 NEWS
Farm Service Agency
Public Affairs Staff
1400 Independence Ave SW
Stop 0506, Room 3624-South
Washington, D.C. 20250-0506
Release No. 1505.02
Dann Stuart (202) 690-0474
dan_stuart@wdc.usda.gov
USDA SEEKS PUBLIC COMMENT ON CONSERVATION PROGRAMS
WASHINGTON, April 18, 2002 The U.S. Department of
Agriculture Farm Service Agency (FSA) announced it will hold
a series of public meetings across the country to solicit
comments on the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) and
Emergency Conservation Program (ECP).
The comments will be considered in the preparation of
the draft programmatic environmental impact statement (PEIS)
for CRP and ECP. The purpose of the PEIS is to aid in
providing USDA decision-makers and the public with an
analysis of the environmental benefits and potential impacts
of the CRP and ECP. In addition, the PEIS can help USDA
officials review and improve current policies and
achievements. Regarding the CRP, the PEIS will address
general sign-up, continuous sign-up and the Conservation
Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP).
FSA administers these programs on behalf of the
Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) and now is conducting a
comprehensive review of them in anticipation of potential
"Farm Bill" changes.
The six meetings will be held from 7 p.m. - 9 p.m. on
the following dates in these locations:
May 7, 2002, Chesapeake College Auditorium,
1000 College Drive, Wye Mills, Md. 21679;
May 9, 2002, Mobile County Cooperative Extension
Auditorium, 1070 Schiller Road North, Mobile, Ala.;
May 14, 2002, Ambassador Hotel, 3100 I-40 West,
Amarillo, Texas 79102;
May 16, 2002, Mt. Hood Community College, 2600 SE Stark
St., Portland, Ore. 90730;
May 21, 2002, Holiday Inn, 200 McDonald Dr., Lawrence,
Kan. 66044; and,
May 23, 2002, at Northwest Technical College, 1900 28th
Ave. S., Moorhead, Minn. 56560.
Written, electronic, or verbal comments may be
submitted by the close of business on May 30, 2002, to ensure
consideration. Comments submitted after this date will be
considered to the extent possible. Comments and requests for
draft PEIS information packages should be directed to CRP
PEIS, P.O. Box 6830, Falls Church, Va. 22046-6830, via e-mail
at CRP@mangi.com or telephone (toll free) 1-877-271-3842.
For more information contact Don Steck,
USDA/FSA/CEPD/Stop 0513, 1400 Independence Ave, S.W.,
Washington, DC 20250-0513, (202) 690-0224, or e-mail at
don_steck@wdc.usda.gov or CRP@mangi.com.
More detailed information on CRP, CREP and ECP may be
obtained from FSA's Web site:
http://www.fsa/usda.gov/dafp/cepd/default.htm.
#
NOTE: Farm Service Agency (FSA) news releases and media
advisories are available on the Web at FSA's Home Page:
http://www.fsa.usda.gov.
|
