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p3<5889sy>|q9s9gs|q+~q|s9x|q>gxϟ9<ϙ?3>gϞ|3s9>g>gyϟ"~όsy>g3:>g?<ϙ?0>g9 0s8?>g>gyϟ"~@sx>`02f>`? ϙ?0>g9 0y>O?'<>g>gyϟ&~@sx>`0O>p? ϙ?3>gϓ3y>O'?>g>gyϟǁ ~sy>g3O> ß?O >ϙ?3>ǵ?3y>O'?>g>gyϟ~|sy>g3_>ϟ?O&>yϘ9>sx?9>O'9>g>s|qϟς??<|yǞys|>s9|gx?&?Ϝ898>p8"?<>g>pϜxp~s>p8?px?&?ϟ yy>>x?<>"?>g>|'Ϝ|>x?s>|>?sx?~ߐdžߏǂ?σ{??σ>=<??ρ x8ς'ρ>Oρ>Oρ񟞁ς'ρ>Oρ>Oρ?~?ρς-'σO>OO>O!?<x y<ρ27N>o>o<`yLJ?8p >|q89?ρ2?s8x9yy|9?sg993ρ? 33~ρyy?sg983ρ? ə3&0~s  ?8xyǎx|?3?~8q3-τO8!9s<pg? ????@*J:\DRAFTS\NRLOGO.WPGJ:\DRAFTS\NRLOGO.WPGhd\,3BV4d\,mailto:mary.cressel@usda.govmailto:joyce.watkins@sdso1.sd.usda.gov(3$ !  'dxd( $ Figure  1  VZY I&mage <=8C HKKKK !  _,  pX   j\6&"`z1% `E,,%y%y,,%j (#(#        (#(#ReleaseNo.0020.00MediaContact:Mary_Cressel_Ԁ(202)69005474  O  5  mary.cressel@usda.gov6< OP  7 (#~ | P  k  PublicContact:JoyceWatkins(605)352-12284 v O  5  joyce.watkins@sdso1.sd.usda.gov6T Oh  7 (# \ 0   USDAANNOUNCESSETTLEMENTOFSOUTHDAKOTAWETLANDLAWSUIT  ,  X   WASHINGTON,Jan.20,2000-TheU.S.DepartmentofAgriculturetodayannouncedthatthegovernmenthassettledtheNationalWildlifeFederation,etal.v.Fishercase,involvingchallengestowetlanddeterminationsinSouthDakota.  Lastyear,thelawsuitwasfiledinSouthDakotachallengingthewaythewetlandconservationprovisionsoftheFoodSecurityActof1985werebeingimplementedinthestatebytheNaturalResourcesConservationService(_NRCS_).Thegovernmentexploredsettlementoptionstoquicklyresolvethelitigation.Anagreementhasbeenreached.  UnderSecretaryforNaturalResourcesandEnvironmentJamesLyonssaid, Thekeyissueallalonghasbeentoprotectwetlandsincompliancewiththelawwhilealsoensuringthatfarmersaretreatedfairlyandcanrelyontheaccuracyofthetechnicalinformationweprovidetothem.  Underthetermsofthesettlementagreement,theagencywillconductonsitewetlanddeterminationsuponrequestinordertoensurethataccurateandconsistentdeterminationsaremade.Asummaryofthesettlementagreementiswillbe_posted_ԀontheSouthDakota_NRCS__website_,4  v O  5  6  O   7 vM 4 v O  5  www.sd.nrcs.usda.gov.6  O   7  Ԁ ! # 񀀀"  Webelieveasettlementisinthebestinterestofeveryoneconcernedinordertoresolvethisissueinatimelymanner.WelookforwardtoworkingwithourpartnersinSouthDakotainimplementingthesettlementagreement,"saidLyons.񀀀  _NRCS_Ԁprovidestechnicalandfinancialassistanceforseveraleffectivewetlandrestorationprogramsandwillcontinuetoencouragelandownerstovoluntarilyrestore,protect,andenhancewetlandsthroughtheWetlandsReserveProgram,WildlifeHabitatIncentivesProgram,EnvironmentalQualityIncentivesProgram,_floodplain_Ԁeasements,andtheNationalConservationBufferInitiative.SouthDakotalandownersalreadyhaveenrolledmorethan19,000acresinWRPandmorethan30,000acresintheEmergencyWatershedProtectionProgram'sfloodplaineasementoption.  #