37 



between economical agricultural production and wetland conserva- 

 tion. 



Conserving and restoring the Nation's wetlands will require an 

 enormous commitment of privately owned land, money, and exper- 

 tise. It cannot be accomplished without the involvement of the pri- 

 vate sector, particularly the people who own wetlands. 



The need for wetlands regulatory reform cannot be dismissed. 

 The Federal regulatory wetlands program in effect today under sec- 

 tion 404 of the Clean Water Act is not the product of a carefully 

 considered and fully debated legislative policy. Current Federal 

 wetlands law is the result of 20 years of bureaucratic decisions and 

 judicial rulings under very general statutory authority, authority 

 that does not mention the word "wetlands." 



Finally, let me address section 6217 of the Coastal Zone Act Re- 

 authorization Amendments of 1990 which requires that coastal 

 States with federally approved coastal zone management programs 

 develop coastal nonpoint pollution control programs to be approved 

 by EPA and NOAA. NASA is attempting to provide a means of 

 training State agricultural officials regarding these requirements, 

 enabling them to contribute to the development of their State's pro- 

 gram. We have developed and will distribute a process document 

 to assist States in developing their agricultural plan. 



In conclusion, Mr. Chairman, a number of bills have been intro- 

 duced in the 103d Congress dealing with nonpoint source pollution 

 and wetlands. Rather than attempt to address each of those pieces 

 in detail, I have identified five general areas in my written state- 

 ment dealing with funding and timeframes, watershed planning 

 and site-specific planning, water quality monitoring and State re- 

 ports, citizen lawsuits, and water quality standards. I would en- 

 courage you to review those remarks. 



We appreciate the opportunity to participate in this very impor- 

 tant hearing, and we look forward to continuing to work with the 

 subcommittee on these issues. Thank you very much. 



[The prepared statement of Mr. Tarburton appears at the conclu- 

 sion of the hearing.] 



Mr. Johnson. Thank you, Mr. Tarburton. 



Next, Mrs. Olson. 



STATEMENT OF JUDY OLSON, PRESIDENT, NATIONAL ASSO- 

 CIATION OF WHEAT GROWERS, ON BEHALF OF THE CLEAN 

 WATER WORKING GROUP 



Mrs. Olson. Mr. Chairman and members of the subcommittee, 

 my name is Judy Olson. I am president of the National Association 

 of Wheat Growers. My husband and I have raised wheat, barley, 

 and lentils in the Palouse region of Washington State. Today, I am 

 speaking on behalf of the Clean Water Working Group, which is 

 comprised of 37 agricultural and soil and water conservation orga- 

 nizations. 



We appreciate the opportunity to comment on legislation regard- 

 ing nonpoint source pollution on agricultural lands. I would like to 

 begin with an explanation, and an illustration, of the basic prin- 

 ciples which the Clean Water Working Group believes should be 

 embodied in the Clean Water Act amendments to be considered by 

 the Congress. 



