319 Program Appropriations Funding Request, January 30, 2008 - National Association of Conservation Districts

NACD's mission is to serve conservation districts by providing national leadership and a unified voice for natural resource conservation.

Letters

January 30, 2008 – 319 Program Appropriations Funding Request
TO:	Senator Dianne Feinstein, Chairwoman, Interior and Environment Subcommittee, Senate Committee on Appropriations
	Senator Wayne Allard, Ranking Member, Interior and Environment Subcommittee, Senate Committee on Appropriations

Dear Chairwoman and Ranking Member:

The National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD) represents the nation's 3,000 conservation districts and 17,000 men and women who serve on their governing boards. Conservation districts are local units of government established under state law to carry out natural resource management programs at the local level.

Conservation districts work at the local level with a variety state and federal partners in the delivery of federal programs. One such program is the 319 Nonpoint Source Grants Program, administered by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and authorized under the Clean Water Act.

The 319 Nonpoint Source Program addresses water pollution from diffuse sources that affect water quality. Nonpoint sources of pollution are varied and can include nutrient runoff from agriculture, faulty septic systems from residential property, or urban runoff such as oil and toxic chemicals. Under this program, EPA awards funding to states that are then used by the state and local government to address nonpoint source pollution problems. The 319 program is critically important to conservation districts in maintaining and improving water quality in their local area. The program provides flexibility to address resources concerns that are outside the scope of many traditional United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) conservation programs.

NACD respectfully supports a funding level of $210.536 million for 319 Nonpoint Source Grants in the FY 2009 Interior Appropriations Bill. This increase in funding will provide necessary support in addressing nonpoint source pollution, ensuring that local communities will continue to realize the benefits of clean water. The increased funding will also help leverage cost-share funding at the state and local level, providing added benefit for the federal dollars spent.

Thank you for your consideration of this request. We look forward to working with you as we continue to provide the benefits of natural resource conservation across the country.

Sincerely,

Steve Robinson
Acting President

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