December 4, 2007 eNotes - National Association of Conservation Districts

December 4, 2007
index to previous eNotes

1. Final Energy Bill Moves Forward
Over the Thanksgiving holiday, members of the conference committee on the Energy Bill reached an agreement on a final proposal. The U.S. House of Representatives and Senate each passed different energy bills earlier in the year, but differences between the two bills had to be resolved before proceeding. The House is expected to bring the conference report up for a vote this week. The agreement includes an increase in Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) to 35 miles per gallon by 2020, and includes an increased renewable fuels standard and a renewable electricity standard. Senate consideration of the conference report is uncertain at this time, as several Senators have expressed concern over provisions of the bill. The House and Senate must pass the same bill and present it to the President for his signature for the bill to become law.

2. Farm Bill and Funding Bill Status Remains Uncertain
The House and Senate Members have returned to Washington from their two-week Thanksgiving recess, but timing of the Farm Bill debate remains uncertain. Staff and certain Senators met over the recess to see which of the 200+ proposed amendments could be agreed upon and which would be debated by the Senate. Rumors of an agreement on the debate and votes on 15 amendments have not translated into formal action.

NACD again urged the Senate to move forward on the Farm Bill, signing a letter with several commodity groups and the specialty crop alliance. The letter, addressed to Majority Leader Reid and Ranking Member McConnell asked them to agree on a process for completing the 2007 Farm Bill before the end of the year.

Now that Congress has returned from recess, they must also address funding for fiscal year 2008. With only one of the twelve annual appropriations bills signed into law, it is likely Congress will pass an Omnibus appropriations measure that includes funding for the remaining eleven bills (including Agriculture, Interior and EPA). However, the Congressional funding proposal is likely to exceed the President’s recommendations, so the President may veto. Current funding for government operations expires on December 14. NACD President Olin Sims was in Washington last week and met with Appropriations Committee staff to reiterate NACD’s priorities and stress the need for constancy, the ability to plan and a final funding measure for FY 2008. Sims also conveyed the need for a new farm bill during several meetings with Senate Agriculture Committee staff.

3. Districts Discuss Conservation from Many Different Angles
The return from Thanksgiving was not exactly slow and easy. NACD leaders and staff delved right back into the action, addressing conservation priorities from many different angles. NACD President Olin Sims was in town with a very full schedule. Below are brief highlights from three key meetings. For further details, please contact NACD at (202) 547-6223.

Conservation Partnership Quarterly Meeting
Leaders and staff from the five member partners of the Conservation Partnership (NACD, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, National Association of State Conservation Agencies, National Association of RC&D Councils and National Association of Conservation District Employees Association) gathered in Washington, D.C., to participate in strategic planning activities, provide member updates and recommit to the National Partnership Statement.

25x25 Roundtable Discussion
NACD Director of Legislative Affairs Keira Franz and Western Issues Specialist Ralph Thier participated last week in a roundtable discussion hosted by 25x25. The roundtable focused on agriculture and forestry’s role in a reduced carbon economy. NACD is a member of the 25x25 coalition, a group aiming for 25 percent of our resources coming from renewable sources by 2025.

Joint Forestry Team Meeting
The Joint Forestry Team was formally chartered during a joint leadership meeting of the USDA- Forest Service (FS) and the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). President Olin Sims signed the Team charter along with leaders from National Association of State Foresters, FS and NRCS. The entire Joint Forestry Team meeting is available for viewing at http://www.visualwebcaster.com/event.asp?id=44277. At the webcast, you can also download an overview of the Team’s makeup, the Team charter, results of the recent forestry survey and other details.

4. America’s Voice for Conservation—Coming to You from Windy Wyoming
America's Voice for Conservation The wind is blowing as hard as every in Wyoming this winter. NACD President Olin Sims took a break from work on his ranch in McFadden, Wyo. to bring to you the December edition of America’s Voice for Conservation. Click here to hear from Sims as he updates you on NACD activities and gets us all ready for Reno!

5. NACD and SE Districts Participate in DOD Conservation Planning Meeting
NACD Southeast Regional Representative Phylis Vandevere and conservation districts from Georgia, Florida, Alabama and North Carolina recently participated in a conservation planning meeting with the Department of Defense (DOD) and other partners. The session, held in Macon, Ga., was part of an ongoing effort by DOD to establish a conservation corridor between military bases in the southeast region of the United States. The activities of a large number of major testing and training facilities in the southeast region are threatened by increasing development and urban sprawl. The installations are also dealing with a growing number of invasive and endangered species that result in major conservation challenges.

DOD officials have reached out to NACD for information and input as they search for ways to better work with private landowners. While this particular meeting focused on activities in the Southeast, DOD is interested similar projects around the country and hopes to work with conservation districts to manage these challenges. DOD Assistant Secretary Alex Beehler will address these issues and potential opportunities for conservation districts at NACD’s 2008 Annual Meeting in Reno, Nevada.

6. NACD Spreads the Conservation Message
The flurry of state association’s annual meetings continues, and NACD staff and officers are on the road, representing the National Association at the various conferences.

NACD First Vice President Steve Robinson participated in the Washington Association of Conservation Districts’ annual conference in Vancouver, Wa. Robinson provided updates on NACD issues, discussed the current situation with the Farm Bill and promoted supervisor leadership.

The Missouri Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts recently convened their conference in Osage Beach, Mo. NACD Director of Member Services Brad Ross spoke to the Missouri Board about the importance of local participation in national activities and provided an NACD update to the full crowd.

NACD CEO Krysta Harden traveled to Ames, Iowa to participate in the Conservation Districts of Iowa annual meeting. Harden met with Iowa’s Board to discuss the Capitol Court Campaign, new committee structure and policy priorities. She also addressed the full audience, with whom she discussed the Farm Bill, pending energy bill and federal budget process.

The schedule is equally busy this week with NACD representatives in Idaho, Wyoming and Michigan. Check back next week for details!

7. We’re Sold on Reno! Are You?
Skip the casino and head straight to the Live Auction at NACD’s 2008 Annual Meeting in Reno, Nevada. The Live Auction is always one of the most popular events of the conference, and this year is shaping up to better than ever. Be sure to keep in mind this year’s event is only three days before Valentine’s Day. There is sure to be something for every sweetheart on your list. Items up for bid range from custom made items such as spurs and jewelry to high tech electronics and more. To view a list of items for sale, go to http://nacdnet.org/events/annualmeeting/activities/auction/items.phtml.

If your organization hasn’t donated an item for the 2008 Live Auction, don’t miss out on your chance! Be sure to submit your state or district’s Donor Pledge Form by December 20 so we can begin to promote your items. And if you’re concerned about transporting your item to Reno, don’t let that keep you from donating. You can ship your auction items directly to the hotel. Please note: All items must be shipped to your attention and should arrive before noon on Monday, February 11, 2008, but cannot arrive more than five days before your arrival date. The hotel address is, John Ascuaga’s Nugget Hotel, 1100 Nugget Avenue,Sparks, NV 89431.For more information, please visit NACD’s Live Auction page at http://nacdnet.org/events/annualmeeting/activities/auction/.

8. EPA, Army Corps Extend Comment Period for Rapanos Guidance
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers recently announced a 45-day extension for public comments on guidance issued in June 2007 following the U.S. Supreme Court's decision in Rapanos v. United States. The guidance seeks to set a nationwide framework for identifying wetlands, streams and rivers subject to the Clean Water Act (CWA) in accordance with the Supreme Court decision.

Comments should focus on case studies and experiences in determining jurisdictional waters related to CWA Section 404 permits. Conservation districts with similar experiences are encouraged to comment. With the extended deadline, comments are now due by January 21, 2008, and can be submitted to docket EPA-HQ-OW-2007-0282 through http://www.regulations.gov.

More information on the guidance, the Rapanos case and the “waters of the United States” definition can be at http://www.epa.gov/owow/wetlands/guidance/CWAwaters.html.

9. USDA Grants Help Quantify Conservation Benefits of Farm Bill Programs
USDA recently funded research that will help quantify the effects of farm bill conservation programs on a watershed basis. A team of investigators led by North Carolina State University will conduct the principal Conservation Effects Assessment Project (CEAP) synthesis. This team will develop a comprehensive framework to evaluate thirteen previously funded watershed projects. A second team, led by the University of Idaho, will characterize the CEAP watersheds for their benefits to the land and how those benefits affect surrounding communities. CEAP’s goal is to quantify the environmental benefits and effects of 2002 Farm Bill programs: Environmental Quality Incentives Program, Wetlands Reserve Program, Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program, Conservation Reserve Program, Conservation Security Program and the conservation technical assistance program. The results of this study will be useful to conservation districts as they help develop and implement conservation plans and promote locally led conservation programs. Additional information on the research is available at http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/technical/nri/ceap.

10. EPA Sponsors Free TMDL Webcast, Dec. 6, 2007
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will sponsor a free webcast Thursday, December 6, 2007, from 2:00 – 4:00 p.m. EST, on its recently released draft document “Options for Expressing Daily Loads in TMDLs.” The document is available for download at http://www.epa.gov/owow/tmdl/draft_daily_loads_tech.pdf. The webcast will provide information to TMDL practitioners about options for developing appropriate daily load expressions during the TMDL process. You must register in advance to participate. More detailed information regarding the webcast and registration is available at http://www.epa.gov/owow/tmdl/training.html. Contact Rosaura Vega at (202) 566-1514 or vega.rosaura@epa.gov with any questions.

11. NACD Calendar of Events
December 12-13, Tribal Conservation District Workshop, Las Vegas, NV
January 3-4, 2008, North Central Region Board Meeting, Schiller Park, IL
February 10-13, 2008, 2008 NACD Annual Meeting, Reno, NV

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