SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities is a voluntary USDA funding opportunity with funding made available through NRCS for partnerships to support the production and marketing of climate-smart commodities. Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities is designed to use the funds and authorities of the Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) (15 U.S.C. 714-714f) to support the development of markets and production of agricultural commodities using agricultural (farming, ranching, or forestry) production practices that reduce greenhouse gas emissions or sequester carbon. NRCS is administering the Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities on behalf of CCC.

The environmental impacts of the Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities funding opportunity have been considered in a manner consistent with the provisions of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), as amended (42 U.S.C. 4321-4347), the regulations of the Council on Environmental Quality (40 CFR parts 1500-1508), and the NRCS regulations for compliance with NEPA (7 CFR part 650). A draft PEA has been prepared and based on this analysis, NRCS has preliminarily determined there will not be a significant impact to the human environment. As a result, an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) has not been initiated (40 CFR 1501.6).

In efforts to diligently involve the public, NRCS is making the draft EA and FONSI available for review and comment for 14 calendar days from the date of publication of this document in the Federal Register . NRCS will consider this input and determine whether there is any new information provided relevant to environmental concerns and bearing on the proposed action or its impacts that warrant supplementing or revising the draft PEA and FONSI. After the comment period, NRCS will issue either a Final EA and FONSI, or it will issue a Notice of Intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement.