NEWS
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Office of Communications News Room 460-A
Washington, DC 20250-1300
Internet: News@usda.gov   Phone: 202-720-9035
World Wide Web Home Page: http://www.usda.gov

Release No. 0116.04

                               Alisa Harrison (202) 720-4623
                              Jillene Johnson (202) 720-9733

      VENEMAN LAUNCHES PARTNERSHIP WITH PENNSYLVANIA
          TO IMPROVE QUALITY OF OHIO RIVER BASIN

      HOOKSTOWN, Pa. March 22, 2004 -- Agriculture
Secretary Ann M. Veneman today announced a $146 million
Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP) agreement
with Pennsylvania to improve water conditions in the Ohio
River, the third largest drainage basin in the Gulf of
Mexico watershed.

      "President Bush is committed to protecting our
natural resources," Veneman said.  "This program will
improve western Pennsylvania's surface water quality,
groundwater quality and wildlife habitat in a 16-county
area." 

      Veneman said that Pennsylvania has already proven to
be a leader in conservation, as the state has another
successful CREP that is helping restore the Chesapeake
Bay.  Veneman made the announcement during a signing
ceremony with Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell.  Also
participating were Sen. Arlen Spector, Rep. Melissa Hart. 
Several state and local officials also attended the event.

      Sign-up for the Pennsylvania CREP will begin Apr.
19, 2004, and continues until enrollment goals are
attained or through Dec. 31, 2007, whichever comes first. 
Land enrolled in the program will remain under contract
for a period of 10 to 15 years, as specified in the
contract.

      The Ohio River is formed at the confluence of the
Allegheny and Monongahela rivers in Pittsburgh, Pa., and
one-third of the state lies within the river's basin. 
Planting grasses, trees and other vegetation along 65,000
targeted acres of cropland and marginal pastureland will
help restore and protect wetlands, highly erodible land
and riparian areas along the basin.

      Pennsylvania's Ohio River Basin CREP will reduce
sediment, nitrogen and phosphorous entering the basin,
which will also help address the Gulf of Mexico's hypoxia
zone issues.  Hypoxia, the loss of oxygen, occurs in Gulf
waters when excess nutrients, such as nitrogen and
phosphorous, accumulate and cause algae to flourish. 
Algae depletes the oxygen, essentially causing "dead
zones."  The improved water quality will create habitat
for declining grassland, riparian and wetland-dependent
plant and animal species.

      CREP is a voluntary program that pays participants
to implement conservation practices on environmentally
sensitive land.  In return, participants receive annual
rental payments paid on a per-acre basis, cost-share
assistance and other financial incentives.  CREP combines
an existing FSA program, the Conservation Reserve Program,
with state programs to meet specific state and national
environmental objectives.  CREP partnerships with states,
tribal governments and private groups provide a
coordinated approach to address critical conservation
issues of the state and nation.

      The total program cost over a 15-year period is
estimated at $146 million, with USDA contributing $99
million and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania funding $47
million.  Throughout this period, participants will
receive incentive payments and cost-share assistance for
installing approved conservation practices.  USDA will
also provide annual rental payments for the life of the
contract.  Pennsylvania will offer cost-share assistance,
technical assistance to plan approved conservation
practices and in-kind services to implement the practices.

      Producers can obtain more information on CREP from
their local USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) offices and on
FSA's Web site at: www.fsa.usda.gov/dafp/cepd/default.htm

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