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NRCS in Kansas receives EWP funding for spring 2008 flooding, tornadoesAll Kansas counties declared eligible; application deadline Aug. 31 Kansas Eric B. Banks, State Conservationist, for the Natural Resources Conservation Service, announced July 31 that funds are available through the Emergency Watershed Protection Program to assist Kansans impacted by the Spring 2008 floods and tornadoes. NRCS is an agency of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. "All Kansas counties are eligible for Emergency Watershed Protection Program assistance or EWP. Applications must be received by the deadline of Aug. 31," said Banks. "Kansas NRCS has already received requests from eligible sponsors in Dickinson and Norton counties." NRCS administers the EWP Program, which responds to emergencies created by natural disasters. The Program is a recovery effort aimed at relieving imminent hazards to life and property caused by floods, tornadoes, and other natural occurrences. Recovery efforts include clearing debris-clogged stream channels, stabilizing streambanks, or other measures that will restore an impaired watershed to its pre-disaster condition. The measures that are taken must be environmentally and economically sound and generally benefit more than one property owner. Federal funds may cover up to 75 percent of the construction costs of eligible recovery measures. Public and private landowners are eligible for assistance, but must be represented by a project sponsor. Sponsors must be a legal subdivision of state government, the state itself, a local unit of government, a levee or drainage district, a conservation district, or a county commission. Sponsors may provide their share of construction costs in the form of cash, in-kind services such as labor or equipment, or a combination of cash and in-kind services. "I would encourage those interested in the program to contact their local NRCS office and visit with staff about determining eligibility and applying for the EWP Program," said Banks. "Once a potential project has been identified, NRCS will work with the project sponsor and conduct a site visit." To request EWP Program assistance or to get more information about the program, contact the USDA Service Center serving your county. A brochure and EWP Program information is available on the Kansas NRCS website: www.ks.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/EWP. To find a service center, go to this website: http://offices.sc.egov.usda.gov/locator/app. 8/11/08 Date: 8/5/08
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