May 8, 2006
Contact Information: Dave Ryan, (202) 564-4355 /
ryan.dave@epa.gov; Contacto en español: Lina Younes, 202-564-9924 younes.lina@epa.gov
(
"President Bush understands that agriculture is a vital part of our
nation's economy and a vital partner in protecting our nation's
environment," said EPA Administrator Stephen L. Johnson. "By working
together on our shared challenges, EPA and the farming community can do what's
good for agriculture, good for our environment, and good for the American
people."
EPA intends to use communication, collaboration and innovation to strengthen its
relationship with the agricultural community. The agency considers agriculture a
producer of solutions to environmental problems.
EPA looks to positive engagement with the industry, going beyond the traditional
regulatory approaches. The new plan builds upon farmers' natural interest in
protecting natural resources and the environment, and it seeks to address
complex issues through locally-based, collaborative efforts.
The goals of the National Strategy for Agriculture include:
-- Increasing EPA employee awareness of how their actions affect agriculture and
how farming benefits human health and the environment.
-- Working with the agricultural industry – including production, processing
and distribution – in developing and demonstrating environmental protection
solutions that express to the public the value of farmland environmental
stewardship activities;
-- Coordinating research and technology development and real world application
so the needs of agriculture and EPA can be more efficiently met; and,
-- Identifying existing environmental improvement measures for agriculture and
developing new ones, where needed.
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Source: www.epa.gov/agriculture/agstrategy.html