NRCS Holds National Listening Session on Conservation Programs At Regional Conservation Meeting on July 27

Maryland Media Liaison:

Carol Hollingsworth, 443-482-2902

Annapolis, MD, June 16, 2009 --- The USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is holding one of three National Listening Sessions in Maryland on July 27, 2009. The public meeting offers stakeholders the opportunity to provide input on important natural resources concerns and conservation programs managed by USDA to address natural resource concerns over the next decade.

The National Listening Session will be held in conjunction with the annual conference of the Northeast Region of the National Association of Soil Conservation Districts and the Maryland Association of Soil Conservation Districts. The Listening Session will be held on Monday, July 27, 2009 from 1:45 pm – 3:30 pm at the Holiday Inn Select, 155 Holiday Drive, Solomons, Maryland 20688. The Listening Session is open to the public.

On June 22, 2008, Congress reauthorized the Soil and Water Resources Conservation Act (RCA) (16 U.S.C. 2001-2009) through amendments in the 2008 Farm Bill. In the reauthorization, Congress extended RCA through 2018 and called for the first report to be delivered to Congress by January 2011. RCA provides 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 is holding listening sessions to provide the public with the opportunity to comment on conservation priorities, program approaches, future conservation needs, and opportunities to improve the appraisal process. Other National Listening Sessions were held in Bismarck, North Dakota and Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Written comments may be submitted at the meetings or by any of the following methods:

• Mail: USDA/NRCS, Strategic and Performance Planning Division, Room 4237-S, Attn. RCA, P.O. Box 2890, Washington, DC, 20013
• E-Mail: RCA@wdc.usda.gov

More information on RCA is available on the NRCS national homepage at http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/technical/rca/ .

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