83 FR 42864 - 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 83, Issue 165 (August 24, 2018)
Natural Resources Conservation Service
Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 165 (August 24, 2018)
| Page Range | 42864-42865 | |
| FR Document | 2018-18296 |
[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 165 (Friday, August 24, 2018)] [Notices] [Pages 42864-42865] From the Federal Register Online [www.thefederalregister.org] [FR Doc No: 2018-18296] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Natural Resources Conservation Service [Docket No. NRCS-2018-0005] 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 to the National Handbook of Conservation Practices (NHCP) 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 NHCP. These standards include Combustion System Improvement (Code 372), Dust Control on Unpaved Roads and Surfaces (Code 373), Integrated Pest Management (Code 595), Nutrient Management (Code 590), Pesticide Mitigation (Code 594), Subsurface Drain (Code 606), Waste Facility Closure (Code 360), and Wildlife Habitat Planting (Code 420). NRCS State Conservationists who choose to adopt these practices in 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 [[Page 42865]] 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: These revisions shall be applicable as of August 24, 2018. Comment Date: Submit comments on or before September 24, 2018. 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-2018-0005, 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 PII, 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: Mr. Bill Reck, National Environmental Engineer, Conservation Engineering Division, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 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-2018- 0005. Alternatively, copies can be downloaded or printed from http://go.usa.gov/TXye. Requests for paper versions or inquiries may be directed to: Mr. 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, which can be found at http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/detailfull/national/technical/cp/ncps/?cid=nrcs143_026849. To aid in this comparison, following are highlights of some of the proposed revisions to each standard: Combustion System Improvement (Code 372)--Revised language of the general criteria and criteria applicable to the air quality and energy purposes to address some confusion encountered in the implementation of the practice. Dust Control on Unpaved Roads and Surfaces (Code 373)--Relatively minor changes have been made to the 2010 version. Two purposes were added to more adequately describe the reasons for using this practice: ``improve visibility by reducing emissions of particulate matter;'' and ``improve plant health and vigor by reducing emissions of particulate matter.'' Integrated Pest management (Code 595)--The standard definition and purposes have been updated to reflect current agency policy and science. The standard has been edited to clarify criteria, and support farmers and ranchers wanting to address resource concerns and implement an integrated pest management system where land-grant-university guidelines are available. Nutrient Management (Code 590)--The revision has no significant definition technical changes. Instead, it has a focus on improving the usability of 590 at the operational level of the agency (i.e. the State and field). The formatting and writing style were updated to meet current agency requirements. Bullet point statements were used to specify single concepts and replace paragraphs containing multiple concepts. Pesticide Mitigation (Code 594)--A new standard to support farmers and ranchers wanting to address resource concerns created by the use of pesticides in areas where they do not have land-grant university integrated pest management guidelines for one or more of their crops or cropping systems. Proposed Standard 594 offers resource protection using site-specific techniques designed to mitigate the impacts of chemical pest suppression on natural resources. Subsurface Drain (Code 606)--The formatting and writing style were updated to meet current agency requirements. Sections of the standard were relocated and rearranged to improve document flow. The minimum velocity has been raised to 0.8 feet-per-second for areas without sedimentation problems. Provisions have been included for the use of square junction boxes. Waste Facility Closure (Code 360)--The formatting and writing style were updated to improve clarity. Criteria was added to dry-waste storages to render the site unsuitable for stacking or treating waste. Language was added to the standard to make it clear that the standard is not used for the rehabilitation or expansion of existing facilities. Wildlife Habitat Planting (Code 420)--This is a new conservation practice standard developed to better address the technical complexities of establishing wildlife habitat, including pollinator and monarch butterfly habitat plantings. Wildlife Habitat Planting (420) will be planned and applied when establishing herbaceous vegetation for wildlife. Planting trees for wildlife will be planned and applied using Tree and Shrub Establishment (612). Signed this 25th day of June 2018, in Washington, DC. Leonard Jordan, Acting Chief, Natural Resources Conservation Service. [FR Doc. 2018-18296 Filed 8-23-18; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3410-16-P
![42864 Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 165 / Friday, August 24, 2018 / Notices
more of the following crops: corn, negatively impact agricultural animals, performance of the functions of the
soybeans, wheat, rice, peanuts, or especially swine. agency, including whether the
sorghum (Texas only). The results of Authority: These data will be information will have practical utility;
this benchmark survey shows that in the collected under the authority of 7 U.S.C. (b) the accuracy of the agency’s estimate
11 surveyed States, there was damage to 2204(a). The eradication of feral swine of the burden of the proposed collection
an estimated $190 million in crops for is authorized by the Animal Health of information including the validity of
the six target crops. The published Protection Act (Title 7 U.S.C. 8301 et the methodology and assumptions used;
findings from this benchmark survey seq.) and the 2014 Farmbill. The $20 (c) ways to enhance the quality, utility,
can be found at http:// million program aims to help states deal and clarity of the information to be
www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/ with a rapidly expanding population of collected; and (d) ways to minimize the
pii/S0261219416301557. invasive feral swine. burden of the collection of information
In 2017, this survey was conducted in Individually identifiable data on those who are to respond, including
the following 13 States: Alabama, collected under this authority are through the use of appropriate
Arkansas, California, Florida, Georgia, governed by Section 1770 of the Food automated, electronic, mechanical,
Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, North Security Act of 1985, as amended, 7 technological or other forms of
Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, U.S.C. 2276, which requires USDA to information technology collection
Tennessee, and Texas, to measure the afford strict confidentiality to non- methods.
damage to livestock that is associated aggregated data provided by All responses to this notice will
with the presence of feral swine. These respondents. This Notice is submitted in become a matter of public record and be
States were chosen because they had accordance with the Paperwork summarized in the request for OMB
high feral swine densities and a Reduction Act of 1995 Public Law 104– approval.
significant presence of cattle, hogs, 13 (44 U.S.C. 3501, et seq.) and Office
Signed at Washington, DC, August 8, 2018.
sheep and/or goats. The findings from of Management and Budget regulations
at 5 CFR part 1320. Kevin L. Barnes,
this survey are scheduled to be
NASS also complies with OMB Associate Administrator.
submitted for publication around the
end of September 2018. Implementation Guidance, [FR Doc. 2018–18316 Filed 8–23–18; 8:45 am]
In 2019, the survey will be conducted ‘‘Implementation Guidance for Title V BILLING CODE 3410–20–P
in 12 States: Alabama, Arkansas, of the E-Government Act, Confidential
California, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Information Protection and Statistical
Efficiency Act of 2002 (CIPSEA),’’ DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina,
Oklahoma, South Carolina, and Texas. Federal Register, Vol. 72, No. 115, June
15, 2007, p. 33362. Natural Resources Conservation
The operators in 11 of the States will be Service
Estimate of Burden: Reporting burden
selected from operations that recently
for this collection of information is [Docket No. NRCS–2018–0005]
produced hay/haylage, tree nuts,
estimated to average 45 minutes per
melons, sugar cane, sweet potatoes, or
response. This was determined by our Notice of Proposed Changes to the
cotton. In California, operators will be
Survey Methodologists, who compared National Handbook of Conservation
selected from operations that produced
the length and difficulty of the Practices for the Natural Resources
hay/haylage, tree nuts, grapes, sod,
questions with similar surveys. They Conservation Service
carrots, lettuce, or strawberries.
also took into account the projected
The Animal and Plant Health number of farmers who will skip some AGENCY: Natural Resources
Inspection Service (APHIS), Wildlife sections of the questionnaire due to the Conservation Service (NRCS), U.S.
Services’ (WS) National Wildlife presence or absence of damage due to Department of Agriculture (USDA).
Research Center (NWRC) is the only feral swine. Burden is based on an ACTION: Notice of availability of
Federal research organization devoted estimated minimum response rate of proposed changes to the National
exclusively to resolving conflicts 80%. On similar types of surveys and Handbook of Conservation Practices
between people and wildlife through through the use of a mail questionnaire (NHCP) for public review and comment.
the development of effective, selective, and telephone follow-up to non-
and socially responsible methods, tools, respondents NASS has been able to SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given of the
and techniques. As increased contact and collect some data from intention of NRCS to issue a series of
urbanization leads to a loss of approximately 80% of the target sample. revised conservation practice standards
traditional wildlife habitat, the potential After removing the out of business in the NHCP. These standards include
for conflicts between people and operations and those with no items of Combustion System Improvement (Code
wildlife increases. Such conflicts can interest we hope to have at least a 65 to 372), Dust Control on Unpaved Roads
take many forms, including property 70% usable response rate. and Surfaces (Code 373), Integrated Pest
and natural resource damage, human NASS will be utilizing several pieces Management (Code 595), Nutrient
health and safety concerns, and disease of publicity and informational materials Management (Code 590), Pesticide
transmission among wildlife, livestock, to encourage respondents to participate Mitigation (Code 594), Subsurface Drain
and humans. in this important survey. NASS will (Code 606), Waste Facility Closure
Free-ranging populations of feral conduct the survey initially by mail (Code 360), and Wildlife Habitat
swine exist in at least 35 states, and the with phone follow-up for non-response. Planting (Code 420).
nationwide population is estimated at Respondents: Farm Operators. NRCS State Conservationists who
daltland on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with NOTICES
approximately 5 million animals. Feral Estimated Annual Number of choose to adopt these practices in their
swine damage pastures, agricultural Respondents: 15,000. States will incorporate them into
crops, lawns, landscaping, and natural Estimated Total Annual Burden on Section IV of their respective electronic
areas due to feeding, rooting, wallowing, Respondents: 11,600 hours. Field Office Technical Guide. These
grazing, and trampling activities. Feral Comments: Comments are invited on: practices may be used in conservation
swine are reservoirs of many diseases (a) Whether the proposed collection of systems that treat highly erodible land
and act as a host to parasites that can information is necessary for the proper (HEL) or on land determined to be a
VerDate Sep<11>2014 19:17 Aug 23, 2018 Jkt 244001 PO 00000 Frm 00006 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\24AUN1.SGM 24AUN1](https://thefederalregister.org/doc/83_FR_43029/page/1.svg)
![Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 165 / Friday, August 24, 2018 / Notices 42865
wetland. Section 343 of the Federal considerably for each of the were relocated and rearranged to
Agriculture Improvement and Reform conservation practice standards improve document flow. The minimum
Act of 1996 requires NRCS to make addressed in this notice. To fully velocity has been raised to 0.8 feet-per-
available for public review and understand the proposed changes, second for areas without sedimentation
comment all proposed revisions to individuals are encouraged to compare problems. Provisions have been
conservation practice standards used to these changes with each standard’s included for the use of square junction
carry out HEL and wetland provisions of current version, which can be found at boxes.
the law. http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/ Waste Facility Closure (Code 360)—
DATES: These revisions shall be nrcs/detailfull/national/technical/cp/ The formatting and writing style were
applicable as of August 24, 2018. ncps/?cid=nrcs143_026849. To aid in updated to improve clarity. Criteria was
Comment Date: Submit comments on this comparison, following are added to dry-waste storages to render
or before September 24, 2018. Final highlights of some of the proposed the site unsuitable for stacking or
versions of these new or revised revisions to each standard: treating waste. Language was added to
conservation practice standards will be Combustion System Improvement the standard to make it clear that the
adopted after the close of the 30-day (Code 372)—Revised language of the standard is not used for the
period and after consideration of all general criteria and criteria applicable to rehabilitation or expansion of existing
comments. the air quality and energy purposes to facilities.
address some confusion encountered in Wildlife Habitat Planting (Code
ADDRESSES: Comments should be
the implementation of the practice. 420)—This is a new conservation
submitted, identified by Docket Number
Dust Control on Unpaved Roads and practice standard developed to better
NRCS–2018–0005, using any of the
Surfaces (Code 373)—Relatively minor address the technical complexities of
following methods:
changes have been made to the 2010
• Federal eRulemaking Portal: http:// establishing wildlife habitat, including
version. Two purposes were added to pollinator and monarch butterfly habitat
www.regulations.gov. Follow the
more adequately describe the reasons plantings. Wildlife Habitat Planting
instructions for submitting comments.
• Mail or hand-delivery: Public for using this practice: ‘‘improve (420) will be planned and applied when
Comments Processing, Attention: visibility by reducing emissions of establishing herbaceous vegetation for
Regulatory and Agency Policy Team, particulate matter;’’ and ‘‘improve plant wildlife. Planting trees for wildlife will
Strategic Planning and Accountability, health and vigor by reducing emissions be planned and applied using Tree and
Natural Resources Conservation Service, of particulate matter.’’ Shrub Establishment (612).
Integrated Pest management (Code
5601 Sunnyside Avenue, Building 1– Signed this 25th day of June 2018, in
595)—The standard definition and
1112D, Beltsville, Maryland 20705. Washington, DC.
NRCS will post all comments on purposes have been updated to reflect
current agency policy and science. The Leonard Jordan,
http://www.regulations.gov. In general,
standard has been edited to clarify Acting Chief, Natural Resources Conservation
personal information provided with Service.
comments will be posted. If your criteria, and support farmers and
comment includes your address, phone ranchers wanting to address resource [FR Doc. 2018–18296 Filed 8–23–18; 8:45 am]
number, email, or other personal concerns and implement an integrated BILLING CODE 3410–16–P
identifying information (PII), your pest management system where land-
comments, including PII, may be grant-university guidelines are
available to the public. You may ask in available. ARCHITECTURAL AND
Nutrient Management (Code 590)— TRANSPORTATION BARRIERS
your comment that your PII be withheld
The revision has no significant COMPLIANCE BOARD
from public view, but this cannot be
definition technical changes. Instead, it
guaranteed.
has a focus on improving the usability Meetings
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. of 590 at the operational level of the
Bill Reck, National Environmental agency (i.e. the State and field). The AGENCY: Architectural and
Engineer, Conservation Engineering formatting and writing style were Transportation Barriers Compliance
Division, U.S. Department of updated to meet current agency Board.
Agriculture, Natural Resources requirements. Bullet point statements ACTION: Notice of meetings.
Conservation Service, 1400 were used to specify single concepts
Independence Avenue Southwest, SUMMARY: The Architectural and
and replace paragraphs containing
South Building, Room 6136, Transportation Barriers Compliance
multiple concepts.
Washington, DC 20250. Pesticide Mitigation (Code 594)—A Board (Access Board) plans to hold its
Electronic copies of the proposed new standard to support farmers and regular committee and Board meetings
revised standards are available through ranchers wanting to address resource in Washington, DC, Thursday through
http://www.regulations.gov by accessing concerns created by the use of Friday, September 6–7, 2018 at the
Docket No. NRCS–2018–0005. pesticides in areas where they do not times and location listed below.
Alternatively, copies can be have land-grant university integrated DATES: The schedule of events is as
downloaded or printed from http:// pest management guidelines for one or follows:
go.usa.gov/TXye. Requests for paper more of their crops or cropping systems. Thursday, September 6, 2018
versions or inquiries may be directed to: Proposed Standard 594 offers resource 9:30 a.m.–5:00 p.m. Information
Mr. Emil Horvath, National Practice protection using site-specific techniques Meeting on Assembly Areas
daltland on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with NOTICES
Standards Review Coordinator, Natural designed to mitigate the impacts of Friday, September 7, 2018
Resources Conservation Service, Central chemical pest suppression on natural 9:00 a.m.–9:30 a.m. Budget Committee
National Technology Support Center, resources. 9:30 a.m.–10:00 a.m. Planning and
501 West Felix Street, Fort Worth, Texas Subsurface Drain (Code 606)—The Evaluation Committee
76115. formatting and writing style were 10:00 a.m.–11:00 a.m. Technical
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The updated to meet current agency Programs Committee
amount of the proposed changes varies requirements. Sections of the standard 11:00 a.m.–Noon National Council on
VerDate Sep<11>2014 19:17 Aug 23, 2018 Jkt 244001 PO 00000 Frm 00007 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\24AUN1.SGM 24AUN1](https://thefederalregister.org/doc/83_FR_43029/page/2.svg)
Document Created: 2018-08-24 04:13:25
Document Modified: 2018-08-24 04:13:25
| 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 to the National Handbook of Conservation Practices (NHCP) for public review and comment. | |
| Dates | These revisions shall be applicable as of August 24, 2018. | |
| Contact | Mr. Bill Reck, National Environmental Engineer, Conservation Engineering Division, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service, 1400 Independence Avenue Southwest, South Building, Room 6136, Washington, DC 20250. | |
| FR Citation | 83 FR 42864 |
2024 Federal Register | Disclaimer | Privacy Policy
USC | CFR | eCFR