2012 U.S. Code
Title 16 - Conservation
Chapter 42 - EMERGENCY CONSERVATION PROGRAM (§§ 2201 - 2206)
Section 2203 - Undertaking of runoff retardation and soil-erosion preventive measures; cooperation with landowners and land users; criteria

The Secretary of Agriculture is authorized to undertake emergency measures, including the purchase of floodplain easements, for runoff retardation and soil-erosion prevention, in cooperation with landowners and land users, as the Secretary deems necessary to safeguard lives and property from floods, drought, and the products of erosion on any watershed whenever fire, flood, or any other natural occurrence is causing or has caused a sudden impairment of that watershed.

(Pub. L. 95–334, title IV, §403, Aug. 4, 1978, 92 Stat. 434; Pub. L. 104–127, title III, §382, Apr. 4, 1996, 110 Stat. 1016.)

1996—Pub. L. 104–127 inserted “, including the purchase of floodplain easements,” after “emergency measures”.

Pub. L. 100–387, title IV, §402, as added Pub. L. 101–82, title V, §503, Aug. 14, 1989, 103 Stat. 586, provided that:

“(a) In General.—The Secretary of Agriculture may provide disaster relief assistance in accordance with this section to repair damage caused by storms occurring in 1988 or 1989 to watersheds located in any county in any State, to the extent that funds authorized by this section remain available.

“(b) Form of Assistance.—The assistance authorized by this section—

“(1) includes both financial and technical assistance; and

“(2) shall be provided in a manner consistent with similar assistance authorized under section 403 of the Agricultural Credit Act of 1978 (16 U.S.C. 2203).

“(c) Authorization of Appropriations.—There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section $25,000,000 for fiscal year 1990.”