§ 700.1 - Purpose and scope.

(a) The purpose of this part is for the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), with certain concurrences by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), to set forth regulations to carry out an experimental Rural Clean Water Program (RCWP) as authorized by the Agriculture, Rural Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, fiscal year 1980, Pub. L. 96-108 (hereinafter referred to as the “1980 Appropriations Act”) and subsequent appropriations.

(b) The RCWP will provide financial and technical assistance to private land owners and operators (participants) having control of agricultural land. The assistance is provided through long-term contracts of 3 to 10 years to install best management practices (BMPs) in approved project areas which have critical water quality problems resulting from agricultural activities. The project area must reflect the water quality priority concerns developed through the established water quality management program process. Participation RCWP is voluntary.

(c) This is a new USDA program using the experiences under various on-going USDA programs and the established water quality management program of EPA.