republic-os/legal/us/code/title-16/chapter-54/section-3451.md

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LegalText	16 U.S.C. § 3451	Definitions	us	united_states_code	code_section	16	CONSERVATION	54	RESOURCE CONSERVATION	3451	16 U.S.C. § 3451	current	119-100	2026-06-26	official	https://uscode.house.gov/download/releasepoints/us/pl/119/100/xml_usc16@119-100.zip	/us/usc/t16/s3451	data/legal/raw/us/code/title-16/usc16.xml	a31612cbc351389884f54e774729de174b61cdaa4b28bf98d7fd79c4ce06e348	7be8950da5a93cac7c98e4576ce00340f2aba5e8e46d29915382c203c421d503	c082f54dc8e9f1a2ad6fae7ecedc0fbf71cb4e3456a07a16845f14d8a58ad85a	2026-07-04	official	legal us-code

16 U.S.C. § 3451 - Definitions

Text

In this subchapter:

(1) Area plan The term “area plan” means a resource conservation and use plan developed through a locally led planning process by a council for a designated area of 1 or more States, or of land under the jurisdiction of an Indian tribe, that includes 1 or more of the following elements:

(A) A land conservation element, the purpose of which is to control erosion and sedimentation.

(B) A water management element that provides 1 or more clear environmental or conservation benefits, the purpose of which is to provide for—

(i) the conservation, use, and quality of water, including irrigation and rural water supplies;

(ii) the mitigation of floods and high water tables;

(iii) the repair and improvement of reservoirs;

(iv) the improvement of agricultural water management; and

(v) the improvement of water quality.

(C) A community development element, the purpose of which is to improve—

(i) the development of resources-based industries;

(ii) the protection of rural industries from natural resource hazards;

(iii) the development of adequate rural water and waste disposal systems;

(iv) the improvement of recreation facilities;

(v) the improvement in the quality of rural housing;

(vi) the provision of adequate health and education facilities;

(vii) the satisfaction of essential transportation and communication needs; and

(viii) the promotion of food security, economic development, and education.

(D) A land management element, the purpose of which is—

(i) energy conservation, including the production of energy crops;

(ii) the protection of agricultural land, as appropriate, from conversion to other uses;

(iii) farmland protection; and

(iv) the protection of fish and wildlife habitats.

(2) Board The term “Board” means the Resource Conservation and Development Policy Advisory Board established under section 3456(a) of this title.

(3) Council The term “council” means a nonprofit entity (including an affiliate of the entity) operating in a State that is—

(A) established by volunteers or representatives of States, local units of government, Indian tribes, or local nonprofit organizations to carry out an area plan in a designated area; and

(B) designated by the chief executive officer or legislature of the State to receive technical assistance and financial assistance under this subchapter.

(4) Designated area The term “designated area” means a geographic area designated by the Secretary to receive technical assistance and financial assistance under this subchapter.

(5) Financial assistance The term “financial assistance” means a grant or loan provided by the Secretary (or the Secretary and other Federal agencies) to, or a cooperative agreement entered into by the Secretary (or the Secretary and other Federal agencies) with, a council, or association of councils, to carry out an area plan in a designated area, including assistance provided for planning, analysis, feasibility studies, training, education, and other activities necessary to carry out the area plan.

(6) Indian tribe The term “Indian tribe” has the meaning given the term in section 5304 of title 25.

(7) Local unit of government The term “local unit of government” means—

(A) any county, city, town, township, parish, village, or other general-purpose subdivision of a State; and

(B) any local or regional special district or other limited political subdivision of a State, including any soil conservation district, school district, park authority, and water or sanitary district.

(8) Locally led planning process The term “planning process” means actions taken by a locally led council to develop and carry out an effective area plan in a designated area, including development of the area plan, goals, purposes, policies, implementation activities, evaluations and reviews, and the opportunity for public participation in the actions.

(9) Nonprofit organization The term “nonprofit organization” means any organization that is—

(A) described in section 501(c) of title 26; and

(B) exempt from taxation under section 501(a) of title 26.

(10) Project The term “project” means a project that is carried out by a council to achieve any of the elements of an area plan.

(11) Secretary The term “Secretary” means the Secretary of Agriculture.

(12) State The term “State” means—

(A) any State;

(B) the District of Columbia; or

(C) any territory or possession of the United States.

(13) Technical assistance The term “technical assistance” means any service provided by the Secretary or agent of the Secretary, including—

(A) inventorying, evaluating, planning, designing, supervising, laying out, and inspecting projects;

(B) providing maps, reports, and other documents associated with the services provided;

(C) providing assistance for the implementation of area plans and projects; and

(D) providing services that involve the resources of Department of Agriculture programs in a local community, as defined in the locally led planning process.

(Pub. L. 97–98, title XV, § 1528, as added Pub. L. 107–171, title II, § 2504, May 13, 2002, 116 Stat. 269; Pub. L. 110–234, title II, § 2805(a), (b), May 22, 2008, 122 Stat. 1088; Pub. L. 110–246, § 4(a), title II, § 2805(a), (b), June 18, 2008, 122 Stat. 1664, 1816.)

Notes

Editorial Notes

Codification Pub. L. 110–234 and Pub. L. 110–246 made identical amendments to this section. The amendments by Pub. L. 110–234 were repealed by section 4(a) of Pub. L. 110–246.

Prior ProvisionsA prior section 3451, Pub. L. 97–98, title XV, § 1528, Dec. 22, 1981, 95 Stat. 1337, related to statement of purpose, prior to the general amendment of this subchapter by Pub. L. 107–171.

Amendments2008—Par. (1). Pub. L. 110–246, § 2805(a)(1), substituted “locally led planning process” for “planning process” in introductory provisions. Pars. (8), (9). Pub. L. 110–246, § 2805(a)(2), (3), redesignated pars. (9) and (8) as (8) and (9), respectively, and, in par. (8), substituted “Locally led planning process” for “Planning process” in heading and “locally led council” for “council” in text. Par. (13)(C), (D). Pub. L. 110–246, § 2805(b), added subpars. (C) and (D) and struck out former subpars. (C) and (D) which read as follows: “(C) providing assistance for the long-term implementation of area plans; and “(D) providing services of an agency of the Department of Agriculture to assist councils in developing and carrying out area plans.”

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date of 2008 AmendmentAmendment of this section and repeal of Pub. L. 110–234 by Pub. L. 110–246 effective May 22, 2008, the date of enactment of Pub. L. 110–234, see section 4 of Pub. L. 110–246, set out as an Effective Date note under section 8701 of Title 7, Agriculture.