Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 116 Part 1.djvu/303

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PUBLIC LAW 107-171—MAY 13, 2002 116 STAT. 277 SEC. 2603. IMPLEMENTATION OF CONSERVATION CORRIDOR PLAN. 16 USC 3801 (a) MEMORANDUM OF AGREEMENT.— On approval of a conservation corridor plan, the Secretary may enter into a memorandum of agreement with the State, local government, or combination of States that submitted the plan to— (1) guarantee specific program resources for implementation of the plan; (2) establish various compensation rates to the extent that the parties to the agreement consider justified; and (3) provide streamlined and integrated paperwork requirements. (b) CONTINUED COMPLIANCE WITH PLAN APPROVAL CRITERIA.— The Secretary shall terminate the memorandum of agreement entered into under subsection (a) with respect to an approved conservation corridor plan and cease the provision of resources for implementation of the plan if the Secretary determines that, in the implementation of the plan— (1) the State, local government, or combination of States that submitted the plan has deviated from— (A) the plan; (B) the criteria specified in section 2602(d) on which approval of the plan was conditioned; or (C) the cost-sharing requirements of section 2604(a) or any other condition of the plan; or (2) the economic viability of agriculture in the geographic region designated in the plan is being hindered. (c) PROGRESS REPORT.— At the end of the 3-year period that begins on the date on which funds are first provided with respect to a conservation corridor plan under the demonstration program, the State, local government, or combination of States that submitted the plan shall submit to the Secretary— (1) a report on the effectiveness of the activities carried out under the plan; and (2) an evaluation of the economic viability of agriculture in the geographic region designated in the plan. (d) DURATION. — The demonstration program shall be carried out for not less than 3 nor more than 5 years beginning on the date on which funds are first provided under the demonstration program. SEC. 2604. FUNDING REQUIREMENTS. 16 USC 3801 (a) COST SHARING.— ^° (1) REQUIRED NON-FEDERAL SHARE.— Subject to paragraph (2), as a condition on the approval of a conservation corridor plan, the Secretary shall require the State and local participants to contribute financial resources sufficient to cover at least 50 percent of the total cost of the activities carried out under the plan. (2) EXCEPTION.— The Secretary may reduce the cost-sharing requirement in the case of a specific project or activity under the demonstration program on good cause and on demonstration that the project or activity is likely to achieve extraordinary natural resource benefits. (b) RESERVATION OF FUNDS.—The Secretary may consider directing funds on a priority basis to the demonstration program and to projects in areas identified by the plan.