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<br />. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />to'.) <br />o <br />c.u <br /> <br />1986 USDA Progress Report <br />CRSC Program <br />Presented on behalf of <br />USDA Salinity Control Coordinating Committee <br />(ASCS - SCS - ARS - ES - CSRS) <br />Washington, D.C. <br /> <br />.~.:.:.. <br /> <br />This year USDA presents an even more positive report than our progress report <br />of 1985. In essence, the future of the USDA onfarm program looks brighter <br />today than it has since the passage of the original CRSC Act of 1974. <br /> <br />I. Activities in Response to PL-98-569 <br /> <br />1. Appropriations Bill for FY 1987 has included $3.804 million funding <br />the CRSC program. We fully expect this amount to be available. In <br />addition, reprogramming of certain unobligated ACP funds to CRSC for <br />FY 1987 is also being contemplated. <br /> <br />2. Rules and Regulations are being processed through the Office of <br />Management and Budget for clearance and publication in the Federal <br />Register. We anticipate the rules to be published as "interim final" <br />rules to allow USDA to proceed with early implementation. <br /> <br />3. ASCS and SCS has begun to finalize the administrative and operating <br />procedures to be used in implementing the program. <br /> <br />II. Planning Activities <br /> <br />1. USDA has published a recommended plan for Big Sandy (WY). The USDA <br />report and sccompanying environmental assessment, in the form of a <br />Findings of No Significant Impact (FONSI), has been distributed for <br />interagency review and comments. SCS is currently evaluating and <br />responding to the agency comments received. <br /> <br />2. Reclamation and SCS are evaluating a combined alternative for the <br />Price-San Rafael (UT) ares which would include placing laterals in <br />pipe and the use of onfarm gravity aprinkler systems. A BR-SCS joint <br />and fully coordinated project may result for two subareas in the study <br />area. <br /> <br />3. A joint draft plan of study by BR and SCS has been formulated for the <br />Palo Verde Irrigation District. No USDA actions are contemplated <br />until after the Reclamation Phase I work has been accomplished and a <br />decision to proceed with further onfarm evaluations has been agreed <br />upon by Reclamation, SCS, and PVID. <br /> <br />III. Implementation Activities <br /> <br />All USDA implementation efforts in 1986 were continued under existing <br />program authorities at approximately the same funding levels. We <br />anticipate a transition from the standard Agricultural Conservation <br />Program (ACP) to the new USDA CR~;C program in 1987. <br />