[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 161 (Friday, August 21, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Page 42228]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-20138]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Natural Resources Conservation Service


Soil and Water Resources Conservation Act

AGENCY: Natural Resources Conservation Service, United States 
Department of Agriculture.

ACTION: Notice of public meeting.

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SUMMARY: The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) will hold a 
public meeting to gather stakeholder input on important natural 
resource concerns and program approaches to address these natural 
resource concerns in the next decade.
    On June 22, 2008, Congress reauthorized the Soil and Water 
Resources Conservation Act (RCA), 16 U.S.C. 2001-2009, through 
amendments in the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 (Pub. L. 
110-246). In the reauthorization, Congress extended RCA through 2018 
and called for the first report to be delivered to Congress by January 
2011. RCA provides the Department of Agriculture (USDA) with broad 
strategic assessment and planning authority and calls for the 
development of a national program to guide USDA activities for the 
conservation, protection, and enhancement of soil, water, and related 
natural resources. Through RCA, USDA appraises the status and trends of 
soil, water, and related resources on non-Federal land; assesses their 
capability to meet present and future demands; evaluates current and 
needed programs, policies, and authorities; and develops a national 
soil and water conservation program to give direction for USDA soil and 
water conservation activities.
    Public participation is a central element of the RCA process. USDA 
will hold listening sessions to provide the public with an opportunity 
to comment on conservation priorities, program approaches, future 
conservation needs, and opportunities to improve the appraisal process.

DATES: The meeting will be held on the following date and location:

 
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            Meeting location                Date             Local time                                          Co-host
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Charleston Marriott Town Center, 200        9/14/09  10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m......  National Association of Conservation Agencies--Annual Meeting.
 Lee Street East, Charleston, West
 Virginia 25301.
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FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Denise Coleman, Acting Director, 
Strategic and Performance Planning Division, Department of Agriculture, 
Natural Resources Conservation Service, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., 
Room 4237, South Building, Washington, DC 20250; Telephone: (202) 690-
0467; or Fax: (202) 720-3057. Submit electronic requests for additional 
information to: [email protected].

    Signed this 18th day of August, 2009, in Washington, DC.
Dave White,
Chief.
[FR Doc. E9-20138 Filed 8-20-09; 8:45 am]
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