News & Notes March 2004

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PDA LINE ITEM FOR LOCAL SOIL AND WATER DISTRICT ASSISTANCE

The PDA line item for conservation districts has historically provided funding for district managers, administrative assistance, agricultural conservation technicians/engineers, Ombudsman, Pennsylvania Environmental Agricultural Conservation Certification of Excellence (PEACCE), farmland preservation and leadership development.

As previously mentioned, funding for 50% cost share for salaries and benefits for conservation district managers and the administrative assistance grant for each conservation district is critical to maintaining the core function of a conservation district. The PDA line item has been augmenting the DEP line items in the areas of cost share for district managers and administrative assistance. PACD is requesting continued augmentation of these areas from the Department of Agriculture as another important step in building a truer PDA/conservation district partnership.

Agriculture Conservation Technician/Engineer Program (ACT) provides one-on-one technical assistance and guidance to farmers. These technicians and engineers provide services to farmers that help them comply with Pennsylvania's environmental regulations. Conservation districts work with farmers to achieve voluntary compliance with these regulations.

PDA, in conjunction with the State Conservation Commission, developed the Ombudsman Program to provide specific assistance to agricultural producers and conservation district boards dealing with complex or potentially contentious situations. The program created an intermediary or ombudsman between agricultural producers, municipalities and special interest groups to resolve issues and protect agriculture's right-to farm.

For two years, three conservation districts worked on a pilot program called the Pennsylvania Environmental Agricultural Conservation Certification of Excellence (PEACCE). The PEACCE program moved beyond the pilot phase in FY 02/03. Sufficient funds were not available to fund the program in FY 03/04, but PACD believes that the program should again be funded in FY 04/05.

Pennsylvania currently preserves more farmland than any other state in the nation with its 53 approved county-based farmland preservation programs. Conservation district staff provides direct administrative support for the program in 27 counties. In 36 additional counties, district staff members provide support services such as conservation planning and annual farm inspections. Because of the increasing importance placed on preserving farmland as well as the increased paperwork required in administering this program, PACD encourages continuing financial support for this program and increasing the funding for districts directly administering the program and for the districts that provide indirect services.

As conservation district programs grow, the challenge and responsibility of developing, planning and managing an effective, locally led natural resource program increases dramatically. The long-term success of a conservation district and its programs is dependent on having competent, well-trained directors and staff. District directors must develop and hone the skills necessary to envision, develop and oversee an effective natural resource program designed to meet the needs of the local community. It is critical that both district managers and directors receive formal ongoing training and leadership development. PDA has supported this program and the PACD requests that this support continue.

Below is a summary of the requested PDA Funding for Conservation District Programs:

NUTRIENT MANAGEMENT PROGRAM

Pennsylvania's Nutrient Management Program is a very successful program that provides technical assistance through conservation districts and plan writers, grants to farmers, and responsible implementation and enforcement of the Commonwealth's Nutrient Management Law and associated regulations. In addition, new program enhancements are included in proposed revisions to the regulations that will require greater program oversight and support at the state and local level in the future.

This program was established with a non-lapsing Nutrient Management Fund in the PDA budget through which monies are provided for the different components of the program. Adequate funding for this program is essential to the agricultural community and the public to ensure the viability and success of the program. To date, adequate program funding has been available through the use of annual appropriations to the Fund in conjunction with reserve monies in the Fund from appropriations made in the early years of the program.

In the Governor's proposed 2004-05 budget, the $3.28 Million transfer to the Nutrient Management Fund will not be adequate to administer the expanded program called for in the revisions to the regulations. An additional $400,000 (a total amount of $3.68 Million) is needed in the Nutrient Management Fund in 2004-05 to maintain appropriate program administration.

The program activities that are anticipated during 2004-05 are expected to deplete the Nutrient Management Fund by the end of the fiscal year. With the Fund depleted at the end of the 2004-05 fiscal year, approximately $6 Million (the total annual program amount) will need to budgeted for the Fund for the 2005-06 fiscal year.

Transfer to Nutrient Management Fund Needed for 2004-05                                                                                $3,680,000

Amount in Governor's 2004-05 Budget for Transfer to Fund
                                                                               $ 3,280,000
Executive Authorizations Needed for 2004-05:
PDA Support (PDA Executive Authorization)          $3,830,000
Conservation District Support (DEP Executive Authorization)                                                                                $2,100,000

Total Executive Authorizations Needed                    $5,930,000

Anticipated Transfer to Nutrient Management Fund Needed for 2005-06                                                                                $6,000,000

DIRT AND GRAVEL ROADS PROGRAM

The Pennsylvania State Conservation Commission's Dirt & Gravel Road Program (DGRP) is an innovative effort to fund "environmentally sound" maintenance of unpaved roadway sections that have been identified as sources of dust and sediment pollution. Signed into law in April 1997 as Section 9106 of the PA Vehicle Code, the program is based on the principle that informed and empowered local control is the most effective way to stop pollution.

The law created a dedicated, non-lapsing fund to provide money (currently $4 million per year) and training to local communities for local road maintenance, specifically to halt and prevent pollution of water and air. The State Conservation Commission annually allocates these funds to 65 county conservation districts in Pennsylvania (out of 67 counties) that administer the Dirt & Gravel Road Program.

Conservation districts have identified 11,300 work sites on the approximately 17,000 miles of dirt and gravel roads that are polluting adjacent rivers/streams and are eligible for road maintenance funding. Conservation districts have completed 935 projects to date, with an average of about 225 projects per year with the current funding.

At the current level of funding of $4 million per year, it will take about 46 years to address the identified problem sites. If DGRP funding is doubled to $8 million per year, the completion cycle is reduced to 23 years to finish all known problem sites. If DGRP funding is tripled to $12 million, the completion cycle is reduced to about 15 years to finish all known problem sites.

In order to address the identified need and to reduce the time required to complete these sites, an increase in DGRP funding is needed. PACD supports an increase in funding for transportation programs and specifically, an increase in the monies established under Section 9106 of the PA Vehicle Code.

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