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March 3, 2009
NACD Officers Hold Washington, D.C. Meetings
Last week, NACD President Steve Robinson, First Vice
President Gene Schmidt, Second Vice President Earl Garber
and Secretary/Treasurer Jack Majeres convened their first
business meeting of the year in Washington, D.C. While in
D.C., the officers spent considerable time reviewing
internal processes and setting priorities, meeting with
NACD staff directors on policy, communications, operations
and member services. The team also spent time focusing on
NACD’s fiscal year 2009 budget and planning process.
The officer team took advantage of the opportunity to be in
D.C. to hold meetings on policy matters, visiting with NRCS
Acting Chief Dave White to discuss the status of
implementation of the 2008 Farm Bill, security issues
impacting district's ability to assist in delivery of
conservation programs and technical assistance as well as
the upcoming conservation partnership meeting. The officers
also made visits to Capitol Hill to discuss with lawmakers
NACD’s fiscal year 2010 appropriations priorities, Farm
Bill implementation and climate change mitigation.
Biographical information on the 2009 NACD officer team is
available on our website at http://www.nacdnet.org/about/leaders/officers.phtml.
FY 2009 Omnibus Moves in House, Debate Remains in Senate
Last week, the U.S. House of Representatives approved an
omnibus bill to provide funding to federal agencies for the
remainder of fiscal year 2009 (FY09). The House voted
245-178 to
send the measure to the Senate for approval. Funding for
conservation under the omnibus includes $853 million for
Conservation Technical Assistance, $256 million for State
and Private Forestry, and $200 million for 319 Nonpoint
Source Grants. As of press time, the Senate had brought the
omnibus up for debate on the floor, but had not yet taken a
vote on the measure. Congress has until this Friday, March 6
to approve FY09 spending when the current continuing
resolution expires. Should the omnibus not pass, a second
continuing resolution would be necessary to continue to
fund the federal government. Congress must resolve FY09
spending before moving forward with work on FY 2010
appropriations bills.
Farm Bill Comment Deadlines Approaching
The deadlines for public comment on the interim final
regulations for several Farm Bill conservation programs are
quickly approaching. Comments on the Environmental Quality
Incentives Program and the Regional Equity and the Wetlands
Reserve Program are due on March 16. Comments on the
Farmland Protection Program, the Wildlife Habitat
Incentives Program and Technical Service Providers are due
on March 17. Comments on the Grasslands Reserve Program
are due on March 23.
NACD is working through the Legislative Committee to
prepare the Association’s comments on these programs.
Conservation districts are encouraged to submit comments
on how programs can best be implemented at the local level.
Additional information on these programs and the
regulations can be found at http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/farmbill/2008/index.html.
NACD Comments on Proposed Guidelines for Construction
Stormwater Discharge
Last week NACD submitted comments on the Environmental
Protection Agency’s (EPA) proposed effluent limitations
guidelines and new source performance standards to control
the discharge of pollutants from construction sites. The
proposed rule would establish minimum requirements on a
national basis to ensure certain sites reduce the amount of
sediment, turbidity, total suspended solids and other
pollutants in stormwater discharges.
In its comments, NACD emphasized that effective erosion
control and sediment containment starts with a full
understanding of pre-disturbance conditions, particularly
soils. The Association cautioned EPA against a
one-size-fits-all approach as soils and site conditions
are widely divergent across the nation. NACD expressed
concern about costly requirements that do little to
control sedimentation on certain sites, and that the
30-acre limit could result in smaller, more intense
development rather than clustered ones with large open
spaces.
NACD also encouraged EPA to identify conservation
districts in the proposed guidelines as providers of
technical assistance. Click here to view the full text of NACD’s comments.
NACD Staff Offer National Perspective at State Meetings
Several NACD staff members have been on the go these last
few weeks, attending state association meetings and
providing information and support to members. Within the last
week, NACD staff met with our members in Arizona,
New Hampshire and Tennessee.
NACD Western Issues Specialist Ralph Thier was in
Phoenix, Ariz. last week participating in the Association
of Arizona Natural Resource Conservation Districts winter
legislative conference. Approximately 50-60 participants
representing the 42 conservation districts in Arizona
participated in the meeting. Thier was an active
participant at the meeting, giving presentations on
western issues, an NACD view of the American Recovery and
Reinvestment Act of 2009 and its effect on conservation and
an update of NACD activities.
NACD Senior Advisor and Northeast Region Representative Rich
Duesterhaus traveled to Portsmouth, N.H. to attend the
Northeast Region’s annual session. Thirty conservation
leaders from six New England states met to share common
opportunities and discuss challenges. The agenda included
brief state updates, opportunities for districts to market
farm bill conservation programs, use of "stimulus" funds to
advance conservation, watershed work including low impact
development, a brief NACD report and forestry advances in the
2008 Farm Bill.
Also, NACD Southeast Region Representative Phylis Vandevere
traveled to Johnson City, Tenn. early this week to speak at
the 65th annual meeting of the Tennessee Association of
Conservation Districts. Three hundred people from across
the state braved the winter weather to participate in the
convention. The theme of the meeting was “People—Conservation’s Past and Future” and main topics of
discussion at the meeting included the impact of state
budget short falls on agriculture in the state and NRCS
the implementation of the 2008 Farm Bill.
Members from across the U.S. Visit NACD Headquarters
There is strength in numbers; having members from every
state and territory in the United States is what makes NACD
a strong association. It has been exciting to have many of
those members drop by the NACD Headquarters Office in
Washington, D.C. over the first few months of 2009 to visit
and update staff on their activities at home and their
meetings with members of Congress and NACD partners.
Even more exciting is the chance to give them a tour of the
newly renovated NACD office and have adequate and appropriate space to host meetings
with them. Recent visitors include members from Mississippi,
New York, Texas, Washington, Oregon, New Hampshire, Kentucky,
Georgia and Minnesota, to name a few.
Whether you are in Washington, D.C. representing your state
association or local conservation district or just here as
a tourist, be sure to stop by 509 Capitol Court the next
time you are in town. You are always welcome, and we love to
show off the renovations you are helping support!
NACD Participates in Ranching and Conservation Summit
NACD Western Issues Specialist Ralph Thier joined about 100
individuals representing around 40 organizations last week
in Salt Lake City, Utah at a Ranching and Conservation
Summit. The meeting was sponsored by the Bureau of Land
Management, California Cattlemen’s Association, Colorado
Cattlemen’s Association, Environmental Defense Fund, Gila
County Cattle Grower’s Association, Oregon Cattlemen’s
Association, Public Lands Council, U.S. Forest Service and
the Wyoming Stock Growers Association.
The goal of the Summit was to identify tools and strategies
needed to maintain a stable climate for ranching operations
and their conservation benefits in the West. Discussions
focused on public relations, legislation and litigation.
Following background statements by invited speakers the
audience divided into smaller work groups to generate ideas
on ways to achieve goals of the Summit. They came to a
consensus to form a Western Rangeland Coalition to further
the goals of the Summit. NACD has extensive, long-standing
policy regarding grazing lands and will be a valued member
of the coalition.
Webcast Available on SmartGrowth and Urban Forestry
Over the years, NACD has encouraged districts to get
engaged in local and state efforts for SmartGrowth. Another
opportunity to learn more is a March 19 webcast sponsored
by the Alliance for Community Trees in partnership with the
USDA Forest Service and Home Depot. This event, titled
“SmartGrowth and Urban Forestry - Part II: City Planning,”
is scheduled for 1:00-2:00 p.m. EST. Participants will learn
about green infrastructure, urban greening and land banking;
the challenges of creating attractive and healthier built
environments; financial sustainability and how these
programs are cost effective; what authority and partnerships
are necessary; and why to include trees in planning.
You can register for this free event online by clicking here.
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