USDA Issues Interim Progress Report on Civil Rights - Secretary of Agriculture Dan Glickman released a six-month interim report detailing the USDA's progress on civil rights. "Implementation of the Civil Rights Action Team Report at USDA--An Interim Progress Report" documents the progress that the Department has made toward completing the 92 recommendations contained in the Civil Rights Action Team Report, which was submitted to the Secretary in February 1997.

Some of the most significant accomplishments that the interim report includes are: establishing an investigative unit in the newly-organized Office of Civil Rights to expedite the processing of civil rights complaints; establishing an Office of Outreach; working with Congress to implement the Civil Rights Action Team's recommendations that require legislative changes; creating a division of civil rights within the Office of the General Counsel; halting foreclosures until they undergo an independent review for charges of discrimination; rating agency heads each year on their performance on civil rights; establishing a new policy of zero tolerance for reprisals against employees who file civil rights complaints; and beginning a two-year cycle of Department-wide civil rights training for all employees. The report is also available on USDA's Internet Website at http://www.usda.gov/da/cr.html.

1-888-LANDCARE Replaces 1-800-THE-SOIL - The phone number for the NRCS Referral Information Network has been changed from 1-800-THE-SOIL to 1-888-LANDCARE. In addition, the National Earth Team Office phone number has been changed to 515-289-0325.

When calling 1-888-LANDCARE, or 515-289-0325, you will have the following menu options:

• Press one to order a free conservation packet or other NRCS publications.
• Press two to hear pre-recorded information on the Earth Team.
• Press three to reach Michele Eginoire, NRCS National Volunteer Coordinator.

USDA Administrative Convergence - Secretary Glickman has asked Deputy Secretary Richard Rominger to coordinate the second phase of administrative convergence. He has also asked for input from USDA's Chief Financial Officer. In this phase, the Under Secretaries for the affected agencies will develop one recommendation for convergence. Their recommendation, based on the Administrative Convergence Action Team's (ACAT) work, will be submitted to the Deputy Secretary.

The Secretary thanked ACAT members for their work saying that they produced a comprehensive and thoughtful set of options that will provide a solid foundation for the success of the project.

USDA Publishes 1997 Agriculture Fact Book - Deputy Secretary Richard Rominger has announced publication of the 1997 Agriculture Fact Book. The 265-page book provides a wide range of information on such topics as farms, food, rural issues, trade, the environment, research, education, nutrition, economics, and the programs run by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The reference book contains text, tables, charts, maps, illustrations, a glossary of agricultural terms, an index, and a directory of where to get more information from USDA.

The book is available for $14 from the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, DC 20402. It also will be available later this month through the Internet from USDA's homepage: http://www.usda.gov.

Gold Screen Award Featuring NRCS Program Wins First Place - The USDA radio feature, "A Native American Heritage Being Preserved," won a first place award in the National Association of Government Communicators Gold Screen Awards. This competition is 18 years old and is to government broadcast specialists what an "Emmy" is to TV shows. Brenda Curtis, USDA Radio Senior Reporter/Producer and Chief "Bobby" Bearhart Johns were presented the Gold Screen first place award at the awards presentation dinner, November 13, in Alexandria, VA.

The winning radio program featured an NRCS Three Rivers Resource Conservation and Development (RC&D) Council project near Pensacola, FL. The project was the "brainchild" of John Harper, the coordinator for the Three Rivers RC&D Council, who felt it was important that the heritage of the Perdido Bay Indian Tribe be preserved. The Perdido Bay Tribe Cultural Resource and Education Center was in need of funds to continue operating. As Harper learned more about the work and storytelling of the Chief of the Perdido Bay Indian Tribe, he was reminded that the American Indians were this country's first farmers and conservationists. The radio show was distributed via USDA's network of 675 radio stations that subscribe to their weekly feature service.

Through the cultural center, Chief Bearheart aims to use art and music to give visitors a better understanding of the southern Indian people. The Chief said that the center also provides a way for descendants of the area's tribes to connect with their heritage. He said what he most enjoys is helping young people learn about and be proud of their culture.

Advisory Council on Historic Preservation's Draft Regulations - At the request of the Deputy Under Secretary for Natural Resources and Environment, NRCS is working with the Forest Service, Rural Utilities, and other USDA agencies to consolidate comments on the latest version of the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation's draft regulations implementing section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA). The NHPA is an important tool to protect and manage cultural resources and historic sites across the country.

The draft regulations, circulated for agency comment on November 21, are the pre-public release version. The Council is seeking input, espcially regarding major objections, so that they can obtain agency consensus before the proposed regulations are finalized for Federal Register release and public comment. Departmental comments are due to the Council on December 15. For more information contact Michael Kaczor, Federal Preservation Officer, NRCS, (202) 720-4912, or michael.kaczor@usda.gov.

National Cooperative Soil Survey Newsletter - A newsletter for the National Cooperative Soil Survey (NCSS) has been developed under the leadership of the Soil Survey Division. It is published quarterly, and anyone with an interest in soil survey or the NCSS is encouraged to submit articles. Articles should be submitted to Stan Anderson at the National Soil Survey Center (NSSC), Lincoln, NE. He can be reached by calling 402-437-5357 or by sending e-mail to: sanderson@nssc.nrcs.usda.gov. The newsletter is posted on the NSSC homepage: www.statlab.iastate.edu/soils/soildiv. Click on NCSS and then on Issue 1 under NCSS Newsletter.

West Region Holds First Regional Civil Rights Committee Meeting, "Obstacles, Opportunity, and Optimism" - On October 7-9, 1997, in Seattle, WA, 52 civil rights program managers and committee members from 10 Western States, the Pacific Basin, and the West Regional Office gathered to chart a consistent direction for civil rights activities in the region. Many State Conservationists also attended. Keynote speaker, Pearlie Reed, USDA Acting Assistant Secretary for Administration, and Lynn Brown, State Conservationist for Washington State and sponsor of the meeting, challenged participants to develop a strategy for creating a better future by changing the agency's culture to include diversity of thought.

Dr. Farook Sait, USDA Office of Civil Rights, said that most civil rights programs are symptoms of systems. He challenged the group to look beyond short-term solutions and integrate civil rights into USDA's systems

Guest speakers from Microsoft, Boeing, SeaFirst Bank, and Weyerhauser talked about their strategies for attracting and retaining smart, hard-working, results-driven people by focusing on financial help for furthering education, providing a balance between work and family life through job sharing or working at home, and offering investments in company stocks. They also emphasized the importance of spending the time and resources to attract the best and brightest employees.

Soil and Water Conservation Society (SWCS) 1998 Annual Conference - The SWCS 1998 Annual Conference will be held in San Diego, CA, on July 5-9, 1998. The theme is "Balancing Resource Issues, Land, Water, People." The conference will integrate field tours with the plenary and paper/poster sessions. Major topic areas are: water use by agriculture/urban communities, land use changes, intensive agriculture supplying the food needs of the population, and natural ecosystems and management. Poster presentation proposals are due January 5, 1998. Questions about poster proposals should be directed to Sue Ballantine, Director of Publications at 515-289-2331, extension 16; e-mail: sueb@swcs.org. General questions about the conference should be directed to Charlie Persinger at 515-289-2331, extension 12; e-mail: charliep@swcs.org. SWCS members will receive registration materials for the 1998 annual conference in February 1998.

Society for Ecological Restoration's 9th Annual International Conference - On Friday, November 14, the USDA-NRCS Plant Materials Program presented a symposium at the Society for Ecological Restoration's 9th Annual International Conference in Fort Lauderdale, FL. The symposium was entitled: Revegetation with Native Species. Speakers included individuals from the NRCS-Plant Materials Program, USDA-Forest Service, USDA-Agricultural Research Service, National Park Service, Brigham Young University, and the private sector. The day-long session dealt primarily with factors affecting restoration of disturbed habitats and attracted a standing-room only audience in both the morning and afternoon segments.

http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/delmarva - Land Improvement Contractors of America.

www.usda.gov/da/employ/cta.htm - USDA Career Center Homepage. The Team USDA Career Management Resource Center has established a homepage and central e-mail address. The e-mail address is career.center@usda.gov.

December 10 - National Ag Census begins.

December 10-13 - National Organization of Professional Black Natural Resources Conservation Service Employees Sixth Annual Training Conference, "Bridging the Gap to the New Millennium: A Field of Dreams." Renaissance Atlanta Hotel-Concourse, One Hartsfield Centre Parkway, Atlanta, GA.

January 19-23 - Western Resource Conservation and Development Association Meeting, Omaha, NE.

January 26-28, 1998 - National Conservation Buffer Initiative Science and Technology Conference and Workshops, San Antonio, TX. Contact the Conservation Technology Information Center at 765-494-9555, or visit the CTIC Website at http://www.ctic.purdue.edu. The Web address for conference information is http://www.ctic.purdue.edu/Releases/BufferConf.html.

February 1-5 - "Setting the Stage for Conservation," National Association of Conservation Districts' 52nd Annual Meeting, Opryland Hotel, Nashville, TN. For information contact Robert Raschke or Linda Neel at 303-988-1810.

February 10-12 - "Managing Manure in Harmony with the Environment and Society," Soil and Water Conservation Society West North Central Manure Management Conference, Iowa State Center, Scheman Building, Ames, IA. Contact: Bob Ball, NRCS, Parkade Center, Suite 250, 601 Business Loop 70 West, Columbia, MO 65203. Phone: 573-876-0900.

February 16-20 - International Erosion Control Association Annual Conference and Trade Exposition, Reno, NV. Call 800-871-6022.

February 18-21 - Land Improvement Contractors of America Annual Convention, Opryland Hotel, Nashville, TN. Call Wayne Maresch at 301-248-5749 or send e-mail to WayneF86@aol.com).

February 21-24 - Winter Meeting of the National Governors' Association, Washington, D.C.

February 22-25 - Southwest Resource Conservation and Development Association Meeting, Lafayette, LA.

February 23-24 - Agricultural Outlook Forum 98, Omni Shoreham Hotel, Washington, D.C. For registration details call 202-720-3050, send e-mail to agforum@oce.usda.gov, or write to Outlook Forum 98, 5143 South Building, 1400 Independence Ave., SW, Washington, DC 20250-3812.

March 22-24 - North Central Resource Conservation and Development Meeting, Traverse City, MI.

April 6-7 - First National Mitigation Banking Conference, Marriott Hotel in Washington, D.C. Conference registration is being handled by the Terrene Institute, 4 Herbert St., Alexandria, VA 22305; phone: 703-548-5473; fax: 703-548-6299. For more information contact Gary Wooten, NRCS Watersheds and Wetlands Division, at 202-690-1588, or send e-mail to gary.wooten@usda.gov.

May 23-28 - "Sustaining the Global Farm," 10th International Soil Conservation Organization (ISCO) Conference, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN. For information contact ISCO conference organizers by telephone at 765-494-8683, by fax at 765-494-5948 c/o ISCO99, or by e-mail at isco99@ecn.purdue.edu. Send correspondence to ISCO99, Purdue University, 1196 SOIL Building, West Lafayette, IN 47907-1196.

"The view from overhead makes theory come alive."

--Sally Ride (b. 1951) American astronaut

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.

< NRCS This Week Archives