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HR 5605 114th Congress House Agriculture and Food Administrative remedies Agricultural conservation and pollution Agricultural prices, subsidies, credit Department of Agriculture Farmland Wetlands

Wetland Determinations Efficiency and Transparency Act

Introduced: June 28, 2016 See on congress.gov
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 Everywhere this bill has been 3 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Jul 14, 2016
Referred to the Subcommittee on Conservation and Forestry.
Jun 28, 2016
Introduced in House
Jun 28, 2016
Referred to the House Committee on Agriculture.
 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Wetland Determinations Efficiency and Transparency Act

This bill amends the Food Security Act of 1985 to revise the process that the Department of Agriculture's (USDA's) Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) uses to make a wetland determination, delineation, or certification.

The NRCS must make a determination, delineation, or certification within 60 days. If the NRCS misses the deadline, it must provide a reasonable transition period for a person to come into compliance with the decision without losing eligibility for certain payments and loans.

A decision is subject to judicial review, and a person is not required to exhaust all administrative remedies prior to bringing a suit in federal court. In the case of a dispute, the NRCS must bear the burden of proof by a preponderance of the evidence and provide a copy of the agency record upon request.

USDA must permit a person to secure technical assistance from an approved source, other than the NRCS, for the preparation of: (1) a conservation plan or similar plan required as a condition for USDA assistance, and (2) a wetland delineation or determination.

What's happening now July 14, 2016

Referred to the Subcommittee on Conservation and Forestry.

 Committees of jurisdiction 2
 Cosponsors 2
All 2 Republican 2