PL 115-334 Agricultural Improvement Act of 2018 Sec 2408 - Feral Swine Eradication

PL 115-334 Agricultural Improvement Act of 2018 (Became law 12/20/2018)

SEC. 2408. FERAL SWINE ERADICATION AND CONTROL PILOT PROGRAM.

1. IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall establish a feral swine

eradication and control pilot program to respond to the threat

feral swine pose to agriculture, native ecosystems, and human

and animal health.

2. DUTIES OF THE SECRETARY.—In carrying out the pilot program,

the Secretary shall—

1. study and assess the nature and extent of damage

to the pilot areas caused by feral swine;

2. develop methods to eradicate or control feral swine

in the pilot areas;

3. develop methods to restore damage caused by feral

swine; and

4. provide financial assistance to agricultural producers

in pilot areas.

3. ASSISTANCE.—The Secretary may provide financial assistance

to agricultural producers under the pilot program to implement

methods to—

(1) eradicate or control feral swine in the pilot areas; and

(2) restore damage caused by feral swine.

4. COORDINATION.—The Secretary shall ensure that the Natural

Resources Conservation Service and the Animal and Plant

Health Inspection Service coordinate for purposes of this section

through State technical committees established under section

1261(a) of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3861(a)).

5. PILOT AREAS.—The Secretary shall carry out the pilot program

in areas of States in which feral swine have been identified

as a threat to agriculture, native ecosystems, or human or animal

health, as determined by the Secretary.

6. COST SHARING.— (1) FEDERAL SHARE.—The Federal share of the costs of

activities under the pilot program may not exceed 75 percent

of the total costs of such activities.

(2) IN-KIND CONTRIBUTIONS.—The non-Federal share of the

costs of activities under the pilot program may be provided

in the form of in-kind contributions of materials or services.

7. FUNDING.—

(1) MANDATORY FUNDING.—Of the funds of the Commodity

Credit Corporation, the Secretary shall use to carry out this

section $75,000,000 for the period of fiscal years 2019 through

2023.

(2) DISTRIBUTION OF FUNDS.—Of the funds made available

under paragraph (1)—

1. 50 percent shall be allocated to the Natural

Resources Conservation Service to carry out the pilot program,

including the provision of financial assistance to

producers for on-farm trapping and technology related to

capturing and confining feral swine; and

2. 50 percent shall be allocated to the Animal and

Plant Health Inspection Service to carry out the pilot program,

including the use of established, and testing of

innovative, population reduction methods.

(3) LIMITATION ON ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES.—Not more

than 10 percent of funds made available under this section

may be used for administrative expenses of the pilot program.