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• Developing and implementing a series of immediate demonstration programs with local farm 

 operators to test the feasibility and define the methodologies of the Whole Farm Planning approach 

 to source protection. 



• Working with fanners to prepare Whole Farm Plans, and implementing those plans. 



• Establishing a voluntary Whole Farm Planning/Best Management Practices Program for the entire 

 farm community. 



Voluntary Panicipaiion — Until December 31, 1996, the City is offering farm operators the opportunity 

 to voluntarily participate in the Whole Farm Planning/Best Management Practice Program. A goal of 85 

 percent participation in this program by farmers throughout the watershed has been established. 



Farm operators who choose to participate will be given until December 31, 1996, to work with their 

 County Project Team to develop a Whole Farm Plan and agree to install practices according to the 

 schedule outlined in the plan. Farm operators voluntarily participating in the Whole Farm Planning/Best 

 Management Practices Program will be held harmless and not required to amend the farm practices agreed 

 to in their whole Farm Plan even if, after the evaluation of the entire program in 1997, the City, in 

 consultation with the Watershed Agricultural Council, determines there are changes needed in the 

 watershed regulations or agricultural program. Participating farm operators would still remain responsible 

 for violations of existing federal, state, and local standards pertaining to water quality. 



Cost-Sharing — Participating farm operators will receive City cost-sharing for both the planning and 

 implementation of the Whole Farm Planning/Best Management Practices Program, to the fiill extent of 

 any cost incurred, adjusted for whatever funding is otherwise made available under existing or fiiture 

 federal and state agricultural water quality and other cost-sharing programs. The City will pay the cost 

 to the farmer of participating in development of the Whole Farm Plan. Costs incurred shall include BMP 

 operation and maintenance costs identified in the Whole Farm Plan, to the extent they represent new and 

 additional farm operating costs considered necessary to the pollution prevention objectives of the plan. 



Review of Progress in 1997 — During 1997, the City, with the assistance of the Watershed Agricultural 

 Council and other appropriate public and private parties, will engage in a review of the results of the 

 voluntary agricultural best management program. This review will assess the extent to which the practices 

 and facilities called for by the Whole Farm Plans have been, or are being, adopted on schedule and are 

 being properly maintained. Also needed is an evaluation of whether the results are consistent with the 

 requirements of the avoidance criteria and the City's anti-degradation water quality objectives. If the 

 review does not justify a continuation of the program in its adopted form, the City will submit to the New 

 York State Department of Health such revisions to the watershed regulations as it deems necessary to 

 continue to meet its obligations and responsibilities. 



The City will work with the Watershed Agricultural Council on developing parameters and criteria for 

 evaluating the agricultural program in 1997, including a variety of program and regulatory options to 

 consider in the event that changes may be needed. 



Implementation of Principles and Standards — Agricultural BMPs, as developed by New York State in 

 support of the nonpoint source water pollution control policies of State Law and section 319 of the Federal 

 CWA Amendments of 1987, are the preferred methodologies and techniques for implementing these 

 principles and standards on farms in the New York City watershed system. The Whole Farm Planning 

 approach will be employed to tailor the applicability of relevant BMPs to conditions peculiar to each farm. 



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