12 2 STA T . 1 79 7 PUBLIC LA W 11 0– 2 46—J U NE 1 8, 2008 ‘ ‘ (b)CONSULTA T I ON AN D COO PER ATION .—TheS e cr e ta r ys ha l l carry ou t the p ro g ra min consultation w ith the G reat L a k es Commission create d by A rticle IV o f the Great Lakes B asin Compact ( 82 Stat. 415 ) and in cooperation with the Administrator of the E n v ironmental P rotection Agency and the Secretary of the Army. ‘‘(c) ASSISTAN C E.—In carrying out the program , the Secretary may— ‘‘(1) provide pro j ect demonstration grants, provide technical assistance, and carry out information and educational programs to improve water q uality in the Great Lakes basin by reducing soil erosion and improving sediment control
and ‘‘(2) establish a priority for projects and activities that— ‘‘(A) directly reduce soil erosion or improve sediment control; ‘‘(B) reduce soil loss in degraded rural watersheds; or ‘‘(C) improve water quality for downstream watersheds. ‘‘(d) AUT H ORI Z ATION O F APPROPRIATIONS.—There is authori z ed to be appropriated to the Secretary to carry out the program $ 5, 0 00,000 for each of fiscal years 2008 through 2012. ’ ’. SEC.2605 .C H ES AP EA K E B A YW A T E R SHE D PR OG RA M . Chapter 5 of subtitle D of title X II of the F ood Security Act of1 9 85 is amended by inserting after section 1240P (1 6U .S.C. 3 839bb – 3) the following new section
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‘SEC. 1 2 4 0 Q . CHESAPEAKE BAY WATERSHED. ‘‘(a) CHESAPEA K EBA YW ATERSHED DEFINED.—In this section, the term ‘Chesapeake Bay watershed’ means all tributaries, back - waters, and side channels, including their watersheds, draining into the Chesapeake Bay. ‘‘(b) ESTA B LISH M ENT AND PURPOSE.—The Secretary shall assist producers in implementing conservation activities on agricultural lands in the Chesapeake Bay watershed for the purposes of— ‘‘(1) improving water quality and quantity in the Chesa- peake Bay watershed; and ‘‘(2) restoring, enhancing, and preserving soil, air, and related resources in the Chesapeake Bay watershed. ‘‘(c) CONSER V ATION ACTIVITIES.—The Secretary shall deliver the funds made available to carry out this section through applicable programs under this subtitle to assist producers in enhancing land and water resources— ‘‘(1) by controlling erosion and reducing sediment and nutrient levels in ground and surface water; and ‘‘(2) by planning, designing, implementing, and evaluating habitat conservation, restoration, and enhancement measures where there is significant ecological value if the lands are— ‘‘(A) retained in their current use; or ‘‘(B) restored to their natural condition. ‘‘(d) A G REEMENTS.— ‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall— ‘‘(A) enter into agreements with producers to carry out the purposes of this section; and ‘‘(B) use the funds made available to carry out this section to cover the costs of the program involved with each agreement. ‘‘(2) SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS.—In entering into agree- ments under this subsection, the Secretary shall give special 16USC38 3 9b b –4.
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