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.. --'' (~ P R 2 9 REC'0 N RTH CA O <br />1'~ O R LINA DEPARTMENT OF <br />ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES <br />DIVISION OF SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION <br />e~ <br />- - -'~,-~ Apri124, 1998 <br />~~ <br />NCDENR <br /> Deaz Soil and Water Conserva±ion Distr+.ct S~~pervisors and Staff: <br />} <br />JAMECS B. HUNT JR. '~-;^~ ~~ <br />GOV[R"cR We are 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 />wAma McDEtvlTr <br />Si:GxtMARY can propose to enhance the familiaz Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) aS <br /> long as the program is consistent with the CRP regulations. A successful <br />,::~ proposal will mean open enrollment for producers and over four dollars of <br />.~ <br /> <br />~ <br />federal funds for every state dollar spent on the project. Four states have <br />c. DEWEYB°TT9 <br />'`~ <br />- already received approval for CREP projects and each one totaled $200 <br />D1R6CTOR <br />._~ million or more. North Carolina must move quickly to submit its proposal <br />~..-. ; because USDA funds are limited and enrollment authorization ends on <br />_~ ~ ~~ <br />~~ September 30, 2002. <br />~~ <br />:; <br />~_ ..~~~ <br />`~~ ~ The Department of Environment and Natural Resources, with <br />, <br />' <br />.Y::°- assistance from a working group consisting of interested agencies, including <br />`- ~ the Fazm Service Agency, the Natural Resources Conservation Service, and <br />~-~ y <br />'` the Division of Soil and Water Conservation, has been developing a draft <br />~ <br />-- <br />proposal for North Carolina. We now have enough details worked out to <br />_.: shaze it with you and ask for your comments and support. <br /> Briefly, North Carolina is proposing a $274.5 million program to <br /> earoll up to 100,000 acres of active farmland near rivers, streams, field <br />""- ~ ditches, and wetlands in 15-year CRP 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 />. ~;: _ . = 15 yeazs and 50 percent of installation costs for eligible BMPs. The state <br />".. ~ <br />' ~ proposes to pay for purchasing permanent easements on approximately 65,000 <br />_ <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 50,000 <br />- - ~ <br />- ~.. acres. The geographic focus covers the Chowan, Neuse, and Tar-Pamlico <br />- ." "==-~; river basins and the Jordan Lake watershed. <br />:. <br />..~ We aze enclosing for your review the pertinent portions of the <br /> proposal-the executive summary, project description, and cost analysis. We <br />- ~<.~-N want to bring to your attention the recommended role for the affected Soil and <br /> Water Conservation Districts (pg. 17) and the recommended $7.50 per acre <br /> per yeaz through the year 2002 for each acre enrolled by a District in <br />29 <br />soa a~ wn~~ <br />P.O. BOX 27667, RALEIG N. NORTH CAROLINA 2761 1.7687 ~ <br />PHONE 91 9-733-2302 FAX 91 9-71 5-3559 CONSERVA(ION <br />AN EQUAL OPPORTV NITY /AFFIRMATIVE ACTION EMPLOYER - 50 a RECYC LE O/10°~a POST-CONSUMER PAPER ~~ <br />