Statement of Involvement and Collaboration
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and U.S. Department of Agriculture Collaborative
Cost and Capability Assessment
In October 1999, Congress directed EPA to "conduct in conjunction with
the Department of Agriculture a cost and capability assessment of the Unified
National Strategy for Animal Feeding Operations." On May 10, 2001, USDA and
EPA signed principles of collaboration for the production of a joint EPA-USDA
cost and capability report to be delivered to Congress in December 2001. The
objectives of the agreement are: 1) to develop an assessment and summary report
that accurately portrays the public and private sector cost and capability to
assist owners and operators of animal feeding operations (AFOs) in developing
and implementing comprehensive nutrient management plans to meet water quality
objectives; and, 2) to ensure that a collaborative effort is used in developing
the assessment and summary report so that both USDA and EPA can support its
findings.
An interagency team is leading the development of the collaborative report,
which will build upon ongoing USDA and EPA studies, to determine the costs and
capabilities of developing and implementing comprehensive nutrient management
plans (CNMPs). EPA is completing a micro-analysis of the costs and capability of
CNMP development and implementation in two watersheds-the Eucha Spavinaw
watershed in Oklahoma and Arkansas, and the Upper Makoqueta watershed in Iowa.
EPA and USDA worked with local stakeholder groups, including AFO operators,
local NRCS and extension personnel, conservation district staff, local and state
environmental officials, and non-profit organizations in developing the study.
USDA is conducting a macro-analysis that assesses the anticipated costs to
the public and private sectors to carry out the CNMP workload, and the
capabilities of USDA, its partners, and the private sector to provide the
necessary supporting information, education, research, and technical and
financial assistance. The USDA assessment is based on 1997 Agricultural Census
data on animal feeding operations, estimates of on-farm manure handling
capability, and prototype CNMPs for each model farm.
The integration of these agency efforts will produce a comprehensive
assessment of the costs and capabilities of developing and implementing CNMPs on
a national scale.
G. Tracy Mehan
Assistant Administrator
Office of Water
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Mack Gray
Acting Deputy Under Secretary
Natural Resources and Environment
U.S. Department of Agriculture
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