FYI re: wetlands:
https://uaex.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_IKC6pANIQVCHbb_NIODRCg ;(see also
http://nationalaglawcenter.org/consortium/webinars)
Topic
Stuck in the Swamp: Swampbuster Basics
Description
When Congress passed the 1985 Farm Bill, they also put in place the Highly
Erodible Lands and Wetlands Conservation program, an ambitious new program with
the goal of helping to conserve highly erodible and wetlands in agricultural
areas. The idea was straightforward - make the receipt of certain USDA benefits
contingent on not converting highly erodible lands or wetlands for agricultural
use. However, the administration of this program has proven to be an on-going
challenge.
The portion of the program that targets wetlands, known colloquially as
"Swampbuster," has been a particularly challenging program to implement. Under
Swampbuster, any participant in certain USDA programs will be ineligible for
program benefits if they convert wetlands for agricultural use. Although this
sounds simple, Swampbuster contains multiple exemptions, and exceptions which
can be difficult to navigate. Not only can Swampbuster and its regulations be
difficult to navigate, but Swampbuster cases can take years to resolve, and can
require a significant amount of resources to complete.
This webinar will explore the basics of Swampbuster, some of its exemptions,
and a handful of recent cases that offer insight into how Swampbuster is
implemented.
Time
Feb 3, 2021 11:00 AM in Central Time (US and Canada)<javascript:;>
Brigit Rollins
Staff Attorney @National Agricultural Law Center
Brigit began her work at the Center as a research fellow during her second year
of law school. As a research fellow, Brigit worked on a wide variety of
agricultural law topics ranging from liability issues to the new frontier of
lab-grown meat. In 2019, Brigit graduated from Lewis & Clark and joined the
Center full-time. At the Center, her primary area of research and scholarship
is environmental law as it intersects with agriculture. She maintains an
interest in promoting sustainability and environmental health through
agriculture and resource use.
