SA 3690. Mr. REED submitted an amendment intended to be proposed to amendment SA 3500 proposed by Mr. Harkin (for himself, Mr. Chambliss, Mr. Baucus, and Mr. Grassley) to the bill H.R. 2419, to provide for the continuation of agricultural programs through fiscal year 2012, and for other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:

At the end of subtitle B of title XI, add the following:
SEC. 11__X. INCLUSION OF SUBAQUEOUS SOILS.
Section 9 of the Soil Conservation and Domestic Allotment Act (16 U.S.C. 590i) is amended--
(1) by striking the section designation and heading and all that follows through ``The Secretary is authorized to'' and inserting the following:
``SEC. 9. SURVEYS, INVESTIGATIONS, AND REPORTS.
``(a) In General.--The Secretary may'';
(2) in the second sentence, by striking ``Notwithstanding'' and inserting the following:
``(b) Publication of Information.--Notwithstanding''; and
(3) by adding at the end the following:
``(c) Inclusion of Subaqueous Soils.--
``(1) DEFINITION OF SUBAQUEOUS SOIL.--In this subsection, the term `subaqueous soil' means any soil that forms in a shallow (typically less than 2.5 meters deep), permanently flooded environment.
``(2) REQUIREMENT.--In carrying out a soil survey pursuant to this Act, the Secretary shall include an analysis of subaqueous soils in the region subject to the survey, as applicable.
``(3) STANDARDS.--
``(A) IN GENERAL.--As soon as practicable after the date of enactment of this subsection, the Secretary, acting through the Chief of the Natural Resources Conservation Service, shall develop standards (including protocols, nomenclature, and interpretive materials) for the collection and maintenance of information relating to subaqueous soils in the United States for purposes of this subsection.
``(B) CONSULTATION.--The Secretary, acting through the Chief of the Natural Resources Conservation Service, shall develop the standards under subparagraph (A) in consultation with appropriate Federal, State, and local agencies, nongovernmental organizations, and institutions of higher education.
``(4) CENTER FOR SUBAQUEOUS SOIL MAPPING, RHODE ISLAND.--
``(A) ESTABLISHMENT.--The Secretary, acting through the Chief of the Natural Resources Conservation Service, shall establish a center for subaqueous soil mapping in the State of Rhode Island.
``(B) DUTIES.--The center established under subparagraph (A) shall--
``(i) provide technology transfer leadership relating to subaqueous soil mapping throughout the United States, including by developing standards (including protocols, nomenclature, and interpretive materials) and mapping technologies relating to subaqueous soil mapping; and
``(ii) provide training and information to--
``(I) soil scientists employed by the Natural Resources Conservation Service; and
``(II) other individuals and entities involved in subaqueous soil mapping.''.


(As printed in the Congressional Record for the Senate on Nov 15, 2007.)