[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 13 (Thursday, January 22, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 3983-3984]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-1168]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Commodity Credit Corporation
Chesapeake Bay Watershed Initiative
AGENCY: Natural Resources Conservation Service and Commodity Credit
Corporation, United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).
ACTION: Notice of availability of program funds for the Chesapeake Bay
Watershed Initiative.
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SUMMARY: The Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) announces the
availability of an additional $23 million of technical and financial
assistance funds in fiscal year (FY) 2009 through the Chesapeake Bay
Watershed Initiative to agricultural producers in eligible states.
These states are: Delaware, Maryland, New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia,
and West Virginia. The Chesapeake Bay Watershed Initiative funds are
available to help producers implement natural resources conservation
practices on agricultural lands in the Chesapeake Bay watershed.
DATES: January 22, 2009.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Lillian Woods, Acting Director,
Conservation Planning and Technical Assistance Division, Natural
Resources Conservation Service, P.O. Box 2890, Washington, DC 20013;
phone (202) 720-8851; fax (202) 720-2998. Submit electronic requests
for additional information to: [email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: CCC hereby announces up to $23 million to
provide technical and financial assistance to producers under the
Chesapeake Bay Watershed Initiative in FY 2009.
Section 1240Q of the Food Security Act, as added by the Food,
Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 (Pub. L. 110-246) (2008 Act),
established the Chesapeake Bay Watershed Initiative and defined the
Chesapeake Bay Watershed to mean all tributaries, backwaters, and side
channels, including their watersheds, draining into the Chesapeake Bay.
This area includes portions of the states of Delaware, Maryland, New
York, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia. The NRCS administers
the Chesapeake Bay Watershed Initiative and carries out program
implementation using funds, facilities, or authorities of CCC. The
Initiative gives special, but not exclusive, consideration to
producers' applications in the following river basins: Susquehanna
River, Shenandoah River, Potomac River (including North and South
Potomac), and the Patuxent River.
The Chesapeake Bay Watershed Initiative helps agricultural
producers improve water quality and quantity, and restore, enhance, and
preserve soil, air, and related resources in the Chesapeake Bay
watershed through the implementation of conservation practices. These
conservation practices reduce soil erosion and nutrient levels in
ground and surface water, improve, restore, and enhance wildlife
habitat, and help address air quality and related natural resource
concerns. The Initiative is carried out through the various natural
resources conservation programs authorized under subtitle D, Title XII
of the Food Security Act of 1985, 16 U.S.C. 3830-3839bb-5. The
Chesapeake Bay Watershed Initiative assistance in FY 2009 will be
delivered through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP).
All EQIP requirements and policies will apply (see 7 CFR Part 1466).
Individuals interested in applying for Chesapeake Bay Watershed
Initiative assistance may contact their local USDA service center in
the eligible Chesapeake Bay Watershed Initiative states. For a listing
of local service centers, consult: http://offices.sc.egov.usda.gov/locator/app?agency=nrcs.
[[Page 3984]]
Signed in Washington, DC on January 14, 2009.
Arlen L. Lancaster,
Vice President, Commodity Credit Corporation and Chief, Natural
Resources Conservation Service.
[FR Doc. E9-1168 Filed 1-21-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-16-P