104—Lancaster Famine, Saturday , May 19,1979
Md. Rural Clean Water program approved
ANNAPOLIS, Md.' -
Governor Harry Hughes
signed an agreement with
the U.S. Soil Conservation
Service on May 4 that will
put Maryland fanners in line
for federal funds under the
Rural Clean Water
Program. '
The first such agreement
in the UJS., it will allow SCS
to cost share with rural
landowners on practices
designed to keep
agricultural nonpoint
sources of pollution such as
sediment and animal wastes
outofs&eams.
RCWF is a provision of the
1977 Clean Water Act, which
called for a massive effort to
clean up the nation’s rivers
and streams. Under this law,
agencies including the
Maryland Water Resources
Administration, the State
Soil Conservation Com
mittee of the Maryland Dept,
of Agriculture, Extension
Service, the state’s 24 soil
conservation districts, and
SCS have pinpointed major
pollution types and devised a
plan to deal with them.
The President has
recommended a $75 million
budget for RCWP in fiscal
year 1980. Congress is
scheduled to act on this
proposal by Oct 1. Once
approved, the funds will be
used to finance soil and
water conservation efforts in
35 to 40 project areas
nationwide.
Landowners in project
areas approved for RCWP —
) have a
nice weekend...
BMCHTCN SOMETHING*
where the pollution problem
is most critical will be
eligible to enter into five to
10-year contracts with the
State Soil - Conservation
Committee or the local soil
conservation district to
Governor Harry Hughes signs the Rural Clean Water Program agreement with
the U.S. Soil Conservation Service which qualifies Maryland farmers for cost-
on practices to keep sediment and animal wastes from polluting
streams. Clockwise from the Governor are James B. Coulter, Maryland
Department of Natural Resources Secretary; Vernon R. Foster, State Soil
Conservation Committee Chairman; Wayne A. Cawley, Jr., Maryland Secretary
of Agriculture; Gerald R. Calhoun, Soil Conservation Service State Con
servationist; and Constance Lieder, Maryland Secretary of State Planning.
DAVID H. HAGAN
Harkins A Carea Rd., Norrisville, MD
Just below Stewartstown, PA
301-692-6902
federal cost
receive the
share funds.
Gerald R. Calhoun, SOS
state conservationist, says
all soil conservation districts
in the state are encouraged
to develop applications for
RCWP funds. Howe\ er, first
consideration will be given
to the five soil conservation
districts having potential
critical areas identified by
the State Committee. He
said he expects at least one
MAURER TRUCK SERVICE
Pine Grove, PA. 17963 717-345-4401
C
Located Vi> Mile East of Pine Grove on Route 443
or two projects in the sediment particles are
milhon-dolkr range to be pesticides and nutrients.” !
approved in Maryland. , “There has already been a
“Farm operations can be a national investment of about
major source of nonpoint $25 billion over the,past five
pollution if conservation is years' to control point or
not practiced,” said direct discharge of
Calhoun. “Cropland con- pollutants. If something isn’t
tributes about 50 percent of ■ done' to control nonpoint
the total sediment entering source pollution, that m
the nation’s inland water- vestment will be jeopar
ways. Attached to the dized,” Calhoun explained.
-X *
m*