Issue Area 1:The State Soil Conservation Committee's Impact on Soil Erosion in West Virginia.
When
looking at the name of this Committee, one sees that its primary objective
is soil conservation. Naturally, to measure the effectiveness of this agency,
one would examine erosion levels in the state. Upon initial review, it
appears the State of West Virginia has experienced little change overall
in the average of tons per acre of erosion since 1987. The
1985 Farm Bill required farmers who cultivate pastureland and crop land
to have an approved conservation plan if they wish to be eligible for farm
program benefits from the federal government. These conservation provisions
from the 1985 Farm Bill became effective January 1, 1990, however, farmers
began implementing their approved conservation plans in 1987 and 1988 so
when the next series of erosion data was gathered in 1992 a reduction in
the tons per acre was seen. This reduction of erosion was continued, albeit
at a lesser rate, in the erosion data that was collected in 1997. The
State Soil Conservation Committee acts as a facilitator for federal farm
programs by providing technical assistance on how to improve farming techniques
in order to qualify for benefits from such programs. Also, the Committee,
through its State Soil Conservation Agency sets up model farms throughout
the state in order to teach other farmers best farming techniques. These
programs appear to be working since they have stemmed the rising rate of
erosion that had previously taken place in cultivated crop and pastureland
throughout the state.
Issue Area 2: The State Soil Conservation Committee Has Satisfactory Meeting Attendance.
Minutes
from the Committee's quarterly meetings from January 1998 to July 1999
were reviewed to determine if an acceptable level of attendance to such
meetings exists. The meeting minutes show that the Committee had an overall
attendance rate of 88% for the period reviewed. The three citizen members
of the committee had an attendance rate of 81%. The ex officio members
attendance rate was 61%, (93% with the inclusion of proxies). Each meeting
had a quorum with no meeting missing more than two members.
Issue Area 3: Representation from the Division of Forestry to the Membership of the State Soil Conservation Committee.
The Legislature may wish to consider adding the Director of the Division of Forestry to the membership of the State Soil Conservation Committee. The Division of Forestry oversees the timbering industry which contributes significantly to erosion throughout the state. Adding representation from the Division of Forestry to the State Soil Conservation Committee should increase the level of agency coordination in erosion abatement.In addition, the Legislature may wish to add a fourth citizen member to add balance to the Committee.
Issue Area 4: Meetings of the State Soil Conservation Committee Are in Compliance with Open Meetings Laws.
The State Soil Conservation Committee has a duty as a representative body to conduct its meetings and business in an open manner. In accordance with the statute, proper notification of meetings are to be made through the office of the Secretary of State within guidelines so as to be published within the state register. Minutes of meetings shall be maintained and made public, in a timely manner, so as to keep an accurate public record of proceedings.The Committee has been in compliance with these statutory requirements.
Conclusion:
The State Soil Conservation Committee
Should Be Continued.
The
State Soil Conservation Committee plays an important role in providing
technical assistance and assisting soil conservation districts in distribution
of federal and state funding for soil conservation projects. The ex officio
members of the committee provide for a means of communication between agencies
which are directly affected by soil conservation and erosion abatement
policies. The interaction between the representatives of these agencies
in the formulation of soil conservation policy is essential due to the
states limited agricultural area and rugged geography. The Committee is
able to address topics relating to soil conservation and natural resources
in general in an open forum with all interested agencies present. The existence
of the Committee to oversee the domain of soil conservation is within the
norm when comparing West Virginia with the bordering states. The composition
of the Committee closely resembles that of neighboring states.
The diversity achieved by the inclusion of governmental, academic and citizen
membership augmented by federal representation, in
the way of an associatemember
from The United States Department of Agriculture, allows the Committee
to serve the citizens of West Virginia as a viable body. Therefore, the
Committee should be continued.