[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 13 (Thursday, January 22, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 3983-3984]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-1168]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Commodity Credit Corporation


Chesapeake Bay Watershed Initiative

AGENCY: Natural Resources Conservation Service and Commodity Credit 
Corporation, United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).

ACTION: Notice of availability of program funds for the Chesapeake Bay 
Watershed Initiative.

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SUMMARY: The Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) announces the 
availability of an additional $23 million of technical and financial 
assistance funds in fiscal year (FY) 2009 through the Chesapeake Bay 
Watershed Initiative to agricultural producers in eligible states. 
These states are: Delaware, Maryland, New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia, 
and West Virginia. The Chesapeake Bay Watershed Initiative funds are 
available to help producers implement natural resources conservation 
practices on agricultural lands in the Chesapeake Bay watershed.

DATES: January 22, 2009.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Lillian Woods, Acting Director, 
Conservation Planning and Technical Assistance Division, Natural 
Resources Conservation Service, P.O. Box 2890, Washington, DC 20013; 
phone (202) 720-8851; fax (202) 720-2998. Submit electronic requests 
for additional information to: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: CCC hereby announces up to $23 million to 
provide technical and financial assistance to producers under the 
Chesapeake Bay Watershed Initiative in FY 2009.
    Section 1240Q of the Food Security Act, as added by the Food, 
Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 (Pub. L. 110-246) (2008 Act), 
established the Chesapeake Bay Watershed Initiative and defined the 
Chesapeake Bay Watershed to mean all tributaries, backwaters, and side 
channels, including their watersheds, draining into the Chesapeake Bay. 
This area includes portions of the states of Delaware, Maryland, New 
York, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia. The NRCS administers 
the Chesapeake Bay Watershed Initiative and carries out program 
implementation using funds, facilities, or authorities of CCC. The 
Initiative gives special, but not exclusive, consideration to 
producers' applications in the following river basins: Susquehanna 
River, Shenandoah River, Potomac River (including North and South 
Potomac), and the Patuxent River.
    The Chesapeake Bay Watershed Initiative helps agricultural 
producers improve water quality and quantity, and restore, enhance, and 
preserve soil, air, and related resources in the Chesapeake Bay 
watershed through the implementation of conservation practices. These 
conservation practices reduce soil erosion and nutrient levels in 
ground and surface water, improve, restore, and enhance wildlife 
habitat, and help address air quality and related natural resource 
concerns. The Initiative is carried out through the various natural 
resources conservation programs authorized under subtitle D, Title XII 
of the Food Security Act of 1985, 16 U.S.C. 3830-3839bb-5. The 
Chesapeake Bay Watershed Initiative assistance in FY 2009 will be 
delivered through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP). 
All EQIP requirements and policies will apply (see 7 CFR Part 1466).
    Individuals interested in applying for Chesapeake Bay Watershed 
Initiative assistance may contact their local USDA service center in 
the eligible Chesapeake Bay Watershed Initiative states. For a listing 
of local service centers, consult: http://offices.sc.egov.usda.gov/locator/app?agency=nrcs.

[[Page 3984]]


    Signed in Washington, DC on January 14, 2009.
Arlen L. Lancaster,
Vice President, Commodity Credit Corporation and Chief, Natural 
Resources Conservation Service.
[FR Doc. E9-1168 Filed 1-21-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-16-P