PACD Engineering Assistance

PACD Provides Technical Assistance for CNMPs

The Pennsylvania Association of Conservation District, Inc. (PACD) has joined into an agreement with USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) to provide engineering technical assistance for conservation programs. This opportunity will allow the PACD engineering staff to expand its services into a broader range of agriculturally-based conservation practices.

The NRCS funding is intended to facilitate the development and implementation of Comprehensive Nutrient Management Plans (CNMPs). A CNMP addresses natural resource concerns dealing with soil erosion, manure, and organic by-products and their potential impacts on water quality associated with an animal farm. A CNMP is comprised of conservation practices and management activities that, when implemented as part of a whole conservation system, will help to ensure that both production and natural resource protection goals are attained. Primary elements of a CNMP include: manure and wastewater handling and storage, land treatment practices, nutrient management, record keeping, feed management, and other utilization activities. The CNMP is also developed to assist an animal operation owner/operator in meeting all applicable local, state, and federal water quality goals or regulations.

PACD can assist in identifying management and conservation actions recommended for a specific animal operation through an initial inventory and evaluation report. This documentation can then be utilized to proceed with planning and design efforts to ensure that clearly defined soil and water conservation goals associated with the animal operation are achieved. The CNMP will list all practices needed to address natural resource concerns. All conservation efforts implemented under the CNMP are based on requirements of the standards and specifications of the Pennsylvania Technical Guide for Conservation Practices

PACD will continue to provide engineering technical assistance to eligible entities for stream corridor restoration, abandoned mine drainage treatment, and other projects pertaining to environmental concerns.

Please contact your regional PACD technical staff to request assistance. Information pertaining to PACD's technical services can be accessed at: http://pacd.org/products/tech_asst.htm Contact information for PACD engineering staff and the down-loadable technical assistance application are also available on the website.