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/' 36 <br />-~ ~ ~pR 2 9 RECD NORTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF <br />ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES <br />DIVISION OF SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION <br />e~~ <br />~,~,~~~ Apri124, 1998 <br />NCDENR <br /> Dear Soil and Water Conservation Distract S1,~pervisors and Staff: <br />JAMES B. HUNT JR. ~~; ~• )~~ <br />! <br />GOVERNOR We aze contacting you about an exciting new USDA program-the <br /> Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP). This program was <br /> established by the 1996 Farm Bill to cost-effectively meet specific <br /> conservation and environmental objectives of the state and the nation. A state <br />WAYNE MCDEYITT <br />S can propose to enhance the familiaz Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) aS <br />ECRETARY <br />l <br />` <br />long as the program is consistent with the CRP regulations. A successful <br />:; proposal will mean open enrollment for producers and over four dollazs of <br />" ` <br />.~; federal funds for every state dollaz spent on the project. Four states have <br />c. DEwEYEioTTa ; - ~ already received approval for CREP projects and each one totaled $200 <br />DiRECroR million or more. North Carolina must move quickly to submit its proposal <br />.-. ; because USDA funds are limited and enrollment authorization ends on <br />~'~ September 30, 2002. <br /> <br />~- -~~~a: The Department of Environment and Natural Resources, with <br />,~ ~ ~~~ <br />-:. assistance from a working group consisting of interested agencies, including <br />- - ~ <br />~~J the Farm Service Agency, the Natural Resources Conservation Service, and <br />- ~ <br />~' the Division of Soil and Water Conservation, has been developing a draft <br />; <br />-~ <br />~ <br />proposal for North Carolina. We now have enough details worked out to <br />'_. <br />~` <br />., share it with you and ask for your comments and support. <br /> Briefly, North Cazolina is proposing a $274. million program to <br /> enroll up to 100,000 acres of active farmland near rivers, streams, field <br />. "- ditches, and wetlands in 15-year CR.P contracts and permanent <br /> easements. USDA requires the state to provide at least 20 percent of the total <br />-' project costs. USDA will pay annual rent, bonuses, and maintenance fees for <br />. ~ _ = IS years and 50 percent of installation costs for eligible BMPs. The state <br />-... ~ ' ~ proposes to pay for purchasing permanent easements on approximately 65,000 <br />'~~? <br />:.:., acres after the CRP contracts expire (however, the state's payment must be <br />. :, made when the property is enrolled), and proposes to pay up to 40 percent on <br /> installation of the riparian forested buffer BMP on approximately X0,000 <br />' - ~ <br />- <br />1 acres. The geographic focus covers the Chowan, Neuse, and Taz-Pamlico <br />. <br />- . ~=~=~:; river basins and the Jordan Lake watershed. <br />:. We aze enclosing for your review the pertinent portions of the <br /> proposal-the executive summazy, project description, and cost analysis. We <br />- =~~~» want to bring to your attention the recommended role for the affected Soil and <br /> Water Conservation Districts (pg. 17) and the recommended $7.~0 per acre <br /> per year through the year 2002 for each acre enrolled by a District in <br />soa___ a~wn~R <br />P.O. 807[ 27687, RALEIGH. NORTH CAROLINA 2761 1-7687 ~ <br />PHONE 919-733-2302 FAX 91 9-715-3559 CONSERVATION <br />AN EQUAL OPPO RTUNITYIAiFIRMATIVE ACTION EMPLOYER - 50°'e RECYCLE O/10 a POST-CONSUMER PAPER <br />