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UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
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WASHINGTON, D.C. 20460
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MAY 3 12001
The Honorable Charles F. Conner
Deputy Secretary
U.S . Department of Agriculture
1400 Independence Avenue, S.W.
Washington, D.C . 20250
DEPUTY ADMINISTRATOR
Recently, I was briefed on the U.S . Department of Agriculture's Conservation Effects
Assessment Project (CEAP). I am encouraged by the initial CEAP products and the significant
resources that USDA is putting into the CEAP to understand the science that will be used to
improve conservation programs and their delivery .
The CEAP's ambitious goal of quantifying the impacts of USDA conservation practices
and programs on the environment and its initial focus on water quality, water quantity, and soil
quality is one that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) shares . This information is
vital to EPA and the states as agricultural conservation practices and programs are critical
components for achieving many of our nation's environmental goals.
EPA is committed to continuing our collaboration with USDA to move the CEAP
forward. EPA contributes resources to the effort by detailing staff to coordinate CEAP activities,
participating on the CEAP Steering and Executive Steering Committees, and cooperating with
the national and watershed components . Additionally, many of the CEAP watersheds are located
in areas where EPA and states are investing Clean Water Act funds to improve impaired water
quality and protect drinking source water.
I look forward to being kept up to date on CEAP's progress as the research and analysis
move forward.
cc :
David Anderson, Associate Director for Natural Resource Programs, OMB
Gary Mast, Deputy Undersecretary for Natural Resources and Environment, USDA
Dale Moore, Chief of Staff, Secretary of Agriculture, USDA
Mark Rey, Undersecretary for Natural Resources and Environment, USDA
Benjamin H. Grumbles, Assistant Administrator for Water, EPA
Internet Address (URL) " http://www .epa .g