Submitted Electronically via eRulemaking Portal

As a farmer in Perry County, I am committed to engaging in conservation efforts to improve the water quality and thus the habitat of the grotto sculpin. However, increasing the vegetative buffer areas around sinkholes beyond current NRCS requirements would greatly reduce the number of acres I have for grain and forage production. It would make it cost prohibitive to farm my land in very small sections due to many small sinkholes. Our current practices and those listed on our Perry County Community Conservation Plan are reasonable farming practices that also protect the soil and water. We do not need further regulations with an Endangered Species Act or Critical Habitat designation.