EPA's PA Conservation Assessment Initiative Aims To Address Water Quality Issues in Lancaster County Farms
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etfelix0413EPA's PA Conservation Assessment Initiative Aims To Address Water Quality Issues in Lancaster County Farms
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etfelix0413EPA's PA Conservation Assessment
Initiative Aims to Address Water Quality
Issues in Lancaster County Farms
Lancaster County, PA - The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has launched a new
initiative in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, to assess farms that have the potential to
contribute significant amounts of nutrients and sediment to local streams and the Chesapeake
Bay. The goal of these assessments is to identify, assess, and address significant pollution
discharges to help Pennsylvania meet its water quality goals for local streams and the
Chesapeake Bay.
As part of the initiative, EPA is assessing farms that have the potential to contribute significant
amounts of nutrients and sediment to local streams and the Chesapeake Bay. EPA has the
regulatory authority to conduct these assessments under the Clean Water Act Sections
regulations. The agency will be conducting approximately five assessments in Lancaster
County, data collection from selected farms for the assessment will be based on criteria such as
location, proximity to impaired waters, potential downstream impacts, and potential impacts on
drinking water.
The initiative will provide Farmers with advance notification of visits, and an agricultural
technician from the Lancaster County Conservation District will be on-site to answer questions
during the assessment. If water quality issues are found, the EPA will work with the state and
local partners to connect farmers with funding opportunities and technical assistance to address
the issues. If a farm is found to be a significant contributor of pollutants and does not take steps
to mitigate its discharge, EPA has the authority to designate the farm as a Concentrated Animal
Feeding Operation (CAFO) and require them to get a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination
System (NPDES) permit. Approximately five assessments are planned to be conducted in April
and May, and farmers will receive advanced notice of the assessments.
The long-term benefits for the landowners and the community are significant. Well-managed
and compliant operations are more sustainable, and everyone benefits when local waters are
cleaner. Operations that are well-managed and compliant with environmental regulations
improve the quality of local streams and the quality of waters downstream like the Chesapeake
Bay. This initiative will help identify those operations with water quality issues and connect them
with funding opportunities and technical assistance to address the issues.
Many farm families are doing what is right to help protect the environment and their neighbors
downstream, and this initiative will help identify those operations with water quality issues and
connect them with funding opportunities and technical assistance to address the issues. It is
important to recognize that everyone benefits when local waters are cleaner, and this initiative
will contribute to a healthier environment for everyone. The EPA's PA Conservation Assessment
Initiative is an important step toward addressing water quality issues in Lancaster County farms.
By assessing farms that have the potential to contribute significant amounts of nutrients and
sediment to local streams and the Chesapeake Bay, the EPA aims to identify and address
significant pollution discharges to help Pennsylvania meet its water quality goals. This initiative
will benefit both farmers and the community in the long term by promoting sustainability and
improving the quality of local streams and downstream waterways.
For more information about the EPA's PA Conservation Assessment Initiative, please visit the
EPA website or contact the Lancaster County Conservation District.
For more information questions regarding funding resources:
Info: Agriculture Conservation Assistance Program page: www.agriculture.pa.gov
Media: Terri White, EPA Office of Public Affairs,
[email protected], (215) 814-5523
Contact:
Lancaster County Conservation District
[email protected]
Phone: (717) 299-5361
