NRCS Wetland Compliance and Appeals Reform Act

This bill reforms wetland compliance and appeal processes under the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). It directly affects farmers and ranchers who face NRCS wetland determinations by shifting the burden of proof to the agency (requiring clear evidence to prove violations), prohibiting retroactive penalties for past wetland conversions where NRCS hadn't previously certified the area as wetland, and preventing NRCS from using new arguments after a successful appeal. Key provisions include requiring on-site visits for wetland determinations, creating formal appeal processes for rejected wetland certification requests, and mandating that successful appellants receive reimbursement for legal fees. The reforms aim to make the NRCS wetland compliance system fairer and more transparent for agricultural landowners.