---
kind: "section"
citation: "16 U.S.C. § 3871e"
title: "16"
title_heading: "Conservation"
number: "3871e"
heading: "Administration"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/16/3871e"
units:
  - "Chapter 58 — Erodible Land and Wetland Conservation and Reserve Program"
  - "Subchapter VIII — Regional Conservation Partnership Program"
---

# §3871e. Administration

- (a) **Disclosure—** In [addition](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-2) to the criteria used in evaluating applications as described in [section 3871b(e)(2) of this title](/usc/16/3871b.md?p=e-2), the [Secretary](/usc/16/3801.md?p=a-21) shall make publicly available information on [projects](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-4) selected through the competitive process described in [section 3871b(e)(1) of this title](/usc/16/3871b.md?p=e-1).
- (b) **Reporting—** Not later than December 31, 2019, and every two years thereafter, the [Secretary](/usc/16/3801.md?p=a-21) shall submit to the Committee on Agriculture of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate a report on the status of [projects](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-4) funded under the [program](/usc/16/3865a.md?p=6), including—
  - (1) a summary of—
    - (A) the progress made towards achieving the conservation benefits defined for the [projects](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-4); and
    - (B) any other related outcomes of the [projects](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-4);
  - (2) the number and types of [eligible partners](/usc/16/3871a.md?p=4) and producers participating in the [partnership agreements](/usc/16/3871a.md?p=5) selected;
  - (3) the number of producers receiving assistance;
  - (4) total funding committed to [projects](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-4), including from Federal and non-Federal resources;
  - (5) a description of how the funds under [section 3871c(d) of this title](/usc/16/3871c.md?p=d) are being administered, including—
    - (A) any oversight mechanisms that the [Secretary](/usc/16/3801.md?p=a-21) has implemented;
    - (B) the process through which the [Secretary](/usc/16/3801.md?p=a-21) is resolving appeals by [program](/usc/16/3865a.md?p=6) participants; and
    - (C) the means by which the [Secretary](/usc/16/3801.md?p=a-21) is tracking adherence to any applicable provisions for payment eligibility; and
  - (6) in the case of a [project](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-4) within a critical conservation [area](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=1-A) under [section 3871f of this title](/usc/16/3871f.md), the status of each priority resource concern for each designated critical conservation [area](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=1-A), including—
    - (A) the priority resource concerns for which each critical conservation [area](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=1-A) is designated;
    - (B) conservation goals and outcomes sufficient to demonstrate that progress is being made to address the priority resource concerns;
    - (C) the [partnership agreements](/usc/16/3871a.md?p=5) selected to address each conservation goal and outcome; and
    - (D) the extent to which each conservation goal and outcome is being addressed by the [partnership agreements](/usc/16/3871a.md?p=5).
- (c) **Compliance with certain requirements—** The [Secretary](/usc/16/3801.md?p=a-21) may not provide assistance under the [program](/usc/16/3865a.md?p=6) to a producer unless the producer agrees, during the [program](/usc/16/3865a.md?p=6) year for which the assistance is provided—
  - (1) to comply with applicable conservation requirements under subchapter II; and
  - (2) to comply with applicable [wetland](/usc/16/3801.md?p=a-27) protection requirements under subchapter III.
- (d) **Historically underserved producers—** To the maximum extent practicable, in carrying out the [program](/usc/16/3865a.md?p=6), the [Secretary](/usc/16/3801.md?p=a-21) and [eligible partners](/usc/16/3871a.md?p=4) shall conduct outreach to beginning farmers and ranchers, veteran farmers and ranchers, socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers, and limited resource farmers and ranchers to encourage participation by those producers in a [project](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-4) subject to a [partnership agreement](/usc/16/3871a.md?p=5) or funding agreement under 3871c(d)[^1] of this title.
- (e) **Regulations—** The [Secretary](/usc/16/3801.md?p=a-21) shall issue regulations to carry out the [program](/usc/16/3865a.md?p=6).

## Footnotes

[^1]: So in original. Probably should be preceded by “section”.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 99–198, title XII, § 1271E, as added Pub. L. 113–79, title II, § 2401, Feb. 7, 2014, 128 Stat. 749; amended Pub. L. 115–334, title II, § 2706, Dec. 20, 2018, 132 Stat. 4599.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Amendments

2018—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 115–334, § 2706(1), which directed amendment of subsec. (a) by substituting “3871b(e)” for “3871b(d)” wherever appearing, was executed by substituting “3871(e)(2)” for “3871b(d)(2)” and “3871(e)(1)” for “3871b(d)(1)”.

Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 115–334, § 2706(2)(A), substituted “December 31, 2019” for “December 31, 2014” in introductory provisions.

Subsec. (b)(1) to (3). Pub. L. 115–334, § 2706(2)(B), (C), added par. (1) and redesignated former pars. (1) and (2) as (2) and (3), respectively. Former par. (3) redesignated (4).

Subsec. (b)(4). Pub. L. 115–334, § 2706(2)(B), (D), redesignated par. (3) as (4) and struck out “and” at end. Former par. (4) redesignated (5).

Subsec. (b)(5). Pub. L. 115–334, § 2706(2)(B), (E), redesignated par. (4) as (5) and substituted “3871c(d)” for “3871c(b)(2)” in introductory provisions and “; and” for period at end.

Subsec. (b)(6). Pub. L. 115–334, § 2706(2)(F), added par. (6).

Subsecs. (c) to (e). Pub. L. 115–334, § 2706(3), added subsecs. (c) to (e).