US Codex
Pub. L.
Notes

Title III — Conservation Authorizations

116th Congress · Approved Mar 12, 2019 · 133 Stat. 580

TITLE III Conservation Authorizations

SEC. 3001. Reauthorization of Land and Water Conservation Fund.

(a)
In General.— Section 200302 of title 54, United States Code, is amended—
(1)
in subsection (b), in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by striking “ During the period ending September 30, 2018, there” and inserting “ There”; and
(2)
in subsection (c)(1), by striking “ through September 30, 2018”.
(b)
Allocation of Funds.— Section 200304 of title 54, United States Code, is amended—
(1)
by striking the second sentence;
(2)
by striking “ There” and inserting the following:

“(a) In General.—There”

; and

(3)
by adding at the end the following:

“(b) Allocation of Funds.—Of the total amount made available to the Fund through appropriations or deposited in the Fund under section 105(a)(2)(B) of the Gulf of Mexico Energy Security Act of 2006 (43 U.S.C. 1331 note; Public Law 109–432)—

“(1) not less than 40 percent shall be used for Federal purposes; and

“(2) not less than 40 percent shall be used to provide financial assistance to States.”

(c)
Parity for Territories and the District of Columbia.— Section 200305(b) of title 54, United States Code, is amended by striking paragraph (5).
(d)
Recreational Public Access.— Section 200306 of title 54, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:

“(c) Recreational Public Access.—

“(1) In general.—Of the amounts made available for expenditure in any fiscal year under section 200303, there shall be made available for recreational public access projects identified on the priority list developed under paragraph (2) not less than the greater of—

“(A) an amount equal to 3 percent of those amounts; or

“(B) $15,000,000.

“(2) Priority list.—The Secretary and the Secretary of Agriculture, in consultation with the head of each affected Federal agency, shall annually develop a priority list for projects that, through acquisition of land (or an interest in land), secure recreational public access to Federal land under the jurisdiction of the applicable Secretary for hunting, fishing, recreational shooting, or other outdoor recreational purposes.”

(e)
Acquisition Considerations.— Section 200306 of title 54, United States Code (as amended by subsection (d)), is amended by adding at the end the following:

“(d) Acquisition Considerations.—In determining whether to acquire land (or an interest in land) under this section, the Secretary and the Secretary of Agriculture shall take into account—

“(1) the significance of the acquisition;

“(2) the urgency of the acquisition;

“(3) management efficiencies;

“(4) management cost savings;

“(5) geographic distribution;

“(6) threats to the integrity of the land; and

“(7) the recreational value of the land.”

SEC. 3002. Conservation Incentives Landowner Education Program.

(a)
In General.— Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall establish a conservation incentives landowner education program (referred to in this section as the “program”).
(b)
Purpose of Program.— The program shall provide information on Federal conservation programs available to landowners interested in undertaking conservation actions on the land of the landowners, including options under each conservation program available to achieve the conservation goals of the program, such as—
(1)
fee title land acquisition;
(2)
donation; and
(3)
perpetual and term conservation easements or agreements.
(c)
Availability.— The Secretary shall ensure that the information provided under the program is made available to—
(1)
interested landowners; and
(2)
the public.
(d)
Notification.— In any case in which the Secretary contacts a landowner directly about participation in a Federal conservation program, the Secretary shall, in writing—
(1)
notify the landowner of the program; and
(2)
make available information on the conservation program options that may be available to the landowner.