GLICKMAN ANNOUNCES EMERGENCY AID TO DISPOSE OF LIVESTOCK CARCASSES IN NORTH
CAROLINA 
                                            Release No. 0376.99
                                                               
                   Media Contact: Andrew Kauders (202) 720-4623
                                        andrew.kauders@usda.gov
                      Public Contact: Andy Smith (919) 873-2107
                                        asmith@nc.nrcs.usda.gov
                                      Dave White (202) 720-5974
                                            dave.white@usda.gov

GLICKMAN ANNOUNCES EMERGENCY AID TO DISPOSE OF LIVESTOCK CARCASSES IN NORTH
CAROLINA 

     WASHINGTON, Sept. 24, 1999   Secretary of Agriculture Dan Glickman today
announced that $5 million has been made available to fund disposal of decaying
hog and poultry carcasses contaminating water in North Carolina counties
devastated by Hurricane Floyd-related flooding.  Earlier this week, Glickman
sent Natural Resources Conservation Service Chief Pearlie Reed to assess the
flood damage in eastern North Carolina with President Clinton.

     "Hurricane Floyd has produced one of the biggest agriculture-related
environmental disasters we've ever seen in North Carolina," Glickman said. 
"Water contamination caused by decomposing livestock carcasses poses one of
the most immediate threats to public health, and we will do all we can to help
communities and farmers eliminate this hazard as quickly as possible."   

     Estimates of drowned animals in the state exceed 500,000 hogs and 10
million chickens and turkeys.  The decomposing carcasses contaminate water and
attract flies and other insects that can spread disease to humans.  

     NRCS will use the funding to help dispose of the animals and will work
closely with the North Carolina State Veterinarian to ensure that all disposal
work is safe for human health and the environment.  The funding is available
through NRCS's Emergency Watershed Protection (EWP) program which helps
communities recover from environmental damage caused by natural disasters. 

     Additional funding is available from EWP to help communities clear
debris-clogged waterways, restore damaged streambanks and bridges, and repair
other environmental damage that poses threats to life and property.  Hurricane
Floyd-related recovery costs covered by the EWP program are expected to exceed
$80 million in North Carolina, based on preliminary NRCS estimates.  Damage
estimates may increase as floodwaters recede.   

     Interested communities and farmers should call NRCS's EWP hotline at
(919) 873-2116 for more information on the carcass disposal program.    
                                
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