EPA Administrator Jackson Travels to Lititz, Pa., Visits with Farmers and Local Leaders/Administrator Jackson highlights conservation efforts (HQ, PA)
WASHINGTON -- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
Administrator Lisa P. Jackson, traveled to Lititz, Pa., Wednesday
where she toured a local dairy farm and held a roundtable
discussion with local farmers and leaders. She was joined by
Pennsylvania State Senator Mike Brubaker and EPA Regional
Administrator, Shawn Garvin.
Administrator Jackson’s visit to Lititz is
part of President Obama’s Administration-wide commitment to
an economically strong and healthy rural America. EPA is working
closely with rural communities to protect air and water quality and
the health of their residents. Administrator Jackson has recently
travelled to rural areas in central California and northwestern
Iowa to highlight sustainable farming practices and innovative
farming techniques.
"In recent years Warwick Township and Lancaster
County as a whole have served as models for conserving natural
resources and building sustainable rural communities. We're here to
talk with the area farmers, business owners and local leaders about
how we work together to strengthen their environment, their health
and their economy," said EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson. "The
livelihoods of the people here depend on clean air, safe sources of
water and healthy lands. Hearing directly from farmers and the
people who work with them about commonsense solutions is essential
to ensuring the viability of farming operations and protecting soil
and water quality."
Today, Administrator Jackson visited Jeff
Balmer, owner of a 60-head dairy farm that is using a variety of
best management practices to protect water quality in the community
and further downstream, while making the farm more efficient. The
Administrator also participated in a roundtable discussion with
State Sen. Brubaker and other local farmers and leaders where they
discussed the common goal of clean and healthy water. The
Administrator pledged to continue communicating directly with
farmers and other stakeholders in communities like Lititz to
protect the water all Americans rely on as parties work together to
ensure the success and health of rural communities.
The town of Lititz is part of
Pennsylvania’s Warwick Township, an area that was recognized
by the Chesapeake Bay Foundation as Conservationist of the Year
last year due to efforts to protect water quality in their
community. The township continues to be very active in working with
the farming community to protect ground water supplies and has
undertaken steam restoration projects.
For more information on EPA’s work with
the agricultural community: http://www.epa.gov/agriculture/
