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October 27, 2009
FY10 Interior Bill Goes to Conference
Congressional leaders have indicated the fiscal year
2010 (FY10) Interior and Environment Appropriations bill
will go to conference this week to work out the differences
between the House- and Senate-passed bills. The FY10
Interior bill had been delayed for several weeks pending
ongoing negotiations. Agreement on a final bill is expected
shortly and final passage is expected before the current
continuing resolution expires on October 31. Congress may
add additional funding provisions from other appropriations
bill that have not yet been finalized by Congress and signed
by the President.
NACD has supported provisions of the FY10 Interior bill
related to the Forest Service’s State and Private Forestry
programs, the Environmental Protection Agency’s 319 Nonpoint
Source Pollution Grants, and an emergency wildfire
suppression fund, also known as the FLAME Fund.
NACD Issues Estate Tax Alert
This week, NACD alerted members on potential Congressional
activity related to estate tax reform. NACD’s Legislative
Committee recently endorsed H.R. 3524, the Family Farm
Preservation and Conservation Estate Tax Act, sponsored by
Representative Mike Thompson (D-CA). H.R. 3524 would
exclude from the gross estate the value of working
farmlands, forestlands and certain conservation easements.
The bill would also impose a recapture tax if such farmland
is sold outside the decedent's family, is no longer used
for farming purposes or if a qualified conservation
easement sold or violated. NACD policy supports reform that
exempts qualified family farms and ranches from the estate
tax.
NACD Leaders, Staff on the Road
It is a busy time of year for NACD’s national leaders and
staff as they travel the country reaching out to members
and partners. NACD Second Vice President Earl Garber
participated in the Association of Texas Soil and Water
Conservation Districts’ Annual Meeting in Arlington, Texas
last week. Garber presented an update on NACD activities
and outlined what the Association is doing for its members
in Texas. Meanwhile, NACD Member Services Representative
Beth Mason and Stewardship and Education Coordinator Susan
Schultz participated in the National FFA Convention in
Indianapolis, Ind., where they highlighted districts’ work,
promoted NACD’s internship program to potential candidates,
visited with advisors about ways for FFA chapters to work
with local districts and met with district supervisors
attending the event. Both the Texas meeting and the FFA
convention were big successes.
Today NACD Interim CEO Brad Ross is in Charleston, W. Va.,
where he is presenting an NACD update to the 2009 West
Virginia Conservation Partnership Conference. NACD
Partnership Development Specialist Rich Duesterhaus is in
New Jersey today participating in the New Jersey Association
of Conservation Districts’ Annual Meeting. Time with members
is an essential part of NACD’s efforts to know, understand
and serve the Association’s membership.
Pollinator Activities Create a Buzz in Washington
Activities surrounding the 8th Annual North American
Pollinator Protection Campaign (NAPPC) International
Conference in Washington D.C. last week created quite a
buzz. NAPPC held a pollinator briefing on Thursday
outlining national and international activities to protect
pollinators and signing a memorandum of understanding with
the Environmental Protection Agency. The Pollinator
Partnership and NAPPC also announced the completion of the
31 ecoregional planting guides tailored to specific areas of
the country. Each guide contains 24 pages of region-specific
native planting information. The completed guides are
available to download free of charge at
http://www.pollinator.org/guides.htm.
NACD Interim CEO Brad Ross and Partnership Development
Specialist Rich Duesterhaus joined conference participants
for the closing reception, where Ross helped present the
NAPPC-NACD 2009 Farmer Rancher Pollinator Conservation Award.
Tony Thompson of Windom, Minn., received the award in
recognition of his continuous efforts to identify and
implement innovative methods to protect and restore native
biodiversity on his farm. The Thompson farm is a model for
how productive agriculture can operate in an environmentally
sustainable, pollinator-friendly fashion. Congratulations,
Mr. Thompson!
New National Conservation Foundation Award Offers
Dollars for Districts
The mission of the National Conservation Foundation is to
encourage and facilitate the implementation of unique
programs and services by districts and other conservation
organizations that advance the conservation, wise use and
orderly development of the nation’s natural resources. In
keeping with this mission, the Foundation is excited to
offer a new award through which one winning conservation
district will receive $10,000 to carry out a project within
their district. The Foundation is seeking “on-the-ground”
projects that touch local communities and can be completed
by December 1, 2010. Projects can use other funding in
conjunction with NCF’s cash award. Proposals must include a
2-3 minute video outlining the proposed project.
Completed application forms and videos must be submitted to
the Foundation by December 7, 2009 to be considered for the
cash prize. Click here to view the general instructions and application form. The
award will be presented at the 2010 NACD Annual Meeting in
Orlando, Fla. Contact rich-duesterhaus@nacdnet.org with
additional questions about the award and application
process.
Partnerships Sends Training Letter to District Employees
NACD, NCDEA and NASCA established a task force last fall to
identify sources for district employees’ training and
certification in urban and community conservation. This
initiative is in response to districts’ requests for
training during the 2007 NACD Inventory of Districts’ Urban
and Community Activities and Needs. The task force focused
this year on identifying potential sources of training and
visiting with them individually.
Last week, the three organizations sent a Partnership letter
to district employees informing, and in many cases
reminding, them about opportunities through EnviroCert
International (formerly CPESC Inc). Certification is
available in Erosion and Sediment Control, Storm Water
Quality, and Erosion, Sediment and Storm Water Inspector
(http://www.envirocertintl.org). Employees are encouraged to
consider the certification through their state association
and/or individually.
Information on other opportunities will be sent to district
employees as it is gathered. The Task Force invites districts
to share their suggestions for training and certification in
urban and community conservation. Information can be sent to
Debra Bogar at deb-bogar@nacdnet.org.
EPA's Watershed Academy Features Climate-Water Module
The Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Watershed
Academy has a new online module available titled "The
Effect of Climate Change on Water Resources and Programs."
The module is based on EPA's National Water Program
Strategy—Response to Climate Change—and provides basic
information on climate change and water-related effects.
Click here to view the new module.
SWCS Names New Executive Director
The Soil and Water Conservation Society (SWCS) Board of
Directors recently announced the appointment of Jim
Gulliford as the Society’s new executive director.
Gulliford brings an extensive history in soil and water
conservation, agriculture and environmental protection to
the SWCS. Most recently, he served as EPA assistant
administrator for the Office of Prevention, Pesticides and
Toxic Substances from 2006 until 2009.
NACD congratulates Mr. Gulliford and looks forward to
working with him in his new post.
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