---
kind: "section"
citation: "7 U.S.C. § 6712"
title: "7"
title_heading: "Agriculture"
number: "6712"
heading: "Greenhouse Gas Technical Assistance Provider and Third-Party Verifier Program"
release: "119-102"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/7/6712"
units:
  - "Chapter 96 — Global Climate Change"
---

# §6712. Greenhouse Gas Technical Assistance Provider and Third-Party Verifier Program

- (a) **Definitions—** In this section:
  - (1) **Advisory Council—** The term “Advisory Council” means the [Greenhouse Gas](#a-5) [Technical Assistance](#a-9) Provider and Third-Party Verifier [Program](#a-6) Advisory Council established under [subsection (f)(1)](#f-1).
  - (2) **Agriculture or forestry credit—** The term “agriculture or forestry credit” means a credit representing an amount of [greenhouse gas](#a-5) emissions from an agricultural or forestry activity that are prevented, reduced, or mitigated (including through the sequestration of carbon) as a result of an agricultural or forestry activity.
  - (3) **Beginning, socially disadvantaged, limited resource, or veteran farmer, rancher, or private forest landowner—** The term “beginning, socially disadvantaged, limited resource, or veteran farmer, rancher, or private forest landowner” means a farmer, rancher, or private forest landowner who is—
    - (A) a [beginning farmer or rancher](/usc/7/1627c.md?p=a-1) (as defined in [section 2279(a) of this title](/usc/7/2279.md?p=a));
    - (B) a [socially disadvantaged farmer or rancher](/usc/7/1531.md?p=a-18) (as defined in [section 2003(e) of this title](/usc/7/2003.md?p=e));
    - (C) a limited resource farmer or rancher (as defined in [section 1470.3 of title 7, Code of Federal Regulations](/cfr/7/1470.3.md) (or successor regulations)); or
    - (D) a veteran farmer (as defined in [section 2279 of this title](/usc/7/2279.md)).
  - (4) **Covered entity—** The term “covered entity” means a [person](/usc/7/1471g.md?p=b-1) or entity, including a private business, non-profit organization, or public agency, that either—
    - (A) is a provider of [technical assistance](#a-9) to farmers, ranchers, or private forest landowners in carrying out sustainable land use management practices that prevent, reduce, or mitigate [greenhouse gas](#a-5) emissions (including through the sequestration of carbon); or
    - (B) is a third-party verifier entity that conducts the verification of the processes described in [protocols](#a-7) for [voluntary environmental credit markets](#a-10).
  - (5) **Greenhouse gas—** The term “greenhouse gas” means—
    - (A) carbon dioxide;
    - (B) methane;
    - (C) nitrous oxide; and
    - (D) any other gas that the Secretary, in consultation with the [Advisory Council](#a-1), determines has been identified to have heat trapping qualities.
  - (6) **Program—** The term “Program” means the [Greenhouse Gas](#a-5) [Technical Assistance](#a-9) Provider and Third-Party Verifier Program established under [subsection (b)](#b).
  - (7) **Protocol—** The term “protocol” means a systematic approach for generating an [agriculture or forestry credit](#a-2), which follows a transparent and thorough science-based methodology (including 1 or more baseline scenarios)—
    - (A) for the development of projects to prevent, reduce, or mitigate [greenhouse gas](#a-5) emissions (including projects to sequester carbon); and
    - (B) for demonstrating how to quantify, monitor, report, and verify the prevention, reduction, or mitigation of [greenhouse gas](#a-5) emissions by projects described in [subparagraph (A)](#a-7-A).
  - (8) **Socially disadvantaged group—** The term “socially disadvantaged group” has the meaning given that term in [section 2003(e) of this title](/usc/7/2003.md?p=e).
  - (9) **Technical assistance—** The term “technical assistance” means technical expertise, information, and tools to assist a farmer, rancher, or private forest landowner, who is engaged in or wants to engage in a project to prevent, reduce, or mitigate [greenhouse gas](#a-5) emissions (including a project to sequester carbon), as necessary to meet a [protocol](#a-7).
  - (10) **Voluntary environmental credit market—** The term “voluntary environmental credit market” means a voluntary market through which [agriculture or forestry credits](#a-2) may be bought or sold.
- (b) **Establishment of program—**
  - (1) **Determination—**
    - (A) **In general—** Not later than 270 days after December 29, 2022, the Secretary shall make a determination of whether establishing a voluntary [program](#a-6) to register [covered entities](#a-4) that carry out activities described in [subsection (c)(2)](#c-2) will further each of the following purposes:
      - (i) Facilitating the participation of farmers, ranchers, and private forest landowners in [voluntary environmental credit markets](#a-10).
      - (ii) Facilitating the provision of [technical assistance](#a-9), through [covered entities](#a-4), to farmers, ranchers, and private forest landowners to help overcome barriers to entry into [voluntary environmental credit markets](#a-10).
      - (iii) Ensuring that participating farmers, ranchers, and private forest landowners receive fair distribution of revenues derived from the sale of an [agriculture or forestry credit](#a-2).
      - (iv) Increasing access for farmers, ranchers, and private forest landowners to resources relating to existing [voluntary environmental credit markets](#a-10), including information relating to the basic market structure and the various roles and qualifications of different parties.
    - (B) **Considerations—** In making the determination under this paragraph, the Secretary shall consider the results of the assessment conducted under [subsection (g)(2)(A)](#g-2-A) and any other relevant information.
  - (2) **Establishment—** If the Secretary determines under [paragraph (1)](#b-1) that establishing such a [program](#a-6) will further such purposes, the Secretary shall establish a voluntary [program](#a-6), to be known as the “[Greenhouse Gas](#a-5) [Technical Assistance](#a-9) Provider and Third-Party Verifier [Program](#a-6)”, to register [covered entities](#a-4) that carry out activities described in [subsection (c)](#c).
  - (3) **Report—** Not later than 90 days after making the determination under [paragraph (1)](#b-1), the Secretary shall publish a report describing the reasons for such determination, including how establishing a [program](#a-6) under this subsection would or would not further each of the purposes described in [paragraph (1)(A)](#b-1-A).
- (c) **Protocols, qualifications, and activities—**
  - (1) **Widely accepted protocols and qualifications—** After providing public notice and at least a 60-day period for public comment, but not later than 90 days after the date on which the [Program](#a-6) is established, the Secretary shall publish—
    - (A) a list of, and documents relating to, widely accepted [protocols](#a-7) that are designed to ensure consistency, reliability, effectiveness, efficiency, and transparency of [voluntary environmental credit markets](#a-10), including [protocol](#a-7) documents and details relating to—
      - (i) calculations;
      - (ii) sampling methodologies;
      - (iii) voluntary environmental credit accounting principles;
      - (iv) systems for verification, monitoring, measurement, and reporting; and
      - (v) methods to account for additionality, permanence, leakage, and, where appropriate, avoidance of double counting; and
    - (B) descriptions of widely accepted qualifications possessed by [covered entities](#a-4) that provide [technical assistance](#a-9) to farmers, ranchers, and private forest landowners.
  - (2) **Activities—** A [covered entity](#a-4) may register under the [Program](#a-6) with respect to [technical assistance](#a-9) or process verification the [covered entity](#a-4) carries out for activities that prevent, reduce, or mitigate [greenhouse gas](#a-5) emissions, including—
    - (A) land or soil carbon sequestration;
    - (B) emissions reductions derived from fuel choice or reduced fuel use;
    - (C) livestock emissions reductions, including emissions reductions achieved through—
      - (i) feeds, feed additives, and the use of byproducts as feed sources; or
      - (ii) manure management practices;
    - (D) on-farm energy generation;
    - (E) energy feedstock production;
    - (F) fertilizer or nutrient use emissions reductions;
    - (G) reforestation;
    - (H) forest management, including improving harvesting practices and thinning diseased trees;
    - (I) prevention of the conversion of forests, grasslands, and wetlands;
    - (J) restoration of wetlands or grasslands;
    - (K) grassland management, including prescribed grazing;
    - (L) current practices associated with private land conservation [programs](#a-6) administered by the Secretary; and
    - (M) such other activities, or combinations of activities, that the Secretary, in consultation with the [Advisory Council](#a-1), determines to be appropriate.
  - (3) **Inclusions—** In publishing the list of widely accepted [protocols](#a-7) and the descriptions of widely accepted qualifications under [paragraph (1)](#c-1), the Secretary, in consultation with the [Advisory Council](#a-1), shall include all relevant information relating to market-based [protocols](#a-7), as appropriate, with regard to—
    - (A) quantification;
    - (B) verification;
    - (C) additionality;
    - (D) permanence;
    - (E) reporting; and
    - (F) other expertise, as determined by the Secretary.
  - (4) **Periodic review—** As appropriate, the Secretary shall periodically review and revise the list and descriptions published under [paragraph (1)](#c-1) to include any additional [protocols](#a-7) or qualifications described in [paragraph (3)](#c-3).
- (d) **Registration, website, and publication of lists—**
  - (1) **Registration list—**
    - (A) **In general—** Not later than 1 year after establishing the [Program](#a-6), the Secretary shall publish, through a website maintained by the Secretary, a registration list consisting of a list of [covered entities](#a-4) that have submitted information to the Secretary, which list the Secretary shall regularly update.
    - (B) **Registration—** A [covered entity](#a-4) may register under the [Program](#a-6) to be included on the registration list by submitting to the Secretary, through a website maintained by the Secretary, information that—
      - (i) shall include—
        - (I) the region in which the [covered entity](#a-4) provides its services;
        - (II) whether the [covered entity](#a-4) is a [technical assistance](#a-9) provider or a verifier; and
        - (III) the [protocols](#a-7) in which the [covered entity](#a-4) has proficiency; and
      - (ii) may include additional information that—
        - (I) has been identified by the [Advisory Council](#a-1) in its initial assessment under [subsection (g)(1)](#g-1) to ensure certainty for [producers](/usc/7/6802.md?p=4-A-iii-III-bb) in the marketplace for [agriculture or forestry credits](#a-2); and
        - (II) the Secretary determines is appropriate for inclusion.
  - (2) **Website and solicitation—** During the 180-day period beginning on the date on which the [Program](#a-6) is established, the Secretary shall publish, through an existing website maintained by the Secretary—
    - (A) information describing how [covered entities](#a-4) may register under the [Program](#a-6) in accordance with [paragraph (1)](#d-1);
    - (B) a list of the widely accepted [protocols](#a-7) and qualifications published by the Secretary under [subsection (c)(1)](#c-1); and
    - (C) instructions and suggestions to assist farmers, ranchers, and private forest landowners in facilitating the development of [agriculture or forestry credits](#a-2) and accessing [voluntary environmental credit markets](#a-10), including—
      - (i) through working with [covered entities](#a-4) registered under the [Program](#a-6); and
      - (ii) by providing information relating to [programs](#a-6), registries, and [protocols](#a-7) of [programs](#a-6) and registries that provide market-based participation opportunities for working and conservation agricultural and forestry lands.
  - (3) **Programmatic integrity—** The Secretary shall ensure, to the maximum extent practicable, that [covered entities](#a-4) registered under the [Program](#a-6)—
    - (A) act in good faith to provide realistic estimates of costs and revenues relating to activities and verification of processes described in [subsection (c)(2)](#c-2), as applicable to the [covered entity](#a-4); and
    - (B) demonstrate expertise in, and are able to perform in accordance with, best management practices for agricultural and forestry activities that prevent, reduce, or mitigate [greenhouse gas](#a-5) emissions (including through the sequestration of carbon).
  - (4) **Removal from registration list—**
    - (A) **In general—**
      - (i) **Removal—** The Secretary shall remove a [covered entity](#a-4) from the registration list under the [Program](#a-6) if the Secretary determines that the [covered entity](#a-4) has not acted in accordance with—
        - (I) the information provided by the entity under [paragraph (1)(B)](#d-1-B); or
        - (II) best management practices for agricultural and forestry activities that prevent, reduce, or mitigate [greenhouse gas](#a-5) emissions (including through the sequestration of carbon).
      - (ii) **Determination—** The Secretary may make a determination under [clause (i)](#d-4-A-i)—
        - (I) based on a periodic review of a representative sample of [covered entities](#a-4), which shall occur not less frequently than once each year; or
        - (II) as necessary.
    - (B) **Appeal of removal—**
      - (i) **In general—** A [covered entity](#a-4) that has been removed from the registration list pursuant to [subparagraph (A)](#d-4-A) may appeal the determination to the Secretary.
      - (ii) **Re-registration—** A [covered entity](#a-4) that appeals a determination under [clause (i)](#d-4-B-i) may re-register under the [Program](#a-6) if the [covered entity](#a-4) successfully proves, as determined by the Secretary, that the [covered entity](#a-4) has acted in accordance with, as applicable—
        - (I) the information provided by the entity under [paragraph (1)(B)](#d-1-B); and
        - (II) best management practices for agricultural and forestry activities that prevent, reduce, or mitigate [greenhouse gas](#a-5) emissions (including through the sequestration of carbon).
    - (C) **Notification—** If the Secretary removes a [covered entity](#a-4) from the registration list pursuant to [subparagraph (A)](#d-4-A), to the extent practicable, the Secretary shall—
      - (i) request from that [covered entity](#a-4) contact information for all farmers, ranchers, and private forest landowners to which the [covered entity](#a-4) provided [technical assistance](#a-9) or the verification of the processes described in [protocols](#a-7) of [voluntary environmental credit markets](#a-10); and
      - (ii) notify those farmers, ranchers, and private forest landowners of the removal.
  - (5) **Savings clause—** Nothing in this section authorizes the Secretary to compel a farmer, rancher, or private forest landowner to participate in a transaction or project facilitated by a [covered entity](#a-4) certified under [paragraph (1)](#d-1).
- (e) **Submission of fraudulent information or claims—**
  - (1) **In general—** A [person](/usc/7/1471g.md?p=b-1) or entity, regardless of whether the [person](/usc/7/1471g.md?p=b-1) or entity is registered under the [Program](#a-6), shall not make a fraudulent submission under [subsection (d)](#d) or make a fraudulent claim regarding the presence of that [person](/usc/7/1471g.md?p=b-1) or entity on the registration list published under such subsection.
  - (2) **Penalty—** Any [person](/usc/7/1471g.md?p=b-1) or entity that violates [paragraph (1)](#e-1) shall be—
    - (A) subject to a civil penalty equal to such amount as the Secretary determines to be appropriate, not to exceed $1,000 per violation; and
    - (B) ineligible to register under the [Program](#a-6) for the 5-year period beginning on the date of the violation.
- (f) **Greenhouse Gas Technical Assistance Provider and Third-Party Verifier Program Advisory Council—**
  - (1) **In general—** During the 90-day period beginning on the date on which the [Program](#a-6) is established, the Secretary shall establish an [advisory council](#a-1), to be known as the “[Greenhouse Gas](#a-5) [Technical Assistance](#a-9) Provider and Third-Party Verifier [Program](#a-6) [Advisory Council](#a-1)”.
  - (2) **Membership—**
    - (A) **In general—** The [Advisory Council](#a-1) shall be composed of members appointed by the Secretary in accordance with this paragraph.
    - (B) **General representation—** The [Advisory Council](#a-1) shall—
      - (i) be broadly representative of the agriculture and private forest sectors;
      - (ii) include beginning, socially disadvantaged, limited resource, and veteran farmers, ranchers, and private forest landowners; and
      - (iii) be composed of not less than 51 percent farmers, ranchers, or private forest landowners.
    - (C) **Members—** Members appointed under [subparagraph (A)](#f-2-A) shall include—
      - (i) not more than 2 representatives of the Department of Agriculture, as determined by the Secretary;
      - (ii) not more than 1 representative of the Environmental Protection Agency, as determined by the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency;
      - (iii) not more than 1 representative of the National [Institute](/usc/7/4531.md?p=6) of Standards and Technology;
      - (iv) not fewer than 12 representatives of the agriculture industry, appointed in a manner that is broadly representative of the agriculture sector, including not fewer than 6 active farmers and ranchers;
      - (v) not fewer than 4 representatives of private forest landowners or the forestry and forest products industry appointed in a manner that is broadly representative of the private forest sector;
      - (vi) not more than 4 representatives of the relevant scientific research community, including not fewer than 2 representatives from land-grant colleges and universities (as defined in [section 3103 of this title](/usc/7/3103.md)), of which 1 shall be a representative of a college or university eligible to receive [funds](/usc/7/4531.md?p=5) under the Act of August 30, 1890 (commonly known as the “Second Morrill Act”) (26 Stat. 417, chapter 841; [7 U.S.C. 321](/usc/7/321.md) et seq.), including Tuskegee University;
      - (vii) not more than 2 experts or professionals familiar with [voluntary environmental credit markets](#a-10) and the verification requirements in those markets;
      - (viii) not more than 3 members of nongovernmental or civil society organizations with relevant expertise, of which not fewer than 1 shall represent the interests of [socially disadvantaged groups](#a-8);
      - (ix) not more than 3 members of private sector entities or organizations that participate in [voluntary environmental credit markets](#a-10); and
      - (x) any other individual whom the Secretary determines to be necessary to ensure that the [Advisory Council](#a-1) is composed of a diverse group of representatives of industry, academia, independent researchers, and public and private entities.
    - (D) **Chair—** The Secretary shall designate a member of the [Advisory Council](#a-1) to serve as the Chair.
    - (E) **Terms—**
      - (i) **In general—** The term of a member of the [Advisory Council](#a-1) shall be 2 years, except that, of the members first appointed—
        - (I) not fewer than 8 members shall serve for a term of 1 year;
        - (II) not fewer than 12 members shall serve for a term of 2 years; and
        - (III) not fewer than 12 members shall serve for a term of 3 years.
      - (ii) **Additional terms—** After the initial term of a member of the [Advisory Council](#a-1), including the members first appointed, the member may serve not more than 4 additional 2-year terms.
  - (3) **Meetings—**
    - (A) **Frequency—** The [Advisory Council](#a-1) shall meet not less frequently than annually, at the call of the Chair.
    - (B) **Initial meeting—** During the 90-day period beginning on the date on which the members are appointed under [paragraph (2)(A)](#f-2-A), the [Advisory Council](#a-1) shall hold an initial meeting.
  - (4) **General duties—** The [Advisory Council](#a-1) shall—
    - (A) periodically review and recommend any appropriate changes to—
      - (i) the list of [protocols](#a-7) and description of qualifications published by the Secretary under [subsection (c)(1)](#c-1); and
      - (ii) the activities described in [subsection (c)(1)(B)](#c-1-B);
    - (B) make recommendations to the Secretary regarding the best practices that should be included in the [protocols](#a-7), description of qualifications, and activities described in [subparagraph (A)](#f-4-A); and
    - (C) advise the Secretary regarding—
      - (i) the current methods used by [voluntary environmental credit markets](#a-10) to quantify and verify the prevention, reduction, or mitigation of [greenhouse gas](#a-5) emissions (including the sequestration of carbon);
      - (ii) means to reduce barriers to entry in the business of providing [technical assistance](#a-9) or the verification of the processes described in [protocols](#a-7) of [voluntary environmental credit markets](#a-10) for [covered entities](#a-4), including by improving [technical assistance](#a-9) provided by the Secretary;
      - (iii) means to reduce compliance and verification costs for farmers, ranchers, and private forest landowners in entering [voluntary environmental credit markets](#a-10), including through mechanisms and processes to aggregate the value of activities across land ownership;
      - (iv) issues relating to land and asset ownership in light of evolving [voluntary environmental credit markets](#a-10); and
      - (v) additional means to reduce barriers to entry in [voluntary environmental credit markets](#a-10) for farmers, ranchers, and private forest landowners, particularly for beginning, socially disadvantaged, limited resource, and veteran farmers, ranchers, and private forest landowners.
  - (5) **Compensation—** The members of the [Advisory Council](#a-1) shall serve without compensation.
  - (6) **Conflict of interest—** The Secretary shall prohibit any member of the [Advisory Council](#a-1) from—
    - (A) engaging in any determinations or activities of the [Advisory Council](#a-1) that may result in the favoring of, or a direct and predictable effect on—
      - (i) the member or a family member, as determined by the Secretary;
      - (ii) stock owned by the member or a family member, as determined by the Secretary; or
      - (iii) the employer of, or a business owned in whole or in part by, the member or a family member, as determined by the Secretary; or
    - (B) providing advice or recommendations regarding, or otherwise participating in, matters of the [Advisory Council](#a-1) that—
      - (i) constitute a conflict of interest under [section 208 of title 18](/usc/18/208.md); or
      - (ii) may call into question the integrity of the [Advisory Council](#a-1), the [Program](#a-6), or the [technical assistance](#a-9) or verification activities described under [subsection (c)(2)](#c-2).
  - (7) **FACA applicability—** The [Advisory Council](#a-1) shall be subject to the Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.),[^1] except that [section 14(a)(2)](/usc/7/14.md) of that Act shall not apply.
- (g) **Assessment—**
  - (1) **Initial assessment—** Not later than 90 days after the [Advisory Council](#a-1) holds an initial meeting, the [Advisory Council](#a-1) shall submit to the Secretary, the [Committee](/usc/7/2132.md?p=n) on Agriculture of the House of Representatives, and the [Committee](/usc/7/2132.md?p=n) on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate an initial assessment that examines ways to ensure certainty for farmers, ranchers, or private forest landowners in the marketplace for [agriculture or forestry credits](#a-2), including identification of any information that may be appropriate for entities to provide when registering under [subsection (d)(1)(B)](#d-1-B).
  - (2) **General assessment—** Not later than 240 days after December 29, 2022, the Secretary, in consultation with the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, shall—
    - (A) conduct an assessment, which incorporates information from existing publications and reports of the Department of Agriculture and other entities with relevant expertise, regarding—
      - (i) the number and categories of non-Federal actors in the nonprofit and for-profit sectors involved in development, generation, or sale of [agriculture or forestry credits](#a-2) in [voluntary environmental credit markets](#a-10);
      - (ii) the estimated overall domestic market demand for [agriculture or forestry credits](#a-2) at the end of the preceding 4-calendar year period, and historically, in [voluntary environmental credit markets](#a-10);
      - (iii) the total number of [agriculture or forestry credits](#a-2) (measured in metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent) that were estimated to be in development, generated, or sold in market transactions during the preceding 4-calendar year period, and historically, in [voluntary environmental credit markets](#a-10);
      - (iv) the estimated supply and demand of metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent of offsets in the global marketplace for the next 4 years;
      - (v) the barriers to entry due to compliance and verification costs described in [subsection (f)(4)(C)(iii)](#f-4-C-iii);
      - (vi) the [state](/usc/7/1359aa.md?p=5) of monitoring and measurement technologies needed to quantify long-term carbon sequestration in soils and from other activities to prevent, reduce, or mitigate [greenhouse gas](#a-5) emissions in the agriculture and forestry sectors;
      - (vii) means to reduce barriers to entry into [voluntary environmental credit markets](#a-10) for beginning, socially disadvantaged, limited resource, and veteran farmers, ranchers, and private forest landowners, and the extent to which existing [protocols](#a-7) of [voluntary environmental credit markets](#a-10) allow for aggregation of projects among farmers, ranchers, and private forest landowners;
      - (viii) the extent to which the existing regimes for generating and selling [agriculture or forestry credits](#a-2) (as the regimes exist at the end of the preceding 4-calendar year period, and historically), and existing [voluntary environmental credit markets](#a-10), may be impeded or constricted, or achieve greater scale and reach, if the Department of Agriculture were involved, including involvement in education described in [clause (ix)](#g-2-A-ix);
      - (ix) the extent to which Department of Agriculture education of stakeholders about [voluntary environmental credit markets](#a-10) would benefit those stakeholders, including whether that education would reduce barriers to entry identified under [clause (v)](#g-2-A-v);
      - (x) the extent to which existing [protocols](#a-7) of [voluntary environmental credit markets](#a-10), including verification, additionality, permanence, and reporting, adequately take into consideration and account for factors encountered by the agriculture and private forest sectors in preventing, reducing, or mitigating [greenhouse gas](#a-5) emissions (including by sequestering carbon) through agriculture and forestry practices, considering variances across regions, topography, soil types, crop or species varieties, and business models;
      - (xi) the extent to which existing [protocols](#a-7) of [voluntary environmental credit markets](#a-10) consider options to ensure the continued valuation, through discounting or other means, of agriculture and forestry credits in the case of the practices underlying those credits being disrupted due to unavoidable events, including production challenges and natural disasters; and
      - (xii) opportunities for other voluntary markets outside of [voluntary environmental credit markets](#a-10) to foster the trading, buying, or selling of credits that are derived from activities that provide other ecosystem service benefits, including activities that improve water quality, water quantity, wildlife habitat enhancement, and other ecosystem services, as the Secretary determines appropriate;
    - (B) publish the assessment; and
    - (C) submit the assessment to the [Committee](/usc/7/2132.md?p=n) on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate and the [Committee](/usc/7/2132.md?p=n) on Agriculture of the House of Representatives.
  - (3) **Quadriennial assessment—** The Secretary, in consultation with the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency and the [Advisory Council](#a-1), shall conduct the assessment described in [paragraph (2)(A)](#g-2-A) and publish and submit such assessment in accordance with subparagraphs [(B)](#g-2-B) and [(C)](#g-2-C) of paragraph (2) every 4 years after the publication and submission of the first assessment under subparagraphs [(B)](#g-2-B) and [(C)](#g-2-C) of paragraph (2).
- (h) **Confidentiality—**
  - (1) **Prohibition—**
    - (A) **In general—** Except as provided in [paragraph (2)](#h-2), the Secretary, any other officer or employee of the Department of Agriculture or any agency of the Department of Agriculture, or any other [person](/usc/7/1471g.md?p=b-1) may not disclose to the public the information held by the Secretary described in [subparagraph (B)](#h-1-B).
    - (B) **Information—**
      - (i) **In general—** Except as provided in [clause (ii)](#h-1-B-ii), the information prohibited from disclosure under [subparagraph (A)](#h-1-A) is—
        - (I) personally identifiable information, including in a [contract](/usc/7/518.md?p=4) or service agreement, of a farmer, rancher, or private forest landowner, obtained by the Secretary under [subsection (d)(4)(C)(i)](#d-4-C-i); and
        - (II) confidential business information in a [contract](/usc/7/518.md?p=4) or service agreement of a farmer, rancher, or private forest landowner obtained by the Secretary under [subsection (d)(4)(C)(i)](#d-4-C-i).
      - (ii) **Aggregated release—** Information described in [clause (i)](#h-1-B-i) may be released to the public if the information has been transformed into a statistical or aggregate form that does not allow the identification of the [person](/usc/7/1471g.md?p=b-1) who supplied or is the subject of the particular information.
  - (2) **Exception—** [Paragraph (1)](#h-1) shall not prohibit the disclosure by an officer or employee of the Federal Government of information described in [paragraph (1)(B)](#h-1-B) as otherwise directed by the Secretary or the Attorney General for enforcement purposes.
- (i) **Funding—**
  - (1) **Authorization of appropriations—** In addition to the amount made available under [paragraph (2)](#i-2), there is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section $1,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2023 through 2027.
  - (2) **Direct funding—**
    - (A) **Rescission—** There is rescinded $4,100,000 of the unobligated balance of amounts made available by section 1003 of the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (Public Law 117–2).
    - (B) **Appropriation—** If such unobligated amounts are available to execute the rescission under [subparagraph (A)](#i-2-A), on the day after the execution of the rescission, there is appropriated to the Secretary, out of amounts in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, $4,100,000 to carry out this section to remain available for fiscal years 2023 through 2027.
  - (3) **Prohibition—** None of the [funds](/usc/7/4531.md?p=5) of the [Commodity](/usc/7/1a.md?p=9) Credit [Corporation](/usc/7/1502.md?p=b-5) shall be used to carry out this section.
- (j) **Rule of construction—** Nothing in this section shall be construed to provide [authority](/usc/7/2009aa.md?p=1) to the Secretary for the establishment or operation of a Federal market through which [agriculture or forestry credits](#a-2) may be bought or sold.

## Footnotes

[^1]: See References in Text note below.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 117–328, div. HH, title I, § 201, Dec. 29, 2022, 136 Stat. 5971.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### References in Text

Act of August 30, 1890, referred to in subsec. (f)(2)(C)(vi), is act Aug. 30, 1890, ch. 841, 26 Stat. 417, popularly known as the Agricultural College Act of 1890 and also as the Second Morrill Act, which is classified generally to subchapter II (§ 321 et seq.) of chapter 13 of this title. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under section 321 of this title and Tables.

The Federal Advisory Committee Act, referred to in subsec. (f)(7), is Pub. L. 92–463, Oct. 6, 1972, 86 Stat. 770, which was set out in the Appendix to Title 5, Government Organization and Employees, and was substantially repealed and restated in chapter 10 (§ 1001 et seq.) of Title 5 by Pub. L. 117–286, §§ 3(a), 7, Dec. 27, 2022, 136 Stat. 4197, 4361. Section 14 of the Act was repealed and restated as section 1013 of Title 5. For disposition of sections of the Act into chapter 10 of Title 5, see Disposition Table preceding section 101 of Title 5.

Section 1003 of the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, referred to in subsec. (i)(2)(A), is section 1003 of Pub. L. 117–2, title I, Mar. 11, 2021, 135 Stat. 12, which is not classified to the Code.

### Codification

Section was enacted as part of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023, and not as part of the Global Climate Change Prevention Act of 1990 which comprises this chapter.

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Definition of “Secretary”

“Secretary” means the Secretary of Agriculture, see section 101 of div. HH of Pub. L. 117–328, set out as a note under section 2016a of this title.