,i #aaith ,,congress #ast ,session ,h4 ,r4 #ehge ,,in ,,the ,,house ,,of ,,representatives ,october #ca1 #bjbe,mr4 ,costa 7for himself1 ,mr4 ,valadao1 ,ms4 ,pingree1 and ,mr4 ,gray7 introduced the following bill2 which was referred to the ,committee on ,agriculture ,a ,,bill ,to provide for the reform and continuation of agricultural and other programs of the ,department of ,agriculture through fiscal year #bjbi1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,converting ,our ,waste ,sustainably ,act of #bjbe or the ,,cows ,act of #bjbe4 #b4 ,sense of ,congress ,it is the sense of ,congress that-- 7#a7 the ,alternative ,manure ,management ,program 7,,ammp7 is a successful program in ,california that supports the livestock industry and is an example of what can be done nationally in the ,united ,states through a variety of practices on responsible manure management2 7#b7 the #aie existing projects under ,,ammp are contributing towards the reduction of #a1fjj1jjj metric tons of greenhouse gases2 and 7#c7 these practices enhance sustainability and nurture continued environmental stewardship1 ultimately leading to enhanced local air quality and recycled manure for use as a natural fertilizer or compost for healthier soil4 #c4 ,definitions 7a7 ,composting practice ,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 an activity 7including an activity that does not require the use of a composting facility7 to produce compost from organic waste that is-- 7,a7 generated on a farm2 or 7,b7 brought to a farm from the nearby community2 and 7,c7 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 7b7 ,alternative manure management ,section #abdj;,a of the ,food ,security ,act of #aihe 7#af ,u4,s4,c4 #chci;aa-#a7 is amended-- 7#a7 by redesignating paragraphs 7#a7 through 7#aj7 as paragraphs 7#b7 through 7#aa71 respectively2 and 7#b7 by inserting before paragraph 7#b71 as so redesignated1 the following3 7#a7 ,alternative manure management practices ,the term alternative manure management practices means management measures that reduce baseline methane and nitrous oxide emissions and1 where applicable1 reduce nitrate leaching into groundwater or improve carbon sequestration1 including-- 7,a7 converting to or improving pasture-based management1 including management-intensive rotational grazing 7as defined in section #abdj,l7d77#a772 7,b7 compost-bedded pack barns that compost manure1 slatted floor pit storage that is cleaned out at least once a month1 or other similar practices as determined by the ,secretary2 and 7,c7 solid separation1 scrape and vacuum technologies1 or other measures1 including manure management system retrofits1 that primarily avoid wet handling and storage infrastructure in conjunction with-- 7i7 open or enclosed solar drying2 7ii7 composting2 7iii7 vermiculture or vermifiltration2 7iv7 forced evaporation2 7v7 solid storage2 or 7vi7 other similar methods as determined by the ,secretary4 4 7c7 ,practice ,subparagraph 7,a7 of section #abdj;,a7#g7 of the ,food ,security ,act of #aihe 7#af ,u4,s4,c4 #chci;aa-#a7g771 as so redesignated by subsection 7a71 is amended-- 7#a7 in clause 7ii71 by inserting and composting practices after practices2 7#b7 in clause 7vi71 by striking the and at the end2 7#c7 by redesignating clause 7vii7 as clause 7ix72 and 7#d7 by inserting after clause 7vi7 the following3 7vii7 composting practices2 7viii7 alternative manure management practices2 and 4 7d7 ,inclusions ,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 #d4 ,establishment and administration 7a7 ,increased payments for high-,priority practices ,section #abdj;,b7d77#g7 of the ,food ,security ,act of #aihe 7#af ,u4,s4,c4 #chci;aa-#b7;d77#g77 is amended-- 7#a7 in the paragraph heading1 by inserting state-determined before high-priority2 and 7#b7 in subparagraph 7,a7-- 7,a7 in clause 7iii71 by striking or at the end2 7,b7 in clause 7iv71 by striking the period at the end and inserting 2 or2 and 7,c7 by adding at the end the following3 7v7 increases carbon sequestration or reduces greenhouse gas emissions1 including emissions of methane and nitrous oxide4 4 7b7 ,livestock ,section #abdj;,b7f77#a7 of the ,food ,security ,act of #aihe 7#af ,u4,s4,c4 #chci;aa-#b7;f77#a77 is amended by inserting and alternative manure management after including grazing management4 7c7 ,alternative manure management practices ,section #abdj;,b of the ,food ,security ,act of #aihe 7#af ,u4,s4,c4 #chci;aa-#b7 is amended-- 7#a7 by redesignating subsections 7h7 through 7j7 as subsection 7i7 through 7k71 respectively2 and 7#b7 by inserting after subsection 7g7 the following3 7h7 ,alternative ,manure ,management ,practices 7#a7 ,payment amounts ,the ,secretary may provide a payment for an alternative manure management practice 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#b7 ,advanced payments ,the ,secretary shall provide at least #ej percent of the amount of total payments for an alternative manure management practice 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 7#c7 ,term ,a contract awarded under this section shall have a term that does not exceed #c years4 4 #e4 ,prioritization of applications ,section #abdj;,c7b7 of the ,food ,security ,act of #aihe 7#af ,u4,s4,c4 #chci;aa-#c7;b77 is amended-- 7#a7 by redesignating paragraphs 7#a7 through 7#d7 as subparagraphs 7,a7 through 7,d71 respectively1 and by indenting such subparagraphs #b ems to the right2 7#b7 in the matter preceding subparagraph 7,a71 as redesignated by paragraph 7#a71 by striking ,in evaluating applications under this subchapter1 the ,secretary shall prioritize applications-- and inserting the following3 7#a7 ,in general ,in evaluating applications under this subchapter1 the ,secretary shall prioritize applications-- 2 and 7#c7 by adding at the end the following3 7#b7 ,alternative manure management applications 7,a7 ,in general ,the ,secretary shall develop criteria for evaluating and ranking alternative manure management contract offers to prioritize applications that will maximize-- 7i7 carbon sequestration2 7ii7 greenhouse gas emissions reductions2 and 7iii7 the overall environmental and public health benefits1 including improved water quality and quantity4 7,b7 ,additional criteria ,in awarding alternative manure management applications1 the ,secretary shall develop criteria to ensure-- 7i7 geographical diversity2 7ii7 scale diversity1 including support for small and medium sized dairy and livestock operations2 and 7iii7 participation by operations with a demonstrated track record of adopting conservation measures and reducing greenhouse gas emissions4 7,c7 ,cluster applications ,the ,secretary shall establish procedures under which-- 7i7 a group of producers may submit a joint application for a shared composting facility2 and 7ii7 the ,secretary allocates payments to each eligible producer associated with that joint contract4 7,d7 ,serving certain producers ,to the maximum extent practicable1 the ,secretary shall award the majority of alternative manure contracts finalized each fiscal year to offers from small and mid-sized dairy and livestock operations1 including-- 7i7 beginning farmers or ranchers2 7ii7 limited resource farmers and ranchers2 and 7iii7 socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers4 4 #f4 ,duties of the ,secretary ,section #abdj;,f of the ,food ,security ,act of #aihe 7#af ,u4,s4,c4 #chci;aa-#f7 is amended by-- 7#a7 inserting 7a7 ,in general4-- before ,to the extent appropriate1 the ,secretary shall assist a producer in achieving the conservation and environmental goals of a program plan by--2 and 7#b7 inserting at the end the following3 7b7 ,alternative manure management ,for alternative manure management contracts1 the ,secretary shall-- 7#a7 determine and publish factors for estimating the carbon sequestrations and greenhouse gas emissions reductions for each alternative manure management practice2 7#b7 identify eligible producers based on manure management practices used at the time of application1 including the anaerobic decomposition of volatile solids stored in a lagoon or other predominantly liquid anaerobic environment and their ability to replace or complement that anaerobic system with an alternative manure management practice2 and 7#c7 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 systems by-- 7,a7 providing payments for designing and implementing one or more alternative manure management practices2 7,b7 providing that eligible producer with information1 technical assistance1 and training to aid in implementation of the alternative manure management practices2 7,c7 reviewing the adequacy of existing conservation practice standards for supporting the alternative manure management practices and1 if necessary-- 7i7 revising existing conservation practice standards2 and 7ii7 developing new conservation practice standards2 and 7,d7 entering into cooperative agreements with third-party technical assistance providers with relevant expertise in alternative manure management systems to ensure adequate technical services are available to alternative manure management applicants4 4 #g4 ,limitation on payments ,section #abdj;,g of the ,food ,security ,act of #aihe 7#af ,u4,s4,c4 #chci;aa-#g7 is amended-- 7#a7 by inserting 7a7 ,in general4-- before ,not including payments2 and 7#b7 by striking 1 regardless of the number of contracts entered into under this subchapter by the person or legal entity and inserting at the end the following3 7b7 ,waiver authority and limitation ,the ,secretary may-- 7#a7 waive the applicability of the limitations in section #ajja;,d7b7 or section #abdj7;,g7 for a payment made under an alternative manure management contract if the ,secretary determines that the waiver is necessary to fulfill the objectives of the project2 and 7#b7 impose a separate payment limitation for the contract with respect to which the waiver applies4 4 #h4 ,new or innovative conservation approach ,section #abdj;,h7c77#a77;,b77i7 of the ,food ,security ,act of #aihe 7#af ,u4,s4,c4 #chci;aa-#h7;c77#a77;,b77i77 is amended-- 7#a7 in subclause 7,,vi71 by striking and at the end2 and 7#b7 by inserting at the end the following3 7,,viii7 alternative manure management practices2 and 4 #i4 ,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