In House Agriculture Committee Hearing, Pingree Highlights Opportunities to Address Climate Change and PFAS Contamination in Maine

Hearing

Today, Congresswoman Chellie Pingree participated in a House Agriculture Conservation and Forestry Subcommittee Hearing, where U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) officials provided an update on conservation programs under the respective authorities of the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and the Farm Service Agency (FSA).

In the hearing, Pingree questioned NRCS Chief Terry Cosby on opportunities for USDA conservation programs, like the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP), to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions and increase climate resilience.

Pingree also pressed Crosby on how the NRCS can help farmers test and respond to PFAS contamination through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), which includes an Animal Mortality Standard to provide financial and technical assistance to producers who need to depopulate and remove contaminated carcasses.

A full transcript of their exchange is available below.

Congresswoman Chellie Pingree:

Thank you very much, Madam Chair, thank you for having this hearing and thank you to both of our witnesses. Really, really appreciate the work that you're doing and grateful to have you here with us today.

I wanted to talk first to Mr. Cosby, Chief Cosby. Thank you for being with us today. I want to talk first a little bit about CSP and frankly, the important role it can play as a climate solution. It's such a conservation stewardship program.

It's such a valuable tool. Now, the ranking member just brought up this issue about the funding in the Build Back Better Act and the increase in funding. But sort of contrary to what he was saying, I found in Maine we've only been able to fund about one quarter of the applications.

So, the added resources in the Build Back Better Act would be extremely important to my state, and I'm sure that's true in Pennsylvania as well where there's not sufficient funding. So, I hope we are able to get increases in funding and make that money available to our farmers who are anxious to use this already.

But could you talk to me a little bit more about how we use CSP as a tool in combating climate change and why that's particularly helpful program?

NRCS Chief Terry Cosby:

And as a state conservation, as I had an opportunity to administer CSP as Chief and it's one of those programs ... it's the biggest work in landscape conservation program that we have, and it is very successful. And you know, we have a lot of producers out there that transition from equipped to CSP, which, like I said, has been very successful. One of the things that we've seen is that in the fifth year, producers have not opportunity to reenroll and there is something in that that was in our policy that said that if you didn't reenroll in that fifth year, you had to sit out two years and wait.

So, we were able to waive that and make sure that producers have an opportunity to reenroll right after that fifth year. But it is a very successful program. We've identified 81 enhancements in the CSP that we think has the best chance to help us with the climate crisis.

And we've also identified some practices also in our EQIP program. But we've identified 81 enhancements that we know will help with soil sequestration, and also greenhouse gas emissions.

CP:

That's great. Well, thank you. I really appreciate it, 81 is a big number, but I know that's going to cover some of the things that I've put in my bill. As you mentioned--soil health, carbon sequestration, a variety of other things.

I want to take a different tack here and again, thank you, Chief Cosby, for talking to me about this question. And that's about PFAS. Maine has been a little bit ahead of the curve on testing for PFAS contamination, which means that we've identified, unfortunately, a handful of farms that are affected by these forever chemicals. But we know there are many more in Maine as we increase our testing, and we know it's not just a Maine problem. Last week, the state of Michigan issued a consumption advisory about beef from one farm that was found to have high levels of PFAS.

I know that NRCS could assist farmers if they make the difficult decision to dispose of contaminated animals. But I'd like to hear more about what NRCS could be doing to support farmers in this devastating situation.

TC:

And thank you for the question. And yes, we've been working, my staff and I, we've been working on this. I think we've identified some areas that we can be helpful as we are out on those farms and working with those landowners.

You know, we can talk about what are some of the things that can help mitigate PFAS and get those herds back to producing the quality of milk that is needed. Also on the disposal side, we are working very closely with our staff to identify how we can help with that.

Now our agency? Well, we may be able to provide some financial assistance to dispose of [animals]. You know, we have to make sure that we are following all state rules and regulations for disposing and where those animals can be buried.

We do not make that decision on where those animals can be buried. So, we work with the state authorities to make sure that happens. But we are working to look at our standards and practices and how we can help those landowners make decisions on getting those herds healthy. And then if we can't get them healthy, then we have an opportunity to help them if we have to dispose of animals.

CP:

Well, thank you for that. And I know you share my concerns that farmers in this situation not only face the devastating possibility of losing their animals and the challenges that faces with herds that you've been cultivating your whole life and also the economic loss that can be. This is a devastating problem and we have to support it much more.

Just want to add one quick thing. In the 2018 Farm Bill, soil testing was added to the EQIP program so I hope the NRCS could help defray some of the very significant costs of soil testing for PFAS, the farmers in our state are currently taking on. I'm out of time, but I can connect with you about that. But I do want to reiterate that soil testing is extremely important, and we need some assistance with that. So, I will yield back. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Source