Two Unsung Heroes Recognized - George Heffner, Resource Conservationist and Watershed Team Leader, Portage, MI, and Larry Babich, Water Resources Operations Manager, Washington, DC, received two of the seven USDA Unsung Hero Awards given during Public Service Recognition Week. Mr. Heffner was recognized for his outstanding work in reaching out to under-served communities and raising NRCS's awareness of these groups' special information and assistance needs. Mr. Babich was recognized for his untiring dedication and commitment to helping individuals and communities recover from devastating floods, fires, drought, and hurricanes.

Leadership Meeting - On May 5-7, NRCS Chief Paul Johnson, Deputy Chiefs, and Regional Conservationists met in Omaha, NE, to discuss and coordinate action on a number of issues including: meeting the requirements of the Government Performance Results Act (GPRA), managing workloads, and minimizing information requests to the field.

Release of EQIP Final Rule Expected - The final rule for the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) is expected to be released early in the week of May 11.

Conservation Farm Option on Hold - Implementation of the Conservation Farm Option (CFO) provision of the '96 Farm Act is on hold while the delegation of authority is developed and a draft interim rule is published in the Federal Register.

West Virginia State Conservationist Named - William J. Hartman has been selected as the State Conservationist for West Virginia effective June 22, 1997. Mr. Hartman is presently a Strategic Planner in the Midwest Regional Office.

Service Center Test Laboratory Holds "Kick-Off" Meeting - The joint Service Center test laboratory will hold a "kick-off" meeting the week of May 19 at the test laboratory facility in Riverdale, MD. It is expected that the PeopleSoft Human Resources software will be installed so that testing of the more than 350 Human Resources requirements identified by Rural Development (RD), Farm Service Agency (FSA), and NRCS can begin. The Deputy Chiefs for Management for the three agencies are expected to be present. Full-time participation includes employees from NRCS, RD, FSA, Forest Service, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, and the USDA Human Resources office.

American Heritage Rivers - NRCS is participating on the team developing procedures for carrying out the American Heritage Rivers Initiative. Information will be published in the Federal Register for public comment. For more information on American Heritage Rivers, visit this Internet site: http://www.epa.gov/OWOW/heritage/rivers.html.

Channel Earth Segment on Wetlands and Wildlife - On May 19, DIRECTV's Channel Earth show, "From the Grassroots," will air the second of six NRCS segments. The segment will feature wetlands and wildlife habitat protection with a focus on the Wetlands Reserve Program and the Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program. Interviews with NRCS wetlands specialists were taped at a mitigated wetland site near Warrenton, VA. The first segment focused on conservation buffers and the CRP continuous signup. Channel Earth, the first DIRECTV channel devoted exclusively to farmers, ranchers, and other rural residents, has more than 2 million subscribers nationwide.

Two More Cities Join Urban Resources Partnership - At an Earth Day celebration last month, Under Secretary for Natural Resources and Environment James Lyons named two more cities to join the Urban Resources Partnership (URP) initiative: Boston, MA, and Las Vegas, NV. They join the eight cities already participating in the URP initiative: Atlanta, Chicago, New York City, Seattle, Denver, East St. Louis, Los Angeles, and Philadelphia. URP cities receive assistance to help carry out projects such as wetland restoration, wildlife enhancement, open space and park improvements, community gardening, and urban forestry. URP works to benefit those who have been overlooked by past environmental policies. Boston received $200,000 in financial assistance, and Las Vegas received $50,000.

Chief to Address National Watershed Coalition's Fifth National Watershed Conference in Reno, NV - The Chief will speak at a luncheon on the theme of the conference, "Living in Your Watershed." As new and innovative management options are developed, government agencies, private industry, and individual land managers will have to learn to work more closely together, as true partners regarding watershed issues. Some 500 to 600 persons are expected to attend the conference.

Interagency Team to Develop Nationwide Framework of Ecological Units - A portion of the "Developing a Spatial Framework of Ecological Units for the United States" National Interagency Technical Team (NITT) will meet at the National Soil Survey Center the week of May 19th. Their agenda includes completing the first draft of a process paper to develop a 1:1,000,000 scale nationwide framework of ecological units that include the Major Land Resource Area concepts traditionally used within NRCS. NITT team members include representatives from: NRCS, the Forest Service, and Agricultural Research Service; the U.S. Department of the Interior's Bureau of Land Management, National Park Service, Fish and Wildlife Service, and Geological Survey; and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

IN THE FIELD

Delaware RC&D Council Recognized for Emergency Home Repair Project - In its April 13 issue, USA Weekend magazine named the First State Resource Conservation and Development (RC&D) Council's Emergency Home Repair Project one of 50 National Honorable Mention winners for their work on the sixth annual Make A Difference Day. Make A Difference Day is a national effort to recognize the value of volunteering and is held in October. Make A Difference Day Judge Paul Newman and his food company, Newman's Own, will donate $2,000 to the First State RC&D Council to recognize the project's outstanding efforts to do badly needed home repairs for low income and disabled homeowners. On Make A Difference Day, 54 volunteers from the First State RC&D, AmeriCorps, and National Civilian Community Corps from Perry Point, MD, constructed wheelchair ramps, installed safe steps, repaired floors and roofs, and replaced broken windows at 10 homes in Kent and Sussex Counties, DE. AmeriCorps volunteers returned seven more weekends, finishing 40 projects.

The First State RC&D's Emergency Home Repair Project is an ongoing project that organizes volunteers and contracts for services for low income and disabled homeowners who cannot afford or are unable to do basic repairs to ensure the health and safety of occupants. The project completes repairs on 200 homes annually. Individuals and groups contribute approximately 15,000 hours each year to the project.

Limited Resource Farmers and Precision Farming - On May 15-16, Deputy Chief for Soil Survey and Resource Assessment Carole Jett, Arkansas State Conservationist Kalven Trice, and other NRCS staff will visit the Arkansas Land and Farm Development Corp. (ALFDC) to discuss limited resource farmers' use of precision farming. Discussions will center on how to overcome problems the farmers may have in using the technology and how NRCS can best meet their need for resource information.

LEGISLATIVE NEWS

Senate Appropriations Committee Markup of Emergency Supplemental Funding - On April 30, the Senate Appropriations Committee (Chairman Ted Stevens, AK) marked up the fiscal year 1997 supplemental. The bill, as amended by the Committee includes $161 million for the Emergency Watershed Protection Program ($10 million increase from the House mark); and $77 million for the Emergency Conservation Program ($12 million increase from the House mark).

The Senate bill also provides for a $9 million tree assistance program to help small orchardists to replace or rehabilitate trees and vineyards that have been damaged.

Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) Extension Passes the House - Legislation to extend some CRP enrollments for an additional year passed the House on April 29, by a 325 to 92 vote. H.R. 1342, introduced by Bob Smith (OR), would allow producers of some winter crops to receive a 1 year contract extension beginning in October. The bill also caps CRP enrollment for fiscal year 1998 at 30 million acres. It is unknown at this time if the Senate will act on similar legislation. The Administration opposes the bill.

Air Quality Standards - The Clean Air, Wetlands, Private Property and Nuclear Safety Subcommittee (Chairman James M. Inhofe, OK) of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, held a hearing April 29, on EPA's proposed air quality standards. The Chairman stated that this was the fifth hearing the panel had held concerning the proposed standard changes. He further asserted a belief that the changes constitute an unfunded mandate. Witnesses included officials from State and local government, physicians, and other interest groups.

The American Farm Bureau Federation and the National Farmers Union both testified that farmers and ranchers have contributed to cleaner air by the soil and water conservation practices they have and are continuing to apply. Both organizations quoted Chief Paul Johnson from recent testimony on the agency's Air Quality Task Force.

Robert C. Junk, representing the National Farmers Union, voiced concern over increased air quality standards in light of the significant reductions in CRP. He said that the regulations should stay the same with increased funding for conservation programs. Bob Vice, of the American Farm Bureau Federation, said he was concerned about the EPA study that states that agriculture contributes 34.3 percent of air pollution. He asserted that much of the information used to set these standards was incorrect.

Concern was also expressed about the economic impacts of the proposed standards on small and minority owned businesses and public power companies. Witnesses claimed that the increased standards would have a disproportionate impact on these businesses.

Wetlands Regulations - On, April 29, the Water Resources and Environment Subcommittee (Chairman Boehlert, NY) of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, held a hearing on recent regulatory and judicial developments in wetland issues. The purpose of the hearing was to allow the panel to investigate recent regulatory and judicial developments regarding the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) and the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) wetlands programs -- primarily under Section 404 of the Clean Water Act. The hearing focused on the recently reissued and revised Nationwide Permitting process, and the recent lawsuit (American Mining Congress vs. Army Corps of Engineers) which invalidated the Corps' and EPA's Tulloch/excavation rule. The Tulloch rule ensures that discharged materials from dredged wetlands are reviewed under the current permitting process.

Chairman Boehlert stated that there needs to be an incentives-based approach to Federal implementation of wetlands law. He also stressed the desire to see wetland mitigation banking in more widespread application. Robert H. Wayland, EPA, underscored the value of wetlands and the importance of protecting them. Wayland stated that the recent court invalidation of the Tulloch rule posed a major threat to Federal implementation of the Clean Water Act. He said that the agencies have filed an appeal and a motion of stay in District Court. Don Young (AK) stated that the Tulloch rule should have been abolished by Congress rather than be addressed in the courts. He also criticized the agencies for not setting up a functional appeal system as directed by Congress. Michael Davis, Deputy Secretary of the Army, stated that the administration has taken a fair, flexible, and effective approach in implementing existing law.

Chairman Boehlert ensured members of the Committee and witnesses that the 105th Congress would be rewriting Section 404 as part of a major effort to overhaul the Clean Water Act.

Endangered Species/Flood Measure To Receive House Floor Consideration - A bill that would exempt some flood control projects from review under the Endangered Species Act could move to the House floor later this week. H.R. 478, sponsored by Reps. Wally Herger and Richard Pombo (CA), has drawn considerable criticism from administration officials and environmental groups. Similar language as contained in H.R. 478 has been included in the supplemental spending bills as well.

CONSTITUENCY AND PARTNERSHIP NEWS

NACD Regional Meetings and National Leadership Conference - For more information on any of the following NACD meetings contact Robert Raschke at 303-988-1810.

June 14-17 Northern Plains Regional Meeting, Omaha, NE.

July 13-16 North Central Regional Meeting, Evansville, IN.

July 27-30 Southeastern and South Central Joint Regional Meeting, Tunica, MS.

Aug. 21-25 National Leadership Conference, Royal Waikaloan Hotel, Kona, HI.

Sept. 3-5 Southwestern Regional Meeting, Glenwood Springs, CO.

Sept. 13-17 Pacific Regional Meeting, Kauai, HI

Sept. 14-17 Northeastern Regional Meeting, Atlantic City, NJ.

Calls for Abstracts - Abstracts for the November 2-5, 1997, National Urban and Community Conservation Conference to be held in Columbus, OH, are due by May 15, 1997. The Call for Papers can be accessed through the NACD home page at http://www.nacdnet.org/meetings/urbconf.htm. Contact Karl F. Otte at 703-440-8611.

Abstracts for the May 3-6, 1998, "Watershed Management: Moving from Theory to Implementation" conference in Denver, CO, are due by June 16, 1997. Call the Water Environment Federation at 800-666-0206 for more information, or e-mail confinfo@wef.org.

UPCOMING EVENTS

May - American Wetlands Month

May - Asian Pacific American Heritage Month: One Vision, One Mission, One Voice

May 18-21 - Fifth National Watershed Conference, "Living in Your Watershed." Sponsored by the National Watershed Coalition, Reno, NV. Contact: Jim Fisher, 303-988-1810.

May 18-20 - The Wildlife Habitat Council (in cooperation with the Wildlife Society and sponsored by NRCS and other Federal, State, and private organizations) 1997 Wildlands Conference, "Exceeding Expectations," Swissotel, Atlanta, GA. Call: 201-588-8994.

May 30-June 1 - The Ducks Unlimited GREAT OUTDOORS FESTIVAL 1997. Agricenter International, Memphis, TN. For more information call Ducks Unlimited at 901-758-3825 or visit their World Wide Web site at: <http://www.ducks.org/frames_hotnews.html>

June 3-5 - International Symposium commemorating the 50th Anniversary of USDA's Wind Erosion Research at Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS. Contact: The Wind Erosion Research Unit (WERU) by phone: 913-532-6495; FAX: 913-532-6526; e-mail: sym@weru.ksu.edu; or on the World Wide Web: http://www.weru.ksu.edu.

June 15-18 - National Association of RC&D Councils Conference, St. Paul, MN. Contact: Becky Lane, 202-546-8800 or write to: National Association of RC&D Councils, 509 Capital Court, NE, Suite 100, Washington, D.C. 20002.

June 24-26 - National Agricultural Resource Management Planning Conference, Omni Royal Orleans, New Orleans, LA. Call Lyn Kirschner at 765-494-1827 or send e-mail to: kirschner@ctic.purdue.edu.

July 17-19 - Land Improvement Contractors of America Summer Meeting, Providence, RI. Contact Wayne F. Maresch at 301-248-9313 or e-mail to: Wayne F86@aol.com.

July 22-25 - The 52nd Soil and Water Conservation Society Annual Conference; Interactions, Managing Ecosystems on a Watershed Basis; Toronto, Canada. Contact: Jennifer Pemble, 800-843-7645. Conference information can also be found at: http://www.swcs.org/AnnCon.htm.

QUOTE

"During Public Service Recognition Week, we have the opportunity to recognize and honor these dedicated women and men from all walks of life who serve our country in local and State governments and at the Federal level. In a time of leaner budgets and smaller staffs, they work hard to inspire and maintain the public's trust in government, to forge effective partnerships between the private and public sectors, and to make government work better for all our people. Accepting greater responsibility and increased accountability, public employees continue to rise to new challenges, keeping America growing as we approach the dawn of the twenty-first century."

--President Bill Clinton

NRCS This Week is issued weekly by the Conservation Communications Staff, NRCS headquarters, Washington, D.C., and posted on the NRCS Home Page at http://www.nrcs.usda.gov. Please send correspondence and material via e-mail to: nancy.garlitz@usda.gov or mail to Editor, "NRCS This Week," NRCS, P.O. Box 2890, Washington, DC 20013 or FAX to Editor, "NRCS This Week," 202-690-1221.

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