Trouble Downstream: Upgrading Conservation Compliance: III. Implementing Compliance Status Reviews

In 2003, at the request of Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA), the Government Accountability Office (GAO) published a study on the conservation compliance program. The GAO report revealed many problems with the implementation and enforcement of the program. Such deficiencies led the GAO to question the NRCS claim that 98 percent of the nation’s cropland tracts subject to conservation provisions were in compliance. EWG analyzed data presented in that report along with additional data obtained from NRCS through Freedom of Information Act requests.

A. The number of tracts reviewed each year is very small and does not achieve the NRCS goal of reviewing one percent of tracts each year

B. The number of highly erodible lands violations alone, and when combined with wetlands violations, is a tiny fraction of the number of tracts reviewed

C. A majority of the federal farm benefits at risk for denial are ultimately reinstated during the appeals process

D. Discussion