the program, including a description of structural practices and land management practices to be implemented and the objectives to be met by the plan's implementation. "(b) AVOIDANCE OF DUPLICATION.— The Secretary shall, to the maximum extent practicable, eliminate duplication of planning activities under the environmental quality incentives program and comparable conservation programs. "SEC. 1240F. DUTIES OF THE SECRETARY. "To the extent appropriate, the Secretary shall assist a producer in achieving the conservation and environmental goals of an environmental quality incentives program plan by— "(1) providing an eligibility assessment of the farming or ranching operation of the producer as a basis for developing the plan; "(2) providing technical assistance in developing and implementing the plan; "(3) providing technical assistance, cost-share payments, or incentive payments for developing and implementing 1 or more structural practices or 1 or more land management practices, as appropriate; "(4) providing the producer with information, education, and training to aid in implementation of the plan; and "(5) encouraging the producer to obtain technical assistance, cost-share payments, or grants from other Federal, State, local, or private sources. "SEC. 1240G. LIMITATION ON PAYMENTS. "(a) IN GENERAL.— The total amount of cost-share and incentive payments paid to a producer under this chapter may not exceed— "(1) $10,000 for any fiscal year; or "(2) $50,000 for any multiyear contract. "(b) EXCEPTION TO ANNUAL LIMIT.— The Secretary may exceed the limitation on the annual amount of a payment under subsection (a)(1) on a case-by-case basis if the Secretary determines that a larger payment is— "(1) essential to accomplish the land management practice or structural practice for which the payment is made; and "(2) consistent with the maximization of environmental benefits per dollar expended and the purposes of this chapter specified in section 1240. "(c) TIMING OF EXPENDITURES.— Expenditures under a contract entered into under this chapter during a fiscal year may not be made by the Secretary until the subsequent fiscal year. 16 USC 3839aa-5. 16 USC 3839aa-6. 16 USC 3839aa-7. 29-194O-96 -33:QL3Part1
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