|
April 21, 2009
Congress Returns to Washington with a Busy Agenda
Congress is back in session this week following their
two-week spring recess period. A large agenda awaits members
of Congress, including completing the fiscal year
2010 (FY10) budget, beginning subcommittee work on FY10
appropriations, and debate on climate change legislation.
Prior to the recess, both the House and Senate passed FY10
budget resolutions. Work still remains as the two resolutions
must now go to conference to resolve differences. That work
must be done so that Congressional appropriators have a
budget to begin their work of making FY10 spending decisions.
NACD continues to be engaged to ensure full support for
conservation as Congress works on the FY10 budget and
appropriations.
Climate change legislation is also moving in Congress. This
week, the House Energy and Commerce Committee has scheduled
four days of hearings to consider draft legislation the
Committee released earlier this month. Congressional action
comes at the same time as the U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency is also moving on climate change policy (see related
story). NACD continues to work with Congress as action takes
place in each of these areas.
NACD Submits EQIP and WHIP Comments
Last Friday, NACD submitted comments to NRCS regarding the
interim final rules for the Environmental Quality Incentives
Program (EQIP) and the Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program
(WHIP). Changes to these programs were a result of
alterations made in the 2008 Farm Bill. In comments drafted
by the Legislative Committee, NACD stressed local input and
priority-setting and additional outreach to geographically
disadvantaged producers in both programs. NACD expressed
concerns about some provisions in the EQIP regulations which
would limit irrigation practices, restrict the use of the
program on federal lands and that might be too onerous for
forest landowners. A copy of these comment letters can be
viewed at http://www.nacdnet.org/policy/input/.
EPA Releases Proposed Endangerment Finding on Greenhouse
Gases
Last week the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued a
proposed endangerment finding that public welfare and health
are at risk with the contribution of greenhouse gases in air
pollution. The finding identifies six greenhouse gases that
are very likely to impact human health under the Clean Air
Act--carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide,
hydrofluorocarbons, perfluorocarbons and sulfur hexafluoride.
Potential impacts of climate change include increased
temperatures, more flooding, and harm to water resources,
wildlife and agriculture.
The endangerment finding will set the stage for the EPA to
start a process to place limits on the six pollutants and
will likely increase emphasis on climate change legislation
in Congress. The finding is subject to 60-day public comment
period. More information on the endangerment finding can be
found by clicking here.
NRCS Publishes State Technical Committee, Local Working
Group Guidelines
The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) recently
published in the Federal Register guidelines for State
Technical Committees and Local Working Groups.
The guidelines specify standard operating procedures for
State Technical Committees and Local Working Groups such as
membership requirements, operating procedures, meeting
criteria and standards for public participation. State
Technical Committees and Local Working Groups are critical
components of locally-led conservation. With recommendations
from Local Work Groups, State Technical Committees provide
information, analysis and recommendations to NRCS state
conservationists on priority resource concerns, watersheds
and standard conservation practices on Farm Bill conservation
programs.
NACD’s Legislative Committee will be developing comments to
submit on behalf of the association, but individual state
associations and conservation districts are also encouraged
to comment. The guidance is available for comment until
June 8, 2009 and is available for viewing in the
Federal Register.
Join the Joint Forestry Team for Upcoming Webinar
Join the Joint Forestry Team for its upcoming National Web
Conference entitled "Joint Forestry MOU Implementation". The
Joint Forestry Team is comprised of NACD, USDA Natural
Resources Conservation Service, USDA Forest Service and the
National Association of State Foresters. National leaders
from all four partner organizations will participate in the
webinar, discussing a variety of topics including success
stories from partners at the state, field and landscape
levels, joint forestry activities, 2008 Farm Bill
implementation and national-level updates. Participants
will also have an opportunity to share questions, comments
and concerns.
The webcast will take place Monday, May 4, 2009 from 2:30pm
to 4:00pm Eastern Standard Time. Access to the webinar is
free. Go to https://www.mymeetings.com/nc/join to join the
conference. The conference number is SA3010901 and the
password is 365838498. Contact Andy Mason or James Melonas with questions.
Fourth National Conference on Grazing Lands Call for
Papers
The 4th National Conference on Grazing Lands is scheduled
for December 13-16 in Sparks, Nevada. The conference will be
hosted by the Grazing Lands Conservation Initiative (GLCI),
the Society for Range Management (SRM) and other sponsoring
organizations.
Conference sponsors are accepting abstracts for oral and
poster papers in the following areas: issues concerning the
agricultural urban interface; successful "cutting edge"
management technologies for grazing practices; economic and
marketing implications of grazing; public policy
implications of grazing; and the optimizing of grazing land
health for environmental and social benefits.
All accepted papers and poster abstracts are eligible for
publication in the conference proceedings. Deadline for
abstract submission is May 1. Instructions for electronic
abstract submission are available on the GLCI website
at http://www.glci.org/4NCGLindex.htm.
|
