Conservation Reserve Program, 66813-66833 [2019-26268]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
• Commodity Credit Corporation

[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 235 (Friday, December 6, 2019)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 66813-66833]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-26268]



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Rules and Regulations
                                                Federal Register
________________________________________________________________________

This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains regulatory documents 
having general applicability and legal effect, most of which are keyed 
to and codified in the Code of Federal Regulations, which is published 
under 50 titles pursuant to 44 U.S.C. 1510.

The Code of Federal Regulations is sold by the Superintendent of Documents. 

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Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 235 / Friday, December 6, 2019 / 
Rules and Regulations

[[Page 66813]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Commodity Credit Corporation

7 CFR Part 1410

[Docket ID CCC-2019-0006]
RIN 0560-AI41


Conservation Reserve Program

AGENCY: Commodity Credit Corporation and Farm Service Agency, USDA.

ACTION: Interim rule.

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SUMMARY: This rule is revising the Commodity Credit Corporation's (CCC) 
Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) regulations to specify the terms and 
conditions of CRP and to implement amendments made by the Agriculture 
Improvement Act of 2018 (2018 Farm Bill). The 2018 Farm Bill authorizes 
CRP through fiscal year 2023. This rule makes required changes to the 
eligibility criteria for enrollment in CRP, the benefits available to 
participants, and the land use and compliance provisions of CRP. In 
addition, this rule will implement two new pilot programs, the Clean 
Lakes, Estuaries, and Rivers 30 (CLEAR 30) Pilot Program and the Soil 
Heath and Income Protection Pilot (SHIPP) Program, as required by the 
2018 Farm Bill.

DATES: 
    Effective: December 6, 2019.
    Comment Date: We will consider comments that we receive by February 
4, 2020.

ADDRESSES: We invite you to submit comments on this rule. In your 
comment, please specify RIN 0560-AI41 and include the date, volume, and 
page number of this issue of the Federal Register, and the title of the 
rule. You may submit comments through the:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to https://www.regulations.gov and search for Docket ID CCC-2019-0006. Follow the 
online instructions for submitting comments.
    All comments received will be posted without change and publicly 
available on www.regulations.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Virgil Ireland; telephone: (816) 926-
6014, email: [email protected]. Persons with disabilities who 
require alternative means for communication should contact the U.S. 
Department of Agriculture (USDA) Target Center at (202) 720-2600 
(voice).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    CRP is authorized by the Food Security Act of 1985 (Pub. L. 99-
198), which was amended by the 2018 Farm Bill (Pub. L. 115-334). The 
purpose of CRP continues to be cost-effectively assisting producers in 
conserving and improving soil, water, and wildlife resources, restoring 
wetlands by converting highly erodible and other environmentally-
sensitive land generally devoted to the production of agricultural 
commodities to a long-term vegetative cover, or improving conditions of 
certain grasslands. CRP participants enroll land under contracts and 
maintain approved cover, including grasses and trees, or water cover, 
in exchange for annual rental payments and financial assistance to 
install certain conservation practices. Enrollment of eligible 
grassland in CRP results in adoption of sustainable grazing practices. 
CRP is administered by the Farm Service Agency (FSA) on behalf of CCC. 
Since its inception in 1985, CRP has proven to be one of the largest 
and most successful conservation programs in USDA.
    There are three major types of CRP signups: General, continuous, 
and grassland. Each of the three types has specific enrollment 
provisions, as described below. For all signups, potential participants 
must submit an offer for enrollment at the local FSA county office or 
USDA service center.
    Enrollment through general signup is based on a competitive offer 
process during designated signup periods. The general signup occurs 
when the Secretary of Agriculture (Secretary) announces USDA will 
accept general signup offers for enrollment. Offers from potential CRP 
participants are ranked against each other at the national level. 
Ranking is based on the environmental benefits expected to result from 
the proposed conservation practices, and expected costs. Each offer is 
assigned an Environmental Benefit Index (EBI) score using ranking 
factors designed to reflect the expected environmental benefits and 
costs. A fact sheet regarding the EBI factors will be provided on a 
USDA web page. These EBI factors may include, but are not limited to, 
wildlife habitat, water quality, and reductions in farm erosion 
benefits. The highly erodible cropland criteria are based on the 
provisions of the Food Security Act of 1985, as amended, and 7 CFR part 
12. EBI may include benefits that last beyond the contract period and 
factors that include per acre expected costs. In a general signup, the 
offer process is competitive and not all offers will necessarily rank 
high enough to be selected for enrollment in CRP.
    For practices and land with especially high environmental value, 
enrollment through continuous signup is usually available year-round 
without ranking periods. The continuous signup is focused on 
environmentally sensitive land, and offers are not ranked against each 
other. Land eligible for continuous signup may include:
     Land in riparian areas that border rivers, streams, and 
lakes;
     Land suitable for wetland restoration; and
     Certain land to be dedicated to other specialized 
conservation measures.
    While land is accepted on a non-competitive basis, the practices 
available under CRP continuous signup provide environmental benefits 
that likely would consistently rank high under the EBI, making the land 
and practice(s) acceptable for enrollment under a general signup.
    The 2018 Farm Bill changes the offer process for grassland signups 
from a continuous basis to an annual enrollment basis with ranking 
periods occurring subsequent to the announcement of general signup 
offers.
    This rule does not change the basic administrative structure and 
nature of CRP.

Definitions

    This rule removes the following definitions in 7 CFR 1410.2 because 
they are no longer used in the CRP regulations, or are provided in 7 
CFR part 718, or are no longer needed because of improved clarity in 
the provisions throughout this rule: ``deputy administrator,'' 
``field,'' ``landlord,''

[[Page 66814]]

``nesting season,'' ``offeror,'' ``operator,'' ``pastureland,'' 
``payment period,'' ``pollinator,'' ``rangeland,'' ``retired or 
retiring owner or operator,'' ``state school trust land,'' ``state 
water quality priority area,'' and ``veteran farmer or rancher.''
    This rule adds definitions in 7 CFR 1410.2 of ``field border,'' 
``grass waterway,'' and ``prairie strip'' because they are relevant to 
continuous signup enrollment, as provided in the 2018 Farm Bill. It 
also adds a definition in 7 CFR 1410.2 of ``carrying capacity'' and 
``primary nesting season'' that apply to the new permissive uses, as 
provided in the 2018 Farm Bill, and adds a definition of ``eligible 
partner'' as provided in the 2018 Farm Bill relevant to the 
Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP). Further, it adds a 
definition of ``approved cover'' because the term is used throughout 
the regulation.
    This rule revises the definition of ``conserving use'' to update 
the years consistent with the updated cropping history years specified 
by the 2018 Farm Bill. This rule revises the definitions of ``filter 
strip'' and ``riparian buffer'' to improve clarity regarding the 
required location of the practice in question and provide consistency 
between the definitions. This rule revises the definition of 
``violation'' to clarify that an inaction by the participant may also 
be a violation that results in adverse consequences. This rule also 
revises ``annual rental payment'' to specify that certain incentive 
payments are not included in the definition. This rule revises the 
definition of ``considered planted'' to not limit prevented planted 
credit to those cases in which a producer received an insurance 
indemnity payment for prevented planting. Further, this rule revises 
other definitions to remove obsolete, erroneous, or duplicative 
references and citations, or to improve the clarity of the definition.

General Description

    This rule revises the provisions in 7 CFR 1410.3 to change the term 
``conserving use'' to ``approved cover'' for consistency with the 
definition of the term ``approved cover.'' In addition, this rule 
removes the provisions regarding cost-share assistance from Sec.  
1410.3, as they are duplicative of the provisions regarding cost-share 
payments elsewhere in this rule. This rule also revises the provisions 
in 7 CFR 1410.3 regarding the requirement that a producer obtain and 
adhere to a conservation plan that is duplicated elsewhere in the 
regulation.

Maximum County Acreage

    The 2018 Farm Bill maintains the acreage limitation that not more 
than 25 percent of the cropland in any county can be enrolled in CRP. 
However, it changes the description in 7 CFR 1410.4 of land to which 
the Secretary may provide a waiver of the county acreage limitation by 
specifically permitting it on land enrolled under a CREP. Further, it 
increases the percent of the cropland in a county that may be subject 
to a wetland easement from not more than 10 percent to not more than 15 
percent. This rule revises the maximum county acreage provisions in 7 
CFR 1410.4 to incorporate the changes made by the 2018 Farm Bill.

Eligible Persons

    This rule revises the provisions in 7 CFR 1410.5 to improve clarity 
regarding when the 12-month ownership or operatorship applies based on 
the type of signup under which the offer is submitted.

Eligible Land

    The 2018 Farm Bill changes the cropping history requirement so that 
cropland must have been planted or considered planted for 4 of the 6 
years preceding the date of enactment of the 2018 Farm Bill (December 
20, 2018). The 2018 Farm Bill also provides that cropland enrolled in 
CRP is to be considered planted for purposes of cropping history 
eligibility.
    The 2018 Farm Bill specifies certain CRP conservation practices 
that will have a positive impact on water quality, including grass 
waterways, filter strips, contour grass strips, riparian buffers, 
wetland practices and wetland buffers, bioreactors, and saturated 
buffers, as practices eligible for enrollment under a continuous basis. 
The 2018 Farm Bill also adds, as eligibility criteria for enrollment on 
a continuous basis, a new CRP conservation practice, prairie strip, and 
land devoted to practices to benefit State and federally identified 
wellhead protection areas. The 2018 Farm Bill also makes eligible for 
enrollment land that was enrolled in CRP under a 15-year contract that 
expired on September 30, 2017, or September 30, 2018, provided there 
was no opportunity for such land to be re-enrolled previously, and 
provided that the conservation practice on such land has been 
maintained.
    The 2018 Farm Bill also limits the number of times land subject to 
a CRP contract that is devoted to hardwood trees, excluding riparian 
buffers, shelterbelts, and certain forested wetlands, can be reenrolled 
in CRP to only one re-enrollment.
    Further, the 2018 Farm Bill makes eligible for enrollment in CRP 
certain land that is subject to State resource conserving or 
environmental protection measures or practices that would otherwise 
render such land ineligible for enrollment. Such land will be enrolled 
under a reduced annual rental payment.
    This rule revises the eligible land provisions in 7 CFR 1410.6 to 
incorporate the changes made by the 2018 Farm Bill, to improve clarity, 
and to make minor technical corrections.

Duration of Contracts

    The 2018 Farm Bill adds two pilot programs (discussed below) that 
provide for CRP contracts ranging in duration from 3 to 30 years. 
Accordingly, this rule revises the provisions in 7 CFR 1410.7 to 
address the various contract durations and improve clarity.

Conservation Priority Areas

    This rule revises the provisions in 7 CFR 1410.8 to remove 
provisions regarding designations of National conservation priority 
areas and provisions allowing State FSA Committees to designate 
conservation priority areas. This rule revises the provisions in 7 CFR 
1410.8 include provisions specifying that a State agency may submit 
proposals for conservation priority areas within guidelines established 
by CCC consistent with the Food Security Act of 1985, as amended.

Restoration of Wetlands

    This rule revises 7 CFR 1410.10 to remove provisions regarding 
potential cost-share and incentive payments that are duplicated 
elsewhere in the regulation.

Farmable Wetlands Program

    This rule revises 7 CFR 1410.11 to include acreage enrollment 
limitations, provisions regarding incentive payments for farmable 
wetlands, clarify cropping history requirements, and for consistency 
with the Food Security Act of 1985, as amended.

Grasslands Enrollments and Permitted Uses

    The 2018 Farm Bill adds provisions identifying criteria for which 
the Secretary may give priority when evaluating offers to enroll 
grasslands in CRP, including land under risk of conversion, land of 
ecological significance, and land enrolled under an expiring CRP 
contract. This rule revises 7 CFR 1410.31 to include the 2018 Farm 
Bill's criteria that may be used in evaluating offers to enroll 
grasslands into CRP.

[[Page 66815]]

    In addition, this rule revises the provisions in 7 CFR 1410.13 to 
include the activities permitted on grasslands enrolled in CRP, and to 
remove erroneous references to land previously enrolled in the 
Grasslands Reserve Program.

Obligations of Participant

    The 2018 Farm Bill adds that under the terms and conditions of the 
CRP contract, participants must agree to carry out proper thinning and 
other practices on land devoted to trees, excluding windbreaks and 
shelterbelts, to enhance the conservation benefits and wildlife habitat 
resources, and to promote forest management. This rule revises 7 CFR 
1410.20 to add the obligation to carry out such activities, and to make 
other minor changes to improve clarity.

Obligations of CCC

    This rule revises the provisions in 7 CFR 1410.21 for clarity and 
consistency with the Food Security Act of 1985, as amended, by adding 
that CCC cost sharing must be appropriate and in the public interest.

CRP Conservation Plans

    The 2018 Farm Bill retains the provision that requires participants 
to undertake management activities on the land as needed throughout the 
duration of the CRP contract to implement the conservation plan. 
However, the 2018 Farm Bill prohibits the Secretary from making any 
cost-sharing payment for management activities. In addition, under the 
2018 Farm Bill, in the case where a natural disaster or adverse weather 
event occurs that has the same effect as the planned management 
activity consistent with the conservation plan, then a planned 
management activity is not required. This rule revises 7 CFR 1410.22 to 
add provisions regarding a natural disaster or adverse weather event 
having the same effect as a planned management activity and specifying 
that no cost-share payments will be provided for any management 
activity. In addition, this rule clarifies that the conservation plan 
must be approved by NRCS. Further, this rule revises 7 CFR 1410.22 for 
technical changes for consistency with the Food Security Act of 1985, 
as amended, and for clarity.

Signup

    The 2018 Farm Bill requires the Secretary to hold a general signup 
not less often than once each year. The 2018 Farm Bill also changes 
enrollment of eligible grasslands from a continuous basis to an annual 
enrollment basis with ranking periods being subsequent to the 
announcement of general signup offers. In addition, the 2018 Farm Bill 
specifies specific land and practices that will be eligible under a CRP 
continuous signup basis. Further, the 2018 Farm Bill adds two pilot 
programs (discussed below), one of which has a statutory deadline for 
enrollment of December 31, 2020. This rule revises 7 CFR 1410.30 to 
incorporate the relevant changes made by the 2018 Farm Bill.

CRP Contract

    The 2018 Farm Bill amendments add provisions to allow land enrolled 
in CRP during the last year of the CRP contract to be enrolled in the 
Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) or the Conservation 
Stewardship Program (CSP), and permit the participants to begin 
establishment of a practice under the EQIP or CSP programs without 
being in violation of the CRP contract. In addition, the 2018 Farm Bill 
adds that during the 3 years prior to the end of the CRP contract 
period, the participant may begin the certification process under the 
Organic Foods Production Act of 1990 without being in violation of the 
CRP contract.
    This rule revises 7 CFR 1410.32 to incorporate the provisions of 
the 2018 Farm Bill regarding enrollment of land into EQIP and CSP and 
beginning the organic certification process. In addition, this rule 
revises 7 CFR 1410.32 to clarify that the provisions regarding the 
termination of CRP contracts and the refunding of payments and 
assessment of liquidated damages resulting from such CRP contract 
termination are applicable to the termination of a CRP contract in 
whole or in part. The policy on termination of CRP contracts is not 
changing with this rule; rather, the amendments clarify that 
termination on part of the land enrolled is, for the terminated part of 
the land, treated the same and has the same consequences as termination 
of the entire contract.

Contract Modifications

    The 2018 Farm Bill amendments change the time period in which a CRP 
contract may be modified to facilitate the transition of land to a 
beginning, socially disadvantaged, or veteran farmer or rancher from 
the final year of the CRP contract to the last 2 years of the CRP 
contract. These changes are discussed further below under the 
Transition Incentives Program. This rule revises 7 CFR 1410.33 to 
incorporate the changes made by the 2018 Farm Bill with regard to 
needed CRP contract modifications.
    In addition, this rule revises 7 CFR 1410.33 to clarify that the 
provisions regarding termination of a CRP contract are applicable to 
termination whether in whole or in part, consistent with the revisions 
made to this rule in 7 CFR 1410.32. Further, this rule removes the 
requirement that practice incentive payments must be refunded when land 
is transferred from CRP into Agricultural Conservation Easement Program 
(ACEP), because practice incentive payments are considered cost-share 
payments under the 2018 Farm Bill.

Cost-Share Payments and Levels and Rates for Cost-Share Payments

    The 2018 Farm Bill adds provisions for practice incentive payments 
for certain land enrolled under continuous signup and under CREP in an 
amount not to exceed 50 percent of the actual cost of the practice. It 
also provides that in the case of seed costs for the practice, the 
cost-share payments are not to exceed 50 percent of the cost of the 
actual cost of the seed. Further, it amended the Food Security Act of 
1985 to provide that in general, cost-share payments to participants, 
when combined with payments from all other sources, cannot exceed 100 
percent of the actual cost of establishing the practice.
    This rule revises Sec. Sec.  1410.40 and 1410.41 for consistency 
with the 2018 Farm Bill changes regarding cost-share limits and the 
limitations for practice incentive payments. In addition, this rule 
revises 7 CFR 1410.40 to remove references to sections that were 
removed in 2015, and to add provisions regarding refunds of cost-share 
payments when other federal cost-share assistance is received by the 
participants for the same land, as required by the Food Security Act of 
1985, as amended. It also clarifies that cost-share payments are not 
subject to the $50,000 payment limitation in 7 CFR 1410.42. Further, 
this rule revises 7 CFR 1410.40 to add that the benefits that would be 
received from the replacement or restoration of the practice must 
outweigh the cost of such action in order for cost-share payments to be 
authorized. This rule also revises 7 CFR 1410.41 to remove provisions 
that are duplicated in 7 CFR 1410.40.

Annual Rental Payments

    The 2018 Farm Bill amendments provide an exception to the $50,000 
payment limitation in the case where the participant is a rural water 
district or association and the land enrolled is for the purpose of 
protecting a wellhead. This rule revises 7 CFR 1410.42 to incorporate 
the 2018 Farm Bill changes regarding the exception to the $50,000 
payment limitation. In addition, this

[[Page 66816]]

rule revises the provisions to improve clarity and consistency with 
other sections of the regulation.

Method of Payment

    This rule removes 7 CFR 1410.43 as method of payment provisions are 
provided in 7 CFR part 1401.

Average Adjusted Gross Income

    The 2018 Farm Bill amendments provide authority for the Secretary 
to waive the income limitations that apply to CRP on a case-by-case 
basis if the Secretary determines that environmentally sensitive land 
of special significance would be protected as a result of the waiver. 
The income limitations and provisions for any applicable waiver are 
implemented in 7 CFR part 1400. This rule revises 7 CFR 1410.44 to add 
a reference to 7 CFR part 1400 regarding any waiver of the income 
limitations that may apply to CRP.

Incentive Payments

    This rule revises 7 CFR part 1410 to add Sec.  1410.45 to provide 
provisions regarding certain incentive payments authorized by the 2018 
Farm Bill and incentive payments that may be made available at the sole 
discretion of CCC. The 2018 Farm Bill mandates a one-time signup 
incentive payment for the initial enrollment of certain land and CRP 
conservation practices, equal to 32.5 percent of the amount of the 
first annual rental payment of the land and practices. The 2018 Farm 
Bill also provides authority for CCC to provide incentive payments to 
encourage proper tree thinning and other practices to improve the 
condition of resources, promote forest management, or enhance wildlife 
habitat on the land. Such incentive payments cannot exceed 100 percent 
of the total cost of thinning and other practices. In addition, the 
2018 Farm Bill provides discretionary authority for CCC to provide 
other incentive payments; however, such incentive payments are not 
required.

Enhancement Programs

    Prior to the 2018 Farm Bill, the annual payment limitation did not 
apply to a State, or political subdivision or agency thereof, in 
connection with State enhancement programs approved by FSA. The State 
enhancement programs were separate and apart from CREP (discussed 
below). The 2018 Farm Bill removes the provisions regarding the State 
enhancement programs. Accordingly, this rule removes 7 CFR 1410.50.

Violations

    This rule revises 7 CFR 1410.52 to clarify that the provisions 
regarding termination of a CRP contract are applicable to termination 
whether in whole or in part, consistent with the revisions made to this 
rule in Sec. Sec.  1410.32 and 1410.33. In addition, this rule revises 
Sec.  1410.52 to remove the crop insurance purchase requirement, as it 
was eliminated under the Agricultural Act of 2014.

Termination of CRP Contracts

    This rule revises 7 CFR 1410.53 to clarify that the provisions 
regarding termination of a CRP contract are applicable to termination 
whether in whole or in part, consistent with the revisions made by this 
rule in Sec. Sec.  1410.32, 1410.33, and 1410.52.

Payments Not Subject to Claims

    This rule revises 7 CFR 1410.57 to clarify that any payment or 
portion of payment due any person under 7 CFR part 1410 will be allowed 
without regard to questions of title under State law, and without 
regard to any claim or lien in favor of any creditor, except agencies 
of the United States Government.

Miscellaneous

    This rule revises 7 CFR 1410.62 to remove the provisions regarding 
research projects because CCC determined such provisions are not 
necessary.

Permissive Uses

    Uses of land enrolled in CRP is generally limited to the list of 
uses specified in 7 CFR 1410.63, unless provided for elsewhere in the 
regulation. The intent of such limits is to ensure that land enrolled 
in CRP is not used for activities that would tend to defeat the 
conservation purposes of CRP, while allowing certain activities that 
are authorized by the Food Security Act of 1985, as amended, and are 
consistent with the CRP goals and purpose. Specifically, the permissive 
uses must be consistent with the provisions of the Food Security Act of 
1985, as amended, and consistent with the conservation of soil, water 
quality, and wildlife habitat, including habitat during the nesting 
season for certain categories of birds in the area.
    The 2018 Farm Bill amendments remove provisions for managed 
harvesting and routine grazing of CRP land. The 2018 Farm Bill 
specifies the activities permitted on CRP land, and which activities 
result in a reduction to the annual rental payment, and the amount of 
the reduction, if any. Further, the 2018 Farm Bill also specifies the 
criteria that must be met in order to conduct emergency haying, grazing 
or other emergency use of the land.
    All haying and grazing activities will be conducted only after a 
detailed conservation plan is developed for such activity in accordance 
with the 2018 Farm Bill, this rule, and the Natural Resource 
Conservation Service (NRCS) Field Office Technical Guide (FOTG).\1\ The 
conservation plan will ensure the long-term viability of the CRP 
conservation practice and cover while protecting and enhancing the 
soil, water, wildlife, and other natural resources. All haying and 
grazing activities must be conducted consistent with the terms and 
conditions of the conservation plan.
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    \1\ Information about FOTG and state FOTGs are available on the 
NRCS website at https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/main/national/technical/fotg/.
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    The 2018 Farm Bill prohibits all haying and grazing activities if 
such activity for that year would cause long-term damage to the cover 
on that land. It also prohibits all haying and grazing activities on 
land enrolled in CRP through CREP or a State Acres for Wildlife 
Enhancement (also known as SAFE) project, unless such activity is 
specifically permitted as part of the CREP agreement or State Acres for 
Wildlife Enhancement project, as applicable.
    This rule revises 7 CFR 1410.63 to add new provisions and revise 
existing provisions for permissive uses consistent with the 2018 Farm 
Bill amendments, reorganize the section for improved clarity, and to 
make minor technical corrections.

Transition Incentives Program

    The 2018 Farm Bill amends the provisions regarding the Transition 
Incentives Program (TIP) by changing the time period in which the 
beginning, socially disadvantaged, or veteran farmer or rancher can 
make conservation and land improvements, including preparing to plant 
an agricultural crop, and begin the certification process under the 
Organic Foods Production Act of 1990, from 1 year before the end of the 
CRP contract period to 2 years before the end of the CRP contract 
period. Further, the 2018 Farm Bill changes the provisions to allow a 
lease with a term of less than 5 years and option to purchase to 
qualify as an eligible lease for the transfer of eligible land under 
the Transition Incentives Program. The 2018 Farm Bill also removes the 
requirement that the owner or operator had to be a retired or

[[Page 66817]]

retiring owner or operator to be eligible to participate in the 
Transition Incentives Program.
    This rule revises 7 CFR 1410.64 to add and revise provisions 
required by the 2018 Farm Bill for the Transition Incentives Program, 
reorganize the section for improved clarity, and make minor technical 
corrections.

Pilot Programs

    The 2018 Farm Bill adds two new pilot programs to CRP, the CLEAR 30 
Pilot Program and SHIPP. Only certain land devoted to specific 
practices enrolled in CRP in the last year of the CRP contract is 
eligible to be enrolled under CLEAR 30. For CLEAR 30, the practices 
eligible are limited to those continuous signup practices that provide 
water quality protection by helping to reduce sediment loadings, 
nutrient loadings, and harmful algal blooms. A fact sheet regarding the 
practices eligible under CLEAR 30 will be provided on a USDA web page. 
Under CLEAR 30, producers must enroll land under a 30-year contract in 
exchange for annual rental payments.
    SHIPP authorizes enrollment of certain cropland in the prairie 
pothole region of a State on a pilot basis. The deadline for enrollment 
is December 31, 2020. To be eligible to be enrolled, the cropland must 
have been planted or considered planted to an agricultural commodity 
during each of the 3 crop years preceding enrollment and must be 
verified to be less-productive land as compared to other land on the 
farm. Land that was enrolled in the CRP in any of the 3 crop years 
immediately preceding enrollment under SHIPP is not eligible for 
enrollment. Under SHIPP, producers enroll land under contracts for 3, 
4, or 5 years in exchange for annual rental payments. FSA will not 
provide any financial assistance for the cost of installing or 
establishing the approved cover, except for participants who are 
beginning, limited resource, socially disadvantaged, or veteran farmers 
or ranchers, who may receive financial assistance in the form of cost-
share up to 50 percent of the eligible cost of installing eligible 
cover. Under SHIPP, the only approved cover is the lowest practicable 
cost permanent vegetative cover.
    This rule revises 7 CFR part 1410 to add Sec. Sec.  1410.70 and 
1410.80 to provide the provisions related to SHIPP and CLEAR 30, 
respectively.

CREP

    The 2018 Farm Bill adds provisions for CREP. CCC began implementing 
CREP in 1997. Through CREP, CCC entered into agreements with States, 
their political subdivisions or agencies to use the CRP to cost-
effectively address specific conservation and environmental issues of 
the State and the nation. Proposals, developed locally and submitted 
for approval by the Secretary, address resource concerns, provide for 
cooperation with the CREP partner, present clear goals with measurable 
objectives, and detail non-federal financial contributions by the 
partners. The 2018 Farm Bill included as potential partners under CREP 
Indian tribes and nongovernmental organizations, in addition to State 
governments and political subdivisions of states. It also specified 
terms and conditions that must be included in CREP agreements, provided 
minimum contribution requirements for nongovernmental organizations, 
and provided authority for certain actions and activities related to 
riparian buffers enrolled under a CREP agreement. The 2018 Farm Bill 
provisions relating to CREP agreements do not affect or modify CREP 
agreements existing as of December 20, 2018, unless the signatories to 
the existing agreements mutually agree to modify such agreements to 
include 2018 Farm Bill provisions.
    This rule revises 7 CFR part 1410 to add Sec.  1410.90 to provide 
the provisions related to CREP.

Miscellaneous Conforming and Editorial Changes

    In addition to the changes required by the 2018 Farm Bill and the 
other changes discussed above, this rule includes other changes to make 
the CRP regulations consistent with the Food Security Act of 1985, as 
amended, and improve clarity. For example, some parts of the regulation 
were reorganized to be in a more logical order and easier to 
understand. Obsolete and erroneous parts and citations have been 
removed or corrected, as applicable. In general, this rule amends CRP 
regulations in 7 CFR part 1410 to implement changes required by the 
2018 Farm Bill and make technical changes relevant to CRP 
implementation, for example, correcting erroneous citations.

Effective Date and Notice and Comment

    The Administrative Procedure Act (APA, 5 U.S.C. 553) provides that 
the notice and comment and 30-day delay in the effective date 
provisions do not apply when the rule involves specified actions, 
including matters relating to benefits. This rule governs CRP for 
payments to participants and thus falls within that exemption. Further, 
the promulgation of regulations to implement the programs of Chapter 58 
of Title 16 of the U.S. Code, as specified in 16 U.S.C. 3846, and the 
administration of those programs, are:
     To be made as an interim rule effective on publication, 
with an opportunity for notice and comment,
     Exempt from the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. chapter 
35), and
     To use the authority in 5 U.S.C. 808 related to 
Congressional review and any potential delay in the effective date.
    For major rules, the Congressional Review Act requires a delay in 
the effective date of 60-days after publication to allow for 
Congressional review. This rule is major under the Congressional Review 
Act, as defined by 5 U.S.C. 804(2). The authority in 5 U.S.C. 808 
provides that when an agency finds for good cause that notice and 
public procedure are impracticable, unnecessary, or contrary to the 
public interest, that the rule may take effect at such time as the 
agency determines. As noted above, the 2018 Farm Bill exempts this rule 
from the Congressional Review Act effective date delay requirement. 
Therefore, even though this rule is a major rule for purposes of the 
Congressional Review Act, FSA and CCC are not required to delay the 
effective date for 60 days from the date of publication to allow for 
Congressional review. Therefore, this rule is effective upon 
publication in the Federal Register.

Executive Orders 12866, 13563, 13771 and 13777

    Executive Order 12866, ``Regulatory Planning and Review,'' and 
Executive Order 13563, ``Improving Regulation and Regulatory Review,'' 
direct agencies to assess all costs and benefits of available 
regulatory alternatives and, if regulation is necessary, to select 
regulatory approaches that maximize net benefits (including potential 
economic, environmental, public health and safety effects, distributive 
impacts, and equity). Executive Order 13563 emphasized the importance 
of quantifying both costs and benefits, of reducing costs, of 
harmonizing rules, and of promoting flexibility. The requirements in 
Executive Orders 12866 and 13563 for the analysis of costs and benefits 
apply to rules that are determined to be significant. Executive Order 
13777, ``Enforcing the Regulatory Reform Agenda,'' established a 
federal policy to alleviate unnecessary regulatory burdens on the 
American people.
    The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) designated this interim 
rule as economically significant under Executive Order 12866, 
``Regulatory

[[Page 66818]]

Planning and Review,'' and therefore, OMB has reviewed this rule. The 
costs and benefits of this rule are summarized below. The full cost 
benefit analysis is available on regulations.gov.
    Executive Order 13771, ``Reducing Regulation and Controlling 
Regulatory Costs,'' requires that in order to manage the private costs 
required to comply with Federal regulations that for every new 
significant or economically significant regulation issued, the new 
costs must be offset by the elimination of at least two prior 
regulations. OMB guidance in M-17-21, dated April 5, 2017, specifies 
that ``transfer rules'' are not covered by Executive Order 13771, 
``Reducing Regulation and Controlling Regulatory Costs.'' Transfer 
rules are Federal spending regulatory actions that cause only income 
transfers between taxpayers and program beneficiaries. Therefore, this 
is considered a transfer rule by OMB and is not covered by Executive 
Order 13771.
    In a general response to the requirements of Executive Order 13777, 
USDA created a Regulatory Reform Task Force, and USDA agencies were 
directed to remove barriers, reduce burdens, and provide better 
customer service both as part of the regulatory reform of existing 
regulations and as an ongoing approach. FSA reviewed this regulation 
and made changes to improve any provision that was determined to be 
outdated, unnecessary, or ineffective.

Clarity of the Regulation

    Executive Order 12866, as supplemented by Executive Order 13563, 
requires each agency to write all rules in plain language. In addition 
to your substantive comments on this interim rule, we invite your 
comments on how to make the rule easier to understand. For example:
     Are the requirements in the rule clearly stated? Are the 
scope and intent of the rule clear?
     Does the rule contain technical language or jargon that is 
not clear?
     Is the material logically organized?
     Would changing the grouping or order of sections or adding 
headings make the rule easier to understand?
     Could we improve clarity by adding tables, lists, or 
diagrams?
     Would more, but shorter, sections be better? Are there 
specific sections that are too long or confusing?
     What else could we do to make the rule easier to 
understand?

Cost Benefit Analysis

    The cost-benefit assessment analyzes the costs and benefits of this 
interim rule. The 2018 Farm Bill, mandates changes to the CRP 
regulations specified in the interim rule.
    Among other things, the 2018 Farm Bill extended enrollment 
authority to September 30, 2023, and incrementally increases overall 
enrollment caps from 24 million acres in FY 2019 to 27 million acres in 
FY 2023. The 2018 Farm Bill also sets a goal of enrolling 2 million 
acres of grasslands; authorizes up to $12 million in incentive payments 
to encourage management of CRP tree stands to improve wildlife habitat; 
and authorizes up to $50 million for TIP payments (including $5 million 
for technical assistance costs). It also revises haying and grazing 
rules.
    The 2018 Farm Bill makes certain mandatory changes that were in the 
past discretionary to USDA. For example, in the past, USDA had 
discretion to determine whether signing incentive payments (SIPs) were 
offered and at what level. Under the 2018 Farm Bill, SIPs are mandatory 
for all new continuous sign-up practices and are set at 32.5 percent of 
the annual rental rate. In addition, the 2018 Farm Bill limits annual 
rental payments to 85 percent of average county rental rates for 
general signup and to 90 percent for continuous signup.
    USDA continues to have discretion in certain cases. For example, 
the 2018 Farm Bill mandates that USDA offer one-time practice incentive 
payments (PIPs). USDA has discretion in setting the level of those 
payments, which can range up to 50 percent of the cost of installing 
the practice.
    The 2018 Farm Bill also added two pilot programs. Under the CLEAR 
30 pilot, acres in CLEAR practices expiring under the 2018 Farm Bill 
may be eligible for 30-year contracts. No acreage limitation is 
specified in the statute, although CLEAR 30 contracts are subject to 
the 27-million-acre CRP enrollment cap. The Soil Health and Income 
Protection Pilot Program covers up to 50,000 acres in the Prairie 
Pothole region. The program limits enrollment to the least productive 
croplands on the farm, enrolled lands must have been in cropland use in 
the three preceding years, and no more than 15 percent of the cropland 
on the farm can be enrolled.
    Since FY 2006, CRP financial assistance outlays have averaged $1.8 
billion annually. Had the 2014 Farm Bill continued, outlays would have 
increased over time, largely due to the increasing share of continuous 
sign-up enrollment, which is more expensive than general enrollment 
sign-up. Under the 2018 Farm Bill, financial assistance outlays are 
expected to average $2.2 billion annually as the acreage cap is 
increased and cash rents--a critical component in the CRP rental 
payment--have remained relatively stable and, in some cases, increased. 
When discounted at either 3 percent or 7 percent, annualized outlays 
are $2.1 billion.

Regulatory Flexibility Act

    The Regulatory Flexibility Act generally requires an agency to 
prepare a regulatory analysis of any rule whenever an agency is 
required by the Administrative Procedures Act or any other law to 
publish a proposed rule, unless the agency certifies that the rule will 
not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small 
entities. This rule is not subject to the Regulatory Flexibility Act 
because CCC and FSA are not required by the Administrative Procedure 
Act or any law to publish a proposed rule for this rule. The Secretary 
is required by section 1246 of the Food Security Act of 1985, as 
amended, to issue an interim rule effective on publication with an 
opportunity for comment. Despite the Regulatory Flexibility Act not 
applying to this rule, the action only affects those entities who 
voluntarily participate in CRP and in doing so receive its benefits. 
Compliance with the provisions of CRP regulations is only required for 
those entities who choose to participate in this voluntary program.

Environmental Review

    The environmental impacts of this final rule have been considered 
in a manner consistent with the provisions of the National 
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA, 42 U.S.C. 4321-4347), the regulations 
of the Council on Environmental Quality (40 CFR parts 1500-1508), and 
FSA regulations for compliance with NEPA (7 CFR part 799). While OMB 
has designated this rule as ``economically significant'' under 
Executive Order 12866, ``. . . economic or social effects are not 
intended by themselves to require preparation of an environmental 
impact statement'' (40 CFR 1508.14), when not interrelated to natural 
or physical environmental effects.
    As part of this CRP rulemaking, FSA prepared a Programmatic 
Environmental Assessment (EA) to evaluate alternatives and anticipated 
impacts. The draft EA was announced through an FSA press release on 
September 27, 2019, and a Notice of Availability published in the 
Federal Register (84 FR 52868--52869); it was made available on FSA's 
NEPA website and by request (https://www.fsa.usda.gov/programs-and-services/environmental-cultural-resource/nepa/current-nepa-documents/index); comments were accepted for 30

[[Page 66819]]

days (through October 27, 2019) from the public, other agencies, and 
Tribes; responses to those comments were incorporated into the final 
EA, as appropriate; and, as no substantive changes to the alternatives 
or impacts analyses were warranted to incorporate these comments into 
the final EA, a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) was signed. As 
detailed in the EA, for each individual CRP action, FSA will complete a 
site-specific environmental evaluation to ensure no extraordinary 
circumstances or other potentially significant impacts exist, 
individually or cumulatively. To notify interested parties, the final 
EA and signed FONSI will be available for review for 30 days following 
the publication of this document in the Federal Register on the FSA 
website at https://www.fsa.usda.gov/programs-and-services/environmental-cultural-resource/nepa/current-nepa-documents/index.

Executive Order 12372

    Executive Order 12372, ``Intergovernmental Review of Federal 
Programs,'' requires consultation with State and local officials that 
would be directly affected by proposed Federal financial assistance. 
The objectives of the Executive order are to foster an 
intergovernmental partnership and a strengthened Federalism, by relying 
on State and local processes for State and local government 
coordination and review of proposed Federal financial assistance and 
direct Federal development. For reasons specified in the final rule 
related notice regarding 7 CFR part 3015, subpart V (48 FR 29115, June 
24, 1983), the programs and activities in this rule are excluded from 
the scope of Executive Order 12372, which requires intergovernmental 
consultation with State and local officials.

Executive Order 12988

    This rule has been reviewed under Executive Order 12988, ``Civil 
Justice Reform.'' This rule will not preempt State or local laws, 
regulations, or policies unless they represent an irreconcilable 
conflict with this rule. The rule will not have retroactive effect. 
Before any judicial actions may be brought regarding the provisions of 
this rule, the administrative appeal provisions of 7 CFR parts 11 and 
780 must be exhausted.

Executive Order 13132

    This rule has been reviewed under Executive Order 13132, 
``Federalism.'' The policies contained in this rule do not have any 
substantial direct effect on States, on the relationship between the 
Federal Government and the States, or on the distribution of power and 
responsibilities among the various levels of government, except as 
required by law. Nor does this rule impose substantial direct 
compliance costs on State and local governments. Therefore, 
consultation with the States is not required.

Executive Order 13175

    This rule has been reviewed in accordance with the requirements of 
Executive Order 13175, ``Consultation and Coordination with Indian 
Tribal Governments.'' Executive Order 13175 requires Federal agencies 
to consult and coordinate with Tribes on a government-to-government 
basis on policies that have Tribal implications, including regulations, 
legislative comments or proposed legislation, and other policy 
statements or actions that have substantial direct effects on one or 
more Indian Tribes, on the relationship between the Federal Government 
and Indian Tribes or on the distribution of power and responsibilities 
between the Federal Government and Indian Tribes.
    The USDA's Office of Tribal Relations (OTR) has assessed the impact 
of this rule on Indian Tribes and determined that this rule does have 
significant Tribal implications. OTR has determined that further Tribal 
consultation under Executive Order 13175 is not required at this time. 
Tribal consultation for this rule was included in the 2018 Farm Bill 
consultation held on May 1-2, 2019, at the National Museum of American 
Indian, in Washington, DC, and on June 26-27, 2019, in Sparks, NV. The 
portion of the Tribal Consultation relative to this rule was conducted 
by Bill Northey, USDA Under Secretary for the Farm Production and 
Conservation mission area, as part of Title II session on May 1, 2019. 
If a Tribe requests additional consultation, FSA and CCC will work with 
OTR to ensure meaningful consultation is provided where changes, 
additions, and modifications are not expressly mandated by law.

The Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995

    Title II of the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995 requires 
Federal agencies to assess the effects of their regulatory actions on 
State, local, or Tribal governments, or the private sector. Agencies 
generally need to prepare a written statement, including a cost benefit 
analysis, for proposed and final rules with Federal mandates that may 
result in expenditures of $100 million or more in any 1 year for State, 
local, or Tribal governments, in the aggregate, or to the private 
sector. UMRA generally requires agencies to consider alternatives and 
adopt the more cost effective or least burdensome alternative that 
achieves the objectives of the rule. This rule contains no Federal 
mandates as defined in Title II of UMRA for State, local, or Tribal 
governments or the private sector. Therefore, this rule is not subject 
to the requirements of sections 202 and 205 of UMRA.

Federal Domestic Assistance Programs

    The title and number of the Federal Domestic Assistance Program 
found in the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance to which this rule 
applies is 10.069--Conservation Reserve Program.

E-Government Act Compliance

    FSA and CCC are committed to complying with the E-Government Act, 
to promote the use of the internet and other information technologies 
to provide increased opportunities for citizen access to Government 
information and services, and for other purposes.

List of Subjects in 7 CFR Part 1410

    Acreage allotments, Agriculture, Environmental protection, Natural 
resources, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements, Soil conservation, 
Technical assistance, Water resources, Wildlife.

    For the reasons discussed above, CCC revises 7 CFR part 1410 to 
read as follows:

PART 1410--CONSERVATION RESERVE PROGRAM

Sec.
1410.1 Administration.
1410.2 Definitions.
1410.3 General description.
1410.4 Maximum county acreage.
1410.5 Eligible persons.
1410.6 Eligible land.
1410.7 Duration of contracts.
1410.8 Conservation priority areas.
1410.10 Restoration of wetlands.
1410.11 Farmable Wetlands Program.
1410.13 Grassland enrollments and permitted uses.
1410.20 Obligations of participant.
1410.21 Obligations of the Commodity Credit Corporation.
1410.22 CRP conservation plan.
1410.23 Eligible practices.
1410.30 Signup.
1410.31 Acceptability of offers.
1410.32 CRP contract.
1410.33 Contract modifications.
1410.40 Cost-share payments.
1410.41 Levels and rates for cost-share payments.
1410.42 Annual rental payments.
1410.44 Average adjusted gross income.

[[Page 66820]]

1410.45 Incentive payments.
1410.51 Transfer of land.
1410.52 Violations.
1410.53 Executed CRP contract not in conformity with this part.
1410.54 Performance based upon advice or action of the U.S. 
Department of Agriculture.
1410.55 Access to land under CRP contract.
1410.56 Division of payments and provisions about tenants and 
sharecroppers.
1410.57 Payments not subject to claims.
1410.58 Assignments.
1410.59 Appeals.
1410.60 Scheme or device.
1410.61 Filing of false claims.
1410.62 Miscellaneous.
1410.63 Permissive uses.
1410.64 Transition Incentives Program.
1410.70 Soil Health and Income Protection Pilot Program.
1410.80 CLEAR 30 Pilot Program.
1410.90 Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program.

    Authority: 15 U.S.C. 714b and 714c; 16 U.S.C. 3801-3847.


Sec.  1410.1   Administration.

    (a) The Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) is administered under 
the general supervision and direction of the Executive Vice President, 
Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC), the Administrator, Farm Service 
Agency (FSA), or a designee, or the Deputy Administrator, FSA; and will 
be carried out by the FSA State and county committees (``State 
committees'' and ``county committees,'' respectively).
    (b) State executive directors, county executive directors, and 
State and county committees do not have the authority to modify or 
waive any of the provisions in this part unless specifically authorized 
by the Deputy Administrator.
    (c) The State committee may take any action authorized or required 
by this part to be taken by the county committee, but which has not 
been taken by such county committee, including, but not limited to:
    (1) Correct or require a county committee to correct any action 
taken by such county committee that is not in accordance with this 
part; or
    (2) Require a county committee to withhold taking any action that 
is not in accordance with this part.
    (d) No delegation of authority herein to a State or county 
committee will preclude the Executive Vice President, CCC, the 
Administrator, FSA, or a designee, or the Deputy Administrator, from 
determining any question arising under this part or from reversing or 
modifying any determination made by a State or county committee.
    (e) Data furnished by producers will be used to determine 
eligibility for CRP benefits. Furnishing the data is voluntary; 
however, the failure to provide data could result in CRP benefits being 
withheld or denied.
    (f) Notwithstanding other provisions of this section, the 
suitability of land for permanent vegetative or water cover, factors 
for determining the likelihood of improved water quality, and adequacy 
of the planned practice to achieve desired objectives will be 
determined by the Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) or other 
sources approved by the Deputy Administrator, in accordance with the 
Field Office Technical Guide (FOTG) of NRCS or other guidelines deemed 
appropriate by NRCS. In no case will such determination compel the 
Deputy Administrator to execute a CRP contract that the Deputy 
Administrator does not believe will serve the purposes of CRP 
established by this part. Any approved technical authority will use CRP 
guidelines established by the Deputy Administrator.
    (g) The regulations in this part apply to all CRP contracts 
approved after December 6, 2019.


Sec.  1410.2   Definitions.

    (a) The definitions in part 718 of this title apply to this part 
and all documents issued in accordance with this part, except as 
otherwise provided in this section.
    (b) The following definitions also apply to this part:
    Agricultural commodity means:
    (i) Any crop planted and produced by annual tilling of the soil or 
on an annual basis by one-trip planters;
    (ii) Sugarcane planted or produced in a State; or
    (iii) Alfalfa and other multi-year grasses and legumes grown in a 
rotation practice as approved by CCC.
    Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP) means the program 
that provides for the establishment of wetland easements on land under 
subtitle H of Title XII of the Food Security Act of 1985, as amended.
    Annual rental payment means, unless the context indicates 
otherwise, the annual payment specified in the CRP contract that, 
subject to the availability of funds, is made to a participant to 
compensate a participant for placing eligible land in CRP, including 
any incentive payments that are not specifically cost-share payments. 
For purposes of this definition, practice incentive payments, and 
incentive payments related to forest management are not considered part 
of annual rental payments.
    Approved cover means permanent vegetative cover or water cover 
specified in an approved CRP contract.
    Carrying capacity has the same meaning as ``normal carrying 
capacity'' defined in part 1416 of this chapter.
    Commercial pond-raised aquaculture facility means any earthen 
facility from which $1,000 or more of freshwater food fish were sold or 
normally would have been sold during a calendar year.
    Common grazing practices means grazing practices, including those 
related to forage and seed production, common to the area of the 
subject ranching or farming operation. Included are routine management 
activities necessary to maintain the viability of forage or browse 
resources that are common to the locale of the subject ranching or 
farming operation.
    Conservation district means a political subdivision of a State, 
Indian Tribe, or territory, organized pursuant to the State or 
territorial soil conservation district law, or Tribal law. The 
subdivision may be a conservation district, soil conservation district, 
soil and water conservation district, resource conservation district, 
natural resource district, land conservation committee, or similar 
legally constituted body.
    Conservation plan means a record of the participant's decisions and 
supporting information for treatment of a unit of land or water, and 
includes a schedule of operations, activities, and estimated 
expenditures needed to solve identified natural resource problems by 
devoting eligible land to permanent vegetative cover, trees, water, or 
other comparable measures.
    Conservation priority area means an area designated with adverse 
water quality, wildlife habitat, or other natural resource impacts 
related to agricultural production activities or to assist agricultural 
producers to comply with Federal and State environmental laws or to 
meet other conservation needs.
    Conserving use means a use of land that meets crop rotation 
requirements, as specified by CCC, for: Alfalfa, multi-year grasses, 
and legumes planted during 2012 through 2017; for summer fallow during 
2012 through 2017; or for land on which the CRP contract expired during 
the period 2012 through 2017 and on which the grass cover required by 
the CRP contract continues to be maintained as though still enrolled. 
Land that meets this definition of ``conserving use'' will be 
considered to have been planted to an agricultural commodity for the 
purposes of eligibility specified in Sec.  1410.6(b)(1).
    Considered planted means land devoted to a conserving use during 
the crop year or during any of the 2 years

[[Page 66821]]

preceding the crop year if the contract expired; cropland enrolled in 
CRP; or land for which the producer received for prevented planting 
credit in accordance with part 718 of this title.
    Contour grass strip means a vegetation area that follows the 
contour of the land that complies with the FOTG and a conservation plan 
developed under this part.
    Contract period means the term of the CRP contract.
    Cost-share payment means, unless the context indicates otherwise, 
the payment made by CCC to assist CRP participants in installing the 
practices required in a CRP contract.
    Cropland means land defined as cropland in part 718 of this title, 
except for land in terraces that are no longer capable of being 
cropped.
    Eligible partner means a State, political subdivision of a State, 
nongovernmental organization, or an Indian Tribe.
    Erodibility index (EI) means an index, as prescribed by CCC, used 
to determine the inherent erodibility from either from water or wind, 
but not both combined, of a soil in relation to the soil loss tolerance 
for that soil.
    Federally-owned land means land owned by the Federal Government or 
any department, instrumentality, bureau, or agency thereof, or any 
corporation whose stock is wholly owned by the Federal Government.
    Field border means a strip of permanent vegetation established at 
the edge or around the perimeter of a field the purpose of which is to 
provide food and cover for quail and upland birds in cropland areas.
    Field Office Technical Guide (FOTG) means the official USDA 
guidelines, criteria, and standards for planning and applying 
conservation treatments and conservation management systems. It 
contains detailed information on the conservation of soil, water, air, 
plant, animal resources, and cultural resources applicable to the local 
area for which it is prepared. (See https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/main/national/technical/fotg/ to access your State FOTG.)
    Field windbreak, shelterbelt, and living snowfence mean a 
vegetative barrier with a linear configuration composed of trees, 
shrubs, or other vegetation, that are designated as such in a 
conservation plan and that are planted for the purpose of reducing wind 
erosion, controlling snow, improving wildlife habitat, or conserving 
energy.
    Filter strip means a strip or area of vegetation immediately 
adjacent and parallel to an eligible water body, the purpose of which 
is to remove nutrients, sediment, organic matter, pesticides, and other 
pollutants from surface runoff and subsurface flow by deposition, 
absorption, plant uptake, and other processes, thereby reducing 
pollution and protecting surface water and subsurface water quality and 
of a width determined appropriate for such purpose.
    Forb means any herbaceous plant other than those in the grass 
family.
    Grassland means land described in Sec.  1410.6(d).
    Grass waterway means a shaped or graded channel that is established 
with suitable vegetation to convey surface water from terraces, 
diversions, or other water concentrations without causing erosion or 
flooding using a broad and shallow cross section to a stable outlet.
    Highly erodible land means land determined to have an EI equal to 
or greater than 8 on the acreage offered.
    Improved rangeland or pastureland means grazing land permanently 
producing naturalized forage species that receives varying degrees of 
periodic cultural treatment to enhance forage quality and yields and is 
primarily consumed by livestock.
    Indian Tribe means any Indian Tribe, band, nation, or other 
organized group, or community, including pueblos, rancherias, colonies 
and any Alaska Native Village, or regional or village corporation as 
defined in or established pursuant to the Alaska Native Claims 
Settlement Act (43 U.S.C. 1601-1629h), which is recognized as eligible 
for the special programs and services provided by the United States to 
Indians because of their status as Indians.
    Infeasible to farm means an area of land that is too small or 
isolated to be economically farmed, or is otherwise suitable for such 
classification.
    Local FSA office means the FSA county office serving the area in 
which the FSA records are located for the farm or ranch.
    Offer means, unless the context indicates otherwise, if required by 
CCC, the per-acre rental payment requested by the owner or operator in 
such owner's or operator's request to participate in the CRP.
    Perennial crop means a crop that is produced from the same root 
structure for 2 or more years.
    Permanent vegetative cover means perennial stands of approved 
combinations of certain grasses, legumes, forbs, shrubs and trees for 
the contract period.
    Permanent wildlife habitat means a vegetative cover with the 
specific purpose of providing habitat, food, or cover for wildlife and 
protecting other environmental concerns for the contract period.
    Practice means a conservation, wildlife habitat, or water quality 
measure with appropriate operations and management as agreed to in the 
conservation plan to accomplish the desired program objectives 
according to CRP and FOTG standards and specifications as a part of a 
conservation management system.
    Prairie strip means a strip(s) of diverse, dense, herbaceous, 
predominately native perennial vegetation designed and positioned on 
the landscape to most effectively address soil erosion and water 
quality by intercepting surface and subsurface water flow to remove 
nutrients, sediment, organic matter, pesticides, and other pollutants 
by deposition, absorption, plant uptake, denitrification, and other 
processes, and thereby reduce pollution and protect surface and 
subsurface water quality while providing food and cover for wildlife.
    Primary nesting season means the nesting season for birds in the 
local area that are economically significant, in significant decline, 
or conserved in accordance with Federal or State law, as determined by 
CCC in consultation with the State technical committee established as 
specified in part 610 of this title.
    Riparian buffer means a strip or area of vegetation immediately 
adjacent and parallel to an eligible water body of sufficient width, 
the purpose of which is to remove nutrients, sediment, organic matter, 
pesticides, and other pollutants from surface runoff and subsurface 
flow by deposition, absorption, plant uptake, and other processes, 
thereby reducing pollution and protecting surface water and subsurface 
water quality, and to provide shade to reduce water temperature for 
improved habitat for aquatic organisms and supply large woody debris 
for aquatic organisms and habitat for wildlife.
    Shrubland means land where the dominant plant species are shrubs, 
which are plants that are persistent, have woody stems, and a 
relatively low growth habit.
    Socially disadvantaged farmer or rancher means a farmer or rancher 
who is a member of a socially disadvantaged group whose members have 
been subjected to racial or ethnic prejudice because of their identity 
as members of a group without regard to their individual qualities. 
Socially disadvantaged groups include the following and no others 
unless approved in writing by CCC:

[[Page 66822]]

    (i) American Indians or Alaskan Natives;
    (ii) Asians or Asian-Americans;
    (iii) Blacks or African Americans;
    (iv) Hispanics; and
    (v) Native Hawaiians or other Pacific Islanders.
    Soil loss tolerance (T) means the maximum average annual erosion 
rate specified in the FOTG that will not adversely impact the long-term 
productivity of the soil.
    State means State agencies, departments, districts, county or city 
governments, municipalities or any other State or local government of 
the State.
    State Technical Committee means a committee established pursuant to 
part 610 of this title to provide information, analysis, and 
recommendations to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
    Technical assistance means assistance in regard to determining the 
eligibility of land and practices, implementing and certifying 
practices, ensuring CRP contract performance, and providing annual 
rental rate surveys. The technical assistance provided in connection 
with CRP to owners or operators, as approved by CCC, includes, but is 
not limited to:
    (i) Technical expertise, information, and tools necessary for the 
conservation of natural resources on land;
    (ii) Technical services provided directly to farmers, ranchers, and 
other eligible entities, including, but not limited to, conservation 
planning, technical consultation, and assistance with design and 
implementation of conservation practices; and
    (iii) Technical infrastructure, including activities, processes, 
tools, and agency functions needed to support delivery of technical 
services, including, but not limited to, technical standards, resource 
inventories, training, data, technology, monitoring, and effects 
analyses.
    Violation means an action or inaction by the participant, either 
intentional or unintentional, that would cause the participant to no 
longer be eligible for all or a portion of cost-share payments, 
incentive payments, or annual rental payments.
    Water cover means flooding of land by water either to develop or 
restore shallow water areas for wildlife or wetlands, or as a result of 
a natural disaster.
    Wellhead protection area means the area designated by EPA or the 
appropriate State agency with an Environmental Protection Agency 
approved Wellhead Protection Program for water being drawn for public 
use, as defined for public use by the Safe Drinking Water Act, as 
amended.
    Wetland means land defined as wetland in accordance with provisions 
of part 12 of this title.
    Wetlands Reserve Program (WRP) means the program authorized by part 
1467 of this chapter in which eligible persons enter into long-term 
agreements to restore and protect wetlands.


Sec.  1410.3  General description.

    (a) Under CRP, CCC will enter into contracts with eligible 
producers to convert eligible land to an approved cover during the 
contract period in return for financial and technical assistance.
    (b) A producer must obtain and adhere, for the contract period, to 
a conservation plan prepared in accordance with CCC guidelines and the 
other provisions of Sec.  1410.22.
    (c) The objectives of the CRP are to cost-effectively reduce water 
and wind erosion, protect the Nation's long-term capability to produce 
food and fiber, reduce sedimentation, improve water quality, create and 
enhance wildlife habitat, and other objectives including, as 
appropriate, addressing issues raised by State, regional, and national 
conservation initiatives and encouraging more permanent conservation 
practices, including, but not limited to, tree planting.


Sec.  1410.4  Maximum county acreage.

    (a) Except as provided in paragraph (b) of this section the maximum 
cropland acreage that may be placed in CRP and the wetland reserve 
easements of WRP and ACEP, as appropriate, may not exceed 25 percent of 
the total cropland in the county. No more than 15 percent of the 
cropland in a county may be subject, in the aggregate, to a wetland 
reserve easement.
    (b) The restrictions in paragraph (a) of this section:
    (1) May be waived by CCC as follows:
    (i) If such waiver would not adversely affect the local economy of 
the county and that operators in the county are having difficulties 
complying with conservation plans implemented under part 12 of this 
title; or
    (ii) If the cropland, in a county, is enrolled under provisions as 
specified in Sec.  1410.90, provided that the county government concurs 
with such waiver.
    (2) Do not apply to cropland that is:
    (i) Subject to an easement and enrolled in CRP as a shelterbelt or 
windbreak; or
    (ii) Designated with subclass w in the land capability classes IV 
through VIII because of severe use limitations due to soil saturation 
or inundation, as determined by NRCS.
    (c) The restrictions on acreage enrollment in this section are in 
addition to any other restrictions imposed by law.


Sec.  1410.5  Eligible persons.

    (a) To be eligible to enter into a CRP contract in accordance with 
this part, a person must be an owner, operator, or tenant of eligible 
land and:
    (1) If an operator of eligible land seeks to participate without 
the owner's participation, then such operator must have operated such 
land for either at least 12 months prior to the close of the applicable 
signup period for enrollments under announced signup periods, or for at 
least 12 months prior to submitting an offer under continuous signup 
periods as provided in Sec.  1410.30(b); further, such operator must 
provide satisfactory evidence to CCC that such operator will be in 
control of such eligible land for the full term of the contract period;
    (2) If an owner of eligible land, such owner must have owned such 
land for either at least 12 months prior to the close of the applicable 
signup period for enrollment under announced signup periods, or for at 
least 12 months prior to submitting an offer for continuous signup 
periods as provided in Sec.  1410.30(b), unless:
    (i) The new owner acquired such land by will or succession as a 
result of the death of the previous owner;
    (ii) The only ownership change in the 12-month period occurred due 
to foreclosure on the land, and the owner of the land, immediately 
before the foreclosure, exercised a timely right of redemption from the 
mortgage holder in accordance with State law; or
    (iii) The circumstances of the acquisition present adequate 
assurance that a new owner of such eligible land did not acquire such 
land for the purpose of placing it in the CRP; or
    (3) If a tenant, then the participation of an eligible owner or 
operator is also required.
    (b) The provisions of this section do not apply to beginning, 
socially disadvantaged, or veteran farmers or ranchers who are eligible 
participants in the Transition Incentives Program as specified in Sec.  
1410.64.


Sec.  1410.6  Eligible land.

    (a) The provisions of paragraphs (b), (c), and (d) of this section 
do not apply to:
    (1) The Transition Incentives Program as specified in Sec.  
1410.64;
    (2) The Soil Health and Income Protection Pilot Program as 
specified in Sec.  1410.70; or

[[Page 66823]]

    (3) The Clean Lakes, Estuaries, and Rivers 30 (CLEAR 30) Pilot 
Program as specified in Sec.  1410.80.
    (b) To be eligible for CRP, land must be one of the following:
    (1) Cropland that:
    (i) Has been annually planted or considered planted to an 
agricultural commodity in 4 of the 6 crop years from 2012 through 2017, 
provided that field margins that are incidental to the planting of 
crops may also be considered qualifying cropland; and
    (ii) Is physically and legally capable of being planted in a normal 
manner to an agricultural commodity;
    (2) Marginal pasture land that:
    (i) Is located immediately adjacent and parallel to an eligible 
stream, other water body, or wetland, but excluding such areas as 
gullies or sod waterways or similar areas; and
    (ii) Is capable, when permanent grass, forbs, shrubs, or trees are 
grown, or when planted with appropriate vegetation for the area, 
including vegetation suitable for wetland restoration or wildlife 
habitat, of either substantially reducing sediment or nutrient runoff 
that otherwise would be delivered to the adjacent eligible stream or 
water body, or serving other water quality purposes;
    (3) Acreage enrolled in CRP during the final year of the contract 
period, unless such land is federally-owned, provided the scheduled 
expiration date of the current CRP contract is before the effective 
date of the new CRP contract;
    (4) Land that meets the criteria specified in paragraph (d) of this 
section; or
    (5) Land that meets all of the criteria in paragraphs (b)(5)(i) 
through (iii) of this section, which land will then be considered as 
land enrolled in CRP in the final year of the contract period, and 
therefore will be eligible to be offered for enrollment in CRP until 
September 30, 2020, provided the effective starting date of the new CRP 
contract is on or before October 1, 2020:
    (i) The land was enrolled in CRP under a CRP contract, with a 
contract period of greater than 14 years, that expired on September 30, 
2017, or September 30, 2018;
    (ii) There was no opportunity for re-enrollment of the land in CRP 
prior to the end of the contract period; and
    (iii) The conservation practice and approved cover under the 
expired CRP contract has been maintained in accordance with the terms 
of the expired CRP contract.
    (c) Land qualifying under paragraph (b)(1) of this section must 
also meet at least one of the following criteria to be eligible for 
CRP:
    (1) Be a field or portion of a field that:
    (i) Is suitable for use as a permanent wildlife habitat, prairie 
strip, contour grass strip, grass waterway, field windbreak, 
shelterbelt, living snowfence, field border, or other suitable uses;
    (ii) Poses an off-farm environmental threat or a threat of 
continued degradation of productivity due to soil salinity if permitted 
to remain in production, including any applicable recharge area;
    (iii) Is an area determined eligible for CRP based on wetland or 
wellhead protection area criteria; or
    (iv) Is suitable for use as a filter strip or riparian buffer, and 
the land:
    (A) Is located immediately adjacent and parallel to an eligible 
stream, other water body, or wetland, but excluding such areas as 
gullies or sod waterways or similar areas; and
    (B) Is capable, when permanent grass, forbs, shrubs, or trees are 
grown, or when planted with appropriate vegetation for the area, 
including vegetation suitable for wetland restoration, of either 
substantially reducing sediment or nutrient runoff that otherwise would 
be delivered to the adjacent eligible stream, or water body, or serving 
other water quality purposes;
    (2) Be non-irrigated or irrigated cropland that would facilitate a 
net savings in groundwater or surface water of the agricultural 
operation of the producer, only as approved by CCC;
    (3) Be a portion of the field not enrolled in CRP, if either:
    (i) More than 50 percent of the field is enrolled as a riparian 
buffer or filter strip; or
    (ii) More than 75 percent of the field is enrolled as a 
conservation practice other than a riparian buffer or filter strip; and
    (iii) With respect to both paragraphs (c)(3)(i) and (ii) of this 
section, the remainder portion of the field is determined to be 
infeasible to farm and enrolled at an annual payment rate not to exceed 
the maximum annual calculated soil rental rate approved by CCC;
    (4) Be contributing to the degradation of water quality or posing 
an on-site or off-site environmental threat to water quality if such 
land remains in production;
    (5) Be devoted to certain covers that are established and 
maintained according to the FOTG, provided such land is not required to 
be maintained as such under any life-span obligations;
    (6) Have an EI of greater than or equal to 8 calculated by using 
the weighted average of the EI's of soil map units within the acreage 
offered;
    (7) Be within a State or federally identified wellhead protection 
area;
    (8) Be within a designated conservation priority area; or
    (9) Notwithstanding paragraph (b)(1) of this section, be cropland 
devoted to a perennial crop; such cropland will only be eligible for 
continuous signup practices authorized by Sec.  1410.30(b) and 
practices authorized under a Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program 
agreement as specified in Sec.  1410.90.
    (d) Notwithstanding paragraph (b) or (c) of this section, to be 
eligible under a grassland signup as specified in Sec.  1410.30(c), the 
land must be one of the following:
    (1) Land that:
    (i) Contains forbs or shrubland, including improved rangeland and 
pastureland, for which grazing is the predominant use;
    (ii) Is located in an area historically dominated by grassland; and
    (iii) Is able to provide habitat for animal and plant populations 
of significant ecological value if the land is retained in its current 
use or restored to a natural condition; or
    (2) Land that is enrolled in CRP in the final year of the contract 
period, provided the scheduled expiration date of the current CRP 
contract is the day before the effective starting date of the new CRP 
contract, and the provisions of paragraph (d)(1) of this section are 
met.
    (e) Notwithstanding paragraphs (b), (c), and (d) of this section 
and Sec. Sec.  1410.64, 1410.70, and 1410.80, land will be ineligible 
for enrollment if the land is one of the following:
    (1) Federally-owned land;
    (2) Land on which the use of the land is either restricted through 
deed or other restriction prior to enrollment in CRP prohibiting the 
production of agricultural commodities, or requires any resource-
conserving measures, during any part of the contract period;
    (3) Land already enrolled in the CRP, unless authorized by 
paragraph (b)(3) of this section and Sec.  1410.80;
    (4) Land for which Tribal, State, or other local laws, ordinances, 
or other regulations require any resource conserving or environmental 
protection measures or practices, and the owners or operators of such 
land have been notified in writing of such requirements, except, such 
land may be eligible for enrollment in CRP if:
    (i) The land is, at the time of offer, enrolled in CRP under an 
approved Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program agreement that was in 
effect on December 20, 2018, and was initially approved before January 
1, 2014, including any amended or successor

[[Page 66824]]

Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program agreement; provided, that the 
CRP contract under which the land is enrolled is in the final year of 
the contract period, and the scheduled expiration date of the current 
CRP contract is before the effective starting date of the new CRP 
contract; or
    (ii) The land is such other land in the State that CCC determines 
is both otherwise eligible for CRP and appropriate for enrollment in 
CRP; and
    (iii) The land is enrolled in exchange for a 25 percent reduction 
to the annual rental payment that would otherwise be paid for such land 
were no such laws, ordinances, or regulations in effect;
    (5) Land that is required to be used, or otherwise dedicated to 
mitigate actions undertaken, or planned to be undertaken, on other 
land, or to mitigate other actions taken by landowners or operators; or
    (6) Land devoted to hardwood trees that has been re-enrolled in CRP 
one or more times while it was devoted to hardwood trees; however, such 
ineligibility does not extend to:
    (i) Forested wetlands enrolled under a Conservation Reserve 
Enhancement Program agreement or under a continuous signup as specified 
in Sec.  1410.30(b);
    (ii) Riparian buffers; and
    (iii) Shelterbelts.


Sec.  1410.7   Duration of contracts.

    (a) In general, except as provided in paragraphs (b) and (c) of 
this section and Sec. Sec.  1410.70 and 1410.80, the CRP contract 
period will be for a term of at least 10 years, and up to no more than 
15 years.
    (b) The CRP contract period for land enrolled under a grassland 
signup as specified in Sec.  1410.30(c) will be for a term of 10 years 
or 15 years, as requested by the producer.
    (c) CRP contracts for land devoted to hardwood trees, shelterbelts, 
windbreaks, and wildlife corridors will be for a term of 10 years to 15 
years, as requested by the producer.
    (d) All CRP contracts will expire on September 30 of the final 
calendar year of the contract period.


Sec.  1410.8   Conservation priority areas.

    (a) Subject to CCC approval, a State agency may submit proposals 
for conservation priority areas within guidelines established by CCC. 
Such submission must clearly define conservation and environmental 
objectives, and provide analysis of how CRP can cost-effectively 
address such objectives. Generally, the total acreage of all 
conservation priority areas, in aggregate, will not total more than 25 
percent of the cropland in a State unless there are identified and 
documented exceptional environmental needs.
    (b) A region may be eligible for designation as a priority area 
only if the region has actual significant adverse water quality, 
wildlife habitat, or other natural resource impacts related to 
activities of agricultural production, or if the designation helps 
agricultural producers to comply with Federal and State environmental 
laws.
    (c) Conservation priority area designations will expire after 5 
years unless re-designated, except they may be withdrawn before 5 years 
by CCC.
    (d) In those areas designated as conservation priority areas under 
this section, cropland is considered eligible for enrollment according 
to Sec.  1410.6(c)(8) based on identified environmental concerns. These 
concerns may include water quality, such as assisting agricultural 
producers to comply with nonpoint source pollution requirements or 
wildlife habitat (especially for threatened and endangered species or 
those species that may become threatened and endangered).


Sec.  1410.10   Restoration of wetlands.

    (a) An owner or operator who entered into a CRP contract on land 
that is suitable for restoration to wetlands or that was restored to 
wetlands while under such CRP contract, may, if approved by CCC, 
subject to any restrictions as may be imposed by law, apply to transfer 
such land from CRP to a wetland reserve easement under WRP or ACEP, as 
appropriate. Transferred land will be terminated from CRP effective the 
day a WRP or ACEP wetland reserve easement is filed. Participants will 
receive a prorated CRP annual payment for the part of the year the land 
was enrolled in CRP as specified in Sec.  1410.42. Cost-share payments 
or applicable incentive payments need not be refunded unless specified 
by CCC.
    (b) [Reserved]


Sec.  1410.11   Farmable Wetlands Program.

    (a) In addition to other allowable enrollments, eligible land may 
be enrolled in the CRP through the Farmable Wetlands Program (FWP).
    (b) Eligible owners and operators may enroll land in FWP provided 
that the land:
    (1) Is a wetland, including a converted wetland, that has been 
planted or considered planted to an agricultural commodity during at 
least 3 of the immediately preceding 10 crop years and that does not 
exceed the size limitations specified in paragraph (d) of this section;
    (2) Is enrolled to be a constructed wetland that is to be developed 
so as to receive surface and subsurface flow from row crop agricultural 
production and is designed to provide nitrogen removal in addition to 
other wetland functions and that does not exceed the size limitations 
specified in paragraph (d) of this section;
    (3) Was a commercial pond-raised aquaculture facility in any year 
during the period of calendar years 2002 through 2007; or
    (4) Was cropped, after January 1, 1990, and before December 31, 
2002, at least 3 of 10 crop years, was subject to the natural overflow 
of a prairie wetland, and does not exceed the size limitations 
specified in paragraph (d) of this section.
    (c) In addition, land may be enrolled through FWP if the land is 
buffer acreage that provides protection for and is contiguous to land 
otherwise eligible under paragraph (b) of this section, subject to the 
provisions of paragraph (d) of this section.
    (d) Total enrollment in CRP under this section may not exceed 
750,000 acres. In addition, the maximum size of land enrolled under 
this section may not exceed:
    (1) 40 contiguous acres per tract, for land made eligible by 
paragraph (b)(1) of this section;
    (2) 40 contiguous acres per tract, for land made eligible by 
paragraph (b)(2) of this section;
    (3) 20 contiguous acres for land made eligible by paragraph (b)(4) 
of this section, not to exceed 40 acres per tract; or
    (4) A suitable buffer for lands added under paragraph (c) of this 
section.
    (e) All participants subject to a CRP contract under this section 
must agree to establish and maintain, as appropriate, the practice 
described in paragraph (b) of this section in accordance with FOTG 
including, as appropriate, restoring the hydrology of the wetland and 
establishing vegetative cover (which may include emerging vegetation in 
water and bottomland hardwoods, cypress, and other appropriate tree 
species in shallow water areas).
    (f) Offers for contracts under this section must be submitted under 
continuous signup provisions as specified in Sec.  1410.30(b).
    (g) The annual rental payment for land enrolled under this section 
will be determined in accordance with the provisions of Sec.  1410.42 
for cropland. In addition, any incentive payments in the form of annual 
rental payments provided for enrolling filter strips under

[[Page 66825]]

this part will also be provided to participants who enroll land under 
this section, provided the participant has a share of the annual rental 
payment greater than zero.


Sec.  1410.13   Grassland enrollments and permitted uses.

    (a) Land may be enrolled in CRP under a grassland signup as 
specified in Sec. Sec.  1410.30(c) and 1410.31(e) and (f).
    (b) Grassland enrollments will generally be administered under all 
the provisions of this part, except where specific provisions apply 
only to grassland enrollments.
    (c) Land enrolled in CRP under a grassland signup may be eligible 
for the Transition Incentives Program as specified in Sec.  1410.64.
    (d) The following activities may be permitted on grassland enrolled 
in CRP according to an approved conservation plan:
    (1) Common grazing practices, including maintenance and necessary 
cultural practices, in a manner that is consistent with maintaining the 
viability of grassland, forb, and shrub species appropriate to the 
locality;
    (2) Haying, mowing, or harvesting for seed production, subject to 
appropriate restrictions during the primary nesting season;
    (3) Fire pre-suppression, fire-related rehabilitation, and 
construction of firebreaks;
    (4) Grazing related activities, such as fencing and livestock 
watering facilities; and
    (5) Other activities, when the manner, number, intensity, location, 
operation, and other features associated with such activity will not 
adversely affect the grassland resources or related conservation values 
protected under the CRP contract.


Sec.  1410.20   Obligations of participant.

    (a) All participants subject to a CRP contract must agree to:
    (1) Carry out the terms and conditions of such CRP contract;
    (2) Implement the conservation plan, which is part of such CRP 
contract, in accordance with the schedule of dates included in such 
conservation plan unless CCC determines that the participant cannot 
fully implement the conservation plan for reasons beyond the 
participant's control, and CCC agrees to a modified plan; however, a 
contract will not be terminated for failure to establish an approved 
vegetative or water cover on the land if:
    (i) The failure to plant or establish such approved cover was due 
to excessive rainfall, flooding, or drought;
    (ii) The land subject to the CRP contract on which the participant 
could practicably plant or establish to such approved cover, is planted 
or established to such approved cover; and
    (iii) The land on which the participant was unable to plant or 
establish such approved cover is planted or established to such 
approved cover after the wet or drought conditions that prevented the 
planting or establishment subside;
    (3) Establish temporary vegetative cover either when required by 
the conservation plan or if the permanent approved cover cannot be 
timely established;
    (4) Comply with part 12 of this title;
    (5) Not allow grazing, harvesting, or other commercial or 
agricultural use of the land subject to such CRP contract, or the cover 
on such land, except as specified in this part;
    (6) Establish and maintain the required vegetative or water cover 
and the required practices on the land subject to such CRP contract, 
and take other actions that may be required by CCC to achieve the 
desired environmental benefits, and to maintain the productive 
capability of the soil throughout the contract period;
    (7) Comply with noxious weed laws of the applicable State or local 
jurisdiction on such land;
    (8) Control, on land subject to such CRP contract, all weeds, 
insects, pests, and other undesirable species to the extent necessary 
to ensure that the establishment and maintenance of the approved cover 
as specified in the CRP conservation plan, and to avoid an adverse 
impact on surrounding land, taking into consideration water quality, 
wildlife, and other similar conservation factors;
    (9) Be jointly and severally responsible, if the participant has a 
share of the annual rental payment greater than zero, with the other 
participants on the CRP contract, for compliance with the provisions of 
such CRP contract and the provisions of this part, and for any refunds 
or payment adjustments that may be required for violations of any of 
the terms and conditions of the CRP contract and this part; and
    (10) On land devoted to trees, excluding windbreaks and 
shelterbelts, carry out thinning and similar conservation practices, as 
provided in the conservation plan to enhance the conservation benefits 
and wildlife habitat resources applicable to the CRP conservation 
practice on the land, and to promote forest management.
    (b) [Reserved]


Sec.  1410.21   Obligations of the Commodity Credit Corporation.

    CCC will:
    (a) Share up to 50 percent of the cost with participants of 
installing eligible practices specified in the conservation plan for 
which CCC determines that cost sharing is appropriate and in the public 
interest, and at the levels and rates of cost-sharing determined in 
accordance with the provisions of this part; and
    (b) Pay to eligible participants for a period of years not in 
excess of the contract period an annual rental payment, including 
applicable and available incentive payments, in such amounts as may be 
specified in the CRP contract.


Sec.  1410.22   CRP conservation plan.

    (a) The producer must obtain a CRP conservation plan that complies 
with CCC guidelines and is approved by NRCS.
    (b) The practices included in the conservation plan and agreed to 
by the participant must cost-effectively reduce erosion necessary to 
maintain the productive capability of the soil, improve water quality, 
protect wildlife or wetlands, protect a public wellhead, improve 
grassland, or achieve other environmental benefits as applicable. The 
participant must undertake maintenance activities on the land as needed 
throughout the contract period to implement the conservation plan.
    (c) If applicable, a tree planting plan or forest stewardship plan 
must be developed and included in the conservation plan. Such tree 
planting or forest stewardship plan may allow up to 3 years to complete 
plantings if 10 or more acres of hardwood trees are to be established.
    (d) If applicable, the conservation plan must address the goals 
included in the conservation priority area designation authorized under 
Sec.  1410.8.
    (e) Except for land enrolled under a grassland signup, as specified 
in Sec.  1410.30(c), management activities must be conducted as needed 
throughout the contract period in accordance with an approved 
conservation plan. However, the planned management activity is not 
required in the case where a natural disaster or adverse weather event 
occurs that has the same effect of the planned management activity. CCC 
will not provide any cost-share payment for any management activities.


Sec.  1410.23   Eligible practices.

    (a) Eligible practices are those CRP practices specified in the 
conservation plan that meet all standards needed to cost-effectively:

[[Page 66826]]

    (1) Establish permanent vegetative or water cover, including 
introduced or native species of grasses and legumes, trees, permanent 
wildlife habitat, and grassland improvements;
    (2) Meet other environmental benefits, as applicable, for the CRP 
contract period; and
    (3) Accomplish other purposes of CRP.
    (b) Water cover is eligible cover for purposes of paragraph (a) of 
this section only if approved by CCC for purposes such as the 
enhancement of wildlife or the improvement of water quality. Such water 
cover will not include ponds for the purpose of watering livestock, 
irrigating crops, or raising aquaculture for commercial purposes.


Sec.  1410.30   Signup.

    (a) Offers for CRP contracts may be submitted only during signup 
periods as announced periodically by CCC, but not less often than once 
each year. Acceptability of otherwise eligible offers will be 
determined as provided in Sec.  1410.31.
    (b) Notwithstanding paragraph (a) of this section, CCC may hold a 
continuous signup for land to be devoted to particular uses. Generally, 
continuous signup is limited to those offers that provide appropriate 
environmental benefits, as determined by CCC, or that would otherwise 
rank highly under Sec.  1410.31(b) and may include high priority 
practices including, but not limited to, filter strips, riparian 
buffers, shelterbelts, field windbreaks, living snowfences, grass 
waterways, shallow water areas for wildlife, salt-tolerant vegetation, 
prairie strips, field borders, and practices to benefit certain 
approved wetlands and public wellhead protection areas.
    (c) Notwithstanding paragraph (a) or (b) of this section, offers to 
enroll acreage specified in Sec.  1410.6(d) may be submitted only 
during signup periods as announced by CCC. At least 1 ranking period 
will be announced subsequent to the announcement of offers specified in 
paragraph (a) of this section. Eligible offers will be evaluated and 
ranked as provided in Sec.  1410.31(e) and (f).


Sec.  1410.31   Acceptability of offers.

    (a) Producers may submit offers for the amounts they are willing to 
accept as rental payments to enroll their acreage in CRP. The offers 
will, to the extent practicable, be evaluated on a competitive basis in 
which the offers selected will be those where the greatest 
environmental benefits relative to cost are generated, and provided 
that the offer is not in excess of the maximum acceptable payment rate 
established by CCC for the acreage offered. Acceptance or rejection of 
any offer, however, will be in the sole discretion of CCC and offers 
may be rejected for any reason as determined needed to accomplish the 
goals of CRP.
    (b) In evaluating offers, different factors may be considered by 
CCC for priority purposes to accomplish the goals of CRP. Such factors 
may include, but are not limited to:
    (1) Soil erosion;
    (2) Water quality (both surface and ground water);
    (3) Wildlife benefits;
    (4) Soil productivity;
    (5) Likelihood that enrolled land will remain in non-agriculture 
use beyond the contract period, considering, for example, tree 
planting, permanent wildlife habitat, or commitments by a participant 
to a State or other entity to extend the conservation plan; and
    (6) Cost of enrolling acreage in CRP.
    (c) Notwithstanding paragraph (b) of this section, when all other 
appropriate factors are equivalent, CCC may give preference to offers 
from residents of the county or contiguous county where the offered 
land is located.
    (d) Notwithstanding paragraph (a) of this section, acreage 
determined eligible for continuous signup, as provided in Sec.  
1410.30(b), may be automatically accepted in CRP if the:
    (1) Land is eligible under Sec.  1410.6;
    (2) Producer is eligible under Sec.  1410.5; and
    (3) Producer accepts either the maximum payment rate CCC is willing 
to offer to enroll the acreage in CRP or a lesser rate.
    (e) For grassland signup offers:
    (1) Notwithstanding paragraph (a) of this section, offers to enroll 
in CRP under grassland signup, as specified in Sec.  1410.30(c), will 
be evaluated and ranked during an announced ranking period, on a 
competitive basis in which the offers selected will be those where the 
greatest environmental benefits relative to cost are generated, and 
further provided that:
    (i) The offered land is eligible under Sec.  1410.6(d);
    (ii) The producer is eligible under Sec.  1410.5;
    (iii) The producer accepts either the maximum payment rate CCC is 
willing to offer to enroll the acreage in CRP, or a lesser rate; and
    (iv) The offer ranks above the minimum ranking level needed for 
offer acceptance, as determined by CCC.
    (2) Notwithstanding paragraph (e)(1) of this section, acceptance or 
rejection of any offer will be at the sole discretion of the CCC, and 
offers may be rejected for any reason as determined necessary and 
appropriate to accomplish the goals of CRP.
    (f) In ranking and evaluating grassland signup offers, different 
factors may be considered by CCC for priority purposes to accomplish 
the goals of CRP. Such factors may include, but are not limited to:
    (1) Existence of expiring CRP land;
    (2) Land at risk of development or conversion; and
    (3) Land of ecological significance, including land that:
    (i) May assist in the restoration of threatened or endangered 
species under the Endangered Species Act of 1973;
    (ii) May assist in preventing a species from being listed as a 
threatened or endangered species under the Endangered Species Act of 
1973; or
    (iii) Improves or creates wildlife habitat corridors.


Sec.  1410.32   CRP contract.

    (a) In order to enroll land in CRP, the producer must enter into a 
contract with CCC.
    (b) The CRP contract is comprised of:
    (1) The terms and conditions for participation in CRP; and
    (2) The CRP conservation plan.
    (c) For offers:
    (1) In order to enter into a CRP contract, the producer must submit 
an offer to participate as provided in Sec.  1410.30.
    (2) An offer to enroll land in CRP will be irrevocable for such 
period as is determined and announced by CCC. The producer will be 
liable to CCC for liquidated damages if the producer revokes an offer 
during the period in which the offer is irrevocable unless CCC 
determines to waive such liquidated damages.
    (d) The CRP contract must, within the dates established by CCC, be 
signed by:
    (1) The producer; and
    (2) The owners of the land to be enrolled in the CRP and other 
eligible producers, if applicable.
    (e) For the termination of CRP contracts:
    (1) CRP contracts may be terminated in whole or in part by CCC 
before the end of the contract period if:
    (i) The owner loses control of or transfers all or part of the 
acreage under the CRP contract and the new owner does not wish to 
continue the CRP contract;
    (ii) The participant voluntarily requests in writing to terminate 
the contract, in whole or in part, and obtains approval from CCC;
    (iii) The participant is not in compliance with the terms and 
conditions of the CRP contract;
    (iv) All or part of the acreage under the CRP contract is enrolled 
in another

[[Page 66827]]

Federal, State or local conservation program;
    (v) The CRP practice fails or is not established after a certain 
time period and the cost of restoring the practice outweighs the 
benefits received from the restoration;
    (vi) The CRP contract was approved based on erroneous eligibility 
determinations; or
    (vii) Such termination is needed in the public interest, or is 
otherwise necessary and appropriate to further the goals of CRP.
    (2) A participant whose CRP contract has been terminated, in whole 
or in part in accordance with paragraph (e)(1) of this section, must 
refund all or part of the payments made by CCC with respect to the CRP 
contract, plus interest, and must also pay liquidated damages as 
provided for in the CRP contract, if directed to do so by CCC.
    (f) If a participant transfers all or part of the right and 
interest in, or right to occupancy of, land subject to a CRP contract 
and the new owner or operator becomes a successor to such contract 
within 60 days, or such other time as CCC determines to be appropriate, 
then such participant will not be required to refund previous payments 
received under the contract; provided, that no refunds of previous 
payments received will be required if such participant sells such land 
to, or such land is purchased for, the United States Fish and Wildlife 
Service; provided further, that no refunds of previous payments will be 
required if the person or entity to whom all or part of the right and 
interest in, or right of occupancy of, land subject to such contract 
reaches an agreement with CCC to modify the contract in a way that is 
consistent with the objectives of the program.
    (g) The participants on a CRP contract will not be in violation of 
the terms of the CRP contract if:
    (1) During the final year of the CRP contract period the land is 
enrolled in the Environmental Quality Incentives Program or 
Conservation Stewardship Program, as specified in parts 1466 and 1470 
of this chapter, and the participant begins establishment of a practice 
under such programs; or
    (2) During the 3 years prior to the end of the CRP contract period, 
the participant begins the certification process under the Organic 
Foods Production Act of 1990.


Sec.  1410.33   Contract modifications.

    (a) As agreed between CCC and the participant, a CRP contract may 
be modified in order to:
    (1) Decrease acreage in CRP, provided that such modification will 
be considered a partial termination for purposes of Sec.  1410.32(e);
    (2) Permit the production of an agricultural commodity under 
exceptional circumstances during a crop year on all or part of the land 
subject to the CRP contract;
    (3) Facilitate the practical administration of CRP; or
    (4) During the last 2 years of the CRP contract period, facilitate 
a transition of land subject to the contract to a beginning, socially 
disadvantaged, or veteran farmer or rancher for the purpose of 
returning some or all of the land into production using sustainable 
grazing or crop production methods. For purposes of this paragraph 
(a)(4), ``sustainable grazing and crop production methods'' will be 
considered methods that would be designed as part of an overall plan 
defined on an ecosystem level to be useful in the creation of 
integrated systems of plant and animal production practices that have a 
site specific application that would:
    (i) Enhance the environment and the natural resource base;
    (ii) Use nonrenewable resources efficiently; and
    (iii) Sustain the economic viability of the farming operation.
    (b) CCC may modify CRP contracts to add or substitute practices 
when:
    (1) The installed practice failed to adequately provide for the 
desired environmental benefit through no fault of the participant; or
    (2) The installed measure deteriorated because of conditions beyond 
the control of the participant; and
    (3) Another practice will achieve at least the same level of 
environmental benefit.
    (c) Offers to extend contracts may be made as allowed by law.
    (d) For the transfer of land into WRP, ACEP, or other Federal or 
State programs:
    (1) CCC may terminate or modify a CRP contract in whole or in part 
when the land is transferred into WRP, ACEP, or other Federal or State 
programs.
    (2) For contracts terminated or modified for enrollment in other 
Federal or State programs, participants will not be required to refund 
CRP payments or pay interest and liquidated damages to CCC, as 
otherwise required under this part.
    (3) Notwithstanding paragraph (d)(2) of this section, participants 
must refund CRP signup incentive payments if land in CRP containing a 
wetland reserve easement is enrolled in ACEP.
    (e) During the final year of the CRP contract period, CCC will 
allow an owner or operator to make conservation and land improvements 
for economic use that facilitate maintaining protection of enrolled 
land after expiration of the CRP contract, but only under the following 
conditions:
    (1) All provisions are identified in an approved CRP conservation 
plan;
    (2) Land improved in accordance with paragraph (e) of this section 
will not be eligible to be re-enrolled in CRP for 5 years after end of 
the CRP contract period; and
    (3) CCC will reduce the final annual rental payment otherwise 
payable under the CRP contract by an amount commensurate with the 
economic value of the activity carried out.


Sec.  1410.40   Cost-share payments.

    (a) Cost-share payments will be made available to the participant 
if an eligible practice, or an identifiable unit thereof, including 
fencing and water distribution, has been installed in compliance with 
the appropriate standards and specifications. Cost-share payments are 
not subject to the provisions of Sec.  1410.42(d).
    (b) Except as provided in paragraph (c) of this section, cost-share 
payments will not be made to the same owner or operator on the same 
acreage for any eligible practices that have been previously 
established, or for which such owner or operator has received cost-
share assistance from any other Federal agency.
    (c) Cost-share payments may be authorized for the replacement or 
restoration of practices for which cost-share payments have been 
previously allowed under CRP, only if:
    (1) Replacement or restoration of the practice is needed to achieve 
adequate erosion control, enhance water quality, wildlife habitat, or 
increase protection of public wellheads, or other conservation measures 
approved by CCC;
    (2) The failure of the original practice was due to reasons beyond 
the control of the participant; and
    (3) The benefits that would be received from the replacement or 
restoration of the practice outweighs the cost of replacing or 
restoring the practice.
    (d) Limitations on cost-share payments include:
    (1) The cost-share payment made to a participant will not exceed 
the participant's actual contribution to the eligible costs of 
establishing the practice.
    (2) The amount of the cost-share payments, including practice 
incentive payments, may not be an amount that, when added to such 
assistance from other sources, exceeds 100 percent of

[[Page 66828]]

the actual cost of establishing the practice.
    (e) CCC will not make cost-share payments with respect to a CRP 
contract if any other Federal cost-share assistance has been, or is 
being, made with respect to the land subject to such CRP contract. 
Participants must refund to CCC all cost-share payments received under 
this part if other Federal cost-share assistance is received with 
respect to the same land.
    (f) CCC may make cost-share payments for thinning of existing tree 
stands to benefit wildlife habitat and other resource conditions on 
enrolled land.
    (g) In addition to cost-share payments, a practice incentive 
payment will be made available to a participant to whom CCC has made a 
cost-share payment after a determination that an eligible practice has 
been installed in compliance with the appropriate standards and 
specifications. The practice incentive payment will be considered a 
cost-share payment for purposes of this part, and is not subject to the 
provisions of Sec.  1410.42(d). A practice incentive payment will be 
provided only for land enrolled under:
    (1) Continuous sign-up as provided in Sec.  1410.30(b); or
    (2) The Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program as provided in 
Sec.  1410.90.


Sec.  1410.41   Levels and rates for cost-share payments.

    (a) CCC will not pay more than 50 percent of either the actual or 
average cost of installing eligible practices specified in the 
conservation plan.
    (b) The average cost of performing a practice may be based on 
recommendations from the State Technical Committee. Such cost may be 
the average cost in a State, a county, or a part of a State or county.
    (c) If there is any other sources of cost-share assistance:
    (1) A participant may, in addition to any payment under this part, 
receive cost-share assistance, rental or easement payments, tax 
benefits, or other payments from a State or a private organization in 
return for enrolling lands in CRP.
    (2) A participant may not receive or retain CRP cost-share payments 
if other Federal cost-share assistance is provided for such acreage 
under any law.
    (d) Notwithstanding paragraphs (a) and (b) of this section, cost-
share payments for eligible seed related to the establishment of 
approved cover will not exceed 50 percent of the actual cost of the 
eligible seed mixture.
    (e) Practice incentive payments will not exceed an amount equal to 
50 percent of the actual cost of installing the eligible practice 
specified in the conservation plan.


Sec.  1410.42   Annual rental payments.

    (a) Subject to the availability of funds, annual rental payments 
will be made in such amount and in accordance with such time schedule 
as specified in the CRP contract.
    (b) Annual rental payments are based on a weighted average soil 
rental rate, marginal pastureland rental rate, or grassland rate, as 
appropriate, and may include an incentive payment as a portion of the 
annual payment for specified practices. A per-acre national maximum 
rental payment rate may also be established by CCC for certain 
categories of CRP offers and contracts.
    (c) The annual rental payment will be divided among the 
participants on a CRP contract as agreed to in such CRP contract.
    (d) Limitations on annual rental payments include:
    (1) The maximum amount of annual rental payments that a person or 
entity may receive, directly or indirectly, under CRP for any fiscal 
year must not exceed $50,000. The regulations in part 1400 of this 
chapter will be used to determine if the limit has been reached or 
exceeded.
    (2) Notwithstanding paragraph (d)(1) of this section, annual rental 
payments received by a rural water district or association for land 
enrolled in CRP for the purpose of protecting a wellhead may exceed 
$50,000.
    (e) In the case of a contract succession, annual rental payments 
will be divided between the predecessor and the successor participants 
as agreed to among the participants and approved by CCC. If there is no 
agreement among the participants, annual rental payments will be 
divided in such manner deemed appropriate by CCC, and such distribution 
may be prorated based on the actual days of ownership of the property 
by each party.
    (f) CCC will prepare a schedule for each county that shows the 
maximum soil rental rate CCC may pay and which may be supplemented to 
reflect special contract requirements. Such schedule may be calculated 
for cropland based on the relative productivity of soils within the 
county using NRCS data and local FSA average cash rental estimates. For 
marginal pastureland, rental rates will be based on estimates of the 
prevailing rental values of marginal pastureland in riparian areas. 
Grassland rental rates will be based on not more than 75 percent of the 
estimated grazing value of the land. The schedule will be available in 
the local FSA office and will indicate, when appropriate, that:
    (1) Offers by producers who request rental payments greater than 
the maximum payment rate for their offer will be rejected;
    (2) Offers submitted under continuous signup authorized at Sec.  
1410.30(b) may be accepted without further evaluation when the 
requested payment rate is less than or equal to the maximum payment 
rate for the offer; and
    (3) Otherwise qualifying offers will be ranked competitively based 
on factors established under Sec.  1410.31 in order to provide the most 
cost-effective environmental benefits.
    (g) In the case of an owner or operator who transfers acreage to a 
wetland reserve easement in accordance with Sec.  1410.10, annual 
rental payments will be prorated based on the actual number of days the 
transferred acreage was enrolled in CRP.


Sec.  1410.44   Average adjusted gross income.

    (a) Benefits under this part will not be available to persons or 
entities whose average adjusted gross income exceeds $900,000 for the 3 
taxable years preceding the most immediately preceding complete taxable 
year, or who otherwise do not meet the AGI requirements specified in 
part 1400 of this chapter.
    (b) The limit specified in paragraph (a) of this section may be 
waived in accordance with part 1400, subpart F, of this chapter.


Sec.  1410.45   Incentive payments.

    (a) A signup incentive payment will be made to eligible 
participants only for the initial enrollment of certain land that is 
enrolled under:
    (1) A continuous signup authorized in Sec.  1410.30(b) for land to 
be devoted to particular uses as determined by CCC; and
    (2) A Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program as specified in 
Sec.  1410.90 for land to be devoted to particular uses as determined 
by CCC.
    (b) The signup incentive payment will be:
    (1) An amount equal to 32.5 percent of the amount of the first 
annual rental payment for the land referred to in paragraph (a) of this 
section, as determined by CCC;
    (2) Divided among the participants on a CRP contract in accordance 
with their share of the annual rental payment as agreed to in such CRP 
contract;
    (3) Considered an annual rental payment and thus subject to the 
provisions in Sec.  1410.42(d); and
    (4) Made only after the CRP contract is approved by CCC.

[[Page 66829]]

    (c) A signup incentive payment will not be made for land that was 
previously enrolled in CRP or land currently enrolled in CRP that is 
re-enrolled.
    (d) CCC may make incentive payments to owners and operators of 
enrolled land in an amount sufficient to encourage proper tree thinning 
and other practices to improve the condition of resources, promote 
forest management, or enhance wildlife habitat. Incentive payments for 
such tree thinning and other practices will:
    (1) Not exceed 100 percent of the total cost of the practice;
    (2) Only be available for practices outlined in the tree planting 
plan under the approved CRP conservation plan;
    (3) Only be made to the extent that funds are available; and
    (4) Not exceed $200,000 per person or entity.
    (e) Additional financial incentives may be provided to participants 
whose contracts are expected to provide especially high environmental 
benefits. Such incentives will be considered annual rental payments and 
subject to the provisions in Sec.  1410.42(d).


Sec.  1410.51   Transfer of land.

    (a) If a new owner or operator purchases or obtains the right and 
interest in, or right to occupancy of, the land subject to a CRP 
contract, such new owner or operator may be approved by CCC as a 
participant to a new CRP contract for the transferred land. Such new 
owner or operator must assume all obligations of the CRP contract of 
the previous participant.
    (b) Cost-share payments will be made by CCC to the participant who 
established the practice.
    (c) Annual rental payments to be paid during the fiscal year when 
the land was transferred will be divided between the new participant 
and the previous participant in the manner specified in Sec.  1410.42.
    (d) If a participant transfers all or part of the right and 
interest in, or right to occupancy of, land subject to a CRP contract 
and the new owner or operator does not become a successor to such CRP 
contract within 60 days, or such other time period as CCC determines to 
be appropriate, then such CRP contract will be terminated with respect 
to the affected portion of such land and the original participant:
    (1) Forfeits all rights to any future payments for that acreage; 
and
    (2) Will refund all previous payments received under the CRP 
contract by the participant(s) or prior participants, plus interest and 
liquidated damages, except as otherwise agreed to by CCC.
    (e) Federal agencies acquiring property, by foreclosure or 
otherwise, that contains CRP contract acreage cannot be a party to the 
CRP contract by succession. However, through an addendum to the CRP 
contract, if the current operator of the property is one of the CRP 
contract participants, such operator may continue to receive payments 
under such CRP contract if:
    (1) The property is maintained in accordance with the terms of the 
CRP contract;
    (2) Such operator continues to be the operator of the property; and
    (3) Ownership of the property remains with such Federal agency.


Sec.  1410.52   Violations.

    (a) If a participant fails to carry out the terms and conditions of 
a CRP contract, CCC may terminate the CRP contract in whole or in part.
    (b) If the CRP contract is terminated in whole or in part by CCC in 
accordance with paragraph (a) of this section, the participant will:
    (1) Forfeit all rights to further payments under such CRP contract 
for the terminated acres, and refund all payments previously received 
for the terminated acres, plus interest; and
    (2) Pay liquidated damages to CCC in an amount as specified in the 
contract.


Sec.  1410.53   Executed CRP contract not in conformity with this part.

    If, after a CRP contract is approved by CCC, it is discovered that 
such CRP contract is found to contain material errors of fact or is not 
in conformity with this part, CCC may terminate or offer to modify the 
CRP contract in whole or in part.


Sec.  1410.54   Performance based upon advice or action of the U.S. 
Department of Agriculture.

    The provisions of part 718 of this title relating to performance 
based upon the action or advice of an authorized representative of the 
U.S. Department of Agriculture are applicable to this part.


Sec.  1410.55   Access to land under CRP contract.

    (a) Any representative of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, or 
designee thereof, will, for purposes related to CRP, be provided by the 
producer or participant, as the case may be, with access to land that 
is:
    (1) The subject of an offer for a contract under this part; or
    (2) Under a CRP contract or otherwise subject to this part.
    (b) For land identified in paragraph (a) of this section, the 
producer or participant will provide the representative with access to 
examine records for the land to determine land classification, erosion 
rates, or for other purposes, and to determine whether the terms and 
conditions of the CRP contract are being met.


Sec.  1410.56   Division of payments and provisions about tenants and 
sharecroppers.

    (a) Payments received under this part will be divided as specified 
in the applicable CRP contract and CCC will ensure that producers who 
would have an interest in acreage being offered receive treatment that 
is equitable. CCC may refuse to enter into a contract when there is a 
disagreement among producers seeking enrollment as to a producer's 
eligibility to participate in the CRP contract as a tenant and there is 
insufficient evidence to indicate whether the producer seeking 
participation as a tenant does or does not have an interest in the 
acreage offered for enrollment in CRP.
    (b) CCC may remove an operator or tenant from a CRP contract when:
    (1) The operator or tenant requests in writing to be removed from 
the CRP contract;
    (2) The operator or tenant files for bankruptcy and the trustee or 
debtor in possession fails to affirm the contract, to the extent 
permitted by applicable bankruptcy laws;
    (3) The operator or tenant dies during the CRP contract period and 
the administrator of the estate fails to succeed to the contract; or
    (4) A court of competent jurisdiction orders the removal from the 
CRP contract of the operator or tenant and such order is received by 
CCC.
    (c) In addition to paragraph (b) of this section, tenants must 
maintain their tenancy throughout the CRP contract period in order to 
remain on a CRP contract. Tenants who fail to maintain tenancy on the 
acreage under CRP contract, including failure to comply with applicable 
State law, may be removed from a CRP contract by CCC. CCC will assume 
the tenancy is being maintained unless notified otherwise by a party to 
the CRP contract.


Sec.  1410.57   Payments not subject to claims.

    Subject to part 3 of this title, any payment or portion thereof due 
any person under this part will be allowed without regard to questions 
of title under State law, and without regard to any claim or lien in 
favor of any creditor, except agencies of the United States Government.


Sec.  1410.58   Assignments.

    Participants may assign the right to receive cash payments, in 
whole or in

[[Page 66830]]

part, as provided in part 1404 of this chapter.


Sec.  1410.59   Appeals.

    (a) Except as provided in paragraph (b) of this section, a 
participant or producer seeking participation may appeal or request 
reconsideration of an adverse determination in accordance with the 
administrative appeal regulations at parts 11 and 780 of this title.
    (b) Determinations by NRCS assigned to make such determination for 
CCC may be appealed in accordance with procedures established in part 
614 of this title.


Sec.  1410.60   Scheme or device.

    (a) If CCC determines that a person has employed a scheme or device 
to defeat the purposes of this part, or any part of any CCC or USDA 
program, payment otherwise due or paid such person during the 
applicable period may be required to be refunded with interest as 
determined by CCC.
    (b) A scheme or device includes, but is not limited to, coercion, 
fraud, misrepresentation, depriving any other person of cost-share, 
incentive, or annual rental payments, or obtaining a payment that 
otherwise would not be payable.
    (c) A new owner or operator or tenant of land subject to a CRP 
contract, and who succeeds to the CRP contract, must report in writing 
to CCC any interest of any kind in such land that is retained by a 
previous participant. The interest will include a present, future, or 
conditional interest, reversionary interest, or any option, future or 
present, on such land, and any interest of any lender in the land where 
the lender has, will, or can legally obtain, a right of occupancy to 
such land or an interest in the equity in the land other than an 
interest in the appreciation in the value of the land occurring after 
the loan was made. Failure to fully disclose interest will be 
considered a scheme or device.


Sec.  1410.61   Filing of false claims.

    If CCC determines that any participant has knowingly supplied false 
information or has knowingly filed a false claim, such participant will 
be ineligible for payments under this part with respect to the fiscal 
year in which the false information or claim was filed and the CRP 
contract may be terminated, in which case a full refund of all prior 
payments may be demanded. False information or false claims include, 
but are not limited to, claims for payment for practices that do not 
comply with the conservation plan. Any amounts paid under these 
circumstances must be refunded, plus interest as determined by CCC and 
any amounts otherwise due to the participant will be withheld. The 
remedies provided for in this section will be in addition to any and 
all other remedies, criminal and civil, that may apply.


Sec.  1410.62   Miscellaneous.

    (a) Except as otherwise provided in this part, in the case of 
death, incompetency, or disappearance of any participant, any payments 
due under this part will be paid to the participant's successor(s), as 
specified in part 707 of this title.
    (b) Unless otherwise specified in this part, payments under this 
part will be subject to the requirements of part 12 of this title 
concerning highly erodible land and wetland conservation and payments.
    (c) Any remedies permitted CCC under this part will be in addition 
to any other remedy, including, but not limited to, criminal remedies, 
or actions for damages in favor of CCC, or the United States, as may be 
permitted by law.
    (d) When an owner loses control of CRP acreage due to foreclosure 
and the new owner chooses not to continue the contract in accordance 
with Sec.  1410.51, refunds may not be required from any participant on 
the contract to the extent CCC determines that waiver of such refund is 
appropriate.
    (e) Cropland enrolled in CRP will be classified as cropland for the 
time period it is enrolled in CRP. After the CRP contract ends, such 
land will be removed from the classification of cropland if the county 
committee determines the land no longer meet the definition of cropland 
in part 718 of this title.
    (f) As determined by CCC, incentives may be authorized to foster 
opportunities for Indian Tribes and beginning, limited resource, 
socially disadvantaged, and veteran farmers and ranchers, and to 
enhance long-term environmental goals.


Sec.  1410.63   Permissive uses.

    (a) Unless specified in this part or otherwise approved by CCC, no 
uses of any kind are authorized on CRP acreage during the contract 
period.
    (b) Commercial shooting preserves may be operated on CRP acreage 
provided:
    (1) The commercial shooting preserve is licensed by a State agency 
such as the State fish and wildlife agency or State department of 
natural resources;
    (2) The commercial shooting preserve is operated in a manner 
consistent with the applicable State agency rules governing commercial 
shooting preserves; and
    (3) The CRP cover is maintained according to the conservation plan.
    (c) No barrier fencing or boundary limitations that prohibit 
wildlife access to or from the CRP acreage are allowed, unless required 
by State law.
    (d) Wind turbines and associated access to the wind turbines may be 
installed on CRP acreage in numbers and locations as determined 
appropriate by CCC considering the location, size, and other physical 
characteristics of the land, the extent to which the land contains 
threatened or endangered wildlife and wildlife habitat, and the 
purposes of CRP, but only in exchange for a 25 percent reduction in the 
annual rental payment for the acres covered by the wind turbine and 
associated access acreage.
    (e) The sale of carbon, water quality, or environmental credits may 
be permitted by CCC.
    (f) There are specific activities that are permitted on specific 
land:
    (1) The permitted activities provisions of paragraphs (f)(2) and 
(3) of this section do not apply to land enrolled under:
    (i) A grassland signup authorized by Sec.  1410.30(c);
    (ii) The Soil Health and Income Protection Pilot Program described 
in Sec.  1410.70;
    (iii) The Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program described in 
Sec.  1410.90:
    (A) Except for land enrolled under Conservation Reserve Enhancement 
Program agreements executed before December 20, 2018; provided, that 
such agreements may be amended by mutual agreement to disallow such 
otherwise permitted activities; or
    (B) Unless the approved Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program 
agreement under which the land was enrolled specifically permits such 
activity; and
    (iv) A State Acres for Wildlife Enhancement project, unless the 
State Acres for Wildlife Enhancement project under which the land was 
enrolled specifically permits such activity.
    (2) The following activities may be permitted on CRP acreage 
according to an approved conservation plan, without any reduction to 
the annual rental payment:
    (i) Emergency haying, emergency grazing, or emergency use of the 
forage in response to a localized or regional drought, flooding, 
wildfire, or other emergency as determined by CCC on all practices, 
outside the primary nesting season, when:

[[Page 66831]]

    (A) All or any part of the county in which the CRP acreage is 
located is designated as D2 (severe drought) or greater according to 
the United States Drought Monitor;
    (B) There is at least a 40 percent loss in forage production in the 
county in which the CRP acreage is located; or
    (C) CCC determines that CRP can assist in the response to a natural 
disaster event without permanent damage to the established cover;
    (ii) Emergency grazing on all practices during the primary nesting 
season if payments are authorized for the county under the Livestock 
Forage Disaster Program under part 1416 of this chapter, at 50 percent 
of the normal carrying capacity determined in accordance with part 1416 
of this chapter;
    (iii) Emergency haying on certain practices, as determined by CCC, 
only outside the primary nesting season, if payments are authorized for 
the county under the Livestock Forage Disaster Program under part 1416 
of this chapter, but on not more than 50 percent of the eligible CRP 
contract acres;
    (iv) Grazing of all practices only outside the primary nesting 
season if included as an approved CRP contract management activity in 
accordance with Sec.  1410.22;
    (v) The intermittent and seasonal grazing of vegetative buffers, 
only outside the primary nesting season, that are incidental to 
agricultural production on land adjacent to the buffer provided such 
grazing:
    (A) Does not destroy the permanent vegetative cover; and
    (B) Retains suitable vegetative structure for wildlife cover and 
shelter outside the primary nesting season; and
    (vi) Grazing on all practices only outside the primary nesting 
season if conducted by a beginning farmer or rancher who is a 
participant on the CRP contract with a share of the rental payment 
greater than zero.
    (3) The following activities may be permitted on CRP acreage 
according to an approved conservation plan, but only in exchange for a 
25 percent reduction to the annual rental payment for the acres on 
which the permitted activity occurred:
    (i) Grazing of all practices not more frequently than every other 
year on the same land, except that during the primary nesting season 
the grazing will be subject to a 50 percent reduction in the stocking 
rate, as determined by CCC;
    (ii) Haying and other commercial use (including the managed 
harvesting of biomass, but not the harvesting of vegetative cover) of 
all practices, on the condition the activity:
    (A) Is completed only outside the primary nesting season;
    (B) Occurs not more than once every 3 years; and
    (C) Maintains 25 percent of the total CRP contract acres 
unharvested, in accordance with a conservation plan that provides for 
wildlife cover and shelter; and
    (iii) Annual grazing of all practices, only outside the primary 
nesting season for the control of invasive species.
    (g) Not withstanding paragraph (f) of this section, haying and 
grazing will not be permitted on any land enrolled in CRP if such 
haying and grazing for that year would cause long-term damage to the 
vegetative cover on that land.


Sec.  1410.64   Transition Incentives Program.

    (a) To be eligible for the Transition Incentives Program, all the 
following must be met:
    (1) The land must be enrolled in CRP;
    (2) The conditions for the timing of the sale or lease of the land 
and to whom it must be sold or leased are:
    (i) Beginning on the date of the end of the CRP contract period, 
the land must be sold or leased (under a long-term lease, or a lease 
with an option to purchase the land, including a lease with a term of 
less than 5 years and an option to purchase the land) to a beginning, 
veteran, or socially disadvantaged farmer or rancher who will return 
some or all of the land to production using sustainable grazing or crop 
production methods; and
    (ii) The sale or lease, as applicable, must take effect on the day 
immediately after the end of the CRP contract period;
    (3) The CRP contract is modified in accordance with Sec.  
1410.33(a)(4);
    (4) The land is not subject to an easement or other restriction 
that prohibits the use of the land allowed under this section; and
    (5) The beginning, veteran, or socially disadvantaged farmers or 
ranchers must:
    (i) Certify that they meet the definition of either a beginning or 
veteran farmer or rancher as defined in part 718 of this title, or a 
socially disadvantaged farmer or rancher as defined in Sec.  1410.2;
    (ii) Obtain an approved conservation plan prior to approval of the 
Transition Incentives Program contract; and
    (iii) Implement sustainable grazing or crop production on land not 
re-enrolled in CRP in compliance with the conservation plan by the time 
specified in the conservation plan.
    (b) Beginning in the last 2 years of the CRP contract period, the 
beginning, veteran, or socially disadvantaged farmer or rancher may:
    (1) In conjunction with the contract participants, make 
conservation and land improvements, including preparing to plant a 
crop, that are consistent with the conservation plan; and
    (2) Begin the organic certification process under the Organic Foods 
Production Act of 1990.
    (c) Eligible beginning, veteran, or socially disadvantaged farmers 
or ranchers may be eligible immediately to re-enroll certain partial 
field conservation practices in CRP, in accordance with the 
conservation plan and the provisions of this part, following the 
expiration of the CRP contract, provided that the beginning, veteran, 
or socially disadvantaged farmer or rancher has control of the land and 
meets all other qualifying conditions specified in this part.
    (d) Eligible beginning, veteran, or socially disadvantaged farmers 
or ranchers will be eligible to enroll land in the Environmental 
Quality Incentives Program or the Conservation Stewardship Program, as 
specified in parts 1466 and 1470 of this chapter, provided that their 
offer to enroll otherwise meets all program conditions, and provided 
that the CRP contract has expired and the beginning, veteran, or 
socially disadvantaged farmer or rancher is either leasing or has 
possession of the property.
    (e) As an incentive for selling or leasing land to a beginning, 
veteran, or socially disadvantaged farmer or rancher who is not a 
family member of the previous participants, CCC will pay 2 years of 
additional CRP annual rental payments at the same contract rate to the 
previous participants. The previous participants must certify in 
writing that the beginning, veteran, or socially disadvantaged farmer 
or rancher is not a family member.
    (f) The previous participants and the eligible beginning, veteran, 
or socially disadvantaged farmer or rancher must agree to be jointly 
and severally responsible for complying with both the provisions of the 
Transition Incentives Program contract and the provisions of this part, 
and must also agree to be jointly and severally responsible for any 
payment adjustments that may result from violations of the terms or 
conditions of the Transition Incentives Program contract or this part.


Sec.  1410.70   Soil Health and Income Protection Pilot Program.

    (a) Enrollments under the Soil Heath and Income Protection Pilot 
Program will be administered under the provisions of this part, except 
where specifically provided otherwise.
    (b) Notwithstanding Sec.  1410.6(b) and (c), to be eligible under 
the Soil Health

[[Page 66832]]

and Income Protection Pilot Program, land must be cropland that:
    (1) Is physically located within a Soil Health and Income 
Protection Pilot Program pilot area specified by CCC;
    (2) Has been annually planted or considered planted to an 
agricultural commodity each of the 3 crop years immediately preceding 
the year in which the offer for enrollment is submitted; and
    (3) Is verified to be less productive land, as compared to other 
land on the farm from which the land is offered for enrollment.
    (c) Notwithstanding paragraph (b) of this section, land will be 
ineligible for enrollment under the Soil Health and Income Protection 
Pilot Program if the land was enrolled in CRP in any of the 3 crop 
years immediately preceding the year in which the offer for enrollment 
is submitted. Further, not more than 15 percent of the eligible land on 
a farm may be enrolled in the Soil Health and Income Protection Pilot 
Program.
    (d) Notwithstanding Sec.  1410.30, offers for contracts under the 
Soil Health and Income Protection Pilot Program may be submitted only 
during signup periods as announced by CCC. Further, eligible land may 
only be enrolled under the Soil Health and Income Protection Pilot 
Program through December 31, 2020. Acreage determined eligible in 
accordance with paragraph (b) of this section may be automatically 
accepted in CRP without further evaluation if:
    (1) A producer is eligible under Sec.  1410.5; and
    (2) The producer accepts either the maximum payment rate CCC is 
willing to pay to enroll the acreage in CRP, or a lesser rate.
    (e) The approved cover for land enrolled under the Soil Health and 
Income Protection Pilot Program is the lowest practicable cost 
permanent vegetative cover.
    (f) Notwithstanding Sec.  1410.40, CCC will not provide any cost-
share payments for planting the approved permanent vegetative cover, 
except as provided for in paragraph (g) of this section.
    (g) Notwithstanding paragraph (f) of this section and Sec.  
1410.41, CCC will provide cost-share payments of 50 percent of the 
eligible actual cost of installation of the approved permanent 
vegetative cover to beginning, limited resource, socially 
disadvantaged, and veteran farmers and ranchers, upon a determination 
that the approved permanent vegetative cover has been planted.
    (h) The contract period for land enrolled under the Soil Health and 
Income Protection Pilot Program will be for a term of 3, 4, or 5 years, 
as requested by the producer.
    (i) The following uses are permitted on land enrolled under the 
Soil Health and Income Protection Pilot Program:
    (1) Without any reduction in the annual rental payment, the land 
may be:
    (i) Made available for a walk-in access program of the applicable 
State; and
    (ii) Hayed or grazed outside the primary nesting season, provided 
adequate stubble height of the cover is maintained to protect the soil 
as specified in the conservation plan; and
    (2) In exchange for a 25 percent reduction to the annual rental 
payment, and not being eligible to be insured or reinsured under the 
Federal Crop Insurance Act, the land may be harvested for seed outside 
the primary nesting season if included in the conservation plan.
    (j) A CRP contract for land enrolled under the Soil Health and 
Income Protection Pilot Program may be terminated before the end of the 
CRP contract period by either:
    (1) CCC, if CCC determines that such termination is appropriate; or
    (2) The participant, upon the condition that all CCC payments made 
with respect to the CRP contract being terminated are refunded.


Sec.  1410.80   CLEAR 30 Pilot Program.

    (a) Not withstanding Sec.  1410.6(b) and (c), to be eligible under 
the CLEAR 30 Pilot Program, land must be:
    (1) Physically located within a CLEAR 30 Pilot Program area, as 
announced by CCC;
    (2) Devoted to a grass waterway, contour grass strip, prairie 
strip, filter strip, riparian buffer, wetland restoration practice, or 
other similar water quality practice that helps reduce sediment 
loadings, nutrient loadings, and harmful algal blooms; and
    (3) Enrolled in CRP, in the final year of the CRP contract period, 
provided the scheduled expiration date of the current CRP contract is:
    (i) On or after December 20, 2018; and
    (ii) Before the effective starting date of the new CRP contract.
    (b) The contract period for land enrolled under the CLEAR 30 Pilot 
Program will be 30 years.
    (c) In addition to the provisions in Sec.  1410.32 and elsewhere in 
this part, the CRP contract for land enrolled under the CLEAR 30 Pilot 
Program will:
    (1) Permit repairs, improvements, and inspections on the land that 
are necessary to maintain existing public drainage systems; and
    (2) Prohibit:
    (i) Alteration of wildlife habitat and other natural features of 
the land, unless authorized by CCC and provided for in the conservation 
plan;
    (ii) Mowing or spraying chemicals on the land, unless such action 
is authorized by CCC to:
    (A) Comply with Federal or State noxious weed laws;
    (B) Comply with a Federal or State emergency pest management 
program; or
    (C) Meet habitat needs of specific wildlife; and
    (iii) Adoption of any other practice or action that would tend to 
defeat the purpose of CRP.
    (d) Land enrolled under the CLEAR 30 Pilot Program may be used for 
compatible economic uses, including but not limited to hunting and 
fishing, managed timber harvest, or periodic haying or grazing, 
provided the use is:
    (1) Included in the conservation plan; and
    (2) Consistent with the long-term protection and enhancement of the 
conservation resource for which the land was enrolled.
    (e) Notwithstanding Sec.  1410.30, offers for contracts under the 
CLEAR 30 Pilot Program may be submitted only during a time period, as 
determined and announced by CCC, and only within the final year of the 
contract period of the CRP contract under which the land is currently 
enrolled.
    (f) In addition to the provisions in Sec.  1410.52, upon a 
violation of the terms and conditions of a contract for land enrolled 
under the CLEAR 30 Pilot Program, CCC may require the participant to 
refund all or part of any payments received under CRP plus interest and 
liquidated damages.


Sec.  1410.90   Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program.

    (a) An agreement executed under the provisions of this section will 
not effect, modify, or otherwise interfere with any Conservation 
Reserve Enhancement Program agreement in effect on or before December 
20, 2018. In order to implement other provisions of this section, the 
signatories to a Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program agreement in 
effect on or before December 20, 2018, may mutually agree in writing to 
modify such agreement in such a manner.
    (b) CCC may enter into a Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program 
agreement with an eligible partner to cost-effectively assist in 
enrolling otherwise eligible land in CRP.
    (c) To enter into a Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program 
agreement with CCC, eligible partners must provide required matching 
funds. Such matching funds provided by the

[[Page 66833]]

eligible partners may be cash, in-kind contributions, or technical 
assistance. The amount and type of matching funds must be specified in 
the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program agreement. At least one-
half of the matching funds must be provided as a direct payment to 
eligible participants. The amount of matching funds an eligible partner 
must contribute under a Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program 
agreement will be either:
    (1) 30 percent of the total cost of the project, unless a different 
amount is determined by negotiation between CCC and the eligible 
partner with whom CCC is entering into the Conservation Reserve 
Enhancement Program agreement, if the majority of the matching funds to 
carry out the agreement are provided by one or more eligible partners 
that are not nongovernmental organizations; or
    (2) Not less than 30 percent of the total cost of the project, if a 
majority of the matching funds to carry out the agreement are provided 
by one or more nongovernmental organizations.
    (d) Notwithstanding Sec.  1410.40(d), cost-share payments, 
including practice incentive payments, from all sources may exceed 100 
percent of the actual cost of establishing eligible practices, but only 
if specifically authorized by the Conservation Reserve Enhancement 
Program agreement. Furthermore, a participant may not receive or retain 
cost-share payments if other Federal cost-share assistance is provided 
for such acreage under any law.
    (e) With regard only to land enrolled as a riparian buffer:
    (1) The term ``management'' means an activity conducted by the 
owner or operator of the land after the riparian buffer is established 
to regularly maintain or enhance only the vegetative cover throughout 
the CRP contract period and in accordance with the conservation plan;
    (2) Cost-share payments will be made available for approved 
management as provided for in the Conservation Reserve Enhancement 
Program agreement:
    (i) If such activity has been completed in accordance with the 
conservation plan; and
    (ii) In an amount as provided for in the agreement, but not greater 
than 100 percent of the normal and customary cost of such activity; but
    (iii) No practice incentive payment will be made for such activity; 
and
    (3) If provided for in the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program 
agreement, a participant may plant food-producing woody plants as part 
of the approved cover, provided such plantings:
    (i) Contribute to the conservation of soil, water quality, and 
wildlife habitat;
    (ii) Are consistent with recommendations of the applicable State 
Technical Committee;
    (iii) Are consistent with the FOTG; and
    (iv) Are provided for in the conservation plan.
    (f) Participants may harvest from the food-producing woody plants 
specified in paragraph (e)(3) of this section only if the following 
conditions are met:
    (1) The criteria in paragraph (e)(3) of this section are met;
    (2) The participant agrees to a reduction in the annual rental 
payment commensurate with the value of the crop harvested;
    (3) All the food-producing woody plant species within 35 feet of 
the water body the riparian buffer is buffering are only native plant 
species;
    (4) The harvesting will not damage the approved cover or otherwise 
have a negative impact on the resource concern being addressed by the 
riparian buffer; and
    (5) The harvesting is conducted in accordance with the conservation 
plan.
    (g) In the case of a Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program 
agreement whose purpose is to address regional drought concerns, CCC 
may:
    (1) Enroll otherwise ineligible cropland, marginal pastureland, or 
grassland, on which the resource concerns identified in the 
Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program agreement can be addressed if 
the enrollment of such land is critical to the accomplishment of the 
purposes of the agreement; and
    (2) Determine annual rental payments so as to be consistent with 
similar Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program agreements, and to 
ensure regional consistency regarding such payments.
    (h) Notwithstanding Sec.  1410.30, generally, enrollment under a 
Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program will be held on a continuous 
signup basis. However, the terms and conditions of the Conservation 
Reserve Enhancement Program agreement will determine the basis of 
enrollment.
    __________________________________,

William Beam,
Acting Administrator,
    Farm Service Agency.
    __________________________________,
Margo Erny,
Acting Executive Vice President,
    Commodity Credit Corporation.
[FR Doc. 2019-26268 Filed 12-5-19; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3410-05-P