Comment Period EXTENDED until April 22 for NRCS Revisions

This comment period has been extended until April 22nd.

Natural Resources Conservation Service proposed revisions open for public comment.  We’re concerned about it:

NRCS, the federal agency which provides technical and financial assistance to farmers, is proposing revisions to its National Handbook of Conservation Practices. This handbook includes conservation requirements which farmers must meet to qualify for assistance. Of particular concern are proposed changes to Code 527 – Karst Sinkhole Treatment. The changes include the deletions of the word “karst” throughout the code, including the title. This one of the few, if not the only, sections of the Handbook which makes reference to conservation practices regarding karst and we are concerned that removal of this term will allow practices which could damage groundwater. This handbook is the reference document which states use to create their Field Office Technical Guides (FOTG) used by ADEQ to determine permit compliance for CAFOs. Some may recall that our basic argument for not renewing the C&H permit was that they failed to comply with the FOTG. Please submit your comments to NRCS before April 8^th and ask that they remove the proposed revisions to Code 527 – Karst Sinkhole Treatment and retain the word “karst” as it is used in the current version.

Proposed Revisions: https://public-inspection.federalregister.gov/2021-05005.pdf

Submit comments here: https://www.regulations.gov/document/NRCS-2020-0008-0001 

BRWA Comments

Dane Schumacher comments