173 



• SCS is not required to develop plans thai meet existing 

 environmental laws. SCS may establish its own criteria and 

 standards. The plan requirements mandate that economic 

 considerations be at least as important as environmental concerns. 

 Moreover, with the shield provision in place. SCS is exempt from 

 any accountability requirements. 



It is not true that without a liability protection provision that 

 farmers will fail to develop integrated resource management plans. 

 For many farmers, the idea of one-stop shopping makes developing 

 such plans an attractive option. 



If the intent of the bill is to add a water quality component to 

 existing USDA plans, there is already an existing program thai gives 

 SCS a lead role in developing comprehensive plans, without raising 

 \ery serious conflicts of jurisdiction, authority and standard-setting. 

 That program is the Water Quality Incentives Program and it is 

 widely available to farmers. 



In short. H.R. 1440 precludes the possibility of farmers facing the 

 same environmental laws as everyone else. We oppose H.R. 1440.. 



Conclusion 



In his State of the Union message. President Clinton urged Congress 

 to send him a "revitalized Clean Water Act." Aquatic resources 

 cannot wait any longer for this to happen. I am confident that this 

 Committee knows the urgency of the task. We urge the Committee to 

 step up to the task and support strengthening the CWA. 



