Four federal agencies with joint

Four federal agencies with joint jurisdiction over the nation’s wetlands laws have agreed to make the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Soil Conservation Service the lead agency for rulings on agricultural tod.

The memorandum of agreement was published Jan. 10 in the Federal Register. The Clinton administration claimed it will try to reduce conflicts between agencies and wetlands regulations, where farmers were often caught in the middle.

But the Virginia Farm Bureau Federation notes the agreement only places the SCS in control of traditional cropland. Rural properties used for forestry, Christmas trees, pasture and other uses would remain under the jurisdiction of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Environmental Protection Agency and/or the Army Corps of Engineers.

However, this is the first year Virginia farmers can participate in a new federal Wetlands Reserve Program. 7

The program allows farmers to bid on a contract to set aside wetlands on their property in exchange for financial payments.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has almost $66.7 million available to enroll up to 75,000 acres of wetlands in 20 states, according to George Norris, head of the Virginia office of the USDA’s Soil Conservation Service.

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Kellert Narked

To Deans List,

Amy Kellert, a 1992\graduate of Rappahannock County High School, has been named to the Deans List for the 1993 Fall Semester at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville. 1

She continued her “A” average in French, which she has maintained over the first three semesters. She received her high school French background under the direction of ( Mrs. Wayland at Rappahannock.

Amy will be declaring her major " at the end of this semester. She is currently leaning toward education.

Amy is the daughter of A1 and Cheryl Kellert of Amissville.