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<br />September 21-22, 1998, Agenda Item 20.h., <br />Page 4 of 4 <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />The EQIP budget for federal fiscal year 1999 (10/1/98-9/30/99) has still not been determined by <br />Congress, with a Conference Committee just being formed to resolve differences between the House <br />version at $184 million and the Senate at $200 million. The Senate version also contains report <br />language instructing the Secretary of Agriculture to designate EQIP National Priority Areas in the <br />Mississippi Delta and Colorado River Basin. Apparently the views of key House Democrats are <br />important to resolution of the issue of priority areas in FY 99. Given the Board's current position <br />regarding the need for additional EQIP funds prior to designation of pnority areas Colorado has not <br />attempted to influence the debate in Congress, but we have not objected to the efforts of other Basin <br />States or the Forum's Executive Director to obtain a national priority designation. rfthe Board <br />modifies its earlier position of support as recommended by staff, we may yet have an opportunity <br />to influence the resolution of this issue for FY 1999, and playa more active role in future years. <br /> <br />RECOMMENDATION <br /> <br />Staff makes the following recommendations with respect to each of the issues discussed above: <br /> <br />A. 1999 Triennial Review: The Board approves of Colorado's representatives to the CRBSCP <br />Forum taking the position at the next meeting that the 1999 Review closely follow the <br />content and process used during the 1996 Review. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />B. Work Group Leadership: There is no recommendation, but the Board can endorse or revise <br />staffs prioritized list of options for providing leadership to the CRBSCP Forum's Work <br />Group. Staffwill pursue these options in the order indicated in consultation with the other <br />Forum members as the situation unfolds over the next year. Staff will keep the Board <br />apprised of the situation. <br /> <br />C. USDA EQIP National Priority: Staff recommends that the Board modify its May 1998 <br />resolution of support for the designation of salinity control in the Colorado River Basin as <br />a National Priority Area within the USDA EQIP to support such designation, even if the <br />current $200 million nationwide EQIP budget is not enlarged to provide additional funds for <br />such areas, provided that any such National Priority Areas are funded "off-the-top" at a <br />national level. <br /> <br />cc: David Robbins <br />David Holm <br />Jack Barnett <br />Dave Merritt <br /> <br />C.Wl.MIUJ1Jl'OOAaDIoIat_19l0ItWPO . <br />_..,."......;,.1..1991 <br />