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<section article="gag" article_name="Agriculture" number="8-703" title_number="8" title_name="Soil Conservation" subtitle_number="7" subtitle_name="Cost Sharing -- Water Pollution Control">
  <level label="a">
    <text>The Secretaries of Agriculture and the Environment shall, by jointly promulgated rule or regulation:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>Identify geographic areas in watersheds throughout the State which have a high potential for agriculturally related soil erosion or movement of sediments, animal wastes, or agricultural chemicals into the surface waters of the State;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>Designate priority areas for cost sharing under this subtitle; and</text>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>Establish program requirements, including application procedures, eligibility criteria, provisions for monitoring and review, and measures to assure accountability for all cost sharing funds.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="b">
    <level label="1">
      <text>The selection of projects and the degree of State financial assistance shall be based on:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>Water quality improvements to be achieved, with consideration given to the cumulative effect of other projects on the same body of water;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>The estimated economic benefit to the participating farmer from use of the best management practice; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iii">
        <text>Other relevant factors as determined by regulation.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>State cost–sharing funds may not be used to:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>Reestablish agricultural practices which have deteriorated due to the negligence or mismanagement of an applicant;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>Fund a conservation practice that does not:</text>
        <level label="1">
          <text>Address a natural resource concern identified by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service; or</text>
        </level>
        <level label="2">
          <text>Result in an improved conservation benefit.</text>
        </level>
      </level>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="c">
    <text>The Secretary of Agriculture and the Secretary of the Environment shall implement the cost sharing program for a project with the technical assistance of the appropriate soil conservation district. Technical representatives of the soil conservation district shall prepare or approve all design, construction, maintenance or other plans for best management practices and shall provide the necessary degree of layout and construction supervision.</text>
  </level>
</section>
