Document aBVkQO52pYx9awGrLMYEXjqaN

Message From: Sent: To: CC: Subject: Rhines, Steven [sprhines@noble.org] 2/21/2018 2:56:24 PM Bennett, Tate [/o=ExchangeLabs/ou=Exchange Administrative Group (FYDIBOHF23SPDLT)/cn=Recipients/cn=lfa92542f7ca4d01973bl8b2fllb9141-Bennett, El] French, Stephanie [skfrench@noble.org] RE: Noble News: Farmers, ranchers set to gain new market opportunities for improving soil health Thank you. From: Bennett, Tate [mailto:Bennett.Tate@epa.gov] Sent: Wednesday, February 21, 2018 8:56 AM To: Rhines, Steven <sprhines@noble.org> Cc: French, Stephanie <skfrench@noble.org> Subject: RE: Noble News: Farmers, ranchers set to gain new market opportunities for improving soil health Best case by the end of the week. We will hopefully know either way next week for sure. From: Rhines, Steven [mailto:sprhines@noble.org] Sent: Wednesday, February 21, 2018 9:41 AM To: Bennett, Tate <Bennetf.Tate@ep3.gov> Cc: French, Stephanie <skfrench@noble.org> Subject: FW: Noble News: Farmers, ranchers set to gain new market opportunities for improving soil health Tate, A few last minute changes (as is typical for any such announcement), but the announcement has been made. Do you have a timeline for a possible decision regarding an ERA meeting? Bill and his colleagues are filiing in their March 8thschedule, and I wanted to let them know when we might have a confirmation. Thank you, Steve From: Peterson, Robyn Sent: Wednesday, February 21, 2018 8:34 AM Subject: Noble News: Farmers, ranchers set to gain new market opportunities for improving soil health NEWS RELEASE For Immediate Release - Feb. 21, 2018 News editors: A photo and photo caption are available at the end o f this news release. Farmers, ranchers set to gain new market opportunities for improving soil health ARDMORE, Okla. -- Today, a national coalition convened by the Noble Research Institute announced its intent to create a new voluntary environmental services market that benefits agricultural producers and improves the environment for society at large. Sierra Club v. EPA 18cv3472 NDCA Tier 1 ED 002061 00056594-00001 This program aims to incentivize farmers and ranchers to improve soil health on working agriculture lands through the development of a market-based platform. Implementing sustainable agricultural production practices and technologies can create positive social, economic and environmental outcomes. Healthy soils can sequester carbon, improve water quality, control run-off and reduce water demand, all of which create a cleaner environment. Healthy soils also improve crop yield and resilience while decreasing farmers' and ranchers' need for agricultural inputs. "Farmers and ranchers are the unsung heroes of our world. Their hard work feeds and clothes us. Their dedication is the foundation for our society," said Bill Buckner, Noble Research Institute CEO and president. "This market-based approach seeks to reward farmers and ranchers for the land stewardship they practice for the benefit of all of us. The focus will be on monetizing soil health to reward those farmers and ranchers who are actively adopting and improving practices that protect our environment. We see our work as a model from which the program can expand to capture additional environmental and ecosystem benefits for all participating agricultural producers." According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, the agriculture sector accounts for roughly a quarter of global greenhouse gas emissions. With the support of ecosystem services markets, however, agriculture can mitigate up to 89 percent of its emissions by incentivizing farmers and ranchers to sequester carbon in the soil.hi "The agriculture sector wants to participate more in the sequestering of carbon, but the economics need to be there to bridge the gap," said Jerry Lynch, chief sustainability officer for General Mills. "We're attempting to unleash the vast capabilities of the agriculture sector and the regenerative practices that so many farmers and ranchers use as the foundation of their operations." The scientific rigor for the program will be established by the Soil Health institute and the Noble Research Institute's Land Stewardship Program, which has engaged an initial set of ranches covering 70,000 acres in the U.S. Southern Great Plains (Oklahoma and Texas). "From the very first meeting to today, this entire process has been focused on the farmer and rancher," said Jimmy Emmons, an Oklahoma rancher and a member of the steering committee that created the marketplace. "The program helps inspire soil health practices, which will only serve to improve the producer's land while helping the environment. It's the definition of a win-win." In 2018, an ecosystem services protocol and a go-to-market business strategy will be developed. This effort will address the technical needs of the program, including transparent methods for monitoring and verifying beneficial outcomes as well as an assessment of credit supply, buyer demand and financing structures to sustainably support this program. Pilots will be conducted in early 2019 with the national rollout of the official platform to follow. The marketplace steering committee includes representatives from the Noble Research Institute, General Mills, the Soil Health Institute, Newtrient, National Association of Conservation Districts, Gordian Knot Strategies, DRD Associates, Strategic Conservation [11https://mw.ipcc.ch/pdf/assessment-report/ar4/wg3/ar4-wg3-chapter8.pdf Sierra Club v. EPA 18cv3472 NDCA Tier 1 ED 002061 00056594-00002 Solutions, and Oklahoma and Texas farming/ranching communities, The Natural Resources Conservation Service provides technical assistance on quantification tools and conservation practices. To learn more about the program or to view the request for proposal (RFP), visit www.nobie.org/markei, Photo and photo caption information: An image related to the above press release can be downloaded directly from the Noble Research Institute website by following this link: Photo caption: Today, a national coalition convened by the Noble Research Institute announced its intent to create a new voluntary environmental services market that benefits agricultural producers and improves the environment for society at large. The program aims to incentivize farmers and ranchers to improve soil health on working agricultural lands. il il I II II II 18-008 For media inquiries concerning the Noble Research Institute, please contact Robyn Peterson, public relations coordinator, at 580-224-6294 or by email at flpetersoni8jnoble.org. Noble Research Institute, LLC (www.nobi8.org) is an independent nonprofit agricultural research organization dedicated to delivering solutions to great agricultural challenges. Headquartered in Ardmore, Oklahoma, the Noble Research Institute conducts fundamental, translational and applied research; offers no-cost consultation and education to farmers, ranchers and land managers; operates seven research and demonstration farms; and educates students of all ages about science and agriculture. The Noble Research Institute was founded by Lloyd Noble, an Oklahoma oilman and philanthropist, in 1945 as The Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation to advance agriculture and land stewardship. Sierra Club v. EPA 18cv3472 NDCA Tier 1 ED 002061 00056594-00003