((a)) ** Preservation and protection of security, lien, or priority of lien securing loan** The Secretary is authorized and empowered to make advances, without regard to any loan or total indebtedness limitation, to preserve and protect the security for or the lien or priority of the lien securing any loan or other indebtedness owing to, insured by, or acquired by the Secretary under this chapter or under any other programs administered by the Farmers Home Administration or the Rural Development Administration; to bid for and purchase at any execution, foreclosure, or other sale or otherwise to acquire property upon which the United States has a lien by reason of a judgment or execution arising from, or which is pledged, mortgaged, conveyed, attached, or levied upon to secure the payment of, any such indebtedness whether or not such property is subject to other liens, to accept title to any property so purchased or acquired; and to sell, manage, or otherwise dispose of such property as hereinafter provided.
((b)) ** Operation or lease of realty** Except as provided in subsections (c) and (e), real property administered under the provisions of this chapter may be operated or leased by the Secretary for such period or periods as the Secretary may deem necessary to protect the Government’s investment therein.
((c)) ** Sale of property**
((1)) ** In general** Subject to this subsection and subsection (e)(1)(A), the Secretary shall offer to sell real property that is acquired by the Secretary under this chapter using the following order and method of sale:
((A)) ** Advertisement** Not later than 15 days after acquiring real property, the Secretary shall publicly advertise the property for sale.
((B)) ** Beginning farmer or rancher; socially disadvantaged farmer or rancher**
((i)) ** In general** Not later than 135 days after acquiring real property, the Secretary shall offer to sell the property to a qualified beginning farmer or rancher or a socially disadvantaged farmer or rancher at current market value based on a current appraisal.
((ii)) ** Random selection** If more than 1 qualified beginning farmer or rancher or socially disadvantaged farmer or rancher offers to purchase the property, the Secretary shall select between the qualified applicants on a random basis.
((iii)) ** Appeal of random selection** A random selection or denial by the Secretary of a beginning farmer or rancher or a socially disadvantaged farmer or rancher for farm inventory property under this subparagraph shall be final and not administratively appealable.
((iv)) ** Combining and dividing of property** To the maximum extent practicable, the Secretary shall maximize the opportunity for beginning farmers or ranchers and socially disadvantaged farmers or ranchers to purchase real property acquired by the Secretary under this chapter by combining or dividing inventory parcels of the property in such manner as the Secretary determines to be appropriate.
((C)) ** Public sale** If no acceptable offer is received from a qualified beginning farmer or rancher or a socially disadvantaged farmer or rancher under subparagraph (B) not later than 135 days after acquiring the real property, the Secretary shall, not later than 30 days after the 135-day period, sell the property after public notice at a public sale, and, if no acceptable bid is received, by negotiated sale, at the best price obtainable.
((2)) ** Previous lease** In the case of real property acquired before , that the Secretary leased before , not later than 60 days after the lease expires, the Secretary shall offer to sell the property in accordance with paragraph (1).April 4, 19961996-04-04April 4, 19961996-04-04
((3)) ** Interest**
((A)) ** In general** Subject to subparagraph (B), any conveyance of real property under this subsection shall include all of the interest of the United States in the property, including mineral rights.
((B)) ** Conservation** The Secretary may for conservation purposes grant or sell an easement, restriction, development right, or similar legal right to real property to a State, a political subdivision of a State, or a private nonprofit organization separately from the underlying fee or other rights to the property owned by the United States.
((4)) ** Other law** Chapters 1 to 11 of title 40 and division C (except sections 3302, 3307(e), 3501(b), 3509, 3906, 4710, and 4711) of subtitle I of title 41 shall not apply to any exercise of authority under this chapter.
((5)) ** Lease of property**
((A)) ** In general** Subject to subparagraph (B), the Secretary may not lease any real property acquired under this chapter.
((B)) ** Exception**
((i)) ** Beginning farmer or rancher; socially disadvantaged farmer or rancher** The Secretary may lease or contract to sell to a beginning farmer or rancher or a socially disadvantaged farmer or rancher a farm or ranch acquired by the Secretary under this chapter if the beginning farmer or rancher or the socially disadvantaged farmer or rancher qualifies for a credit sale or direct farm ownership loan under subchapter I but credit sale authority for loans or direct farm ownership loan funds, respectively, are not available.
((ii)) ** Term** The term of a lease or contract to sell to a beginning farmer or rancher or a socially disadvantaged farmer or rancher under clause (i) shall be until the earlier of—
((I)) the date that is 18 months after the date of the lease or sale; or
((II)) the date that direct farm ownership loan funds or credit sale authority for loans becomes available to the beginning farmer or rancher or the socially disadvantaged farmer or rancher.
((iii)) ** Income-producing capability** In determining the rental rate on real property leased under this subparagraph, the Secretary shall consider the income-producing capability of the property during the term that the property is leased.
((6)) ** Expedited determination**
((A)) ** In general** On the request of an applicant, not later than 30 days after denial of the applicant’s application, the appropriate State director shall provide an expedited review and determination of whether the applicant is a beginning farmer or rancher or a socially disadvantaged farmer or rancher for the purpose of acquiring farm inventory property.
((B)) ** Appeal** The determination of a State Director under subparagraph (A) shall be final and not administratively appealable.
((C)) ** Effects of determinations**
((i)) ** In general** The Secretary shall maintain statistical data on the number and results of determinations made under subparagraph (A) and the effect of the determinations on—
((I)) selling farm inventory property to beginning farmers or ranchers and socially disadvantaged farmers or ranchers; and
((II)) disposing of real property in inventory.
((ii)) ** Notification** The Secretary shall notify the Committee on Agriculture of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate if the Secretary determines that the review process under subparagraph (A) is adversely affecting the selling of farm inventory property to beginning farmers or ranchers or socially disadvantaged farmers or ranchers or the disposing of real property in inventory.
((d)) ** Easements; condemnations** With respect to any real property administered under this chapter, the Secretary is authorized to grant or sell easements or rights-of-way for roads, utilities, and other appurtenances not inconsistent with the public interest. With respect to any rights-of-way over land on which the United States has a lien administered under this chapter, the Secretary may release said lien upon payment to the United States of adequate consideration, and the interest of the United States arising under any such lien may be acquired for highway purposes by any State or political subdivision thereof in condemnation proceedings under State law by service by certified mail upon the United States attorney for the district, the State Director of the Farmers Home Administration for the State in which the farm is located, and the Attorney General of the United States: , That the United States shall not be required to appear, answer, or respond to any notice or writ sooner than ninety days from the time such notice or writ is returnable or purports to be effective, and the taking or vesting of title to the interest of the United States shall not become final under any proceeding, order, or decree until adequate compensation and damages have been finally determined and paid to the United States or into the registry of the court.Provided, however
((e)) ** Real property located within Indian reservation; conservation practices; adverse effects prohibition**
((1))
((A))
((i)) Except as provided in subparagraph (D), if—
((I)) the Secretary acquires property under this chapter that is located within an Indian reservation; and
((II)) the borrower-owner is the Indian tribe that has jurisdiction over the reservation in which the real property is located or the borrower-owner is a member of such Indian tribe;
((ii)) For purposes of this subparagraph, the term “Indian reservation” means all land located within the limits of any Indian reservation under the jurisdiction of the United States, notwithstanding the issuance of any patent, and, including rights-of-way running through the reservation; trust or restricted land located within the boundaries of a former reservation of a federally recognized Indian tribe in the State of Oklahoma; or all Indian allotments the Indian titles to which have not been extinguished if such allotments are subject to the jurisdiction of a federally recognized Indian tribe.
((iii)) Not later than 90 days after acquiring the property, the Secretary shall afford an opportunity to purchase or lease the real property in accordance with the order of priority established under clause (iv) by the Indian tribe having jurisdiction over the Indian reservation within which the real property is located or, if no order of priority is established by such Indian tribe under clause (iv), in the following order:
((I)) to an Indian member of the Indian tribe that has jurisdiction over the reservation within which the real property is located;
((II)) to an Indian corporate entity;
((III)) to such Indian tribe.
((iv)) The governing body of any Indian tribe having jurisdiction over an Indian reservation may revise the order of priority provided in clause (iii) under which lands located within such reservation shall be offered for purchase or lease by the Secretary under clause (iii) and may restrict the eligibility for such purchase or lease to—
((I)) persons who are members of such Indian tribe,
((II)) Indian corporate entities that are authorized by such Indian tribe to lease or purchase lands within the boundaries of such reservation, or
((III)) such Indian tribe itself.
((v)) If real property described in clause (i) is not purchased or leased under clause (iii) and the Indian tribe having jurisdiction over the reservation within which the real property is located is unable to purchase or lease the real property, the Secretary shall transfer the real property to the Secretary of the Interior who shall administer the real property as if the real property were held in trust by the United States for the benefit of such Indian tribe. From the rental income derived from the lease of the transferred real property, and all other income generated from the transferred real property, the Secretary of the Interior shall pay those State, county, municipal, or other local taxes to which the transferred real property was subject at the time of acquisition by the Secretary, until the earlier of—
((I)) the expiration of the 4-year period beginning on the date on which the real property is so transferred, or
((II)) such time as the lands are transferred into trust pursuant to clause (viii).
((vi)) At any time any real property is transferred to the Secretary of the Interior under clause (v), the Secretary of Agriculture shall be deemed to have no further responsibility under this Act for collection of any amounts with regard to the farm program loan which had been secured by such real property, nor with regard to any lien arising out of such loan transaction, nor for repayments of any amount with regard to such loan transactions or liens to the Treasury of the United States, and the Secretary of the Interior shall be deemed to have succeeded to all right, title and interest of the Secretary of Agriculture in such real estate arising from the farm program loan transaction, including the obligation to remit to the Treasury of the United States, in repayment of the original loan, those amounts provided in clause (vii).
((vii)) After the payment of any taxes which are required to be paid under clause (v), all remaining rental income derived from the lease of the real property transferred to the Secretary of the Interior under clause (v), and all other income generated from the real property transferred to the Secretary of the Interior under clause (v), shall be deposited as miscellaneous receipts in the Treasury of the United States until the amount deposited is equal to the lesser of—
((I)) the amount of the outstanding lien of the United States against such real property, as of the date the real property was acquired by the Secretary;
((II)) the fair market value of the real property, as of the date of the transfer to the Secretary of the Interior; or
((III)) the capitalized value of the real property, as of the date of the transfer to the Secretary of the Interior.
((viii)) When the total amount that is required to be deposited under clause (vii) with respect to any real property has been deposited into the Treasury of the United States, title to the real property shall be held in trust by the United States for the benefit of the Indian tribe having jurisdiction over the Indian reservation within which the real property is located.
((ix)) Notwithstanding any other clause of this subparagraph, the Indian tribe having jurisdiction over the Indian reservation within which the real property described in clause (i) is located may, at any time after the real property has been transferred to the Secretary of the Interior under clause (v), offer to pay the remaining amount on the lien, or the fair market value of the real property, whichever is less. Upon payment of such amount, title to such real property shall be held by the United States in trust for the tribe and such trust or restricted lands that have been acquired by the Secretary under foreclosure or voluntary transfer under a loan made or insured under this chapter and transferred to an Indian person, entity, or tribe under the provisions of this subparagraph shall be deemed to have never lost trust or restricted status.
((x)) This subparagraph shall apply to all lands in the land inventory established under this chapter (as of ) that were (immediately prior to ) owned by an Indian borrower-owner described in clause (i) and that are situated within an Indian reservation (as defined in clause (ii)), regardless of the date of foreclosure or acquisition by the Secretary. The Secretary shall afford an opportunity to a tribal member, an Indian corporate entity, or the tribe to purchase or lease the real property as provided in clause (iii). If the right is not exercised or no expression of intent to exercise such right is received within 180 days after , the Secretary shall transfer the real property to the Secretary of the Interior as provided in clause (v).
((B)) The rights provided in this subsection shall be in addition to any such right of first refusal under the law of the State in which the property is located.
((C)) As used in this paragraph, the term “borrower-owner” means—
((i)) a borrower from whom the Secretary acquired real farm or ranch property (including the principal residence of the borrower) used to secure any loan made to the borrower under this chapter; or
((ii)) in any case in which an owner of property pledged the property to secure the loan and the owner is different than the borrower, the owner.
((D))
((i)) If—
((I)) the real property described in subparagraph (A)(i) is located within an Indian reservation;
((II)) the borrower-owner is an Indian tribe that has jurisdiction over the reservation in which the real property is located or the borrower-owner is a member of an Indian tribe;
((III)) the borrower-owner has obtained a loan made, insured, or guaranteed under this chapter; and
((IV)) the borrower-owner and the Secretary have exhausted all of the procedures provided for in this chapter to permit a borrower-owner to retain title to the real property, such that it is necessary for the borrower-owner to relinquish title,
((ii)) The Secretary shall provide the borrower-owner of real property that is described in clause (i) with written notice of—
((I)) the right of the borrower-owner to voluntarily convey the real property to the Secretary; and
((II)) the fact that real property so conveyed will be placed in the inventory of the Secretary.
((iii)) The Secretary shall provide the borrower-owner of the real property with written notice of the rights and protections provided under this chapter to the borrower-owner, and the Indian tribe that has jurisdiction over the reservation in which the real property is located, from foreclosure or liquidation of the real property, including written notice of—
((I)) the provisions of subparagraph (A), this subparagraph, and subsection (g)(6);
((II)) if the borrower-owner does not voluntarily convey the real property to the Secretary, that—
((aa)) the Secretary may foreclose on the property;
((bb)) in the event of foreclosure, the property will be offered for sale;
((cc)) the Secretary must offer a bid for the property that is equal to the fair market value of the property or the outstanding principal and interest of the loan, whichever is higher;
((dd)) the property may be purchased by another party; and
((ee)) if the property is purchased by another party, the property will not be placed in the inventory of the Secretary and the borrower-owner will forfeit the rights and protections provided under this chapter; and
((III)) the opportunity of the borrower-owner to consult with the Indian tribe that has jurisdiction over the reservation in which the real property is located or counsel to determine if State or tribal law provides rights and protections that are more beneficial than those provided the borrower-owner under this chapter.
((iv))
((I)) Except as provided in subclause (II), the Secretary shall accept the voluntary conveyance of real property described in clause (i).
((II)) If a hazardous substance (as defined in ) is located on the property and the Secretary takes remedial action to protect human health or the environment if the property is taken into inventory, the Secretary shall accept the voluntary conveyance of the property only if the Secretary determines that it is in the best interests of the Federal Government.
((v))
((I)) ** .—** If an Indian borrower-owner does not voluntarily convey to the Secretary real property described in clause (i), not less than 30 days before a foreclosure sale of the property, the Secretary shall provide the Indian borrower-owner with the option of—
((aa)) requiring the Secretary to assign the loan and security instruments to the Secretary of the Interior, if the Secretary of the Interior agrees to an assignment releasing the Secretary of Agriculture from all further responsibility for collection of any amounts with regard to the loan secured by the real property; or
((bb)) requiring the Secretary to assign the loan and security instruments to the tribe having jurisdiction over the reservation in which the real property is located, if the tribe agrees to the assignment.
((II)) ** .—** If an Indian borrower-owner does not voluntarily convey to the Secretary real property described in clause (i), not less than 30 days before a foreclosure sale of the property, the Secretary shall provide written notice to the Indian tribe that has jurisdiction over the reservation in which the real property is located of—
((aa)) the sale;
((bb)) the fair market value of the property; and
((cc)) the requirements of this subparagraph.
((III)) ** .—** If an Indian tribe assumes a loan under subclause (I)—
((aa)) the Secretary shall not foreclose the loan because of any default that occurred prior to the date of the assumption;
((bb)) the loan shall be for the lesser of the outstanding principal and interest of the loan or the fair market value of the property; and
((cc)) the loan shall be treated as though the loan was made under sections 5136 to 5143 of title 25.
((vi))
((I)) Except as provided in subclause (II), at a foreclosure sale of real property described in clause (i), the Secretary shall offer a bid for the property that is equal to the higher of—
((aa)) the fair market value of the property; or
((bb)) the outstanding principal and interest of the loan.
((II)) If a hazardous substance (as defined in ) is located on the property and the Secretary takes remedial action to protect human health or the environment if the property is taken into inventory, subclause (I) shall apply only if the Secretary determines that it is in the best interests of the Federal Government.
((2)) The Secretary shall not offer for sale or sell any such farmland if the placing of such farmland on the market will have a detrimental effect on the value of farmland in the area.
((3))
((A)) The Secretary may sell farmland administered under this chapter through an installment sale or similar device that contains such terms as the Secretary considers necessary to protect the investment of the Federal Government in such land.
((B)) The Secretary may subsequently sell any contract entered into to carry out subparagraph (A).
((4)) In the case of farmland administered under this chapter that is highly erodible land (as defined in ), the Secretary may require the use of specified conservation practices on such land as a condition of the sale or lease of such land.
((5)) Notwithstanding any other provisions of law, compliance by the Secretary with this subsection shall not cause any acreage allotment, marketing quota, or acreage base assigned to such property to lapse, terminate, be reduced, or otherwise be adversely affected.
((6)) In the event of any conflict between any provision of this subsection and any provision of the law of any State providing a right of first refusal to the owner of farmland or the operator of a farm before the sale or lease of land to any other person, such provision of State law shall prevail.
((f)) ** Normal security income**
((1)) As used in this subsection, the term “normal income security” means all security not considered basic security, including crops, livestock, poultry products, Agricultural Stabilization and Conservation Service payments and Commodity Credit Corporation payments, and other property covered by Farmers Home Administration liens that is sold in conjunction with the operation of a farm or other business, but shall not include any equipment (including fixtures in States that have adopted the Uniform Commercial Code), or foundation herd or flock, that is the basis of the farming or other operation, and is the basic security for a Farmers Home Administration farmer program loan.
((2)) The Secretary shall release from the normal income security provided for such loan an amount sufficient to pay for the essential household and farm operating expenses of the borrower, until such time as the Secretary accelerates such loan.
((3)) A borrower whose account was accelerated on or after , and on or before , but not thereafter foreclosed on or liquidated, shall be entitled to the release of security income for a period of 12 months, to pay the essential household and farm operating expenses of such borrower in an amount not to exceed $18,000 over 12 months, if such borrower—
((A)) as of , continued to be actively engaged in the farming operations for which the Secretary had made the farmer program loan; and
((B)) as of the deadline for responding to the notice provided for under paragraph (5), requests restructuring of such loans pursuant to .
((4)) The county committee in the county in which borrower’s land is located shall determine whether the borrower has complied with the requirements of paragraph (3)(A).
((5))
((A)) Within 45 days after , the Secretary shall provide to the borrowers described in paragraph (3) notice by certified mail of the right of such borrowers to apply for the benefits under such paragraph.
((B)) Releases under such paragraph shall be made to qualified borrowers who have responded to the notice within 30 days after receipt.
((C)) Within 12 months after a borrower has requested restructuring under , the Secretary shall make a final determination on the request. Notwithstanding the 12-month limitation provided for in paragraph (3), releases shall continue to be made to the borrower until a denial or dismissal of the application of the borrower for restructuring under is made. The amount of essential household and farm operating expenses which may be released to any borrower eligible for such releases after 12 months may exceed $18,000, by an amount proportionate to the period of time beyond 12 months before a final determination is made by the Secretary.
((6)) If a borrower is required to plan for or to report on how proceeds from the sale of collateral property will be used, the Secretary shall—
((A)) notify the borrower of such requirement; and
((B)) notify the borrower of the right to the release of funds under this section and the means by which a request for the funds may be made.
((7)) The Secretary shall issue regulations consistent with this section that—
((A)) ensure the release of funds to each borrower; and
((B)) establish guidelines for releases under paragraph (3), including a list of expenditures for which funds will normally be released.
((g)) ** Easements on inventoried property**
((1)) ** In general** Subject to paragraph (2), in the disposal of real property under this section, the Secretary shall establish perpetual wetland conservation easements to protect and restore wetlands or converted wetlands that exist on inventoried property.
((2)) ** Limitation** The Secretary shall not establish a wetland conservation easement on an inventoried property that—
((A)) was cropland on the date the property entered the inventory of the Secretary; or
((B)) was used for farming at any time during the period beginning on the date 5 years before the property entered the inventory of the Secretary and ending on the date the property entered the inventory of the Secretary.
((3)) ** Notification** The Secretary shall provide prior written notification to a borrower considering preservation loan servicing that a wetlands conservation easement may be placed on land for which the borrower is negotiating a lease option.
((4)) ** Appraised value** The appraised value of the farm shall reflect the value of the land due to the placement of wetland conservation easements.