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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: normal;">USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) seeks public comments on its interim rule for the Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP), which helps
partners develop and implement unique conservation solutions that engage farmers, ranchers and forest landowners.</span></p>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); line-height: normal;">“Through RCPP, we co-invest with partners to implement projects that demonstrate innovative solutions to conservation challenges and provide
measurable improvements and outcomes,” said NRCS Chief Matthew Lohr. “We look forward to making available this improved, more flexible program to partners.”</span><br>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: normal;">The 2018 Farm Bill made RCPP a stand-alone program with its own dedicated funding, simplifying rules for partners and producers. Additionally, the 2018 Farm Bill
reduces the number of funding pools and emphasizes partner reporting of conservation outcomes.</span></p>
<p style="font-size: 0.9em; line-height: 1.4em; margin-bottom: 2em; margin-top: 0.5em; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: start; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255)">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: normal;">The updated program also expands flexibility for alternative funding arrangements with partners and availability of watershed program authorities to projects outside
critical conservation areas.</span></p>
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<span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: normal; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Submitting Comments</span></h4>
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<span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: normal; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">NRCS invites comments on this interim rule through April 13 on the</span><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: normal; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><a href="https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2020/02/13/2020-01812/regional-conservation-partnership-program" style="color: rgb(0, 87, 130)"><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: normal; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Federal
Register</span></a><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: normal; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><img alt="offsite link image" style="float: left; font-size: 0.7em; font-weight: normal; margin: 5px 10px 0px 0px" src="https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/NRCS_WIDTheme/themes/html/NRCS_WIDTheme/images/offsiteLink.gif"><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: normal; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> .
Electronic comments must be submitted through regulations.gov under Docket ID NRCS-2019-0012. All written comments received will be publicly available on regulations.gov as well.</span></p>
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<span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: normal; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">NRCS will evaluate public comments to determine whether additional changes are needed. The agency plans on publishing a final rule following public comment review.</span></p>
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<span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: normal; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Applying for RCPP</span></h4>
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<span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: normal; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Eligible partners include private industry, non-governmental organizations, Indian tribes, state and local governments, water districts and universities. Leveraging
of NRCS funding is a key principle of RCPP. Partners are expected to make value-added contributions to amplify the impact of RCPP funding.</span></p>
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<span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: normal; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">NRCS will make available $300 million for projects in fiscal 2020. The agency anticipates making the first alternative funding arrangement (AFA) funding announcement
in March, with the fiscal 2020 RCPP Classic announcement following in summer 2020. For more information, visit the</span><a href="https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/main/national/programs/financial/rcpp" style="color: rgb(0, 87, 130)"><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: normal; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: normal; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">RCPP
webpage</span></a><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: normal; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">.</span></p>
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<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">News Release: </span></p>
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<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/detail/national/newsroom/releases/?cid=NRCSEPRD1543817</span><br>
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RCPP Webpage: </p>
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https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/main/national/programs/financial/rcpp<br>
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