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November 10, 2009
NACD Hosts Chesapeake Bay Meeting
Last week, NACD hosted a Chesapeake Bay Leadership meeting
in Beltsville, Md. The meeting helped conservation
districts, partners and cooperators in the six-state
Chesapeake Bay watershed plan for and address the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) new Chesapeake Bay
Strategy (see story below). Chuck Fox, Senior Advisor to
the EPA Administrator, addressed the Agency’s leadership
role in preparing a draft strategy to restore and protect
the Bay. Larry Elworth, Agricultural Counselor to the EPA
Administrator, and Dana York, Natural Resources
Conservation Service Senior Advisor for the Chesapeake Bay
Program, briefed the group regarding their respective roles
in the strategy. The meeting was supported by a grant from
the Keith Campbell Foundation. NACD will provide additional
reports as the project progresses.
EPA Releases Draft Strategy on Chesapeake Bay
Yesterday, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
released a draft strategy for protecting and restoring the
Chesapeake Bay. The draft strategy is in response to an
Executive Order issued by President Obama in May and
addresses actions to be taken by EPA and six federal
departments. Several of the actions identified in the
draft strategy include:
• EPA will issue regulations to raise standards for
CAFOs, municipal stormwater and new discharges of
pollution.
• USDA will target conservation incentives to high
priority areas and track progress.
• Department of Transportation will address polluted
runoff from roads and transportation facilities.
• Department of the Interior will develop a Chesapeake
Treasured Landscapes Initiative to protect forests,
wetlands, river corridors and open spaces.
• U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will implement large-scale
restoration efforts.
This effort is seen as a model for targeted watershed
approaches that can be applied in other areas of the
country. NACD is working with districts and state
associations within the Bay regarding potential roles and
workloads under the draft strategy and enhanced water
quality goals under the Chesapeake Bay TMDL (total maximum
daily load). Public comments will be accepted for the next
60 days. A copy of the draft strategy can be found at this website.
Senate Committee Approves Climate Bill
Last week, the Senate Environment and Public Works
Committee approved by a vote of 11-1 the Clean Energy Jobs
and American Power Act (S. 1733). The Committee’s vote came
after a contentious week which found Democratic and
Republican lawmakers at odds over the Committee’s actions
related to the climate bill. Republican committee members
boycotted the Committee’s work on S. 1733, claiming
incomplete analysis of the bill from the Environmental
Protection Agency. Democrats on the committee ultimately
chose to vote on the bill without Republican participation.
The bill is subject to further action in Senate committees,
including review by the Finance committee and the Energy and
Natural Resources committee among others. The Finance
Committee held a hearing on the legislation today, but
Chairman Max Baucus (D-MT) was the one dissenting vote
during the Environment Committee’s work last week. Actions
scheduled for today in the Energy committee were postponed.
A timeline for further committee review has not been
released.
NACD on the Road in the West
Paul Leishman, NACD Executive Board member for the
Southwest Region, and Ralph Thier, NACD Western Issues
Specialist, both participated in the Nevada and Utah state
association meetings last week. Leishman updated those
assembled on NACD operations and activities and provided
the Nevada association with background on the Utah
Association of Conservation District’s supervisor training
and association activities. Thier provided an overview of
NACD legislative activities with a focus on western issues,
including appropriations, wildfire suppression, climate,
forest threats and grazing, to name a few. Both meetings were a success thanks to the host associations’ respective efforts.
List of Candidates Released for the Endangered Species
Act
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) recently issued
its annual update of the Endangered Species Act, which
highlights the status of threatened or endangered species
considered for protection under the act. The list includes
249 new species across the nation that FWS proposes for
protection, based on its research. The update also provides
resource managers the opportunity to implement actions that
address harmful activities to keep these species from
incorporation under the act. FWS offers grants to fund such
conservation efforts for habitat protection. Additionally,
FWS may enter into formal agreements called “Candidate
Conservation Agreements” or “Candidate Conservation
Agreements with Assurances” to address the conservation
needs of specific candidate species. Information on the
various species included in the list is available in the
Federal Register notice at http://www.fws.gov/policy/library/2009/E9-26841.pdf.
Nominations Open for 2010 National Wetlands Awards
Nomination forms for the 2010 National Wetlands Awards
Program are now available at http://www.nationalwetlandsawards.org.
For more than 20 years, the National Wetlands Awards program
has honored individuals who demonstrate extraordinary
dedication, innovation and excellence in wetlands
conservation. Recipients provide critical examples of how
individual citizens across the country can, and do, make a
difference in wetlands protection and restoration efforts.
The deadline for submitting nominations for the 2010 Awards
Program is December 15, 2009. For more information on the
program, contact Landon Yoder at (202) 939-3829 or e-mail wetlandsawards@eli.org.
Funding Available for Conservation Marketing
The Temper of Times Foundation, Inc. has announced
availability of grants for marketing projects to increase
awareness about wildland ecosystem conservation and
restoration in the United States. Grant funds, ranging
between $5,000 and $15,000, can be used toward the
production of print, radio or television advertisements,
advertising space or airtime, or the production or
distribution of pamphlets, books, videos or press packets.
Applications are only accepted from non-profit 501 (c) 3
organizations, so conservation districts will need to
collaborate with a non-profit partner such as their state
association, Resource Conservation & Development Council,
or their state foundation in order to qualify for the
funding. The deadline for application is December 15, 2009.
For more information on this opportunity, please visit
http://www.temperfund.org.
2010 NACD Annual Meeting: 10 Days Left of Early-Bird
Registration
Now is the time to register for 2010 NACD’s Annual Meeting,
scheduled for January 31 – February 3, 2010 in Orlando, Fla.
The conference, themed “Committed to Conservation” will
bring together hundreds of conservation leaders from across
the country to network, learn and play.
The deadlines for discounted early-bird rates for
registration and hotel rooms are fast approaching. Don’t
let these deals pass you by. Save up to $70 off regular
meeting registration rates and $120 off on-site
registration rates by registering before November 20, 2009.
Click here to register today and lock in that low rate.
Early-bird hotel room rates are also available at the
Hilton in Walt Disney World. For more information on how
to make your reservation, click here.
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