§ 590a. — Prevention of soil erosion; surveys and investigations; preventive measures; cooperation with agencies and persons; acquisition of land.
[Laws in effect as of January 24, 2002]
[Document not affected by Public Laws enacted between
January 24, 2002 and December 19, 2002]
[CITE: 16USC590a]
TITLE 16--CONSERVATION
CHAPTER 3B--SOIL CONSERVATION
Sec. 590a. Prevention of soil erosion; surveys and
investigations; preventive measures; cooperation with agencies
and persons; acquisition of land
It is recognized that the wastage of soil and moisture resources on
farm, grazing, and forest lands of the Nation, resulting from soil
erosion, is a menace to the national welfare and that it is declared to
be the policy of Congress to provide permanently for the control and
prevention of soil erosion and thereby to preserve natural resources,
control floods, prevent impairment of reservoirs, and maintain the
navigability of rivers and harbors, protect public health, public lands
and relieve unemployment, and the Secretary of Agriculture, from now on,
shall coordinate and direct all activities with relation to soil erosion
and in order to effectuate this policy is authorized, from time to
time--
(1) To conduct surveys, investigations, and research relating to the
character of soil erosion and the preventive measures needed, to publish
the results of any such surveys, investigations, or research, to
disseminate information concerning such methods, and to conduct
demonstrational projects in areas subject to erosion by wind or water;
(2) To carry out preventive measures, including, but not limited to,
engineering operations, methods of cultivation, the growing of
vegetation, and changes in use of land;
(3) To cooperate or enter into agreements with, or to furnish
financial or other aid to, any agency, governmental or otherwise, or any
person, subject to such conditions as he may deem necessary, for the
purposes of this chapter; and
(4) To acquire lands, or rights or interests therein, by purchase,
gift, condemnation, or otherwise, whenever necessary for the purposes of
this chapter.
(Apr. 27, 1935, ch. 85, Sec. 1, 49 Stat. 163.)
Short Title
See section 590q of this title.
Transfer of Functions
Enforcement functions of Secretary or other official in Department
of Agriculture, insofar as they involve lands and programs under
jurisdiction of that Department, related to compliance with this chapter
with respect to pre-construction, construction, and initial operation of
transportation system for Canadian and Alaskan natural gas transferred
to Federal Inspector, Office of Federal Inspector for Alaska Natural Gas
Transportation System, until first anniversary of date of initial
operation of Alaska Natural Gas Transportation System, see Reorg. Plan
No. 1 of 1979, Secs. 102(f), 203(a), 44 F.R. 33663, 33666, 93 Stat.
1373, 1376, effective July 1, 1979, set out in the Appendix to Title 5,
Government Organization and Employees. Office of Federal Inspector for
the Alaska Natural Gas Transportation System abolished and functions and
authority vested in Inspector transferred to Secretary of Energy by
section 3012(b) of Pub. L. 102-486, set out as an Abolition of Office of
Federal Inspector note under section 719e of Title 15, Commerce and
Trade.
Functions of Soil Conservation Service in Department of Agriculture
with respect to soil and moisture conservation operations conducted on
lands under jurisdiction of Department of the Interior transferred to
Department of the Interior, to be administered under direction and
supervision of Secretary of the Interior through such agency or agencies
in Department of the Interior as Secretary shall designate, by Reorg.
Plan No. IV of 1940, Sec. 6, eff. June 30, 1940, 5 F.R. 2421, 54 Stat.
1234, set out in the Appendix to Title 5, Government Organization and
Employees.
Soil Conservation Service consolidated with other agencies into
Agricultural Conservation and Adjustment Administration for duration of
World War II, see Ex. Ord. No. 9069, Feb. 23, 1942.
Policy
Declaration of policy to continue the Soil Conservation and Domestic
Allotment Act, see section 1282 of Title 7, Agriculture.
Section Referred to in Other Sections
This section is referred to in section 590b of this title; title 26
section 126.
