Comment submitted by Bill Deitrick, Union County Conservation District

Page 2-9-line #11 - Retiring HELs from cropping and pasture use is not necessary. What is necessary is better managment of these lands. Page 2-9 lines 36-37 and page 2-10 line #1 conflict with each other. It is nearly impossible to do "no till" and incorporate manure at the same time. Page 2-10 line 15. "Protect riparian areas". Our district recently submitted a proposal to permanentely protect existing riparian buffers utilizing EPA's "319" funds and this proposal was denied because the buffers were existing. Federal funds have to be able to be used to protect "existing" buffers and newly created ones in order to truly protect these natural areas adequately. Page 2-19, line 15. There is nothing wrong with fertiziling HELs. Again, it is the total managment of the land that needs to be improved. Not farming or fertilizing these lands is a waste of the resource, and they can be managed without environmental degradation. Page 2-24, line 2-3. Poultry manure clean out can be done anytime of year if there is a properly designed storage facility. Thank you for the opportunity to comment.