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<br />Appendix I <br />The Federal Salinity Control Program <br /> <br />W <br />t:Jl <br />en <br />~ <br /> <br />farm located in a higWy saline area would receive a higher priority than <br />would a farm in an area with less saline soil. Once an application is <br />approved, the office develops a salinity control plan and executes an <br />implementation contract with the applicant for a period of 3 to 10 years. <br />Besides agreeing to build and install the project, the landowner agrees to <br />operate and maintain the project for as long as 25 years. <br /> <br />By the end of September 1994, USDA had about 1,300 contracts for projects <br />affecting about 150,000 acres. The program's expenditures through <br />September 1994 were about $89 million; about $228 million more is needed <br />to complete projects planned in the five project areas. <br /> <br />At the local level, USDA agencies administer the program through county <br />offices. These offices identify potential acreage for treatment under the <br />program; prepare estimates of project areas' funding needs; develop and <br />present information about the program; review, prioritize, and approve <br />applications for participation in the program; help applicants prepare <br />salinity control plans; prepare construction contracts for the projects; <br />prepare operation and maintenance agreements for the contracts; obligate <br />and disburse cost-share funds; provide technical assistance to participants <br />in the program; inspect and certify projects' completion; estimate and <br />report on the reduction in salinity attributable to the projects; and <br />maintain records and statistical reports. <br /> <br />Other Agencies <br /> <br />EPA and Interior's Fish and Wildlife Service and U.S. Geological Survey are <br />other agencies involved in the salinity control program. EPA reviews and <br />approves water quality standards, including numeric criteria EPA also <br />reviews environmental documents and provides technical comments on <br />the impacts that salinity control projects have on the environment and the <br />plans to mitigate these impacts. The Fish and Wildlife Service provides <br />support during planning for technical issues such as the impacts projects <br />will have on fish, wetlands, and wildlife habitat. The Geological Survey <br />monitors the salinity of the Colorado River, provides pertinent information <br />in published reports, and conducts special investigations to identify <br />sources of salt. <br /> <br />Page 23 <br /> <br />GAOIRCED-95-58 Salinity Control Projects in the Colorado River Basin <br />