Agriculture Secretary Ann Veneman Thursday announced the availability of an additional $275 million in funds for the Environmental Quality Incentives Program. EQIP is a voluntary conservation program that promotes environmental quality. 

Veneman said $200 million is being provided for general enrollment for EQIP for fiscal 2002. She also announced the availability of up to an additional $25 million of EQIP funds in fiscal year 2002 to provide technical and financial assistance for ground and surface water conservation, and that an additional $50 million of EQIP funds are being made available to carry out water conservation activities in the Klamath Basin in California and Oregon.

*     USDA news release <http://www.usda.gov/news/releases/2002/07/0284.htm>