[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 52 (Wednesday, March 18, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Page 13166]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-6926]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Natural Resources Conservation Service


Notice of Proposed Changes in the NRCS National Handbook of 
Conservation Practices for Review and Comment

AGENCY: Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), U.S. Department 
of Agriculture.

ACTION: Notice of proposed changes in the NRCS National Handbook of 
Conservation Practices for review and comment.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given of the intention of NRCS to issue a 
series of new or revised conservation practice standards in its 
National Handbook of Conservation Practices. These standards include 
``Early Successional Habitat Development/Management,'' ``Restoration 
and Management of Declining Habitats,'' ``Riparian Herbaceous Cover,'' 
``Shallow Water Management for Wildlife,'' ``Wildlife Upland Habitat 
Management,'' ``Wildlife Watering Facility'', ``Wetland Restoration,'' 
``Wetland Enhancement,'' ``Wetland Creation,'' ``Constructed Wetland,'' 
``Wildlife Wetland Habitat Management,'' and ``Alley Cropping.'' NRCS 
State Conservationists who choose to adopt these practices for use 
within their State will incorporate them into Section IV of their Field 
Office Technical Guide (FOTG). These practices may be used in 
conservation systems that treat highly erodible land or on land 
determined to be wetland.

EFFECTIVE DATES: Comments must be received by May 18, 1998. This series 
of new or revised conservation practice standards will be adopted after 
the close of the 60-day comment period.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Single copies of these standards are 
available from Ecological Sciences Division, NRCS, Washington, D.C. 
Submit individual inquiries in writing to Mike W. Anderson, National 
Wildlife Ecologist, Natural Resources Conservation Service, P.O. Box 
2890, Room 6154-S, Washington, D.C. 20013-2890.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section 343 of the Federal Agriculture 
Improvement and Reform Act of 1996 requires the NRCS to make available 
for public review and comment proposed revisions to conservation 
practice standards used to carry out the highly erodible land and 
wetland provisions of the law. For the next 60 days the NRCS will 
receive comments relative to the proposed changes. Following that 
period a determination will be made by the NRCS regarding disposition 
of those comments and a final determination of change will be made.

    Signed in Washington, D.C., on March 12, 1998.
Pearlie S. Reed,
Chief, Natural Resources Conservation Service, Washington, D.C.
[FR Doc. 98-6926 Filed 3-17-98; 8:45 am]
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