Agenda - 09-17-2002 - 6c - Laserfiche WebLink

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ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT Meeting Date: September 17, 2002 Action Again a Item No. tip SUBJECT: Cooperative Agreement-Acceptance of USDA Grant for Famdand Easements DEPARTMENT: Environment and Resource PUBLIC HEARING: (YIN) No Conservation ATTACHMENT INFORMATION CONTACT: 1)Cooperative Agreement David Stanch, 245-2590 2) Fernand Protection Program release Rich Shaw, 245-2591 Brent Bogus, 245-2750 TELEPHONE NUMBERS: Hlllsborough 732b181 Chapel HIII 9684t501 Durham 688-7331 Mebane 336-227-2031 PURPOSE: To consider entering into a cooperative agreement with the United Stales Commodity Credit Corporation (which administers the USDA Farmland Protection Program) for purposes of accepting grants totaling $784,155 for the purchase of farmland conservation easements. BACKGROUND: In April of this year,the 2002 Farm Bill was signed into law. Included In the Farm Bill was an appropriation of$48 million to the USDA Farmland Protection Program (FPP), to be administered at the state level by the USDA Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS). The Farmland Protection Programs funds up to a 50%match of the purchase of agricultural conservation easements. On June 271i,the Board authorized County staff to submit a grant application for the ecquishion of conservation easements, and staff(with assistance from the District Conservationist and Soil and Water District staff)submitted a grant application in the amount of$788,900 in July for this purpose. Staff received confirmation on Friday, September 13 that the County's grant had been approved In the amount of$784,155 (99.4% of the total requested). USDA is required to encumber the funds for the grant prior to the end of the Federal fiscal year on September 30, and a signed cooperative agreement must be received by the State Conservationist by September 20. The County will then have two years from the date of the agreement to complete the negotiation of easements.