Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 116 Part 1.djvu/291

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PUBLIC LAW 107-171—MAY 13, 2002 116 STAT. 265 "(i) planning, managing, and treating private grazing land resources; "(ii) ensuring the long-term sustainability of private grazing land resources; "(iii) harvesting, processing, and marketing private grazing land resources; and "(iv) identifying and managing weed, noxious weed, and brush encroachment problems; "(D) protecting and improving the quality and quantity of water yields from private grazing land; "(E) maintaining and improving wildlife and fish habitat on private grazing land; "(F) enhancing recreational opportunities on private grazing land; "(G) maintaining and improving the aesthetic character of private grazing land; "(H) identifying the opportunities and encouraging the diversification of private grazing land enterprises; and "(l) encouraging the use of sustainable grazing systems, such as year-round, rotational, or managed grazing. "(2) PROGRAM ELEMENTS.— " (A) FUNDING.— I f funding is provided to carry out this section, it shall be provided through a specific lineitem in the annual appropriations for the Natural Resources Conservation Service. " (B) TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND EDUCATION.—Personnel of the Department trained in pasture and range management shall be made available under the program to deliver and coordinate technical assistance and education to owners and managers of private grazing land, at the request of the owners and managers. "(d) GRAZING TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE SELF-HELP. — "(1) FINDINGS. —Congress finds that— "(A) there is a severe lack of technical assistance for farmers and ranchers that graze livestock; "(B) Federal budgetary constraints preclude any significant expansion, and may force a reduction of, current levels of technical support; and "(C) farmers and ranchers have a history of cooperatively working together to address common needs in the promotion of their products and in the drainage of wet areas through drainage districts. " (2) ESTABLISHMENT OF GRAZING DEMONSTRATION. — In accordance with paragraph (3), the Secretary may establish 2 grazing management demonstration districts at the recommendation of the grazing land conservation initiative steering committee. "(3) PROCEDURE. — "(A) PROPOSAL. — Within a reasonable time after the submission of a request of an organization of farmers or ranchers engaged in grazing, the Secretary shall propose that a grazing management district be established. "(B) FUNDING. —The terms and conditions of the funding and operation of the grazing management district shall be proposed by the producers. "(C) APPROVAL. —The Secretary shall approve the proposal if the Secretary determines that the proposal—