Bill > S3760

This bill amends the Agricultural Credit Act of 1978 to authorize the Secretary of Agriculture, acting through a state, local government, Indian tribe, or water district (a "sponsor"), to carry out emergency watershed protection measures on National Forest System land. The key provisions are: 1) The Secretary can enter into agreements with sponsors to undertake emergency watershed protection measures necessary to address runoff, soil erosion, and flood mitigation caused by natural disasters or other natural occurrences that have impaired natural resources on National Forest System land. 2) Sponsors must complete these measures within 2 years and can monitor, maintain, repair, or replace them for up to 3 additional years if failure would result in unacceptable risk. 3) The Secretary can make partial payments prior to project completion and final payment within 30 days of completion, and the matching requirements for these payments are waived. 4) Sponsors carrying out the measures are not required to indemnify the U.S. or be liable for any resulting injury, loss, or damage, unless they acted with willful or wanton negligence. 5) Emergency watershed protection measures under this bill are deemed emergency response actions for the purposes of complying with the National Environmental Policy Act.