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<br />Several significant legislative and organizational changes concerning the Salinity Control <br />Program have occurred since the adoption of the 1993 Triennial Review by the Colorado River <br />Basin Salinity Control Forum. Because these changes have affected both Reclamation and <br />USDA's salinity control programs, they have affected the development of the plan of <br />implementation as presented in this Review. These changes are highlighted below, followed by <br />a discussion of the current plan of implementation. <br /> <br />~ <br />...... <br /><=> U.s. Bureau of Reclllmlltion Prollrllm <br />w <br /> <br />On July 28, 1995, Public Law (p.L.) 104-20 was signed into law. P.L. 104-20 increased <br />the appropriations authorization ceiling for the Colorado River Basin Salinity Control Program <br />by an additional $75,000,000 and authorized the Secretary of the Department of the Interior, <br />acting through Reclamation, to implement a basin-wide salinity control program. The Secretary <br />may carry out the program directly or make grants, enter into contracts, memoranda of agreement, <br />commitments for grants, or advances of funds to non-federal entities under such terms and <br />conditions as the Secretary may require. The program is to consist of cost-effective measures and <br />associated works to reduce salinity from saline springs, leaking wells, irrigation sources, industrial <br />sources, erosion of public and private land, or other sources that the Secretary considers <br />appropriate. This program provides for the mitigation of incidental fish and wildlife values that <br />are lost as a result of these measures. <br /> <br />Section 202(a)(6) of the Act, as amended, allows the Secretary to initiate additional salinity <br />control projects without the need for specific congressional authorization. The Secretary's <br />authorities in this regard are now similar to those provided to the Secretary of Agriculture by the <br />1984 amendments. The Forum believes that this important change will allow a more timely and <br />efficient procedure for Reclamation to identify cost-effective units, or portions thereof, and to <br />proceed with their construction. Reclamation has developed and adopted implementing guidelines <br />and procedures for the new program. <br /> <br />U.s. Dllpartmllnt of Aa:riculture Proa:rllm <br /> <br />On December 1, 1994, the Department of Agriculture (USDA) was reorganized. Under <br />the new organization, the Natural Resources Conservation Service (formerly the Soil Conservation <br />Service) was given responsibility for all aspects of the USDA's Colorado River Salinity Control <br />Program; prior to the reorganization, the Agricultural Stabilization and Conservation Service (now <br />Consolidated Farm Services Administration) was responsible for the budget and funding, <br />participant selection criteria and contract administration functions. <br /> <br />On Apri14, 1996, the President signed into law the Federal Agricultural Improvement and <br />Reform Act (p.L. 104-127). It established a new program, the Environmental Quality Incentives <br />Program (EQIP), which combined the Agricultural Conservation Program, Colorado River Basin <br />Salinity Control Program, the predecessor Water Quality Incentives Program, and the Great Plains <br />Conservation Program into one program intended to assist crop and livestock producers deal with <br />environmental and conservation improvements on the farm. EQIP will be phased-in over a 6- <br /> <br />3-4 <br />