§ 3839c. Payments
(a)
Time of payment
The Secretary shall provide payment for obligations incurred by the Secretary under this part—
(b)
Cost sharing payments
In making cost sharing payments to owners under this part, the Secretary may pay up to 100 percent of the cost of establishing conservation measures and practices pursuant to this part.
(c)
Easement payments; acceptability of offers
(1)
Determination of amount
The Secretary shall determine the amount payable to owners in the form of easement payments under this part, and in making such determination may consider, among other things, the amount necessary to encourage owners to participate in the easement program.
(d)
Form of payment
Except as otherwise provided in this section, payments under this part—
(e)
Payments to others
If an owner who is entitled to a payment under this part dies, becomes incompetent, is otherwise unable to receive such payment, or is succeeded by another person who renders or completes the required performance, the Secretary shall make such payment, in accordance with regulations prescribed by the Secretary and without regard to any other provision of law, in such manner as the Secretary determines is fair and reasonable in light of all of the circumstances.
(f)
Payment limitation
(1)
In general
The total amount of easement payments made to a person under this part for any year may not exceed $50,000.
(2)
Regulations
The Secretary shall issue regulations prescribing such rules as the Secretary determines necessary to ensure a fair and reasonable application of the limitation contained in this subsection.
(4)
State environmental enhancement
The provisions of this subsection that limit payments to any person, and section 1305(d) of the Agricultural Reconciliation Act of 1987 (7 U.S.C. 1308 note ), shall not be applicable to payments received by a State, political subdivision, or agency thereof in connection with agreements entered into under an environmental easement enhancement program carried out by that entity that has been approved by the Secretary. The Secretary may enter into such agreements for payments to States, political subdivisions, or agencies thereof that the Secretary determines will advance the purposes of this part.