PUBLIC LAW 107-171—MAY 13, 2002 116 STAT. 233 "(1) provide for adequate safeguards to protect the interests of tenants and sharecroppers, including provision for sharing payments, on a fair and equitable basis; and "(2) prescribe such other rules as the Secretary determines to be necessary to ensure a fair and reasonable application of the limitations established under subsection (b). " (e) TRANSFER OR CHANGE OF INTEREST IN LAND SUBJECT TO CONSERVATION SECURITY CONTRACT.— "(1) IN GENERAL.— Except as provided in paragraph (2), the transfer, or change in the interest, of a producer in land subject to a conservation security contract shall result in the termination of the conservation security contract. "(2) TRANSFER OF DUTIES AND RIGHTS. — Paragraph (1) shall DeadHne. not apply if, not later than 60 days after the date of the transfer or change in the interest in land, the transferee of the land provides written notice to the Secretary that all duties and rights under the conservation security contract have been transferred to, and assumed by, the transferee. "(f) ENROLLMENT PROCEDURE.— In entering into conservation security contracts with producers under this subchapter, the Secretary shall not use competitive bidding or any similar procedure. "(g) TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE.— For each of fiscal years 2003 through 2007, the Secretary shall provide technical assistance to producers for the development and implementation of conservation security contracts, in an amount not to exceed 15 percent of amounts expended for the fiscal year.". (b) REGULATIONS.—Not later than 270 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Agriculture shall promulgate regulations implementing the amendment made by subsection (a). SEC. 2002. CONSERVATION COMPLIANCE. (a) HIGHLY ERODIBLE LAND. —Section 1211 of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3811) is amended— (1) by striking the section heading and all that follows through "Except as provided in" and inserting the following: "SEC 1211. PROGRAM INELIGIBILITY. "(a) IN GENERAL. —Except as provided in"; and (2) by adding at the end the following: "(b) HIGHLY ERODIBLE LAND. —The Secretary shall have, and shall not delegate to any private person or entity, authority to determine whether a person has complied with this subtitle.". (b) WETLAND.—Section 1221 of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3821) is amended by adding at the end the following: "(e) WETLAND.— The Secretary shall have, and shall not delegate to any private person or entity, authority to determine whether a person has complied with this subtitle.". SEC. 2003. PARTNERSHIPS AND COOPERATION. Section 1243 of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3843) is amended by adding at the end the following: "(f) PARTNERSHIPS AND COOPERATION.— "(1) IN GENERAL.—In carrying out any program under subtitle D, the Secretary may use resources provided under that subtitle to enter into stewardship agreements with State and local agencies, Indian tribes, and nongovernmental organizations and to designate special projects, as recommended by the State Conservationist, after consultation with the State Deadline. 16 USC 3838 note.
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