83_FR_45262 83 FR 45090 - Notice of Proposed Changes to the National Handbook of Conservation Practices for the Natural Resources Conservation Service

83 FR 45090 - 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 172 (September 5, 2018)

Page Range45090-45091
FR Document2018-19145

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 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.

Federal Register, Volume 83 Issue 172 (Wednesday, September 5, 2018) 
[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 172 (Wednesday, September 5, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 45090-45091]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2018-19145]


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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.

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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 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: Effective Date: This is applicable September 5, 2018.
    Comment Date: Submit comments on or before October 5, 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.

[[Page 45091]]

    Electronic 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 28th day of August, 2018, in Washington, DC
Leonard Jordan,
Acting Chief, Natural Resources Conservation Service.
[FR Doc. 2018-19145 Filed 9-4-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3410-16-P

45090 Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 172 / Wednesday, September 5, 2018 / Notices Cibola National Forest and National Gila National Forest 372), Dust Control on Unpaved Roads Grasslands Notices for Availability for and Surfaces (Code 373), Integrated Pest Comments, Decisions and Objections by management (Code 595), Nutrient Notices for Availability for Management (Code 590), Pesticide Comments, Decisions and Objections by Forest Supervisor, Quemado Ranger District, Reserve Ranger District, Mitigation (Code 594), Subsurface Drain Forest Supervisor affecting lands in (Code 606), Waste Facility Closure New Mexico, except the National Glenwood Ranger District, Silver City Ranger District and Wilderness Ranger (Code 360), and Wildlife Habitat Grasslands are published in:— Planting (Code 420). ‘‘Albuquerque Journal’’, Albuquerque, District are published in:—‘‘Silver City Daily Press’’, Silver City, New Mexico. NRCS State Conservationists who New Mexico. Black Range Ranger District Notices choose to adopt these practices in their Forest Supervisor Notices affecting States will incorporate them into National Grasslands in New Mexico, are published in:—‘‘The Herald’’, Truth or Consequences, New Mexico. Section IV of their respective electronic Oklahoma and Texas are published by Field Office Technical Guide. These grassland and location as follows: Lincoln National Forest practices may be used in conservation Kiowa National Grassland in Colfax, systems that treat highly erodible land Notices for Availability for Harding, Mora and Union Counties, (HEL) or on land determined to be a Comments, Decisions and Objections by New Mexico published in:—‘‘Union wetland. Section 343 of the Federal Forest Supervisor and the Sacramento County Leader’’, Clayton, New Mexico. Agriculture Improvement and Reform Ranger District are published in:— Rita Blanca National Grassland in Act of 1996 requires NRCS to make ‘‘Alamogordo Daily News’’, Cimarron County, Oklahoma published available for public review and Alamogordo, New Mexico. in:—‘‘Boise City News’’, Boise City, comment all proposed revisions to Guadalupe Ranger District Notices are Oklahoma. Rita Blanca National conservation practice standards used to published in:—’’Carlsbad Current Grassland in Dallam County, Texas carry out HEL and wetland provisions of Argus’’, Carlsbad, New Mexico. published in:—‘‘The Dalhart Texan’’, the law. Smokey Bear Ranger District Notices Dalhart, Texas. Black Kettle National are published in:—‘‘Ruidoso News’’, DATES: Effective Date: This is applicable Grassland, in Roger Mills County, Ruidoso, New Mexico. September 5, 2018. Oklahoma published in:—‘‘Cheyenne Star’’, Cheyenne, Oklahoma. Black Santa Fe National Forest Comment Date: Submit comments on Kettle National Grassland, in Hemphill or before October 5, 2018. Final versions Notices for Availability for of these new or revised conservation County, Texas, published in:—‘‘The Comments, Decisions and Objections by Canadian Record’’, Canadian, Texas. practice standards will be adopted after Forest Supervisor, Coyote Ranger the close of the 30-day period and after McClellan Creek National Grassland District, Cuba Ranger District, Espanola published in:—‘‘The Pampa News’’, consideration of all comments. Ranger District, Jemez Ranger District ADDRESSES: Comments should be Pampa, Texas. and Pecos-Las Vegas Ranger District are Mt. Taylor Ranger District Notices are submitted, identified by Docket Number published in:—‘‘Albuquerque Journal’’, NRCS–2018–0005, using any of the published in:—‘‘Cibola County Albuquerque, New Mexico. Beacon’’, Grants, New Mexico. following methods: Dated: August 17, 2018. • Federal eRulemaking Portal: http:// Magdalena Ranger District Notices are Gregory Smith, www.regulations.gov. Follow the published in:—‘‘El Defensor-Chieftain’’, Associate Deputy Chief, National Forest instructions for submitting comments. Socorro, New Mexico. System. • Mail or hand-delivery: Public Mountainair Ranger District Notices [FR Doc. 2018–19181 Filed 9–4–18; 8:45 am] Comments Processing, Attention: are published in:—‘‘The Independent’’, Regulatory and Agency Policy Team, BILLING CODE 3411–15–P Edgewood, New Mexico. Strategic Planning and Accountability, Sandia Ranger District Notices are Natural Resources Conservation Service, published in:—‘‘Albuquerque Journal’’, DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 5601 Sunnyside Avenue, Building 1– Albuquerque, New Mexico. 1112D, Beltsville, Maryland 20705. Kiowa National Grassland Notices are Natural Resources Conservation NRCS will post all comments on published in:—‘‘Union County Leader’’, Service http://www.regulations.gov. In general, Clayton, New Mexico. [Docket No. NRCS–2018–0005] personal information provided with Rita Blanca National Grassland comments will be posted. If your Notices in Cimarron County, Oklahoma Notice of Proposed Changes to the comment includes your address, phone are published in:—‘‘Boise City News’’, National Handbook of Conservation number, email, or other personal Boise City, Oklahoma while Rita Blanca Practices for the Natural Resources identifying information (PII), your National Grassland Notices in Dallam Conservation Service comments, including PII, may be County, Texas are published in:— available to the public. You may ask in AGENCY: Natural Resources ‘‘Dalhart Texan’’, Dalhart, Texas. your comment that your PII be withheld Conservation Service (NRCS), U.S. Black Kettle National Grassland from public view, but this cannot be Department of Agriculture (USDA). Notices in Roger Mills County, guaranteed. ACTION: Notice of availability of Oklahoma are published in:— FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. proposed changes to the National ‘‘Cheyenne Star’’, Cheyenne, Oklahoma, Bill Reck, National Environmental Handbook of Conservation Practices daltland on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with NOTICES while Black Kettle National Grassland Engineer, Conservation Engineering (NHCP) for public review and comment. Notices in Hemphill County, Texas are Division, U.S. Department of published in:—‘‘The Canadian Record’’, SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given of the Agriculture, Natural Resources Canadian, Texas. intention of NRCS to issue a series of Conservation Service, 1400 McClellan Creek National Grassland revised conservation practice standards Independence Avenue Southwest, Notices are published in:—‘‘The Pampa in the NHCP. These standards include South Building, Room 6136, News’’, Pampa, Texas. Combustion System Improvement (Code Washington, DC 20250. VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:04 Sep 04, 2018 Jkt 244001 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\05SEN1.SGM 05SEN1

Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 172 / Wednesday, September 5, 2018 / Notices 45091 Electronic copies can be downloaded have land-grant university integrated Rural Business-Cooperative Service or printed from http://go.usa.gov/TXye. pest management guidelines for one or (RBS), Rural Housing Service (RHS), Requests for paper versions or inquiries more of their crops or cropping systems. and Rural Utilities Service (RUS) may be directed to: Mr. Emil Horvath, Proposed Standard 594 offers resource announces that it is hosting listening National Practice Standards Review protection using site-specific techniques sessions for public input regarding Coordinator, Natural Resources designed to mitigate the impacts of development of a common platform to Conservation Service, Central National chemical pest suppression on natural deliver four guaranteed loan programs. Technology Support Center, 501 West resources. The Rural Development Innovation Felix Street, Fort Worth, Texas 76115. Subsurface Drain (Code 606)—The Center (IC) is holding these listening SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The formatting and writing style were sessions specifically to provide an amount of the proposed changes varies updated to meet current agency opportunity for stakeholders and other considerably for each of the requirements. Sections of the standard interested parties to offer their conservation practice standards were relocated and rearranged to comments and input. addressed in this notice. To fully improve document flow. The minimum DATES: understand the proposed changes, velocity has been raised to 0.8 feet-per- Written Comments: Interested parties individuals are encouraged to compare second for areas without sedimentation must submit written comments on or these changes with each standard’s problems. Provisions have been before October 22, 2018. current version, which can be found at included for the use of square junction Listening Sessions: Listening sessions http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/ boxes. will be held on September 10, 12, 14, nrcs/detailfull/national/technical/cp/ Waste Facility Closure (Code 360)— 19, and 20, 2018. See the ncps/?cid=nrcs143_026849. To aid in The formatting and writing style were SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section for this comparison, following are updated to improve clarity. Criteria was additional guidance and information on highlights of some of the proposed added to dry-waste storages to render the listening sessions. revisions to each standard: the site unsuitable for stacking or ADDRESSES: Submit comments by any of Combustion System Improvement treating waste. Language was added to the following methods. (Code 372)—Revised language of the the standard to make it clear that the • Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to general criteria and criteria applicable to standard is not used for the http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the the air quality and energy purposes to rehabilitation or expansion of existing online instructions for submitting address some confusion encountered in facilities. comments; Wildlife Habitat Planting (Code the implementation of the practice. • Postal Mail/Commercial Delivery: Dust Control on Unpaved Roads and 420)—This is a new conservation Please send your comment addressed to Surfaces (Code 373)—Relatively minor practice standard developed to better Michele Brooks, Team Lead, changes have been made to the 2010 address the technical complexities of Regulations Management Team, Rural version. Two purposes were added to establishing wildlife habitat, including Development Innovation Center, USDA, more adequately describe the reasons pollinator and monarch butterfly habitat 1400 Independence Ave., STOP 1522, for using this practice: ‘‘improve plantings. Wildlife Habitat Planting Room 5159, Washington, DC 20250– visibility by reducing emissions of (420) will be planned and applied when 1522. establishing herbaceous vegetation for particulate matter;’’ and ‘‘improve plant • Orally at the listening session; health and vigor by reducing emissions wildlife. Planting trees for wildlife will please also provide a written copy of of particulate matter.’’ be planned and applied using Tree and your comments online as specified Integrated Pest Management (Code Shrub Establishment (612). above or in hard copy at the listening 595)—The standard definition and Signed this 28th day of August, 2018, in session. purposes have been updated to reflect Washington, DC Listening Sessions: To ensure current agency policy and science. The Leonard Jordan, maximum stakeholder involvement, six standard has been edited to clarify Acting Chief, Natural Resources Conservation listening sessions are scheduled and criteria, and support farmers and Service. will allow for in-person comments. ranchers wanting to address resource [FR Doc. 2018–19145 Filed 9–4–18; 8:45 am] concerns and implement an integrated The Listening Sessions Are as Follows BILLING CODE 3410–16–P pest management system where land- West Region: Monday, September 10, grant-university guidelines are 2018, Denver, Colorado. 9:30 a.m. to available. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 12:30 p.m. Mountain Daylight Time. Nutrient Management (Code 590)— Denver Federal Center, 6th Kipling, The revision has no significant Rural Business-Cooperative Service Building 25, Lecture Hall, Denver, definition technical changes. Instead, it Colorado. See https://www.gsa.gov/ has a focus on improving the usability Rural Housing Service cdnstatic/DFC_map_508_2014-0619.pdf of 590 at the operational level of the for a map of the facility. To enter the agency (i.e. the State and field). The Rural Utilities Service facility, please be prepared to present a formatting and writing style were valid driver’s license and current updated to meet current agency OneRD Guaranteed Loan Platform vehicle registration at the entrance requirements. Bullet point statements AGENCY: Rural Housing Service, Rural gates. were used to specify single concepts Business-Cooperative Service, and Rural To participate remotely, please log on daltland on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with NOTICES and replace paragraphs containing Utilities Service, USDA. to https://cc.readytalk.com/r/yjoqkcys multiple concepts. ACTION: Request for information and 0pjm&eom. Participants are encouraged Pesticide Mitigation (Code 594)—A notice of public listening sessions. to use their computer’s audio instead of new standard to support farmers and phone lines, however the following toll ranchers wanting to address resource SUMMARY: The United States Department number can be used: concerns created by the use of of Agriculture (USDA) Rural U.S. Toll: 303.248.0285. pesticides in areas where they do not Development (RD), comprised of the Access Code: 7207501. VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:04 Sep 04, 2018 Jkt 244001 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\05SEN1.SGM 05SEN1


Document Created: 2018-09-05 01:58:51
Document Modified: 2018-09-05 01:58:51
CategoryRegulatory Information
CollectionFederal Register
sudoc ClassAE 2.7:
GS 4.107:
AE 2.106:
PublisherOffice of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
SectionNotices
ActionNotice of availability of proposed changes to the National Handbook of Conservation Practices (NHCP) for public review and comment.
DatesEffective Date: This is applicable September 5, 2018.
ContactMr. 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 Citation83 FR 45090 
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