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April 18, 1997

AMSA Joins Others Urging Protection of Sensitive Ag Land
AMSA, along with the Association of Metropolitan Water Agencies, the National League of Cities, the American Water Works Association, the National Association of Water Companies, and the National Water Resources Association, forwarded correspondence to U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Dan Glickman voicing concerns over recently released regulations for the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP). The CRP is a program originally authorized to encourage farmers (through cash incentives) to remove highly erodible lands from cultivation. During the reuathorization of the Farm Bill last year, the CRP was expanded to allow for enrollment of land to protect water quality. AMSA was among the municipal organizations that strongly supported the amendment.

The final regulations, issued by the Department of Agriculture in February 1997, allow for entire fields to be enrolled in the CRP even if only one-third of the field is highly-erodible. This criteria significantly lowers the land eligibility standards to the extent that one-half to two-thirds of the nation's cropland could meet the basic requirements of the program. Under this approach, more land of dubious environmental sensitivity would become eligible for enrollment under the program, which is capped at 36.4 million acres. The final rule is significantly less stringent, in terms of enrollment requirements, that a proposal circulated by the Department of Agriculture last October. The proposal was apparently changed at the request of current CRP contract holders fearing that they might not meet the new standards. AMSA and the other organizations urged Secretary Glickman to make the necessary changes to the new CRP program to ensure that it is used to protect the most environmentally sensitive land.

Senator Chafee to Address AMSA Members on May 6
Senator John Chafee (R-RI), Chair of the Senate Public Works & Environment Committee has accepted AMSA's invitation to speak at the Association's May 3-7 National Environmental Policy Forum & 27th Annual Meeting. Senator Chafee leads the Senate committee with jurisdiction over both the Clean Water Act and Superfund. The Senator will speak at a Legislative Breakfast, added this week to the Forum's program for Tuesday morning. The breakfast will replace the Legislative Policy Committee meeting and will be held at 7:30 am.

Boehlert/Perciasepe/Lyons Also Confirmed
Other key speakers have also confirmed their participation ensuring what will undoubted be a very informative conference. Senator Chafee will be followed on Tuesday morning by Rep. Sherwood Boehlert (R-NY) who leads the House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee's Subcommittee on Water Resources and the Environment. AMSA will testify next week at Rep. Boehlert's first Clean Water Act reauthorization hearing -- addressing clean water needs. Also joining AMSA's program is Bob Perciasepe, EPA's Assistant Administrator for Water and James R. Lyons, Under Secretary, Natural Resources and Environment, U.S. Department of Agriculture.