REINVESTMENT IN THE ENVIRONMENT
            “To promote the general welfare” (as stated in the preamble to the Constitution) has been one of the guiding principles of our country. During the last century citizens and government have come together to promote agriculture and the environment. At the same time research, science, and technology continues to add knowledge and tools to direct efforts that advance agriculture, conserve natural resources, and protect the environment. In many areas in many ways government has provided infrastructure and services that promote the general welfare in ways that are not possible for us to do individually.
            Now we have available a long list of completed and ongoing projects from the past century that at a minimum need to be maintained if not up-dated. Our general welfare is at stake. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 now being proposed appears to focus on funding projects of responsible agencies and organizations that benefit us all. At the same time it provides a stimulus to our country’s economy and puts people to work.
            As proposed, new project funding will be determined through competitive grants. However, many established agencies are significantly behind in necessary funds for projects already planned that can be started immediately when funds are available. Some notable conservation-related provisions from the Act as it is being proposed are:

• Expanding employment opportunities in fundamental science and engineering to meet environmental challenges;
• Repairing, modernizing, and expanding science and engineering research facilities at institutions of higher learning;
• Supporting basic research into energy sources and energy efficiency;
• Improving laboratories, earthquake monitoring systems, and computing capacity for the U.S. Geological Survey;
• Helping communities upgrade drinking water and wastewater treatment facilities;
• Designing and building flood protection and water quality projects, repairing aging dams;
• Cleaning up hazardous and toxic waste sites that threaten health and the environment;
• Evaluating, cleaning up, and restoring to productive use former industrial sites and military bases;
• Reducing forest fire hazards on federal, state, and local lands using volunteer programs;
• Investing in aviation safety and development of environmentally friendly technologies;
• Completing planned projects of the Fish and Wildlife Service focusing on critical assets, safety issues, energy efficiency, and habitat infrastructure;
• Improving energy efficiency in public buildings;
• Providing rebates for residential consumers for the purchase of energy-saving products.

            Together these kinds of projects have a big price tag. They also have the potential for putting people to work with employment that contributes to everyone’s welfare. The Act provides support for similar needs in other infrastructure areas and includes plans for oversight. Find out for yourself some of the details by going to http://appropriations.house.gov.

Della Moen, Earth Team Volunteer, NRCS/Stephenson Soil and Water
Conservation District, an equal opportunity provider and employer, 01/15/09 (for publication on 1/24/09 in the Journal-Standard, Freeport, Illinois). Della can be reached at info@stephensonswcd.org