80 FR 43057 - 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 139 (July 21, 2015)
Natural Resources Conservation Service
Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 139 (July 21, 2015)
| Page Range | 43057-43058 | |
| FR Document | 2015-17797 |
[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 139 (Tuesday, July 21, 2015)] [Notices] [Pages 43057-43058] From the Federal Register Online [www.thefederalregister.org] [FR Doc No: 2015-17797] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Natural Resources Conservation Service [Docket No. NRCS-2015-0010] Notice of Proposed Changes to the National Handbook of Conservation Practices for the Natural Resources Conservation Service AGENCY: Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), U.S. Department of Agriculture (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: Channel Bed Stabilization (Code 584), Karst Sinkhole Treatment (Code 527), Open Channel (Code 582), Pond (Code 378), Surface Drain, Field Ditch (Code 607), Surface Drain, Main or Lateral (Code 608), Vertical Drain (Code 630) and Waste Hauling (Code 321). 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. 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: Effective Date: This is effective July 21, 2015. Comment Date: Submit comments on or before August 20, 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. ADDRESSES: Comments should be submitted, identified by Docket Number NRCS-2015-0010, using any of the following methods:Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the instructions for submitting comments. Mail or hand delivery: 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. 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 (PII), your comments, including personal information, may be available to the public. You may ask in your comment that your PII be withheld from public view, but this cannot be guaranteed. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Wayne Bogovich, National Agricultural Engineer, Conservation Engineering Division, Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service, 1400 Independence Avenue SW., Room 6136 South Building, Washington, DC 20250. [[Page 43058]] Electronic copies of the proposed revised standards are available through http://www.regulations.gov by accessing Docket No. NRCS-2015- 0010. 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, National Practice Standards Review Coordinator, 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, following are highlights of some of the proposed revisions to each standard: Channel Bed Stabilization (Code 584)--The proposed changes provide additional clarification regarding the conditions where the practice applies, general criteria, considerations, and technical references. Karst Sinkhole Treatment (Code 527)--The proposed changes provide additional clarification regarding the conditions where the practice applies, general criteria, sinkhole treatment/closing and considerations. Open Channel (Code 582)--The agency refined the definition, modified criteria, added considerations, updated requirements for plans and specifications, and updated requirements for operation and maintenance. Pond (Code 378)--The agency refined the definition, modified criteria, updated considerations, updated requirements for plans and specifications, and updated requirements for operation and maintenance. Surface Drain, Field Ditch (Code 607)--The agency changed the definition for clarity, along with a purpose and criteria added to allow use of this practice to collect irrigation tailwater for reuse. Surface Drain, Main or Lateral (Code 608)--The agency removed the reference to the ambiguous phrase `water management system' in the purpose to improve clarity. Criteria was added allowing the use of this practice as a component to collect irrigation tailwater, for use in a Tailwater Recovery System, (Code 447) along with a reference to the two-stage channel design process in NRCS National Engineering Handbook, Part 654.1005 in areas where increased channel stability is required. Vertical Drain (Code 630)--The agency incorporated plain language into this practice standard by adding verbiage to address potential negative effects on underground habitat, in conditions where practice applies. NRCS also added a statement in plans and specifications, focusing on documenting specific site characteristics, in relation to potential contamination sources. Finally, the agency added a references section with National Engineering Handbook 633, Chapter 26, gradation Design of Sand and Gravel Filters. Waste Hauling (Code 321)--This is a new national conservation practice standard with a 1-year lifespan. This practice removes manure hauling from the Waste Transfer (Code 634) standard that has been utilized extensively by a number of States for several years. The Waste Transfer standard is structural and long-term in character which does not fit the hauling of manure and other agricultural waste very well. The Waste Hauling standard is short term and non-structural. Waste Hauling is the practice of moving manure or other agricultural waste products by vehicle from a region where concentration of waste production makes it very difficult to find cropland for application that does not already exhibit very high nutrient levels due to previous application. Additionally, the practice will be used to move agricultural waste in watersheds with water quality problems to markets outside the impacted watershed. The Waste Hauling contract will be with the end user of the product, and must be used in conjunction with a CPS Nutrient Management (Code 590) plan. Signed this 13th day of July, 2015, in Washington, DC. Jason A. Weller, Chief, Natural Resources Conservation Service. [FR Doc. 2015-17797 Filed 7-20-15; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3410-16-P
![Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 139 / Tuesday, July 21, 2015 / Notices 43057
towards the desired ranges. Often two or winter range; (4) Economic viability of SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given of the
more treatments, for example commercial treatments; (5) Cost of non- intention of NRCS to issue a series of
commercial harvest followed by non- commercial treatments; (6) Effects on revised conservation practice standards
commercial thinning may be prescribed water quality and aquatic habitats; and in the National Handbook of
for the same unit. Pre-commercial (7) Effects on weed introduction and Conservation Practices. These standards
thinning would occur either following a spread. include: Channel Bed Stabilization
commercial entry or as the only (Code 584), Karst Sinkhole Treatment
Scoping Process
treatment. Trees cut during this activity (Code 527), Open Channel (Code 582),
may be removed as biomass (if future This notice of intent initiates the Pond (Code 378), Surface Drain, Field
market opportunities develop) or left on scoping process, which guides the Ditch (Code 607), Surface Drain, Main
site and the slash treated by a variety of development of the environmental or Lateral (Code 608), Vertical Drain
fuels treatments. impact statement. The Interdisciplinary (Code 630) and Waste Hauling (Code
Team will continue to seek information, 321). NRCS State Conservationists who
Possible Alternatives comments, and assistance from Federal, choose to adopt these practices for use
The Forest Service will consider a State, and local agencies, Tribal within their States will incorporate
range of alternatives. One of these will governments, and other individuals or them into section IV of their respective
be the ‘‘no action’’ alternative in which organizations that may be interested in, electronic Field Office Technical Guide.
none of the proposed action would be or affected by, the proposed action. The Section 343 of the Federal Agriculture
implemented. Additional alternatives overall development of the project Improvement and Reform Act of 1996
may be included in response to issues would also be done through a requires NRCS to make available for
raised by the public during the scoping collaborative process with interested public review and comment all
process or due to additional concerns parties, including the Kootenai Forest proposed revisions to conservation
for resource values identified by the Stakeholders Coalition, Lincoln County, practice standards used to carry out HEL
Interdisciplinary Team. Sanders County, and timber industry. and wetland provisions of the law.
Responsible Official It is important that reviewers provide DATES: Effective Date: This is effective
their comments at such times and in July 21, 2015.
The Forest Supervisor of the Kootenai such manner that they are useful to the
National Forest, 31374 US Highway 2, Comment Date: Submit comments on
agency’s preparation of the or before August 20, 2015. Final
Libby, MT 59923–3022, is the environmental impact statement.
Responsible Official. As the Responsible versions of these new or revised
Therefore, comments should be conservation practice standards will be
Official, I will decide if the proposed provided prior to the close of the
action will be implemented. I will adopted after the close of the 30-day
comment period and should clearly period and after consideration of all
document the decision and rationale for articulate the reviewer’s concerns and
the decision in the Record of Decision. comments.
contentions.
Nature of Decision To Be Made Comments received in response to ADDRESSES: Comments should be
this solicitation, including names and submitted, identified by Docket Number
Based on the purpose and need, the addresses of those who comment, will NRCS–2015–0010, using any of the
Responsible Official reviews the become part of the public record for this following methods:
proposed action, the other alternatives, proposed action. Comments submitted • Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://
the environmental consequences, and anonymously will be accepted and www.regulations.gov. Follow the
public comments on the analysis in considered. instructions for submitting comments.
order to make the following decision: • Mail or hand delivery: Public
(1) Whether the proposed action will Dated: July 10, 2015.
Chris S. Savage,
Comments Processing, Attention:
proceed as proposed, as modified by an Regulatory and Agency Policy Team,
alternative, or not at all? Forest Supervisor, Kootenai National Forest
Strategic Planning and Accountability,
(2) Whether to implement timber .
Natural Resources Conservation Service,
harvest and associated fuels treatments, [FR Doc. 2015–17770 Filed 7–20–15; 8:45 am]
5601 Sunnyside Avenue, Building 1–
and prescribed burning, including the BILLING CODE 3411–15–P
1112D, Beltsville, Maryland 20705.
design features and potential mitigation
measures to protect resources; and if so, NRCS will post all comments on
how much and at what specific DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE http://www.regulations.gov. In general,
locations; personal information provided with
(3) What, if any, specific project Natural Resources Conservation comments will be posted. If your
monitoring requirements are needed to Service comment includes your address, phone
assure design features and potential number, email, or other personal
mitigation measures are implemented [Docket No. NRCS–2015–0010] identifying information (PII), your
and effective, and to evaluate the comments, including personal
Notice of Proposed Changes to the information, may be available to the
success of the project objectives. A
National Handbook of Conservation public. You may ask in your comment
project specific monitoring plan will be
Practices for the Natural Resources that your PII be withheld from public
developed.
Conservation Service view, but this cannot be guaranteed.
asabaliauskas on DSK5VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
Preliminary Issues FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
AGENCY: Natural Resources
Initial analysis by the Conservation Service (NRCS), U.S. Wayne Bogovich, National Agricultural
Interdisciplinary Team has brought Department of Agriculture (USDA). Engineer, Conservation Engineering
forward seven issues that may affect the Division, Department of Agriculture,
ACTION: Notice of availability of
design of the project: (1) Susceptibility Natural Resources Conservation Service,
proposed changes in the NRCS National
to severe wildfire; (2) Effect on wildlife 1400 Independence Avenue SW., Room
Handbook of Conservation Practices for
habitat, especially lynx, grizzly bear, 6136 South Building, Washington, DC
public review and comment.
and bull trout; (3) Effect on big game 20250.
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![43058 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 139 / Tuesday, July 21, 2015 / Notices
Electronic copies of the proposed tailwater, for use in a Tailwater COMMISSION ON CIVIL RIGHTS
revised standards are available through Recovery System, (Code 447) along with
http://www.regulations.gov by accessing a reference to the two-stage channel Notice of Public Meeting of the
Docket No. NRCS–2015–0010. design process in NRCS National Missouri Advisory Committee for a
Alternatively, copies can be Engineering Handbook, Part 654.1005 in Meeting To Hear Testimony Regarding
downloaded or printed from the areas where increased channel stability Police and Community Interaction in
following Web site: http://go.usa.gov/ is required. Missouri
TXye. Requests for paper versions or
Vertical Drain (Code 630)—The AGENCY: U.S. Commission on Civil
inquiries may be directed to Emil
agency incorporated plain language into Rights.
Horvath, National Practice Standards
this practice standard by adding ACTION: Notice of meeting.
Review Coordinator, Natural Resources
Conservation Service, Central National verbiage to address potential negative
effects on underground habitat, in SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given,
Technology Support Center, 501 West pursuant to the provisions of the rules
Felix Street, Fort Worth, Texas 76115. conditions where practice applies.
and regulations of the U.S. Commission
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The
NRCS also added a statement in plans
on Civil Rights (Commission) and the
amount of the proposed changes varies and specifications, focusing on
Federal Advisory Committee Act that
considerably for each of the documenting specific site the Missouri Advisory Committee
conservation practice standards characteristics, in relation to potential (Committee) will hold a meeting on
addressed in this notice. To fully contamination sources. Finally, the Thursday, August 20, 2015, for the
understand the proposed changes, agency added a references section with purpose of hearing presenters testify
individuals are encouraged to compare National Engineering Handbook 633, about the civil rights issues regarding
these changes with each standard’s Chapter 26, gradation Design of Sand police and community interactions in
current version as shown at: http:// and Gravel Filters. Missouri.
www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/ Waste Hauling (Code 321)—This is a Members of the public are invited and
detailfull/national/technical/cp/ncps/ new national conservation practice welcomed to make statements into the
?cid=nrcs143026849. standard with a 1-year lifespan. This record during two open forum periods.
To aid in this comparison, following practice removes manure hauling from The first open forum will be held from
are highlights of some of the proposed the Waste Transfer (Code 634) standard 12:00 p.m. until 12:30 p.m. The second
revisions to each standard: that has been utilized extensively by a open forum will be held from 6:15 p.m.
Channel Bed Stabilization (Code until 6:45 p.m. Members of the public
number of States for several years. The
584)—The proposed changes provide are also entitled to submit written
Waste Transfer standard is structural
additional clarification regarding the comments; the comments must be
conditions where the practice applies, and long-term in character which does
received in the regional office by
general criteria, considerations, and not fit the hauling of manure and other
September 20, 2015. Written comments
technical references. agricultural waste very well. The Waste may be mailed to the Midwestern
Karst Sinkhole Treatment (Code Hauling standard is short term and non- Regional Office, U.S. Commission on
527)—The proposed changes provide structural. Waste Hauling is the practice Civil Rights, 55 W. Monroe St., Suite
additional clarification regarding the of moving manure or other agricultural 410, Chicago, IL 60615. They may also
conditions where the practice applies, waste products by vehicle from a region be faxed to the Commission at (312)
general criteria, sinkhole treatment/ where concentration of waste 353–8311, or emailed to Melissa
closing and considerations. production makes it very difficult to Wojnaroski, Civil Rights Analyst, at
Open Channel (Code 582)—The find cropland for application that does mwojnaroski@usccr.gov. Persons who
agency refined the definition, modified not already exhibit very high nutrient desire additional information may
criteria, added considerations, updated levels due to previous application. contact the Midwestern Regional Office
requirements for plans and Additionally, the practice will be used at (312) 353–8311.
specifications, and updated to move agricultural waste in Closed-captioning of the meeting will
requirements for operation and watersheds with water quality problems be provided. If other persons who will
maintenance. to markets outside the impacted attend the meeting require other
Pond (Code 378)—The agency refined watershed. The Waste Hauling contract accommodations, please contact
the definition, modified criteria, will be with the end user of the product, Carolyn Allen at callen@usccr.gov at the
updated considerations, updated and must be used in conjunction with Midwestern Regional Office at least ten
requirements for plans and a CPS Nutrient Management (Code 590) (10) working days before the scheduled
specifications, and updated plan. date of the meeting.
requirements for operation and Records and documents discussed
maintenance. Signed this 13th day of July, 2015, in during the meeting will be available for
Surface Drain, Field Ditch (Code Washington, DC. public viewing prior to and after the
607)—The agency changed the Jason A. Weller, meeting at http://facadatabase.gov/
definition for clarity, along with a Chief, Natural Resources Conservation committee/meetings.aspx?cid=258 and
purpose and criteria added to allow use Service. clicking on the ‘‘Meeting Details’’ and
of this practice to collect irrigation ‘‘Documents’’ links. Records generated
asabaliauskas on DSK5VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
[FR Doc. 2015–17797 Filed 7–20–15; 8:45 am]
tailwater for reuse. BILLING CODE 3410–16–P
from this meeting may also be inspected
Surface Drain, Main or Lateral (Code and reproduced at the Regional
608)—The agency removed the Programs Unit, as they become
reference to the ambiguous phrase available, both before and after the
‘water management system’ in the meeting. Persons interested in the work
purpose to improve clarity. Criteria was of this Committee are directed to the
added allowing the use of this practice Commission’s Web site, http://
as a component to collect irrigation www.usccr.gov, or may contact the
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Document Created: 2018-02-23 09:23:05
Document Modified: 2018-02-23 09:23:05
| 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 | Effective Date: This is effective July 21, 2015. | |
| Contact | Wayne Bogovich, National Agricultural Engineer, Conservation Engineering Division, Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service, 1400 Independence Avenue SW., Room 6136 South Building, Washington, DC 20250. | |
| FR Citation | 80 FR 43057 |
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