
From the U.S. Code Online via GPO Access
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[Laws in effect as of January 2, 2001]
[Document not affected by Public Laws enacted between
  January 2, 2001 and January 28, 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.
