,,ii #aahth ,,congress #ast ,session ,s4 #bdgi ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,july #be1 #bjbc,mr4 ,padilla 7for himself1 ,mr4 ,brown1 and ,mr4 ,heinrich7 introduced the following bill2 which was read twice and referred to the ,committee on ,agriculture1 ,nutrition1 and ,forestry ,a ,,bill ,to direct the ,secretary of ,agriculture to establish an alternative manure management program1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,converting ,our ,waste ,sustainably 7,,cows7 ,act of #bjbc4 #b4 ,alternative ,manure ,management ,program ,chapter #e of subtitle ,d of title ,,xii of the ,food ,security ,act of #aihe 7#af ,u4,s4,c4 #chci;bb et seq47 is amended by adding at the end the following3 #abdj,s4 ,alternative ,manure ,management ,program 7a7 ,definitions ,in this section3 7#a7 ,alternative manure management program ,the term alternative manure management program means the program established under subsection 7b74 7#b7 ,covered management measure ,the term covered management measure means a dairy or livestock operation method that is used by an eligible producer to reduce baseline methane emissions and1 where applicable1 improve carbon sequestration on the operation of that eligible producer1 including the measures described in subparagraphs 7,a7 through 7,d7 of subsection 7f77#b74 7#c7 ,eligible producer ,the term eligible producer means a dairy or livestock producer-- 7,a7 whose baseline manure management practices prior to enrollment in the alternative manure management program include the anaerobic decomposition of volatile solids stored in a lagoon or other predominantly liquid anaerobic environment2 and 7,b7 in the case of a dairy or livestock producer whose baseline manure management practices prior to enrollment in the alternative manure management program include an anaerobic system that captures methane emissions1 who can replace or complement that anaerobic system with a covered management measure4 7#d7 ,pasture-based management ,the term pasture-based management means a dairy or livestock production system-- 7,a7 that eliminates or reduces the quantity of manure stored in anaerobic conditions2 and 7,b7 in which the livestock spend all or a substantial portion of time grazing on fields in which some or all of the manure is deposited and left in the field to decompose aerobically4 7#e7 ,solid separation system ,the term solid separation system means a system that is designed to separate liquid components of manure from mineral and organic solid components of that manure4 7b7 ,establishment ,the ,secretary shall establish an alternative manure management program to award contracts to eligible producers to support carbon sequestration and greenhouse gas emissions reductions by implementing covered management measures4 7c7 ,submission of individual contract offers ,to be eligible to participate in the alternative manure management program1 an eligible producer shall submit to the ,secretary a contract offer that details any covered management measure to be used on the operation of the eligible producer4 7d7 ,cluster contract offers ,the ,secretary shall establish procedures under which-- 7#a7 a group of producers may submit a joint contract offer for a shared composting facility2 and 7#b7 the ,secretary allocates payments to each eligible producer associated with that joint contract4 7e7 ,duties of the ,secretary 7#a7 ,evaluation criteria ,the ,secretary shall develop criteria for evaluating and ranking contract offers to prioritize contract offers that will maximize-- 7,a7 carbon sequestration2 7,b7 greenhouse gas emissions reductions2 and 7,c7 the overall environmental and public health benefits4 7#b7 ,priority ,in awarding contracts under this section1 the ,secretary1 using the criteria developed under paragraph 7#a71 shall give priority to contract offers that address air quality1 water quality1 or other public health concerns associated with dairy and livestock operations located near low-income or underserved communities4 7#c7 ,grouping of contract offers ,the ,secretary may group and evaluate contract offers relative to other contract offers for similar farming operations4 7#d7 ,geographical diversity ,in awarding contracts under this section1 the ,secretary shall ensure geographical diversity4 7f7 ,contract provisions 7#a7 ,term ,a contract awarded under this section shall have a term that does not exceed #c years4 7#b7 ,covered management measures ,each eligible producer requesting funding under the alternative manure management program shall implement at least one of the following3 7,a7 ,with respect to pasture-based management-- 7i7 adopting pasture-based management2 7ii7 converting a non-pasture dairy or livestock operation to pasture-based management2 7iii7 increasing the amount of time livestock spend at pasture at an existing pasture operation2 or 7iv7 improving pasture-based management1 including transitioning to management-intensive rotational grazing 7as defined in section #abdj,l7d77#a774 7,b7 ,adopting alternative manure treatment and storage practices1 including-- 7i7 the installation of a compost-bedded pack barn that composts manure2 7ii7 the installation of a slatted floor pit storage manure collection that is cleaned out at least once a month2 or 7iii7 other similar practices1 as determined by the ,secretary4 7,c7 7i7 7,i7 ,adopting a solid separation system2 7,,ii7 installing a new solid separation system that has a significantly higher separation efficiency than any existing solid separation system2 or 7,,iii7 developing or retrofitting a manure management system that primarily avoids wet handling infrastructure2 and 7ii7 in conjunction with one or more of the following management measures3 7,i7 ,open solar drying or composting of manure onsite4 7,,ii7 ,solar drying in an enclosed environment4 7,,iii7 ,forced evaporation with natural-gas fueled dryers4 7,,iv7 ,storage of manure in unconfined piles or stacks4 7,v7 ,composting in an enclosed vessel1 with forced aeration and continuous mixing4 7,,vi7 ,composting in piles with forced aeration without mixing4 7,,vii7 ,composting in intensive windrows with regular turning for mixing and aeration4 7,,viii7 ,composting in passive windrows with infrequent turning for mixing and aeration4 7,,ix7 ,other similar management measures1 as determined by the ,secretary4 7,d7 ,adopting scrape technologies1 including vacuum technologies1 in conjunction with one of the management measures listed in subclauses 7,i7 through 7,,ix7 of subparagraph 7,c77ii74 7#c7 ,duties of eligible producers under contract ,to receive payments under the alternative manure management program1 an eligible producer shall-- 7,a7 implement one or more covered management measures2 7,b7 supply information as required by the ,secretary to determine compliance with the requirements of the alternative manure management program2 and 7,c7 comply with such additional provisions as the ,secretary determines are necessary to carry out the alternative manure management program4 7g7 ,payments to eligible producers 7#a7 ,in general ,during the period of fiscal years #bjbd through #bjbi1 the ,secretary shall provide payments to eligible producers that enter into contracts with the ,secretary under the alternative manure management program4 7#b7 ,availability of payments ,payments provided to an eligible producer under this section may be used to implement one or more covered management measures4 7#c7 ,payment amounts ,the ,secretary may provide a payment to an eligible producer under the alternative manure management program for an amount that is up to #ajj percent of the costs associated with planning1 design1 materials1 equipment1 installation1 labor1 management1 maintenance1 and training related to implementing a covered management measure4 7#d7 ,limitation on payments ,a person or legal entity 7including a joint venture and a general partnership7 may not receive1 directly or indirectly1 payments under the alternative manure management program that exceed #hbe1jjj during any #e-year period4 7#e7 ,advanced payments ,the ,secretary shall provide at least #ej percent of the amount of total payments to an eligible producer in advance for all costs related to-- 7,a7 purchasing or contracting materials and equipment2 or 7,b7 any technical assistance provided by the ,secretary4 7h7 ,modification or termination of contracts 7#a7 ,voluntary modification or termination ,the ,secretary may modify or terminate a contract entered into with an eligible producer under the alternative manure management program if-- 7,a7 that eligible producer agrees to that modification or termination2 and 7,b7 the ,secretary determines that the modification or termination is in the public interest4 7#b7 ,involuntary termination ,the ,secretary may terminate a contract under the alternative manure management program if the ,secretary determines that an eligible producer violated that contract4 7i7 ,duties of the ,secretary ,the ,secretary shall-- 7#a7 determine and publish factors for estimating the carbon sequestrations and greenhouse gas emissions reductions for each covered management measure1 including the management measures listed in subclauses 7,i7 through 7,,ix7 of subsection 7f77#b77;,c77ii72 7#b7 assist an eligible producer in achieving the carbon sequestration1 greenhouse gas emissions reduction1 and other environmental and public health goals of the alternative manure management program by-- 7,a7 providing payments for developing and implementing one or more covered management measures1 as appropriate2 and 7,b7 providing that eligible producer with information1 technical assistance1 and training to aid in implementation of the covered management measures2 and 7#c7 review the adequacy of existing conservation practice standards for supporting the covered management measures and1 if necessary-- 7,a7 revise existing conservation practice standards2 and 7,b7 develop new conservation practice standards4 7j7 ,technical assistance ,in providing technical assistance under the alternative manure management program1 the ,secretary shall apply sections #abda7;c7 and #abdb1 except that the ,secretary shall-- 7#a7 apportion not more than #ae percent of the total funding available for the alternative manure management program for the provision of technical assistance2 and 7#b7 enter into cooperative agreements with third-party providers with relevant expertise in the covered management measures to ensure adequate technical services are available to alternative manure management program applicants4 7k7 ,funding 7#a7 ,in general ,the ,secretary shall use the funds1 facilities1 and authorities of the ,commodity ,credit ,corporation to carry out the alternative manure management program 7including the provision of technical assistance described in subsection 7j77 using #a1ejj1jjj1jjj for the period of fiscal years #bjbd through #bjbh4 7#b7 ,reservations of funds ,the ,secretary shall use a majority of the funds made available by paragraph 7#a7 for contract offers from small and mid-sized dairy and livestock operations1 including-- 7,a7 beginning farmers or ranchers2 7,b7 limited resource farmers and ranchers2 and 7,c7 socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers4 4 #c4 ,erodible land and wetland conservation and reserve program ,section #abja7;a7 of the ,food ,security ,act of #aihe 7#af ,u4,s4,c4 #chja7;a77 is amended-- 7#a7 by redesignating paragraphs 7#c7 through 7#bg7 as paragraphs 7#d7 through 7#bh71 respectively2 and 7#b7 by inserting after paragraph 7#b7 the following3 7#c7 ,composting practice ,the term composting practice means-- 7,a7 an activity 7including an activity that does not require the use of a composting facility7 to produce compost from organic waste that is-- 7i7 generated on a farm2 or 7ii7 brought to a farm from the nearby community2 and 7,b7 the use and active management of compost on a farm to improve water retention and soil health1 subject to the condition that such use shall be in compliance with applicable ,federal1 ,state1 and local laws4 4 #d4 ,environmental ,quality ,incentives ,program ,section #abdj;,a7#f77;,a77ii7 of the ,food ,security ,act of #aihe 7#af ,u4,s4,c4 #chci;aa-#a7f77;,a77ii77 is amended by inserting and composting practices before the semicolon4 #e4 ,conservation stewardship program ,section #abdj;,i7#b77;,b77i7 of the ,food ,security ,act of #aihe 7#af ,u4,s4,c4 #chci;aa-#ba7b77;,b77i77 is amended by inserting and composting practices after drainage management systems4 #f4 ,delivery of technical assistance ,section #abdb7;h7 of the ,food ,security ,act of #aihe 7#af ,u4,s4,c4 #chdb7;h77 is amended by adding at the end the following3 7#e7 ,development of composting practice standard ,not later than one year after the date of enactment of this paragraph1 the ,secretary shall-- 7,a7 conduct a review of the composting facilities practice standard and the soil carbon amendment practice standard to determine their adequacy in advancing alternative manure management and on-farm composting generation and utilization2 and 7,b7 develop and implement a new conservation practice standard for the on-farm production of compost4 4