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Resolution #1 - 2008: Support for Continued Funding of DEC's Stormwater Specialist
Positions
Presented by: Ontario, Yates and Monroe SWCDs and NYSCDEA
WHEREAS, the Stormwater Control Specialist staff positions, supported by the New York State Stormwater Program,
are essential to provide education and guidance to Soil and Water Conservation Districts, municipalities, contractors,
developers and engineers on the requirements under the DEC's Phase II stormwater construction permit, and
WHEREAS, the DEC Phase II MS4 program continues to institute stricter requirements for MS4s, and
WHEREAS, the DEC stormwater reimbursement program provides funds to enable SWCDs to offer assistance to DEC on
citizen's complaints from construction sites, stormwater pollution prevention plan reviews and construction site
inspections, and
WHEREAS, these services improve water quality, health and safety for the citizens of New York State, and
WHEREAS, the loss of the DEC Stormwater Specialist staff positions will result in a lack of personnel to provide
enforcement of the DEC stormwater regulations in non-MS4 regulated areas and a lack of enforcement support to non-compliant
sites in MS4 regulated areas, and
WHEREAS, without referrals from DEC Stormwater Specialists, some Districts will be unable to continue providing
services to municipalities, contractors and developers, now
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that NYACD petition the members of the New York State Legislature and New York State Department
of Environmental Conservation to ensure the continued funding of DEC Stormwater Control Specialist contract positions
and funding of the reimbursement program for those, such as SWCDs, assisting in the implementation of stormwater
regulations.
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Resolution #2 - 2008: To Make Office Rent a Reimbursable Expense in Support of Technical Services Provided by Districts
Presented by: Herkimer County
WHEREAS, USDA will no longer pay rent for Soil and Water Conservation Districts in New York State, and
WHEREAS, office space is a vital component of technical services provided by the districts, and
WHEREAS, New York State provides reimbursement for technical services provided by districts, now
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that controlling legislation be amended to include office space rental fees and other
operational costs as a reimbursable expenditure in support of technical services provided by New York State Soil
and Water Conservation Districts.
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Resolution #3 - 2008: Need to Address Impacts of Hydrofrac Mining
Presented by: Schuyler County
WHEREAS, the Marcellus shale has been identified as a huge source of natural gas especially with the development
of a new technology known as hydrofracing and,
WHEREAS, the leasing of land and the removal and sale of this natural gas can be a huge economic stimulus to the
region, state, and nation, and is supported in this respect and,
WHEREAS, landowners and municipalities are being approached by gas companies with wide ranging offers and types
of lease agreements and,
WHEREAS, gathering lines and larger transmission lines will increase in number and can have negative ecological
and environmental impacts not to mention the negative impact on the visual beauty of the Southern Tier with right
of way cuts all over the wooded hillsides and,
WHEREAS, lower pressure gathering lines are not covered under Public Service Commission regulations exposing landowners
to increased liability and,
WHEREAS, millions of gallons of water from local water bodies will be required to hydrofrac the shale, wastewater
from the wells may contain contaminants and need treatment before disposal and this water may be treated outside
the source watershed and,
WHEREAS, there is a need for increased oversight on well site installation and reclamation requiring expanded resources
at DEC to handle this potentially huge environmental issue and DEC has drafted proposed new regulations to resolve
these issues, now
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, the NYACD supports the need for new legislation and regulations and the expanded role
of DEC, the Public Service Commission, and NYS Department of Agriculture and Markets to address the important issues
related, but not limited to, water and other environmental impacts including ecological effects on all ecosystems,
liability concerns for landowners and visual impacts.
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Resolution #4 - 2008: Request for Modification to the NYS CAFO Effluent Limitations and the NYS General Permit
"Zero Discharge" Language
Presented by: Jefferson County
WHEREAS, the Jefferson County SWCD Board of Directors recognizes the necessity and the success of the New York
State CAFO (Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations) planning and permitting process, and
WHEREAS, the Jefferson County SWCD Board of Directors recognizes the responsibility of the New York State Department
of Environmental Conservation in delivering the CAFO Program, and
WHEREAS, the SWCD Board of Directors recognizes the need to assist producers in achieving and maintaining CAFO
compliance through utilization of Agricultural Environmental Management Planning techniques and Best Management
Practice Implementation, now
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, Jefferson County SWCD Board of Directors respectfully requests that the New York State
Association of Conservation Districts work with the 4 Way Conservation Partnership, the New York State Department
of Environmental Conservation, and the US Environmental Protection Agency, to modify the zero discharge language,
in efforts to create a situation that would enable farmers to achieve and maintain CAFO compliance while still
protecting and promoting water quality in New York State.
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Resolution #5- 2008: Proposal to Explore and Report on Alternative Operating Structures and By Laws for NYACD,
and Any Associated Costs and Benefits, for the Purpose of Providing Options to the NYACD Membership for Consideration
at the 2009 Annual Meeting
Presented by: NYACD Board
WHEREAS, the NYACD strives to exemplify leadership and excellence in service to districts, partners, and the environment
through the membership and participation of District directors, and
WHEREAS, the goal of exploring alternate operating structures and by laws is to seek ways for NYACD to be a more
responsive and creative entity representing the diversity of districts across New York State, and,
WHEREAS, the NYACD, Districts, and partners may benefit from alternate operating structures and by laws, now
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, NYACD will explore and report on alternative operating structures and by laws, and any
associated costs and benefits, for the NYACD organization and board for the purpose of providing options to the
NYACD membership for consideration at the 2009 annual meeting.
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Resolution #6 - 2008: To Ensure Practical and Cost-Effective, Goal-Oriented Education and Training for County SWCD
Board Directors and Officers.
Presented by: Division 1
WHEREAS, Soil and Water Conservation District Boards of Directors are required to participate in training and education
to support District operations and compliance, and
WHEREAS, the scope and content of such education and training are under development, and
WHEREAS, District Directors serve in a volunteer capacity as public officials, typically with time and financial
limitations, in an environment of rising local District demands, now
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, to ensure practical and cost-effective, goal-oriented education and training for County
Soil & Water Conservation District Board Directors and Officers that makes the best use of local District resources,
ALL proposed, recommended, and/or mandatory director training and education for new and existing Directors shall
be evaluated for and state:
1. The purpose of or need for the specified instruction topic(s);
2. The goal(s) that should be attained by each individual under instruction;
3. Minimum topical content necessary to attain the goal;
4. The method(s), material(s) required, or instructor(s) qualified, to convey the instruction;
5. A simple method to track or record individual instruction;
6. The estimated time needed to complete the instruction;
7. The financial cost of instruction (materials, travel, references, etc.) to each participating director, District,
and/or organization such as NYACD.
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Resolution #7 - 2008: To Support a Statewide Engineering and Technical Training Program
Presented by: NYSCDEA and Onondaga, Madison and Ontario SWCDs
WHEREAS, the New York State Conservation District Employees' Association, Inc. (NYSCDEA) supports training for
technical staff of Soil and Water Conservation Districts (SWCDs); and
WHEREAS, the NYSCDEA recognizes the need for engineering and technical assistance to our agricultural and non-agricultural
landowners that are served by SWCDs; and
WHEREAS, the traditional engineering support from the USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service is either no
longer available, or extremely limited, to SWCDs; and
WHEREAS, no formal training program for technical SWCD staff currently exists within the state; and
WHEREAS, the NYSCDEA has been working on the development of a technical training program through the Technical
Development Training Subcommittee, now
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the New York State Conservation District Employees' Association, Inc. requests that
the New York Association of Conservation Districts work with the New York State Conservation District Employees'
Association, State Soil and Water Conservation Committee and USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service to ensure
development, funding and implementation of a statewide engineering and technical training program.
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Resolution #8 - 2008: To Coordinate the Collection of Financial Data and Project Information Required to More Thoroughly
Prepare for Annual Federal, State and Local Legislative and Budgetary Initiatives
Presented by: NYACD Division I
WHEREAS, the NYACD, Districts, and partners would benefit from an annual package of project and financial data
and information to aid in the promotion of District and partners accomplishments, and
WHEREAS, semi-uniform data and information, in a variety of forms for a variety of individual reporting purposes,
is already required on an annual basis to prepare for District and partner legislative and education purposes,
and
WHEREAS, the NYACD, Districts, and partners share this financial data and project information via the 4-Way Partnership
as agreed upon on an as-needed basis, now
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, NYACD will work with Districts and partners to improve the coordination and availability
of financial data and project information based on criteria essential for demonstrating District and partner impact
and progress for legislative, budgetary and public education purposes, and
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, NYACD will work with partners to assure the availability and summary of such financial
data and project information by an agreed upon date each year, in a mutually agreed upon format.
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Resolution #9 - 2008: Support for the Continued Funding of Reimbursement to Soil and Water Conservation Districts
for the Investigation of Agricultural Non-point Pollution Complaints.
Presented by: St. Lawrence County
WHEREAS, in a current memorandum of understanding (MOU) between the NYS Soil and Water Conservation Committee and
the NYS Department of Conservation (DEC) there is funding to reimburse SWCD's who are assisting farmers to resolve
agricultural non-point source pollution concerns identified by regional NYS DEC or Department of Health (DOH) staff,
and
WHEREAS, the objective of SWCD involvement early in the complaint investigation process is to achieve the goal
of voluntary compliance as well as to help farmers avoid costly regulatory action, and
WHEREAS, the service provided by SWCD's has been invaluable to the DEC and DOH in terms of time and resources saved
on compliance issues, as well as proving invaluable to farmers, now
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that NYACD strongly supports the continued funding of reimbursement to soil and water
conservation districts for the investigation of agricultural non-point pollution complaints.
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