80 FR 25999 - Notice of Proposed Changes to the National Handbook of Conservation Practices for the Natural Resources Conservation Service
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Natural Resources Conservation Service Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 87 (May 6, 2015)
Natural Resources Conservation Service
Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 87 (May 6, 2015)
| Page Range | 25999-26001 | |
| FR Document | 2015-10476 |
[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 87 (Wednesday, May 6, 2015)] [Notices] [Pages 25999-26001] From the Federal Register Online [www.thefederalregister.org] [FR Doc No: 2015-10476] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Natural Resources Conservation Service [Docket No. NRCS-2015-0003] Notice of Proposed Changes to the National Handbook of Conservation Practices for the Natural Resources Conservation Service AGENCY: Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), USDA. ACTION: Notice of availability of proposed changes in the NRCS National Handbook of Conservation Practices for public review and comment. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given of the intention of NRCS to issue a series of revised conservation practice standards in the National Handbook of Conservation Practices. These standards include: Amending Soil Properties with Gypsum Products (Code 333), Animal Mortality Facility (Code 316), Contour Orchards and Other Perennial Crops (Code 331), Controlled Traffic Farming (Code 334), Denitrifying Bioreactor (Code 605), Emergency Animal Mortality Management (Code 368), Field Operations Emissions Reduction (Code 376), Forest Stand Improvement (Code 666), Herbaceous Wind Barriers (Code 603), Irrigation System, Micro-irrigation (Code 441), Roofs and Covers (Code 367), Sprinkler System (Code 442), Vegetated Treatment Area (Code 635), and Vegetative Barrier (Code 601). NRCS State Conservationists who choose to adopt these practices for use within their States will incorporate them into Section IV of their respective electronic Field Office Technical Guide. These practices may be used in conservation systems that treat highly erodible land (HEL) or on land determined to be a wetland. Section 343 of the Federal Agriculture Improvement and Reform Act of 1996 requires NRCS to make available for public review and comment all proposed revisions to conservation practice standards used to carry out HEL and wetland provisions of the law. DATES: This is effective May 6, 2015. Submit comments on or before June 5, 2015. Final versions of these new or revised conservation practice standards will be adopted after the close of the 30- [[Page 26000]] day period and after consideration of all comments. ADDRESSES: Mail or hand-deliver comments to Public Comments Processing, Attention: Regulatory and Agency Policy Team, Strategic Planning and Accountability, Natural Resources Conservation Service, 5601 Sunnyside Avenue, Building 1-1112D, Beltsville, Maryland 20705. Submit electronic comments via the Federal eRulemaking Portal at http://www.regulations.gov. All submitted comments should be identified by Docket Number NRCS-2015-0003. NRCS will post all comments on http://www.regulations.gov. In general, personal information provided with comments will be posted. If your comment includes your address, phone number, email, or other personal identifying information, your comments, including personal information, may be available to the public. You may ask in your comment that your personal identifying information be withheld from public view, but this cannot be guaranteed. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Wayne Bogovich, Natural Resources Conservation Service, 1400 Independence Avenue Southwest, South Building, Room 6136, Washington, DC 20250. Electronic copies of the proposed revised standards are available through http://www.regulations.gov by accessing Docket No. NRCS-2015- 0003. Alternatively, copies can be downloaded or printed from the following Web site: http://go.usa.gov/TXye. Requests for paper versions or inquiries may be directed to Emil Horvath, Natural Resources Conservation Service, Central National Technology Support Center, 501 West Felix Street, Fort Worth, Texas 76115. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The amount of the proposed changes varies considerably for each of the conservation practice standards addressed in this notice. To fully understand the proposed changes, individuals are encouraged to compare these changes with each standard's current version as shown at: http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/detailfull/national/technical/cp/ncps/?cid=nrcs143026849. To aid in this comparison, the following are highlights of some of the proposed revisions to each standard: Amending Soil Properties with Gypsum Products (Code 333): This is a new conservation practice standard using the technology of gypsum products to improve soil structure, and to reduce phosphorus runoff from fields and buffer areas. Animal Mortality Facility (Code 316): Criteria for catastrophic animal mortality has been removed and placed in Emergency Animal Mortality Management (368). The information provided on composting has been expanded. The language was changed to improve the readability of the standard. Contour Orchards and Other Perennial Crops (Code 331): Wind erosion was removed as one of the purposes, and the technology addresses only sheet and rill erosion from water. Edits were made to the purposes to align with NRCS' list of natural resource concerns. The criteria for additional temporary erosion control measures on sites that are disturbed was added. The allowable contour row grade was reduced from 10 percent to 4 percent. The criteria to improve sediment trapping on the slopes of inward-sloping benches was added. Minor edits where made throughout the standard to improve clarity. Controlled Traffic Farming (Code 334): This is a new conservation practice where heavy axle loads are confined to designated lanes or tramlines that will cover no more than 33 percent of the surface area of the field. The primary purpose is to reduce soil compaction. Denitrifying Bioreactor (Code 605): This proposed National standard is based on interim standards from Illinois and Iowa. These States have been using and refining this standard since 2009. As the interim standards are revised each year, new data becomes available. This summary of changes is brief. Emergency Animal Mortality Management (Code 368): This is a new conservation practice standard defined as a means or method for the management of animal carcasses from catastrophic mortality events. Field Operations Emissions Reduction (Code 376): This is a new conservation practice standard to address air particulate emissions (10 micrometers in diameter or smaller), especially in designated air quality impaired zones. The standard provides criteria to reduce emission of particulate matter from field operations; primarily from tillage and harvest operations. Forest Stand Improvement (Code 666): The agency added new language to the definition: ``. . . to achieve a desired future condition or obtain ecosystem services.'' Two purposes that refer to forest products where deleted because they do not refer to an environmental benefit. Purposes that refer to renewable energy systems, and aesthetics and recreation are moved to ``Considerations'' because they are not primary purposes for this practice. NRCS changed ``Conditions where Practice Applies'' from ``All Forest land'', (with exceptions for some agroforestry practices), to ``All land where the quantity and quality of trees can be enhanced.'' Under ``General Criteria Applicable to All Purposes,'' NRCS changed the emphasis from silvicultural systems to achieving desired future conditions by altering the species composition or tree density. ``Additional Criteria to Improve and Sustain Forest Health and Productivity'' were added. Several new ``Considerations'' were added, including descriptions of silvicultural and carbon sequestration options. Several new references were also added. Herbaceous Wind Barriers (Code 603): The purpose and criteria to enhance snow deposition was removed because the vegetation during the winter period is not conducive to uniform snow deposition. Minor edits were made throughout the standard to improve clarity. The criteria for barrier height for the wind erosion period was increased to 1.5 feet from 0.5 feet. Irrigation System, Micro-irrigation (Code 441): The purpose of reduced energy use was removed. It would not be the primary purpose of planning a micro-irrigation system. There are also some minor editorial changes. Roofs and Covers (Code 367): The definition for the ``Roofs and Covers'' practice added agrichemical handling facilities to the waste management facilities specified. Criteria was added to include treated wood products and the type of associated fasteners, as was a table for geomembrane materials specified by cover purpose. Criteria was also added for appurtenant equipment associated with cover over liquid manure storage facilities for the safe collection, conveyance, treatment, or utilization of biogases. Sprinkler System (Code 442): ``In absence of manufacturer's recommendations for pressure regulator operation, ensure line pressure upstream of regulators is at least 5 psi above rated regulator pressure'' was added. There are also some minor editorial changes. Vegetated Treatment Area (Code 635): This standard was edited to improve clarity. Additionally, criteria was added to address pretreatment and erosion control measures, and the minimum flow length that affected the design of small facilities was removed. Vegetative Barrier (Code 601): The purpose and the criteria to use the vegetative barrier to control concentrated flow erosion was removed [[Page 26001]] due to poor performance. Minor edits here made throughout the standard to improve clarity. Signed this 22nd day of April, 2015, in Washington, DC. Jason A. Weller, Chief, Natural Resources Conservation Service. [FR Doc. 2015-10476 Filed 5-5-15; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3410-16-P
![Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 87 / Wednesday, May 6, 2015 / Notices 25999
Background and Purpose make such additional payments to Done in Washington, DC, this 27th day of
participants as the Secretary determines April, 2015.
In January 2003, the National
appropriate for the purpose of providing Sonny Ramaswamy,
Veterinary Medical Service Act
reimbursements to participants for Director, National Institute of Food and
(NVMSA) was passed into law adding
individual tax liability resulting from Agriculture.
section 1415A to the National
participation in this program. Finally, [FR Doc. 2015–10287 Filed 5–5–15; 8:45 am]
Agricultural Research, Extension, and
Teaching Policy Act of 1997 this section requires USDA to BILLING CODE 3410–22–P
(NARETPA). This law established a new promulgate regulations within 270 days
Veterinary Medicine Loan Repayment of the enactment of FCEA (i.e., June 18,
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Program (7 U.S.C. 3151a) authorizing 2008). The Secretary delegated the
the Secretary of Agriculture to carry out authority to carry out this program to Natural Resources Conservation
a program of entering into agreements NIFA. Service
with veterinarians under which they The final rule was published in the
agree to provide veterinary services in [Docket No. NRCS–2015–0003]
Federal Register on April 19, 2010 (75
veterinarian shortage situations.
FR 20239). Based on comments received Notice of Proposed Changes to the
On December 16, 2014, the President
signed into law the Consolidated and during the 60-day comment period upon National Handbook of Conservation
Further Continuing Appropriations Act, publication of the interim rule on July Practices for the Natural Resources
2015 (Pub. L. 113–235), which 9, 2009 (74 FR 32788), NIFA Conservation Service
appropriated $5,000,000 for the VMLRP. reconsidered the policy regarding AGENCY: Natural Resources
Section 7105 of FCEA amended individuals who consolidated their Conservation Service (NRCS), USDA.
section 1415A to revise the veterinary school loans with other ACTION: Notice of availability of
determination of veterinarian shortage educational loans (e.g., undergraduate) proposed changes in the NRCS National
situations to consider (1) geographical and their eligibility to apply for the Handbook of Conservation Practices for
areas that the Secretary determines have VMLRP. NIFA will allow these public review and comment.
a shortage of veterinarians; and (2) areas individuals to apply for and receive a
of veterinary practice that the Secretary VMLRP award; however, only the SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given of the
determines have a shortage of eligible portion of the consolidation will intention of NRCS to issue a series of
veterinarians, such as food animal be repaid by the VMLRP. Furthermore, revised conservation practice standards
medicine, public health, epidemiology, applicants with consolidated loans will in the National Handbook of
and food safety. This section also added be asked to provide a complete history Conservation Practices. These standards
that priority should be given to of their student loans from the National include: Amending Soil Properties with
agreements with veterinarians for the Student Loan Database System (NSLDS), Gypsum Products (Code 333), Animal
practice of food animal medicine in a central database for student aid Mortality Facility (Code 316), Contour
veterinarian shortage situations. operated by the U.S. Department of Orchards and Other Perennial Crops
NARETPA section 1415A requires the (Code 331), Controlled Traffic Farming
Education. The NSLDS Web site can be
Secretary, when determining the (Code 334), Denitrifying Bioreactor
found at www.nslds.ed.gov. Individuals
amount of repayment for a year of (Code 605), Emergency Animal
who consolidated their DVM loans with Mortality Management (Code 368), Field
service by a veterinarian to consider the
ability of USDA to maximize the non-educational loans or loans Operations Emissions Reduction (Code
number of agreements from the amounts belonging to an individual other than 376), Forest Stand Improvement (Code
appropriated and to provide an the applicant, such as a spouse or child, 666), Herbaceous Wind Barriers (Code
incentive to serve in veterinary service will continue to be ineligible for the 603), Irrigation System, Micro-irrigation
shortage areas with the greatest need. VMLRP. (Code 441), Roofs and Covers (Code
This section also provides that loan In FY 2010, NIFA announced its first 367), Sprinkler System (Code 442),
repayments may consist of payments of funding opportunity for the VMLRP. In Vegetated Treatment Area (Code 635),
the principal and interest on the five (5) program cycles since, NIFA and Vegetative Barrier (Code 601).
government and commercial loans has received 858 applications from NRCS State Conservationists who
received by the individual for the which 291 VMLRP awards totaling choose to adopt these practices for use
attendance of the individual at an $25,292,341 were issued. Consequently, within their States will incorporate
accredited college of veterinary up to $4,428,150 is available to support them into Section IV of their respective
medicine resulting in a degree of Doctor this program in FY 2015. Funding for electronic Field Office Technical Guide.
of Veterinary Medicine or the These practices may be used in
future years will be based on annual
equivalent. This program is not conservation systems that treat highly
appropriations and balances, if any,
authorized to provide repayments for erodible land (HEL) or on land
remaining from prior years. General determined to be a wetland. Section 343
any government or commercial loans
information regarding the VMLRP can of the Federal Agriculture Improvement
incurred during the pursuit of another
be obtained at the VMLRP Web site: and Reform Act of 1996 requires NRCS
degree, such as an associate or bachelor
degree. Loans eligible for repayment http://www.nifa.usda.gov/vmlrp. to make available for public review and
include educational loans made for one The eligibility criteria for applicants comment all proposed revisions to
or more of the following: loans for and the application forms and conservation practice standards used to
tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
tuition expenses; other reasonable associated instructions needed to apply carry out HEL and wetland provisions of
educational expenses, including fees, for a VMLRP award can be viewed and the law.
books, and laboratory expenses, downloaded from the VMLRP Web site DATES: This is effective May 6, 2015.
incurred by the individual; and at: http://nifa.usda.gov/vmlrp-request- Submit comments on or before June 5,
reasonable living expenses as applications-rfa. 2015. Final versions of these new or
determined by the Secretary. In revised conservation practice standards
addition, the Secretary is directed to will be adopted after the close of the 30-
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![Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 87 / Wednesday, May 6, 2015 / Notices 26001
due to poor performance. Minor edits Sub-Committee leadership, and hear DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
here made throughout the standard to from interagency partners on issues
improve clarity. impacting the competitiveness of the International Trade Administration
Signed this 22nd day of April, 2015, in U.S. Renewable Energy and Energy [A–580–867]
Washington, DC. Efficiency industries.
Jason A. Weller, A limited amount of time before the Large Power Transformers From the
Chief, Natural Resources Conservation close of the meeting will be available for Republic of Korea: Amended Final
Service. pertinent oral comments from members Results of Antidumping Duty
[FR Doc. 2015–10476 Filed 5–5–15; 8:45 am] Administrative Review; 2012–2013
of the public attending the meeting. To
BILLING CODE 3410–16–P accommodate as many speakers as AGENCY: Enforcement and Compliance,
possible, the time for public comments International Trade Administration,
will be limited to two to five minutes Department of Commerce.
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE per person (depending on number of SUMMARY: The Department of Commerce
public participants). Individuals (the Department) is amending its final
International Trade Administration results in the administrative review of
wishing to reserve additional speaking
time during the meeting must contact the antidumping duty order on large
Renewable Energy and Energy power transformers from the Republic of
Efficiency Advisory Committee Mr. Bennett and submit a brief
statement of the general nature of the Korea (Korea) for the period February
AGENCY: International Trade comments, as well as the name and 16, 2012, through July 31, 2013, to
Administration, U.S. Department of address of the proposed participant by correct certain ministerial errors.
Commerce. 5 p.m. DST on Friday, June 19, 2015. If DATES: Effective date: May 6, 2015.
ACTION: Notice of an open meeting. the number of registrants requesting to FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
make statements is greater than can be Brian Davis (Hyosung) or David Cordell
SUMMARY: The Renewable Energy and (Hyundai), AD/CVD Operations, Office
Energy Efficiency Advisory Committee reasonably accommodated during the
teleconference, the International Trade VI, Enforcement and Compliance,
(RE&EEAC) will hold a meeting on International Trade Administration,
Tuesday, June 23, 2015 at the Administration may conduct a lottery to
determine the speakers. Speakers are U.S. Department of Commerce, 14th
Department of Commerce Herbert C. Street and Constitution Avenue NW.,
Hoover Building in Washington, DC. requested to submit a copy of their oral
Washington, DC 20230; telephone: (202)
The meeting is open to the public and comments by email to Mr. Bennett for
482–7924 or (202) 482–0408,
interested parties are requested to distribution to the participants in
respectively.
contact the Department of Commerce in advance of the teleconference.
advance of the meeting. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Any member of the public may
DATES: June 23, 2015, from submit pertinent written comments Background
approximately 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. concerning the RE&EEAC’s affairs at any On March 31, 2015, the Department
Daylight Saving Time (DST). Members time before or after the meeting. published its final results in the
of the public wishing to participate Comments may be submitted to the administrative review of the
must notify Andrew Bennett at the Renewable Energy and Energy antidumping duty order on large power
contact information below by 5 p.m. Efficiency Advisory Committee, c/o: transformers from Korea.1 On March 30,
DST on Friday, June 19, 2015, in order Andrew Bennett, Office of Energy and 2015, ABB Inc. (Petitioner) submitted a
to pre-register. Environmental Industries, U.S. ministerial error allegation.2 On March
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Department of Commerce, Mail Stop: 30, 2015, Hyundai Heavy Industries Co.,
Andrew Bennett, Office of Energy and 4053, 1401 Constitution Avenue NW., Ltd. (HHI) and Hyundai Corporation,
Environmental Industries (OEEI), Washington, DC 20230. To be USA (Hyundai USA) (collectively,
International Trade Administration, considered during the meeting, written Hyundai) filed a ministerial error
U.S. Department of Commerce at (202) comments must be received no later allegation.3 On April 3, 2015, Hyosung
482–5235; email: Andrew.Bennett@ Corporation and HICO America Sales
than 5 p.m. DST on Friday, June 19,
trade.gov. and Technology, Inc. (collectively,
2015, to ensure transmission to the
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Committee prior to the teleconference. Hyosung) submitted comments in reply
Background: The Secretary of Comments received after that date will to Petitioner’s allegation.4 Based on our
Commerce established the RE&EEAC be distributed to the members but may analysis of these allegations, we made
pursuant to his discretionary authority not be considered on the teleconference. changes to the calculation of the
and in accordance with the Federal
Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.) Copies of RE&EEAC meeting minutes 1 See Large Power Transformers From the
on July 14, 2010. The RE&EEAC was re- will be available within 30 days Republic of Korea: Final Results of Antidumping
following the meeting. Duty Administrative Review; 2012–2013, 80 FR
chartered on June 12, 2014. The 17034 (March 31, 2015) (Final Results).
RE&EEAC provides the Secretary of Dated: April 29, 2015. 2 See Letter from Petitioner to the Department,
Commerce with consensus advice from Edward A. O’Malley, ‘‘Administrative Review of Large Power
the private sector on the development Transformers from Korea—Petitioner’s Allegation
Director, Office of Energy and Environmental on Ministerial Errors in the Department’s Final
and administration of programs and Industries. Margin Calculation’’ dated March 30, 2015.
tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
policies to enhance the international 3 See Letter from Hyundai to the Department,
[FR Doc. 2015–10527 Filed 5–5–15; 8:45 am]
competitiveness of the U.S. renewable ‘‘Antidumping Administrative Review of Large
BILLING CODE 3510–DR–P
energy and energy efficiency industries. Power Transformers from Korea Ministerial Error
During the June 23rd meeting of the Comments’’ dated March 30, 2015.
4 See Letter from Hyosung to the Department,
RE&EEAC, committee members will ‘‘Large Power Transformers from the Republic of
discuss priority issues identified in Korea: Reply to Petitioner’s Allegation of
advance by the Committee Chair and Ministerial Errors’’ (April 3, 2015).
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Document Created: 2015-12-16 07:41:53
Document Modified: 2015-12-16 07:41:53
| Category | Regulatory Information | |
| Collection | Federal Register | |
| sudoc Class | AE 2.7: GS 4.107: AE 2.106: | |
| Publisher | Office of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration | |
| Section | Notices | |
| Action | Notice of availability of proposed changes in the NRCS National Handbook of Conservation Practices for public review and comment. | |
| Dates | This is effective May 6, 2015. Submit comments on or before June 5, 2015. Final versions of these new or revised conservation practice standards will be adopted after the close of the 30- day period and after consideration of all comments. | |
| Contact | Wayne Bogovich, Natural Resources Conservation Service, 1400 Independence Avenue Southwest, South Building, Room 6136, Washington, DC 20250. | |
| FR Citation | 80 FR 25999 |
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