SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

NRCS plans to revise specific CPSs in the NHCP. This notice provides an overview of the planned changes and gives the public an opportunity to comment on the proposed revisions to these specific CPSs.

NRCS State Conservationists who choose to adopt these CPSs in their States will incorporate them into their respective electronic Field Office Technical Guide. These CPSs may be used in conservation systems that treat highly erodible land (HEL) or on land determined to be wetland. Section 343 of the Federal Agriculture Improvement and Reform Act of 1996 (Pub. L. 104-127) states that revisions made after enactment of the law to NRCS State technical guides used to carry out HEL and wetland provisions must be made available for public review and comment.

Revisions to the National Handbook of Conservation Practices

The amount of proposed changes varies for each of the CPSs addressed in this notice. To fully understand the proposed changes, individuals are encouraged to compare these changes with the current version for each CPS, which can be found at: www.nrcs.usda.gov/​resources/​guides-and-instructions/​conservation-practice-standards.

NRCS is requesting comments on the following 48 CPSs:

• Access Road (Code 560);
• Agrichemical Handling Facility (Code 309);
• Air Filtration and Scrubbing (Code 371);
• Aquaculture Pond (Code 397);
• Bivalve Aquaculture Gear and Biofouling Control (Code 400);
• Brush Management (Code 314);
• Channel Bed Stabilization (Code 584);
• Contour Farming (Code 330);
• Critical Area Planting (Code 342);
• Cross Wind Ridges (Code 588);
• Dam (Code 402);
• Dam, Diversion (Code 348);
• Denitrifying Bioreactor (Code 605);
• Dry Hydrant (Code 432);
• Early Successional Habitat Development (Code 647);
• Fence (Code 382);
• Forage Harvest Management (Code 511);
• Grade Stabilization Structure (Code 410);
• Grassed Waterway (Code 412);
• Heavy Use Area Protection (Code 561);
• High Tunnel System (Code 325);
• Irrigation Reservoir (Code 436);
• Irrigation System, Microirrigation (Code 441);
• Nutrient Management (Code 590);
• On-Farm Recharge (Code 641);
• Pasture and Hay Planting (Code 512);
• Pest Management Conservation System (Code 595);
• Pond Sealing or Lining, Compacted Soil Treatment (Code 520);
• Pond Sealing or Lining, Concrete (Code 522);
• Precision Land Forming and Smoothing (Code 462);
• Restoration of Rare and Declining Natural Communities (Code 643);
• Riparian Forest Buffer (Code 391);
• Roof Runoff Structure (Code 558);
• Salinity and Sodic Soil Management (Code 610);
• Sediment Basin (Code 350);
• Sinkhole Treatment (Code 527);
• Soil Carbon Amendment (Code 336);
• Sprinkler System (Code 442);
• Stormwater Runoff Control (Code 570);
• Streambank and Shoreline Protection (Code 580);
• Structures for Wildlife (Code 649);
• Surface Drain, Field Ditch (Code 607);
• Waste Facility Closure (Code 360);
• Waste Transfer (Code 634);
• Water Harvesting Catchment (Code 636);
• Wetland Enhancement (Code 659);
• Wildlife Habitat Planting (Code 420); and
• Windbreak-Shelterbelt Establishment and Renovation (Code 380).

The following paragraphs highlight some of the proposed changes to each CPS: ( printed page 56103)

Access Road (Code 560): Minor wording revisions were made throughout the CPS to improve clarity. A legend was added to Figure 1. Usage information was removed from Table 1. Additional considerations were added to address air and water quality.

Agrichemical Handling Facility (Code 309): This CPS was fully revised to clarify its complex requirements for preventing agrichemical spills and contamination. Notable updates include permitting multi-owner facilities to implement the practice, introducing buoyancy control, revising liner material and liquid-tight structure requirements, and allowing the use of manufactured sumps. The revisions also provide more detailed facility descriptions to support broader applicability across diverse operational needs.

Air Filtration and Scrubbing (Code 371): Clarifications and simplifications were made to the “Definition”, “Purpose”, “Criteria”, and “Considerations” sections. Additional detail was provided in the “Plans and Specifications” and “Operation and Maintenance” sections to further specify required elements and the types of documents necessary to record practice standard implementation. A generic reference to air pollution technology fact sheets was replaced with citations to specific fact sheets.

Aquaculture Pond (Code 397): No major technical changes were made to this CPS. References to Critical Area Planting (Code 342) and Mulching (Code 484) were added. The “Operation and Maintenance” section was revised to better align with the Pond (Code 378) CPS.

Bivalve Aquaculture Gear and Biofouling Control (Code 400): The “Conditions Where Practice Applies” section was updated to include onshore gear storage, drying, and cleaning areas to align with the “Criteria” section for exchanging fouled gear. The “Plans and Specifications” section now includes a requirement to clearly distinguish baseline management from planned improvements. The “Considerations” section was expanded to address support for recovering lost gear after disasters. The “References” section was also updated.

Brush Management (Code 314): This CPS was updated to incorporate active voice and modern guidance for managing woody and succulent plant species. The revisions clarify the practice purposes, strengthen ecological foundations, and emphasize alignment with ecological sites and plant communities. The “Conditions Where Practice Applies” section was refined to clarify where mechanical, chemical, and biological treatments apply, and requirements related to legal compliance, integrated planning, and long-term monitoring were reinforced. Wildlife considerations were enhanced to reduce potential adverse impacts. The “Additional Criteria” subsections now more effectively address ecological processes, adaptive management, and preventing reinvasion. The “Considerations” section was expanded to include guidance on mapping encroachment, coordination with grazing, forest, and wildlife plans, and recognizing biodiversity and habitat complexity. Updates to the “Plans and Specifications” and “Operation and Maintenance” sections provide clearer expectations for treatment methods, safety, herbicide use, monitoring, and retreatment. Collectively, these revisions improve alignment with current ecological science and NRCS guidance, enhance consistency across related practice standards, and support more effective, predictable, and longer-lasting treatment outcomes for landowners, partners, and conservation planners.

Channel Bed Stabilization (Code 584): The “Purpose” section was updated to remove a statement unrelated to streambed stabilization. Additional minor wording changes were made throughout to improve clarity and readability.

Contour Farming (Code 330): Minor edits were made to the “Considerations” section. References to Contour Orchard and other Perennial Crops (Code 331) and Row Arrangement (Code 557) were added to clarify the “Conditions Where Practice Applies” section. One purpose was shortened to “improve soil moisture retention.” The “General Criteria” subsection was reorganized to align with steps for installation and contour marker installation was added. Additional contour layout suggestions were included in the “Considerations” section. Requirements in the “Plans and Specifications” section were clarified. The “Operation and Maintenance” section was reorganized to align with installation operations and maintenance requirements to ensure the practice meets its intended five-year lifespan.

Critical Area Planting (Code 342): The definition of this CPS was updated to address concerns, including situations where normal planting methods may not be feasible. For consistency, standardized wording for plant material selection and use across all permanent planting practices was added. Engineering-related criteria were removed and are now referenced to Streambank and Shoreline Protection (Code 580). The “Conditions Where Practice Applies” section was streamlined, and additional flexibility was provided for conservation practice installation and other construction sites to protect surface waters and source water.

Cross Wind Ridges (Code 588): Revisions were made throughout to improve clarity. The “Conditions Where Practice Applies” section was simplified to include all cropland susceptible to wind erosion. Guidance in the “Additional Criteria” subsection was expanded to support evaluating plant productivity and health using wind erosion technology. The “Plans and Specifications” section was updated with clearer requirements.

Dam (Code 402): The “Cultural Resources” subheading in the “General Criteria” subsection was removed because it was considered redundant with the overall compliance statement in the first paragraph of that subsection. In the “Additional Considerations for Visual Resource Design” subsection, the second paragraph beginning with “Shape the embankment to blend with the natural topography...”, was removed because how-to procedures should not be included in a CPS. Minor wording changes were made throughout to improve clarity and readability.

Dam, Diversion (Code 348): The first sentence in the “Conditions Where Practice Applies” section was removed because it did not describe where the CPS applies. Minor wording changes were made throughout to improve clarity and readability.

Denitrifying Bioreactor (Code 605): Minor edits were made throughout to improve clarity, readability, and consistency. The “Definition” section was updated to include microbial denitrification. Criteria under the “Media Chamber” subheading in the “General Criteria” subsection were updated to address media mounding, soil-capped bioreactors, and allowable wood species.

Dry Hydrant (Code 432): Minor wording revisions were made throughout to improve clarity and readability.

Early Successional Habitat Development (Code 647): Updates include revisions to the title and lifespan to better align with planning tools; removal of the term “management” to address planning and contracting issues; consolidation of management and development activities; and improved alignment with certification and reimbursement processes. The revisions also shift the focus toward woody plant removal for habitat purposes. ( printed page 56104)

Fence (Code 382): Changes to this CPS primarily reflect the integration of virtual fence technology; updates to improve clarity through plain language and active voice; clarification of technical guidance; incorporation of contemporary ecological considerations; and updates to references. Virtual fence technology was incorporated through added content and edits across multiple sections of the CPS. The “Purpose” section was revised to state that the practice facilitates, rather than controls, resource management. The “Considerations” section now identifies similar or related conservation practice standards, explains how these complementary practices differ, and describes how they may be applied together. Additional ecological considerations, based on new science related to wildlife interactions, were also added to the “Considerations” section.

Forage Harvest Management (Code 511): Revisions to this CPS focus on restructuring content for clarity, applying active voice, and improving alignment with NHCP policy. The “Definition” section was updated to clarify that “harvest” does not always involve removal of forage. The “Conditions Where Practice Applies” section was broadened to include all lands where forage is mechanically manipulated. The “Purpose” section was revised to consolidate soil compaction and aggregate stability into a single resource concern and to remove “optimize soil microbial life” as an explicit purpose. The “General Criteria” subsection was reorganized to emphasize decision-making related to timing of forage cutting rather than harvest or storage methods, and content related to storage was relocated to the “Considerations” section. The “Additional Criteria” subsections were refined to reduce redundancy, including updated guidance related to wildlife habitat, pest pressure, nutrient removal, and species composition. The “Considerations”, “Plans and Specifications”, “Operation and Maintenance”, and “References” sections were updated to improve formatting, enhance clarity, and incorporate current technical sources.

Grade Stabilization Structure (Code 410): The “Purpose” section was revised to add “prevent or reduce erosion and head cutting,” ensuring the CPS explicitly addresses head cutting protection. The “Conditions Where Practice Applies” section was updated to include “prevent or to reduce head cutting” for consistency with the purpose statement. In the “Small pond-sized Dams” subheading under “General Criteria,” the initial sentence stating, “For dams with an effective height of less than 15 feet and 10-year frequency, 24-hour storm runoff volume less than 10 acre-feet, the designer may use the requirements of NRCS CPS Water and Sediment Control Basin (Code 638)”, was removed.

Grassed Waterway (Code 412): No major technical changes are proposed for this CPS. The “Definition” section was simplified for clarity. In the “Criteria” section, requirements related to livestock and vehicle crossings were expanded to safeguard proper design and installation. A consideration formerly associated with these crossings was removed from the “Considerations” section. Additionally, vegetative considerations within the “Considerations” section were reorganized and slightly revised to improve readability.

Heavy Use Area Protection (Code 561): Minor wording changes were made to improve clarity in the “Criteria” section. Additions were made to the “Considerations” section to address air quality improvement. The “References” section was also updated.

High Tunnel System (Code 325): NRCS is revising this CPS to improve clarity and ensure consistency with current technical guidance. The “Definition” section was updated to more clearly distinguish high tunnel systems from other commercially available structures. Within the “General Criteria” subsection, the required height for raised planting beds was increased to 18-inches to accommodate machinery-formed natural soil beds and the use of frames to hold those beds in place. The “Criteria” section was reorganized to present structural requirements, siting considerations, and operational guidance in a more logical sequence. Language addressing salt buildup beneath high tunnels was added to both the “Criteria” and “Considerations” sections. Minor clarifications were made in the “Plans and Specifications” section. The “Operation and Maintenance” section was revised to align activities in a seasonal order and to make the connection to the “Criteria” section more transparent.

Irrigation Reservoir (Code 436): In the “Conditions Where Practice Applies” section, the second and third paragraphs were removed because they did not describe conditions under which this CPS applies. In the “Foundation, Embankment, and Spillways” subsection of the “General Criteria,” the first sentence of the second paragraph—“Planting of critical areas at the completion of construction will help protect the structure and borrow areas and prevent erosion”—was removed to simplify the guidance. In the “Considerations” section, the fifth paragraph was relocated to the “General Criteria” subsection because it functions as a criterion rather than a consideration. In the final paragraph of the “Considerations” section, the last two sentences were removed for simplicity. Minor wording changes were made throughout to improve clarity and readability.

Irrigation System, Microirrigation (Code 441): Minor edits were made throughout the CPS to improve clarity, readability, and consistency. The “Conditions Where Practice Applies” section was updated to include heavy-wall dripperline and mini- or micro- sprinkler system renovation. A new purpose—reducing energy use—was added to the “Purpose” section. Additionally, new subsections titled “Gravity-fed drip irrigation” and “Container irrigation” were added to the “General Criteria Applicable to All Purposes” section.

Nutrient Management (Code 590): This CPS was revised to shift from plan-centered guidance to a strategy-centered, risk-assessment approach. Updated testing guidance strengthens the focus on nutrient use efficiency, drinking water and air quality protection, and emerging technologies, including precision agriculture and biological amendments.

On-Farm Recharge (Code 641): This new CPS, developed from interim CPS Code 817, establishes criteria for applying surface water to cropland connected to unconfined aquifers to support groundwater recharge during periods when crops are dormant. No changes were made from the interim version.

Pasture and Hay Planting (Code 512): This CPS was modernized, clarified, reorganized, and aligned with NRCS policy and updated resource concerns. The “Purpose” section was restructured to align with contemporary resource concerns and to clarify applicability boundaries between this practice and related CPSs. The “Criteria” section was updated to strengthen guidance on seed quality, planting rates, soil testing, species selection, planting depth, coated seed use, livestock exclusion, and overall establishment protocols. The “Considerations” section was expanded to address wildlife needs, pollinator habitat, nurse crops, native species, invasive species avoidance, species diversity, and complementary conservation practices. In the “Plans and Specifications” section, more explicit documentation requirements ( printed page 56105) were added. The “Operation and Maintenance” section now includes expectations for monitoring environmental conditions and adjusting management as needed. The “References” section was updated to reflect current regulatory and scientific sources.

Pest Management Conservation System (Code 595): In the “Purpose” section, two existing purposes were revised. New criteria were added to the “Criteria” section for USDA organic operations, and cultural, chemical, and biological suppression techniques were clarified. Additional requirements were included in the “Criteria” section related to ozone nonattainment areas. Language addressing VOCs, water quality, and soil health was added to both the “Additional Criteria” subsection and the “Considerations” section. The “References” section was updated to include current sources.

Pond Sealing or Lining, Compacted Soil Treatment (Code 520): No major technical revisions were made to this CPS. All updates were made to clarify content, provide examples, improve readability, and maintain consistency across paragraphs. Two purposes were added to the “Purpose” section, and new criteria were included in the “Criteria” section regarding compliance with applicable laws, safety, and existing impoundment requirements. The minimum liner thickness for clean-water storage impoundments was reduced in the “Criteria” section.

Pond Sealing or Lining, Concrete (Code 522): The only major technical revision to this CPS was the addition of leak-detection requirements for installations in high-permeability soils. Other revisions throughout the CPS were made to clarify content, provide examples, improve readability, and maintain paragraph structure. Two purposes were added to the “Purpose” section, and additional criteria were included in the “Criteria” section to address compliance with applicable laws, safety, and existing impoundment requirements.

Precision Land Forming and Smoothing (Code 462): The “Definition” section was revised to replace the term “field” with “land” to allow broader application of the practice. Language in the “Considerations” section was revised to include measures that avoid and minimize impacts on wetlands and wildlife. References were added in the “Considerations” section for Site Assessment and Soil Testing for Contaminants Activity, Conservation Evaluation and Monitoring Activity (CEMA 207), and Soil and Source Testing for Nutrient Management (CEMA 217) to address soil testing requirements when saline or toxic soils are uncovered. The “References” section was updated accordingly.

Restoration of Rare and Declining Natural Communities (Code 643): Revisions to this CPS emphasize restoring physical and chemical site conditions, reducing overlap with planting and vegetation management practices, and incorporating innovative restoration techniques. New approaches referenced in the CPS include oyster and reef restoration, substrate replacement, low-tech restoration methods, and chemical restoration.

Riparian Forest Buffer (Code 391): Revisions to this CPS provide clearer guidance and broader applicability by making establishment of riparian forest buffers more achievable, predictable, and impactful. Overlap with Drainage Water Management (Code 554) and Streambank and Shoreline Protection (Code 580) when those activities can be planned by other CPS as part of a comprehensive conservation plan was eliminated. The purpose of reducing sediment transport and pathogen transport was divided into two separate purposes to clarify additional criteria needed to implement each purpose. The wildlife purpose was expanded to improve the quality, quantity, or connectivity of terrestrial and aquatic habitat for wildlife, fish, and other organisms.

Roof Runoff Structure (Code 558): This CPS was revised to increase flexibility in selecting materials for constructing roof runoff systems and to clarify criteria for discharging runoff into grassed waterways or diversions. Additional minor edits were made throughout to improve clarity and references were updated.

Salinity and Sodic Soil Management (Code 610): Minor edits were made throughout the CPS to improve clarity and consistency. Additional criteria were added to the “Criteria” section addressing crop species selection based on salt tolerance, measures to reduce surface evaporation, and protections to prevent salt movement to seep outlets.

Sediment Basin (Code 350): In the “Conditions Where Practice Applies” section, the final bullet limiting this practice to low-hazard dams was removed. The “Cultural Resources” subheading in the “General Criteria” subsection was removed because it was considered redundant with the overall compliance statement in the first paragraph of that subsection. Additional minor wording changes were made in the “General Criteria” subsection to improve clarity and readability.

Sinkhole Treatment (Code 527): This CPS was revised to improve clarity and refine technical guidance. Major revisions include refining the purpose of the CPS, limiting its application to in-situ native soils, and allowing assistance for clearing woody debris that obstructs normally draining sinkholes. The “Criteria” section was strengthened by providing clearer safety guidance and hydrologic evaluation requirements, and by removing the previous requirement for geology reports. Additional updates address ecological and cultural resources, modernize mapping guidance, require depth-to-bedrock information, enhance the “Operation and Maintenance” section, and update the ”References” section.

Soil Carbon Amendment (Code 336): This CPS was updated by re-ordering criteria, relocating text to appropriate sections, adding brief examples, and refining language to better convey the practice's intent. Revisions include clarification on when risk assessments are required; establishment of a new minimum carbon-to-nitrogen ratio of 20:1 (excluding biochar); defined timelines for soil and amendment testing; biochar storage requirements; restrictions on application to frozen ground; removal of the exclusion on applying soil carbon amendments produced from crop or woody residues; and expanded operational flexibility for applying amendments on slopes and in high-phosphorus risk areas.

Sprinkler System (Code 442): Minor edits were made throughout the CPS to improve clarity, readability, and consistency. The “Conditions Where Practice Applies” section was updated to clarify the typical flow rate of sprinklers covered by this CPS. A new “Safety” subsection was added under “General Criteria Applicable to All Purposes”. Additionally, a new subsection titled “Variable Rate Irrigation” was added to the “Additional Criteria for Efficient and Uniform Application of Water on Irrigated Lands” section.

Stormwater Runoff Control (Code 570): No major technical changes were made to this CPS. In the “Additional Criteria for Reduction of Water Quantity” subsection, repeated text was removed because it already appears in the “General Criteria” subsection.

Streambank and Shoreline Protection (Code 580): The “General Criteria Applicable to All Purposes” subsection was revised to remove potential causes of resource concern and to add criteria addressing geotechnical stability, ice forces, and scour. The “Criteria” section was updated to include requirements for geotechnical and hydraulic assessments. ( printed page 56106) Streambank classification criteria were clarified, and new criteria were added to address geotechnical stability, floodplain access, and a wide range of flow conditions. The “Considerations” section was expanded to add considerations emphasizing treatment variability and floodplain access. The “Operation and Maintenance” section was updated to include criteria addressing overbank flows and vegetation traffic. The “References” section was updated to include current and relevant technical resources.

Structures for Wildlife (Code 649): Revisions to this CPS improve clarity in the definition, purpose, and applicability. Additions to the “Criteria” section enhance structure use by target species and expand the range of acceptable structural options. New provisions allow for modification of existing human-made structures that negatively impact wildlife.

Surface Drain, Field Ditch (Code 607): Revisions to this CPS remove redundant language, adopt active voice for improved clarity, and eliminate wording that could reclassify actively farmed or maintained drainage areas.

Waste Facility Closure (Code 360): This CPS was revised to improve clarity and to better align its requirements with those of the Nutrient Management (Code 590) CPS.

Waste Transfer (Code 634): This CPS was revised to add flexibility in pressure pipeline design by allowing the use of industry pipeline design standards. Additional edits throughout the standard improve clarity. The “References” section was updated to include the most current resources, including Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) floodproofing guidance.

Water Harvesting Catchment (Code 636): The “Definition” section was revised to emphasize the collection of precipitation runoff. The “Purpose” section was updated to focus on water collection rather than distribution. The “Conditions Where Practice Applies” section was rewritten to include guzzlers. The “Criteria” section was updated to incorporate safety and structural requirements consistent with Roofs and Covers (Code 367), add measures to prevent debris entry, and address tank stability. The “Considerations” section was expanded to include mosquito and pest issues.

Wetland Enhancement (Code 659): Revisions to this CPS streamline its scope to focus only on abiotic activities, such as earthmoving, that improve hydrologic wetland functions. The updates also reduce overlap with other CPS by ensuring that structural and vegetative practices are planned together, as appropriate, within a comprehensive conservation approach.

Wildlife Habitat Planting (Code 420): Revisions to this CPS provide clearer guidance to directly support farmers. Formatting updates align the CPS with recent revisions made to other biology discipline CPS. The changes reduce overlap between vegetative planting practices and vegetation management practices when management should be addressed by another practice standard within a comprehensive conservation plan. Technical criteria were improved to ensure CPSs intent and requirements are met. The “References” section was updated to include the most current resources.

Windbreak-Shelterbelt Establishment and Renovation (Code 380): The title of this CPS was shortened because the definition already clarifies that the practice is used to establish, enhance, or restore windbreaks, and is also known as shelterbelt. The carbon storage purpose was moved to the “Considerations” section because it represents a secondary benefit. The energy use purpose was also moved to the “Considerations” section, as practice standard purposes must be achievable within the practice lifespan, and trees and shrubs generally require more than the fifteen-year practice lifespan to reach heights that shade structures and reduce energy use. Noise reduction and visual screen considerations were removed because they do not address a resource concern. Updated guidance reflecting current technology was added to support conservation planners in practice design and implementation.

91 FR 56102