[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 195 (Monday, October 7, 1996)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 52664-52670]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-25749]
[[Page 52663]]
_______________________________________________________________________
Part VIII
Department of Agriculture
_______________________________________________________________________
Natural Resources Conservation Service Farm Service Agency
_______________________________________________________________________
7 CFR Chapters VI and VII
Implementation of the Conservation Provisions of the Federal
Agriculture Improvement and Reform Act of 1996; Proposed Rule and
Interim Rule
Federal Register / Vol. 61, No. 195 / Monday, October 7, 1996 /
Proposed Rules
[[Page 52664]]
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Natural Resources Conservation Service
7 CFR Chapter VI
Farm Service Agency
7 CFR Chapter VII
AGENCY: Natural Resources Conservation Service and Farm Service Agency,
USDA.
ACTION: Announcement of forums on proposed rules.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The United States Department of Agriculture's, Natural
Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and Farm Service Agency (FSA)
will conduct 54 public forums where interested individuals can provide
comments and ideas on the implementation of the conservation provisions
of the Federal Agriculture Improvement and Reform Act of 1996 (the 1996
Act), which includes: Highly Erodible Land Compliance, Wetlands
Conservation, Conservation Reserve Program (CRP), and the Environmental
Quality Incentives Program (EQIP).
DATES: Written or faxed comments are due on or before October 22, 1996.
See the Supplementary Information section for the dates of the
forums.
ADDRESSES: Send comments to:
For comments pertaining to Highly Erodible Land Compliance, Wetland
Conservation, and EQIP: Lloyd Wright, Director, Conservation and
Ecosystem Assistance Division, USDA/NRCS, P. O. Box 2890, Washington,
DC. 20250, FAX: 202-720-4265
For comments pertaining to CRP: Cheryl Zavodny, Conservation and
Environmental Protection Division, USDA/FSA, P. O. Box 2415,
Washington, D. C. 20250, FAX: 202-690-3433.
See the Supplementary Information Section for the location of the
forums.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Lloyd Wright, USDA/NRCS, Phone: 202-720-1845
Cheryl Zavodny, USDA/FSA, Phone: 202-720-7333.
See the Supplementary Information section for forum contacts for
each State.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The public is invited to attend the meetings
to provide brief oral comments. All are encouraged to provide detailed
written comments concerning the implementation of the Act of 1996.
Those who wish to speak at a meeting may make arrangements in advance
by calling the state contact listed for the meeting. In addition,
individuals wishing to provide oral presentations may sign-up at the
forum, as time permits.
The forums will be held October 11-21 at the following locations on
the dates listed:
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Location Date
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Alabama Department of Agriculture and October 17.
Industries, Richard Beard Building
(Auditorium),1445 Federal Drive, Montgomery,
AL.
Cooperative Extension, 1514 South Cushman October 18.
Avenue, Room 303, Fairbanks, AK.
Mesa Pavilion Hilton, 1011 W. Holmes Avenue, October 15.
Mesa, AZ (Superstition Freeway and Alma School
Road).
Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service October 11.
Auditorium, 2301 South University Avenue,
Little Rock, AR.
Holiday Inn Capitol Plaza, 300 J Street, October 15.
Sacramento, CA.
Elks Lodge in Longmont, CO, Coffman Street, October 16.
Longmont, CO.
Windsor Public Library, 323 Broad Street, October 16.
Basement Level, Windsor, CT.
Delaware Department of Agriculture Conference October 15.
Room, 2320 S. duPont Highway, Dover, DE.
Holiday Inn West (Bay Room), 7417 W. Newberry October 16.
Road, Gainesville, FL.
Sunbelt Agricultural Exposition, West October 17.
Exhibitors Lounge, Highway 133, Gate 3, Spence
Field, Moultrie, GA.
USDA/NRCS Conference Room, FHB Building, Suite October 18 (via Peace
301, 400 Rt 8, Maite, GU. Satellite)
Pacific Beach Hotel, 2490 Kalakaua Avenue, October 15.
Honolulu, HI.
Nampa Civic Center, 311 3rd Street South (North October 16.
Banquet Room), Nampa, ID.
Illinois Department of Agricultural Auditorium, October 15.
State Fairgrounds, 801 East Sangamon Avenue,
Springfield, IL.
Indiana Farm Bureau Building, Meeting Room October 18
Assembly Hall D, 225 South East Street,
Indianapolis, IN.
Holiday Inn Downtown, 1050 6th Avenue, Des October 18.
Moines, IA.
The Holidome, 1616 W. Crawford Street, Salina, October 16.
KS.
NRCS State Office Conference Room, 771 October 17.
Corporate Drive, Suite 110, Lexington, KY.
Ramada Inn Convention Centre, 2211 MacArthur October 16.
Drive, Alexandria, LA.
Black Bear Inn, 4 Godfrey Drive, Orono, ME..... October 17.
Chesapeake College, Kent Humanities Building, October 15.
Room H117, US Route 50 and State Route 213, PO
Box 8, Wye Mills, MD.
USDA/NRCS Conference Room, 451 West Street, October 15.
Amherst, MA.
Ottawa Building, 611 West Ottawa Street, October 15.
Conference Room 3, Upper Parking Level,
Lansing, MI.
St. Cloud Civic Center, Stockinger Suite, 10 October 15.
4th Avenue South, St. Cloud, MN.
Mississippi Agriculture and Forestry Museum, October 15.
Ethnic Heritage Center, 1150 Lakeland Drive,
Jackson, MS.
Holiday Inn Select, 2200 I-70 Drive S.W., October 15.
Columbia, MO.
Eagles Lobby Conference Room, 24 North 8th, October 17.
Miles City, MT.
Salvation Army Building Auditorium, 1000 17th October 18.
Avenue South, Great Falls, MT.
I-80 Holiday Inn (Intersection of Highway 281 October 15.
and I-80), Grand Island, NE.
Farm Service Agency State Office, 1755 E. Plumb October 17.
Lane, Room 202, Reno, NV.
New Hampshire Department of Agriculture, October 15.
Markets and Food, State House Annex Building,
2nd Floor, Room 201, Concord, NH.
Burlington County Board of Agriculture, 122 October 17.
High Street, Mt. Holly, NJ.
USDA Conference Room, 6200 Jefferson NE, October 15.
Albuquerque, NM.
Art & Home Center, New York State Fairgrounds, October 15.
Syracuse, NY.
USDA/NRCS, 4405 Bland Road, Room 175, Raleigh, October 18.
NC.
Hospitality Inn, 532 15th Street W, PO Box October 15
1778, Dickinson, ND.
Dakota Inn, Junction 281 S & 194, PO Box 1865, October 16
Jamestown, ND, (701) 252-3611.
Holiday Inn (Formerly Sheraton Inn Riverside), October 18.
2200 Burdick Expressway East, PO Box 2228,
Minot, ND.
Fairfield County Office, 831 College Avenue, October 15.
Lancaster, OH.
Oklahoma City Hilton Northwest, 2945 Northwest October 15.
Expressway, Oklahoma City, OK.
Red Lion North, 1415 NE Third Street, Bend, OR. October 18.
PA Game Commission Auditorium, 2001 Elmerton October 17.
Avenue, Harrisburg, PA.
[[Page 52665]]
USDA Conference Room, 60 Quaker Lane, Warwick, October 17.
RI.
Hampton Inn Harbison, 1-26 and Harbison October 17.
Boulevard, Columbia, SC.
Crossroads Hotel and Convention Center, 100 4th October 17.
Street SW, Huron, SD.
Milan Ag Museum Meeting Room, 3 Ledbetter Gate October 16.
Road, Milan, TN.
Frank W. Mayborn Civic & Convention Center, October 17.
3303 North 3rd Street, Temple, TX.
Utah Department of Agriculture, 350 North October 15.
Redwood Road, Salt Lake City, UT.
U.S. Forest Service, Northeastern Forest October 16.
Experiment Station, 705 Spear Street,
Burlington, VT.
Randolph Farm Pavilion, River Road, PO Box October 15.
9081, Virginia State University, Petersburg,
VA.
Joint Center for Higher Education, 665 N. October 21.
Riverpoint Boulevard, Spokane, WA.
Days Inn, 2000 Sutton Lane, Sutton, WV October 16.
(Flatwoods Exit off I-79).
USDA Conference Room, 6515 Watts Road, Room October 18.
209, Madison, WI.
Agricultural Learning Resource Center (Mills/ October 18.
Evansville Rooms), 2011 Fairgrounds Road,
Casper, WY.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
To obtain additional information about a specific forum, contact
the following individual:
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Location Contact person Phone Address
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Montgomery, AL................... Ronnie D. Murphy... 334-887-4535 USDA NRCS, 665 Opelika Road, P O
Box 311, Auburn, AL 36830-0311.
Robert Springer.... 334-279-3550 USDA FSA, Sterling Center, Suite
600, 4121 Carmichael Road,
Montgomery, AL 36106.
Fairbanks, AK.................... Charles W. Bell.... 907-271-2424 USDA NRCS, 949 East 36th Avenue,
Suite 400, Anchorage, AK 99508-
4362.
Karen O. Lee....... 907-745-7982 USDA FSA, 800 West Evergreen,
Suite 216, Palmer, AK 99645-6389.
Mesa, AZ......................... Mike Somerville.... 602-280-8808 USDA NRCS, Suite 800, 3003 North
Central Ave., Phoenix, AZ 85012-
2945.
Robert A. Picano... 602-640-5200 USDA FSA, 77 East Thomas Rd.,
Suite 240, Phoenix, AZ 85012-
3318.
Little Rock, AR.................. Thomas H. Wehri.... 501-324-5445 USDA NRCS, Federal Office
Building, Rm. 5404, 700 West
Capitol Ave., Little Rock, AR
72201-3228.
Wayne Perryman..... 501-324-5220 USDA FSA, New Federal Bldg., Suite
5102, Little Rock, AK 72201-3225.
Sacramento, CA................... Hershel R. Read.... 916-757-8215 USDA NRCS, 2121-C 2nd Street,
Suite 102, Davis, CA 95616-5475.
John G. Smythe..... 916-498-5311 USDA FSA, 1303 J Street, Suite
300, Sacramento, CA 95814-2916.
Longmont, CO..................... Duane L. Johnson... 303-236-2886 USDA NRCS, 655 Parfet Street, Room
E200C, Lakewood, CO 80215-5517.
Robert L. Eisenach. 303-236-2866 USDA FSA, 655 Parfet St., Suite
E301, Lakewood, CO 80215.
Windsor, CT...................... Margo L. Wallace... 203-487-4013 USDA NRCS, 16 Professional Park
Road, Storrs, CT 06268-1299.
Vincent Majchier... 860-285-8483 USDA FSA, 88 Day Hill Road,
Windsor, CT 06095-1778.
Dover, DE........................ Elesa K. Cottrell.. 302-678-4160 USDA NRCS, 1203 College Park
Drive, Suite 101, Dover, DE 19904-
8713.
William D. Clifton. 302-678-2547 USDA FSA, 1201 College Park Drive,
Suite A, Dover, DE 19904-8713.
Gainesville, FL.................. T. Niles Glasgow... 352-338-9500 USDA NRCS, 2614 NW 43rd Street,
Gainesville, FL 32606-6611.
Tim Manning........ 352-379-4500 USDA FSA, 4440 N.W. 25th Pl.,
Suite 1, Gainesville, FL 32606.
Moultrie, GA..................... Earl Cosby......... 706-546-2272 USDA NRCS, Federal Bldg. Box 13,
355 East Hancock Ave, Athens, GA
30601-2769.
Grady Johnson...... 706-546-2266 USDA FSA, Federal Bldg., Room 102,
355 East Hancock Ave., Athens, GA
30601-2775.
Maite, GU........................ Joan Perry 9-011-671-472-7490 USDA NRCS, Suite 602 FHB Bldg.,
(Director). 400 Route 8, Maite, GU 96927.
Jo-Anna Nakata..... 808-541-2644 USDA FSA.
Honolulu, HI..................... Kennneth M. 808-541-2601 USDA NRCS, 300 Ala Moana Blvd.,
Kaneshiro. Rm. 4316, P.O. Box 50004,
Honolulu, HI 96850-0002.
Jo-Anna Nakata..... 808-541-2644 USDA FSA, 300 Ala Moana Blvd., Rm.
5106, P.O. Box 50008, Honolulu,
HI 96850.
Nampa, ID........................ Luana E. Kiger..... 208-334-1601 USDA NRCS, 3244 Elder Street, Rm.
124, Boise, ID 83705-4711.
Richard R. Rush.... 208-378-5650 USDA FSA, 3220 Elder Street,
Boise, ID 83705-4771.
Springfield, IL.................. Thomas W. 217-398-5267 USDA NRCS, 1902 Fox Drive,
Christensen. Champaign, IL 61820-7335.
Stephen Scates..... 217-492-4180 USDA FSA, P.O. Box 19273,
Springfield, IL 62794-9723.
Indianapolis, IN................. Robert L. Eddleman. 317-290-3200 USDA NRCS, 6013 Lakeside Blvd.,
Indianapolis, IN 46278-2933.
Robert Peacock..... 317-290-3030 USDA FSA, 5891 Lakeside Blvd.,
Indianapolis, IN 46278.
Des Moines, IA................... Leroy Brown Jr..... 515-284-6655 USDA NRCS, 693 Federal Bldg., 210
Walnut Street, Des Moines, IA
50309.
Tom Grau........... 515-254-1540 USDA FSA, 10500 Buena Vista Court,
Des Moines, IA 50322.
Salina, KS....................... James Habiger...... 913-823-4565 USDA NRCS, 760 South Broadway,
Salina, KS 67401.
Adrian Polansky.... 913-539-3531 USDA FSA, 3600 Anderson Avenue,
Manhatten, KS 66503-2511.
Lexington, KY.................... Billy W. Milliken.. 606-224-7350 USDA NRCS, 771 Corporate Drive,
Suite 110, Lexington, KY 40503-
5479.
Hampton Henton..... 606-224-7601 USDA FSA, 771 Corporate Drive,
Suite 100, Lexington, KY 40503-
5478.
[[Page 52666]]
Alexandria, LA................... Donald W. Gohmert.. 318-473-7751 USDA NRCS, 3737 Government Street,
Alexandria, LA 71302-3727.
Willie Cooper...... 318-473-7721 USDA FSA, 3737 Government Street,
Alexandria, LA 71302-3395.
Orono, ME........................ M. Darrel Dominick. 207-866-7241 USDA NRCS, 5 Godfrey Drive, Orono,
ME 04473.
G. Arnold Roach.... 207-990-9140 USDA FSA, 444 Stillwater Avenue,
P.O. Box 406, Bangor, ME 04402-
0406.
Wye Mills, MD.................... Jeri Berc.......... 410-757-0861 USDA NRCS, John Hanson Business
Center, 339 Bush's Frontage Rd,
Suite 301, Annapolis, MD 21401-
5534.
James Voss......... 410-381-4550 USDA FSA, 8335 E. Guilford Road,
Suite E, Columbia, MD 21406.
Amherst, MA...................... Cecil Currin....... 413-253-4351 USDA NRCS, 451 West Street,
Amherst, MA 01002-2995.
Charles Costa...... 413-256-0232 USDA FSA, 445 West Street,
Amherst, MA 01002-2957.
Lansing, MI...................... James R. Spacey.... 517-337-6701 USDA NRCS, Room 101, 1405 S.
Harrison Road, East Lansing, MI
48823-5243.
Chris White........ 517-337-6701 USDA FSA, 3001 Collidge Road,
Suite 100, East Lansing, MI 48823-
6321.
St. Cloud, MN.................... William Hunt....... 612-290-3675 USDA NRCS, 600 Farm Credit
Services Bldg., 375 Jackson
Street, St. Paul, MN 55101-1854.
Wally Sparby....... 612-290-3675 USDA FSA, 400 Farm Credit Services
Bldg., 375 Jackson Street, St.
Paul, MN 55101-1854.
Jackson, MS...................... Homer L. Wilkes.... 601-965-5205 USDA NRCS, Suite 1321, Federal
Bldg., 100 West Capitol Street,
Jackson, MS 39629-1399.
Norris Faust....... 601-965-4300 USDA FSA, 6310 I-55 North,
Jackson, MS 39236-4995.
Columbia, MO..................... Roger Hansen....... 314-876-0901 USDA NRCS, Parkade Center Suite
250, 601 Business Loop 70W,
Columbia, MO 65203-2546.
Brad Epperson...... 573-876-0925 USDA FSA, 601 Business 70 W, Suite
225, Columbia, MO 65203.
Miles,City, MT Great Falls, MT... Richard J. Gooby... 406-587-6813 USDA NRCS, Federal Building, Rm.
443, 10 East Babcock St.,
Bozeman, MT 59715-4704.
Bruce E. Nelson.... 406-587-6872 USDA FSA, 10 East Babcock St., Rm
557, Bozeman, MT 59715.
Grand Island, NE................. Steven K. Chick.... 402-437-5302 USDA NRCS, Federal Bldg., Rm. 152,
100 Centennial Mall N., Lincoln,
NE 68508-3866.
Dan Steinkruger.... 402-437-5581 USDA FSA, 7131 A Street, Lincoln,
NE 68510.
Reno, NV......................... William Goddard.... 702-784-5863 USDA NRCS, 301 Longley Lane,
Building F, Suite 201, Reno, NV
89511.
Wendell Newman..... 702-784-5411 USDA FSA, 1755 E. Plumb Lane,
Suite 202, Reno, NV 89502.
Concord, NH...................... Dawn W. Genes...... 603-868-7581 USDA NRCS, Federal Building,
Durham, NH 03824-1499.
James McConaha..... 603-224-7941 USDA FSA, 22 Bridge St., 4th
Floor, Concord, NH 03301-4987.
Mt. Holly, NJ.................... Wayne Maresch...... 908-246-1205 USDA NRCS, 1370 Hamilton Street,
Somerset, NJ 08873-3157.
Debra Borie-Holtz.. 609-298-3446 USDA FSA, 163 Route 130,
Bordentown, NJ 08505.
Albuquerque, NM.................. Rosendo Trevino III 505-761-4400 USDA NRCS, 6200 Jefferson NE,
Suite 305, Albuquerque, NM 27609-
6293.
Larry K. Burnett... 505-761-4900 USDA FSA, 6200 Jefferson St., NE,
Albuquerque, NM 27609-6296.
Raleigh, NC...................... Richard A. Gallo... 919-873-2101 USDA NRCS, 4405 Bland Road, Suite
205, Raleigh, NC 27609.
Sam Coley.......... 919-790-2958 USDA FSA, 4407 Bland Road, Suite
175, Raleigh, NC 27609.
Dickinson, ND Jamestown, ND Scott Hoag......... 701-250-4421 USDA NRCS, Federal Building Room
Minot, ND. 278, 220E Rosser Avenue, P O Box
1458, Bismarck, ND 58502.
Scott B. Stofferahn 701-239-5205 USDA FSA, 1025 28th St., SW,
Fargo, ND 58103.
Syracuse, NY..................... Richard Swenson.... 315-477-6504 USDA NRCS, 441 South Salina
Street, Suite 354, Syracuse, NY
13202-2450.
Marc A. Smith...... 315-477-6303 USDA FSA, 441 South Salina Street,
Suite 356, Syracuse, NY 13202.
Lancaster, OH.................... Daniel L. Conrad... 614-469-6962 USDA NRCS, 200 North High Street,
Room 522, Columbus, OH 43215.
Steve Maurer....... 614-469-6735 USDA FSA, Rm 540 Federal Bldg.,
299 North High St., Columbus, OH
43215.
Oklahoma City, OK................ Ronnie C. Clark.... 405-742-1200 USDA NRCS, USDA Agriculture Bldg.,
Suite 203, Stillwater, OK 74074-
2624.
Terry L. Peach..... 405-742-1130 USDA FSA, 100 USDA, Suite 102,
Stillwater, OK 74074-2653.
Bend, OR......................... Robert J. Graham... 503-414-3201 USDA NRCS, 101 SW Main, Suite
1300, Portland, OR 97204-3221.
Jack L. Sainsbury.. 503-692-6830 USDA FSA, 7620 SW Mohawk, Tulatin,
OR 97062-8121.
Harrisburg, PA................... Janet L. Oertly.... 717-782-2202 USDA NRCS, One Credit Union Place,
Suite 340, Harrisburg, PA 17110-
2993.
William Baumgartner 717-782-4547 USDA FSA, One Credit Union Place,
Suite 320, Harrisburg, PA 17110-
2994.
Warwick, RI...................... Denis G. Nickel.... 401-828-1300 USDA NRCS, 60 Quaker Lane, Suite
46, Warwick, RI 02886-0111.
Paul Brule......... 401-828-8232 USDA FSA, 60 Quaker Lane, Suite
40, Warwick, RI 02886-0111.
Columbia, SC..................... Mark W. Berkland... 803-765-5681 USDA NRCS, 1835 Assembly Street,
Strom Thurmond Federal Bldg.,
Columbia, SC 29201-2489.
Laurie C. Lawson... 803-806-3830 USDA FSA, 1927 Thurmod Mall, Suite
100, Columbia, SC 29201-2375.
Huron, SD........................ Dean F. Fisher..... 605-352-1200 USDA NRCS, Federal Building, 200
4th Street SW, Huron, SD 57350-
2475.
Michael W. O'Connor 605-352-1160 USDA FSA, 200 4th St., SW, Room
308, Huron, SD 57350-2478.
Milan, TN........................ Jerry S. Lee....... 615-736-5471 USDA NRCS, 675 US Courthouse, 801
Broadway, Nashville, TN 37203-
3878.
[[Page 52667]]
Dave McDole........ 615-736-5555 USDA FSA, 579 Federal Bldg., 801
Broadway, Nashville, TN 37203.
Temple, TX....................... Harry W. Oneth..... 817-774-1231 USDA NRCS, WR Poage Federal, Bldg.
101 S. Main Street, Temple, TX
76501-7682.
Harold Bob Bennett. 409-260-9207 USDA FSA, P O Box 2900, College
Station, TX 77841.
Salt Lake City, UT............... Phillip J. Nelson.. 801-524-5050 USDA NRCS, Wallace F Bennett
Federal Bldg., Rm. 4402, 125 S.
State Street, Salt Lake City, UT
84138.
James I. Humlicek.. 801-524-5013 USDA FSA, 125 S. State St., Room
4239, Salt Lake City, UT 84138-
1189.
Burlington, VT................... John C. Titchner... 802-951-6796 USDA NRCS, 69 Union Street,
Winooski, VT 05404-1999.
James W. Monahan... 802-658-2803 USDA FSA 346 Shelburne St.,
Executive Square Office Bldg.,
Burlington, VT 05401-4995.
Petersburg, VA................... Margaret Doetzer... 804-287-1691 USDA NRCS, Culpeper Bldg., Suite
209, 1606 Sanata Rosa Road,
Richmond, VA 23229-5014.
Donald Davis....... 804-287/1500 USDA FSA Culpeper Bldg., Suite
138, 1606 Santa Rosa Road,
Richmond, VA23229.
Spokane, WA...................... Lynn A. Brown...... 509-353-2337 USDA FSA, West 316 Boone Avenue,
Suite 450, Spokane, WA 99201-
2348.
Larry R. Albin..... 509-353-2307 USDA FSA, 316 West Boone Ave.,
Spokane, WA 99201-2350.
Sutton, WV....................... Roger L. Bensey Jr. 304-291-4153 USDA NRCS, 75 High Street, Room
301, Morgantown, WV 26505.
Billy Burke........ 304-291-4351 USDA FSA, 75 High St., P O Box
1049, Morgantown, WV 26507-1049.
Madison, WI...................... Patricia S. 608-264-5577 USDA NRCS, 6515 Watts Road, Suite
Leavenworth. 200, Madison, WI 53719-2726.
Doug Caruso........ 608-276-8732 USDA FSA, 6515 Watts Road, Suite
100, Madison, WI 53719-2726.
Casper, WY....................... Lincoln E. Burton.. 307-261-6453 USDA NRCS, Federal Office Bldg.,
100 East ``B'' Street, Rm. 3124,
Casper, WY 82601-1911.
Carl E. Jensen..... 307-261-5231 USDA NRCS, 951 Werner Court, Suite
130, Casper, WY 82601-1307.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The United States Department of Agriculture (the Department),
Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and Farm Service Agency
(FSA) will conduct 54 public forums whereby interested individuals can
provide comments and ideas on the proposed rules that have been
published in the Federal Register to implement the conservation
provisions of the Federal Agriculture Improvement and Reform Act of
1996 (the 1996 Act). These rules include: Highly Erodible Land/Wetland
Conservation (Federal Register, August 27, 1996. (Volume 61, No. 167)
Rules and Regulations, pp. 43943- 43946), Conservation Reserve Program
(CRP)(Federal Register, September 23, 1996. (Volume 61, No. 185) Rules
and Regulations, pp. 49697-49711), and Environmental Quality Incentives
Program (EQIP).
The NRCS held nine public forums, located across the country, in
July and August of 1994 to listen to the public's comments on changes
that were needed in the 1995 Farm Bill and to better understand the
needs of the public served by programs related to conservation of
natural resources. The Department considered the comments and
suggestions received in the 1994 forums when developing its
recommendations for the 1995 Farm Bill. After lengthy debate within the
Congress, the 1996 Farm Bill was passed by the Congress and was cited
as the Federal Agriculture Improvement and Reform Act of 1996 (the 1996
Act). The President signed into law the 1996 Act on April 4, 1996.
Following the passage of the 1996 Act, the NRCS conducted public
forums in these same nine locations to gather ideas on ways to
implement the conservation provisions of the 1996 Act. Now that the
program rules have been published in the Federal Register for public
comment, the Department wants to support the public comment process by
conducting additional listening forums.
Summary of the 1996 Act and the Rules which will be Discussed at the
Public Forums
Conservation Reserve Program
The Conservation Reserve Program(CRP) encourages farmers to plant
permanent areas of grass and trees on land that is subject to erosion,
to improve soil, water and wildlife resources.
The 1996 Act:
Allows up to 36.4 million acres to be enrolled at any one
time. New enrollments can replace expired or terminated contracts.
Allows owners or operators who entered into a contract
before 1995 to terminate contracts on certain acres after giving
written notice. Contracts must have been in effect for at least five
years. Lands with high environmental values are not eligible for early
release.
The CRP Proposed Rule
Allows owners or operators who entered into a contract
before January 1, 1995, to terminate their contract, if the contract
had been in effect for at least five years. Under the statute, there is
a 60-day waiting period before the application to terminate is
effective. This termination will not relieve the participant of
liability for a pre-existing contract violation.
Limits the amount of acreage enrolled with an Erodibility
Index of less than 8 to the following which may be eligible:
Acreage devoted to special practices under the continuous
sign-up.
Acreage designated as cropped wetlands.
Certain acreage enrolled in the Water Bank Program (WBP)
during the last year of the WBP contract.
Acreage located in a conservation priority area.
Limits haying or grazing of acreage enrolled in the CRP to
instances such as drought or similar emergencies.
Outlines lands which are not eligible for early
termination. These lands include: filter strips, grass waterways,
riparian areas, field windbreaks, shelterbelts, shallow water areas for
wildlife, bottom land timber, acreage with an erodibility index of more
than 15, lands within an average distance of 100 feet of a permanent
stream or other body of water, lands with useful life easements, and
other
[[Page 52668]]
lands of high environmental value (including wetlands) as determined by
the Secretary.
Expands the list of acreage ineligible for early
termination to also include: all wetlands, not just those enrolled
under sign-up 8 and 9 criteria, land subject to frequent flooding, any
wetland buffers required to protect the functions and values for
wetland acreage, and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)-designated
wellhead protection areas.
Modifies existing criteria to include cropped wetlands and
certain acreage enrolled in the Water Bank Program (WBP).
Proposes to base rental rates on the relative productivity
of soils within each county, and the average of the past three years of
local dryland cash rent or the cash rent equivalent.
Encourages restoration of wetlands by offering up to 25
percent of the costs incurred. This is in addition to the 50-percent
cost share provided to establish approved cover.
Proposes to restrict the total area in a State that may be
designated as a conservation priority area to no more than 10 percent
of the cropland in the State.
Allows producers who want to restore wetlands enrolled in
the CRP to transfer acreage from the Conservation Reserve Program to
the Wetlands Reserve Program, without penalty, if the acreage is found
to be suitable.
Environmental Quality Incentives Program
The Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) is a new
program which combines the functions of the Agricultural Conservation
Program, Water Quality Incentives Program, Great Plans Conservation
Program, and the Colorado River Basin Salinity Control Program.
EQIP is funded at $130 million in fiscal year 1996 and $200 million
annually thereafter. Livestock-related conservation practices will
receive 50 percent of program funding.
The 1996 Act
Establishes conservation priority areas where significant
water, soil, and related natural resource problems exist, in
cooperation with state and federal agencies and State Technical
Committees.
Gives higher priority to areas where state or local
governments offer financial or technical assistance, or where
agricultural improvements will help meet water quality objectives.
Establishes 5- to 10-year contracts to provide technical
assistance and pay up to 75 percent of the costs of conservation
practices such as manure management systems, pest management, and
erosion control.
Defines land eligible for EQIP contracts as agricultural
land that poses a serious problem to soil, water, and/or related
resources.
Does not allow large livestock operations (to be defined
through a public rule-making process) to be eligible for cost-share
assistance for animal waste management facilities. However, they do
remain eligible for technical assistance.
Requires activities under the contract to be carried out
according to a conservation plan.
Limits total cost-share and incentive payments to any
person to $10,000 annually, and to $50,000 for the life of the
contract.
The Proposed EQIP Rule
Sets forth that the purposes of the program will be
achieved by farmers and ranchers who voluntarily develop conservation
plans and enter into contracts with the Commodity Credit Corporation
(CCC) to carry out the needed conservation practices and land-use
adjustments within a specified time schedule.
Allocates fifty percent of the EQIP funding available to
practices relating to livestock production.
Offers the program in priority areas throughout the
Nation, using the services of the NRCS, county and state committees of
the Farm Service Agency (FSA), and the Cooperative State Research,
Education, and Extension Service (CSREES).
Sets forth the requirements for participant eligibility
and eligible land.
Develops guidance for designation of priority areas.
Outlines the process for selecting priority areas and
conducting a needs assessment.
Allows for program assistance to target other significant
natural resource concerns outside of approved and funded priority
areas.
Allows for a continuous sign-up. CCC will rank and select
the offers of producers during designated periods. To rank and select
the highest priority applicants, NRCS on behalf of CCC, will evaluate
using criteria that are based on national guidance and developed with
the advice of a local work group to give a higher priority to projects
that maximize environmental benefits per dollar expended.
Outlines the producer's responsibilities in regards to a
conservation plan and contract.
Delegates the responsibility of determining what
constitutes a large confined livestock operation to the State Technical
Committee who will advise the State Conservationist. (CCC particularly
solicits public comment on the definition of what constitutes a large
confined livestock operation.)
Describes eligible practices.
Describes upcoming program outreach and educational
efforts.
Allows a producer to seek technical assistance from NRCS
or other qualified sources which may include agricultural producers,
certified crop advisors, agricultural cooperatives, and other technical
consultants.
Sets forth payment limitation criteria.
Addresses the requirements for EQIP contracts.
Addresses the participant's responsibility for
conservation practice and operation maintenance.
Addresses rates for cost-share and incentive payments.
Addresses the procedures to be followed for contract
violations and termination.
Highly Erodible Land (HEL) Conservation Compliance
The 1996 Act
Directs USDA employees who are providing on-site technical
assistance to work with landowners to correct an observed potential
compliance problem. Landowners will have up to one year to take
corrective action before a violation is reported.
Encourages farmers to maintain records of residue
measurement, including those provided by a third party. Where
appropriate, NRCS will use these measurements when conducting annual
status reviews to determine erosion levels.
Authorizes county committees to provide relief in cases of
undue economic hardship.
Revises ``good faith'' to ensure penalties are
commensurate with violations.
Provides for expedited variances related to weather, pest,
and disease problems and establishes a time period to render a decision
on whether to grant those variances.
Requires a measurement of soil erosion on a highly
erodible field prior to the implementation of a conservation system,
based on estimated average annual soil erosion rates.
Provides for a revision or modification of a conservation
plan by a person if the same level of treatment is maintained.
Requires that highly erodible land exiting the
Conservation Reserve
[[Page 52669]]
Program not be held to a higher conservation compliance standard than
similar cropland in the same area.
The Interim Rule
Lists factors that NRCS will consider when a landowner
requests a variance related to weather, pest, or disease problems.
Specifies that when fields are combined, the part of the
new field that was previously a highly erodible field shall continue to
be subject to the highly erodible land requirements.
Clarifies that the adequacy of a conservation system will
be evaluated according to whether it conforms to the NRCS field office
technical guide in use at the time that the plan or system is developed
or revised.
Outlines procedures to be used to evaluate the adequacy of
conservation systems for achieving substantial reduction in soil
erosion on land with and without cropping history.
Sets forth that conservation field trials included in a
person's conservation plan must have prior approval by NRCS and must be
documented in the person's conservation plan specifying the limited
time period during which the field trial is in effect.
Outlines the factors to be considered by the FSA State
Committee in determining whether to grant a person's request for relief
based on undue economic hardship in implementing a conservation system.
Wetland Conservation (Swampbuster)
The 1996 Act
Expands areas where mitigation can be used. This allows
individuals to work with producers, conservation districts or other
relevant entities to select the best area for mitigating wetlands.
Provides more options for mitigation, including
restoration, enhancement, or creation, as long as wetland functions and
values are maintained.
Encourages effective and timely use of ``minimal effect''
determinations. This change allows the NRCS, working with State
Technical Committees, to identify practices that have a minimal effect
on the environment and put them on a ``fast track.''
Stipulates that wetland conversion activities, authorized
by a permit issued under Section 404 of the Clean Water Act, which make
agriculture production possible, will be accepted for farm bill
purposes if they were adequately mitigated.
Revises the concept of ``abandonment'' to ensure that as
long as land is used for agriculture, a certified prior converted
cropland designation remains in effect. When done under an approved
plan, landowners with farmed wetlands (FW) and farmed wetland pasture
(FWP) may allow an area to revert to wetland status, and convert it
back to an FW or FWP for agricultural purposes without violating the
Swampbuster provision.
Provides that a certified wetland delineation will remain
in effect until the person requests a new determination and
certification.
Ensures producers the right to request and appeal a
certified wetland determination.
Allows the Farm Service Agency (FSA) to waive a person's
ineligibility for benefits if FSA believes the person acted in good
faith and without intent to violate the wetland provisions.
Provides the Secretary with authority to identify for
individual producers which programs are affected by Swampbuster
violations and how much the penalty is.
Establishes a pilot program for wetland mitigation banking
in order to allow USDA to assess how well mitigation banking works for
agriculture.
Expands the definition of agricultural land contained in
the interagency wetlands memorandum of agreement to include not only
cropland and pasture land, but also tree farms, rangeland, native
pasture land, and other land used for livestock production.
Repeals the requirements for consultation with the Fish
and Wildlife Service (FWS).
Provides that benefits of affiliates of a business
enterprise who violate highly erodible land or wetland conservation
provisions will be reduced in proportion to the interest held by the
affiliate in the business enterprise.
The Interim Rule
States more precisely the variety of wetland types found
in the agricultural landscape.
Describes how wetland types relate to particular
exemptions from ineligibility.
Provides that when a person requests relief on the basis
of action that was conducted in good faith, USDA may consider whether
the person has a record of violating the wetland provisions of these
regulations or other Federal, State, or local wetland provisions.
Adds that NRCS may accept the assistance of other Federal
agencies to carry out the wetland responsibilities. For example,
specific portions of the rule state that NRCS will consult with FWS at
the State level to develop a process for implementation of the wetland
conservation provisions.
Describes the procedure for certification of wetland
determinations and specifies that certified wetland determinations will
meet current Federal mapping conventions.
Amends to provide that the determination of prevalence of
hydrophytic vegetation will be made in accordance with the current
Federal wetland delineation methodology in use at the time of the
determination. This change assures that the NRCS, FWS, Environmental
Protection Agency and Army Corps of Engineers will utilize consistent
and up-to-date technical standards and criteria.
Creates a new exemption for land that was certified as
having been converted prior to December 23, 1985 (prior converted
croplands), but had returned to wetland characteristics after that
date. This exemption provides that if certain requirements are met, a
prior converted cropland will not be considered abandoned for purposes
of implementation of these provisions.
Allows areas that NRCS determined to be manipulated but
were not completely converted prior to December 23, 1985 (farmed
wetlands and farmed wetland pastures), and which may revert to wetland
status through a voluntary restoration, enhancement or creation action,
will not be considered abandoned for purposes of implementing these
regulations.
Provides that a person who received an individual permit
under section 404 of the Clean Water Act after December 23, 1985, and
met certain sequencing requirements, is exempt from the ineligibility
provisions of these regulations. However, this rule, provides that a
person whose conversion activity is encompassed by a nationwide or
regional general permit issued pursuant to section 404 of the Clean
Water Act may not be exempt under these regulations. USDA will evaluate
whether any mitigation was required, and whether the wetland functions
and values lost by the conversion activity were adequately replaced
before USDA decides whether the conversion activity is exempt from
ineligibility under these regulations.
Provides that a person may remain eligible if the wetland
functions and values are adequately mitigated in accordance with
several requirements, including that the person implement a mitigation
plan approved by NRCS.
Sets forth that NRCS may accept the assistance of the
memorandum of
[[Page 52670]]
agreement agencies in implementing these regulations.
Paul W. Johnson,
Chief, Natural Resources Conservation Service.
Grant Buntrock,
Administrator, Farm Service Agency.
[FR Doc. 96-25749 Filed 10-4-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-16-P