,,ii #aaith ,,congress #b;d ,session ,s4 #ecji ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,august #f1 #bjbf,mr4 ,padilla 7for himself1 ,mr4 ,heinrich1 and ,mr4 ,schiff7 introduced the following bill2 which was read twice and referred to the ,committee on ,agriculture1 ,nutrition1 and ,forestry ,a ,,bill ,to amend the ,food ,security ,act of #aihe to provide payments for alternative manure management practices under the environmental quality incentives program1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,converting ,our ,waste ,sustainably ,act of #bjbf or the ,,cows ,act of #bjbf4 #b4 ,definitions 7a7 ,in general ,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#c7 through 7#ab71 respectively2 7#b7 by inserting before paragraph 7#c7 7as so redesignated7 the following3 7#a7 ,alternative manure management practice ,the term alternative manure management practice 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 methods1 as determined by the ,secretary4 7#b7 ,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 2 and 7#c7 in paragraph 7#h7 7as so redesignated71 in subparagraph 7,a7-- 7,a7 in clause 7vi71 by striking and at the end2 7,b7 by redesignating clause 7vii7 as clause 7ix72 and 7,c7 by inserting after clause 7vi7 the following3 7vii7 composting practices2 7viii7 alternative manure management practices2 and 4 7b7 ,conservation activities ,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 7as defined in section #abdj;,a7 after drainage management systems4 #c4 ,establishment and administration 7a7 ,in general ,section #abdj;,b of the ,food ,security ,act of #aihe 7#af ,u4,s4,c4 #chci;aa-#b7 is amended-- 7#a7 in subsection 7d77#g7-- 7,a7 in the paragraph heading1 by inserting state-determined before high-priority2 and 7,b7 in subparagraph 7,a7-- 7i7 in clause 7iii71 by striking or at the end2 7ii7 in clause 7iv71 by striking the period at the end and inserting 2 or2 and 7iii7 by adding at the end the following3 7v7 increases carbon sequestration or reduces greenhouse gas emissions1 including emissions of methane and nitrous oxide4 2 7#b7 in subsection 7f77#a71 by inserting and alternative manure management practices after including grazing management practices2 7#c7 by redesignating subsections 7h7 through 7j7 as subsection 7i7 through 7k71 respectively2 and 7#d7 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 that practice4 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 under the program that includes an alternative manure management practice under this subsection shall have a term that does not exceed #c years4 4 7b7 ,conforming amendments 7#a7 ,section #abdj;,g of the ,food ,security ,act of #aihe 7#af ,u4,s4,c4 #chci;aa-#g7 is amended by striking #abdj;,b7j7 and inserting #abdj;,b7k74 7#b7 ,section #abda7;i77#b77;,d7 of the ,food ,security ,act of #aihe 7#af ,u4,s4,c4 #chda7;i77#b77;,d77 is amended by striking #abdj;,b7h77#b7 and inserting #abdj;,b7i77#b74 #d4 ,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 indenting the subparagraphs appropriately2 7#b7 in the matter preceding subparagraph 7,a7 7as so redesignated71 by striking ,in evaluating and inserting the following3 7#a7 ,in general ,in evaluating 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 applications under the program that include an alternative manure management practice to prioritize applications that will maximize-- 7i7 carbon sequestration2 7ii7 greenhouse gas emissions reductions2 and 7iii7 overall environmental and public health benefits1 including improved water quality and quantity4 7,b7 ,additional criteria ,in awarding contracts under the program that include an alternative manure management practice1 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 under the program for a shared composting facility2 7ii7 that group of producers may jointly enter into a contract under the program with the ,secretary2 and 7iii7 the ,secretary allocates payments to each producer that is a party to that joint contract4 7,d7 ,serving certain producers ,to the maximum extent practicable1 the ,secretary shall award the majority of contracts under the program that include an alternative manure management practice each fiscal year to small and medium-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 #e4 ,duties of the ,secretary ,section #abdj;,f of the ,food ,security ,act of #aihe 7#af ,u4,s4,c4 #chci;aa-#f7 is amended-- 7#a7 in the matter preceding paragraph 7#a71 by inserting 7a7 ,in general4-- before ,to the extent2 and 7#b7 by adding at the end the following3 7b7 ,alternative manure management ,with respect to contracts under the program that include an alternative manure management practice1 the ,secretary shall-- 7#a7 determine and publish factors for estimating the carbon sequestration and greenhouse gas emissions reductions for each alternative manure management practice2 7#b7 identify eligible producers based on the alternative 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 practices by-- 7,a7 providing payments for designing and implementing #a 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 practices to ensure adequate technical services are available to that eligible producer4 4 #f4 ,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 7#b7 in subsection 7a7 7as so designated71 by striking 1 regardless of the number of contracts entered into under this subchapter by the person or legal entity2 and 7#c7 by adding 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 #abdj;,g for a payment made under a contract under the program that includes an alternative manure management practice if the ,secretary determines that the waiver is necessary to fulfill the objectives of the applicable project2 and 7#b7 impose a separate payment limitation for the contract with respect to which that waiver applies4 4 #g4 ,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 adding at the end the following3 7,,viii7 alternative manure management practices2 and 4 #h4 ,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 #a 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 the adequacy of those practice standards in advancing alternative manure management practices 7as defined in section #abdj;,a7 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