HARRY HUGHES, Governor                              2891

SUBTITLE 7. COST SHARING - WATER POLLUTION CONTROL
8-701.

(A) IN THIS SUBTITLE THE FOLLOWING WORDS HAVE THE
MEANINGS INDICATED.

(B) "BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICE" MEANS A CONSERVATION OR
POLLUTION CONTROL PRACTICE THAT MANAGES SOIL LOSS DUE TO
FARMING PRACTICES OR MANAGES ANIMAL WASTES OR AGRICULTURAL
CHEMICALS SO AS TO MINIMIZE MOVEMENT INTO THE SURFACE WATERS
OF THE STATE.

(C) "ELIGIBLE COST" MEANS A CAPITAL EXPENDITURE FOR
INSTALLING, PURCHASING, OR CONSTRUCTING A BEST MANAGEMENT
PRACTICE, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE COST OF DESIGN

PREPARATION AND CONSTRUCTION SUPERVISION BY A SOIL

CONSERVATION DISTRICT, POLLUTION CONTROL EQUIPMENT, ANIMAL
WASTE FACILITIES, WATER CONTROL STRUCTURES, DIVERSION
FACILITIES, SEDIMENT BASINS OR GRADE STABILIZATION
STRUCTURES, ESTABLISHING PERMANENT VEGETATIVE COVER, OR A
CONTOUR, STRIPCROPPING, TERRACE, OR CONSERVATION TILLAGE
SYSTEM OF FARMING. IT DOES NOT INCLUDE THE COST OF LAND OR
INTERESTS IN LAND, OR THE COSTS OF OPERATING OR MAINTAINING
BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICES.

(D) "PERSON" MEANS AN INDIVIDUAL, PARTNERSHIP,
CORPORATION, TRUST, OR OTHER BUSINESS ENTERPRISE WHICH AS AN
OWNER, LANDLORD, OR TENANT, PARTICIPATES IN THE OPERATION OF
A FARM.

(E) "POOLING AGREEMENT" MEANS A WRITTEN AGREEMENT
BETWEEN PERSONS, APPROVED BY THE SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE,
TO PERFORM BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICES AND WHICH IS INTENDED
TO SOLVE A MUTUAL POLLUTION PROBLEM ON DIFFERENT FARMS.

(F) "PROJECT" MEANS A PROJECT TO PREVENT OR CONTROL
AGRICULTURALLY RELATED NONPOINT SOURCE WATER POLLUTION BY
ESTABLISHING BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICES ON A FARM.

8-702.

(A) THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY FINDS AND DECLARES THAT
AGRICULTURALLY RELATED NONPOINT SOURCES OF WATER POLLUTION
MAY POTENTIALLY CONTRIBUTE TO THE DEGRADATION OF THE WATER
RESOURCES OF THIS STATE AND THAT PREVENTION AND CONTROL
EFFORTS HAVE BEEN HAMPERED BECAUSE OF THE COST AND LACK OF
INCOME PRODUCING POTENTIAL IN MANY AGRICULTURAL PRACTICES
DESIGNED TO PROTECT WATER QUALITY. TO ASSIST IN THE
IMPLEMENTATION OF AGRICULTURAL PRACTICES WHICH MINIMIZE
WATER POLLUTION FROM EROSION, ANIMAL WASTES, NUTRIENTS, AND
AGRICULTURAL CHEMICALS, A COST SHARING PROGRAM BETWEEN THE
STATE AND ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS IS ESTABLISHED FOR THE PUBLIC
BENEFIT.