A bill to provide for the coordination of ground water policy within the Department of Agriculture, and for other purposes.
Agriculture and Ground Water Policy Research and Education Coordination Act - Title I: Ground Water Policy - Sets forth the groundwater policy of the Department of Agriculture (the Department) with respect to agrichemicals.
Establishes the Office of Ground Water Policy Coordination (the Office) in the Department.
Establishes an interagency committee on groundwater policy in the Department.
Requires the Director of the Office to establish technical advisory committees, as necessary. Requires the Director to formalize the existence of certain technical integration groups. Authorizes the Director to establish interagency technical support committees.
Provides for the development and implementation of agricultural groundwater policy within the Department, including an agency-specific groundwater policy statement and implementation plan, a national agricultural groundwater plan, and an annual groundwater activities report.
Authorizes appropriations.
Title II: Coordination with State Programs - Directs the Secretary of Agriculture (the Secretary) to require the establishment of State groundwater coordination committees (the committees) within the food and agricultural councils.
Directs the Secretary to establish, through the Extension Service, a groundwater supply quality coordinator (the coordinator) in each State extension service.
Directs each State committee and coordinator to work with Federal, State, and other appropriate entities to: (1) evaluate the State's groundwater plan's adequacy in addressing agricultural sources of nonpoint source pollutants; (2) review the relevance of certain water quality protection projects to groundwater protection programs; (3) assess the identification and mapping of hydrologic units; and (4) assess the adequacy of the State's programs for addressing agricultural sources of groundwater contamination.
Authorizes appropriations.
Title III: Extension and Education - Subtitle A: Pesticide Education - Directs the Secretary to establish within the Extension Service a National Pesticide Education Program.
Subtitle B: National Nutrient Management Education Program - Directs the Secretary to establish within the Extension Service a National Nutrient Management Education Program.
Subtitle C: Household Chemicals, Pesticides, and Fertilizers - Directs the Secretary to establish within the Extension Service: (1) a National Education Program for the Management of Household Chemicals, Pesticides, and Fertilizers; and (2) a Household Chemicals, Pesticides, and Fertilizer Advisory Council.
Subtitle D: National Water Quality Management Education Programs - Directs the Secretary to establish within the Extension Service a National Education Program for the Management of Water Resources which shall include: (1) well water testing; (2) water utilization; and (3) staff training. Authorizes appropriations.
Title IV: Soil Conservation Service - Requires the Soil Conservation Service to protect and improve groundwater quality through specified activities. Authorizes appropriations.
Title V: Research of the Department of Agriculture - Directs the Secretary to conduct or assist research on specified topics relating to agriculture and groundwater.
Requires each State coordinator to request appropriate representative Federal, State, and university scientists to work with the State committee and coordinator to establish a prioritized agriculture and groundwater research agenda for the State. Provides for coordination of such State agendas in establishing a prioritized research agenda for regional projects. Requires the Director to use regional reports in establishing a national agricultural groundwater plan, developing funding priorities in Department water quality research programs, and requesting certain research proposals. Authorizes appropriations.
Title VI: National Agricultural and Ground Water Clearinghouse - Directs the Secretary, through the Director of the National Agricultural Library (the Library) to establish at the Library a repository of reports developed under this Act.
Requires the Secretary, through the Director of the Library and in consultation with the Tennessee Valley Authority, to establish at the Library a data base on State programs and State laws relating to groundwater quality and agriculture. Requires the Director of the Library to collaborate with the Director of the Office, State coordinators, and Federal and State departmental agency administrators to develop a standardized format for the entry and description of State programs, activities, and results.
Requires the Director of the Office to report to the Congress on measures necessary to develop a national data base on agricultural practices and groundwater resources, to be located at the Library. Directs the Secretary, after the submission of such report, to initiate the development of such data base.
Authorizes appropriations.
Introduced in Senate
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture.
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