Nexus nervosa

摘要

Are federal farm program payments connected to land management practices that "affect" endangered species habitat? Federal funding of land management activities on private property is coming into question over the concept of federal nexus. This ominous buzzword buried in the Endangered Species Act (ESA) has pinched a new wrinkle in the application of programs like USDA's Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP). See story on page 50. "While at this point, federal nexus is not worth losing sleep over, it bears very, very close watching," says Myra Hyde, Washington, D.C. She is the endangered species subcommittee staff director for the National Cattlemen's Beef Association. "When a nexus - or relationship created between the landowner and federal government - exists, we're seeing where the landowner may be required to enter into formal consultation with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) before undertaking a cost-share activity," says Hyde.