[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 101 (Wednesday, May 27, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 28965-28966]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-13980]


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 Notices
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 This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains documents other than rules 
 or proposed rules that are applicable to the public. Notices of hearings 
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  Federal Register / Vol. 63, No. 101 / Wednesday, May 27, 1998 / 
Notices  

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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Commodity Credit Corporation


Conservation Reservation Program

AGENCY: Commodity Credit Corporation, USDA.

ACTION: Solicitation of proposals for the Conservation Reserve 
Enhancement Program.

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SUMMARY: The Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) is publishing this 
notice to invite State governments to propose Conservation Reserve 
Enhancement Program (CREP) projects under the general Conservation 
Reserve Program, which is governed by regulations under 7 CFR Part 
1410. CREP is an opportunity for the joining of resources of the 
Federal and State governments to address critical environmental issues 
such as soil erosion, water quality degradation and wildlife habitat 
loss associated with agricultural activities. This action is also part 
of the National Performance Review Initiative to deliver better service 
and foster partnership and community solutions.

ADDRESSES: Submission of CREP proposals by a State should be addressed 
to the Secretary of Agriculture, Attention: Deputy Administrator for 
Farm Programs, Farm Service Agency, STOP 0510, 1400 Independence 
Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20250-0510.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Caroline Roe, Environmental Program 
Specialist, Environmental Activities Branch, Farm Service Agency, Room 
4715 South Agriculture Building, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, 
Washington, D.C. 20250-0510, telephone (202) 720-6221, email at 
[email protected] or contact the Conservation Program 
Specialist in the State Farm Service Agency (FSA) office.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) is 
authorized by Title XII of the Food Security Act of 1985, as amended. 
The purpose of the CRP is to assist farmers and ranchers in conserving 
soil, water, and wildlife resources by converting highly erodible and 
other environmentally sensitive acreage normally devoted to the 
production of agricultural commodities and marginal pastureland to a 
long-term resource-conserving cover. CRP participants enroll in 
contracts for periods of 10- to 15-years in exchange for annual rental 
payments and cost-share assistance for installing those long-term 
resource-conserving practices. Up to 36.4 million acres are authorized 
to be enrolled in the CRP at any one time.
    CCC enrolls land through periodic general signups in which CCC 
entertains offers from applicants seeking enrollment in the program. 
CCC evaluates the costs and benefits associated with each offer, its 
program goals, and any other related issues and accepts only those 
offers that provide the most cost-effective environmental benefits.
    CCC also uses a continuous signup for certain highly valued 
environmental practices such as filter strips, riparian buffers, and 
grass waterways. Because of the significant environmental benefits to 
be obtained from the enrollment of these areas, CCC permits the 
enrollment of these acreages at any time at certain prescribed rental 
rates.
    The ``Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program'' (CREP) is the name 
given to special joint undertakings between States and the Federal 
government using CRP contracts and payments to encourage enrollments 
and practices that may address particularly pressing environmental 
needs. CRP rules in 7 CFR Part 1410.50(b) provide explicitly for such 
agreements to further ``specific conservation and environmental 
objectives of that State and the nation.'' Some States have already 
submitted CREP proposals and CCC hereby further invites other 
interested States to do the same.
    CREP creates an opportunity where the resources of a State 
government and CRP can be targeted in a coordinated manner to cost-
effectively address specific conservation and environmental objectives 
of that State and the nation in order to improve water quality, erosion 
control, and wildlife habitat, including endangered species habitat, in 
specific geographic areas that have been adversely impacted by 
agricultural activities.
    In order for a State's proposal to be considered for CREP, it 
should be directly related to mitigation of adverse agriculture-related 
environmental impacts and should document why program objectives cannot 
be met through other existing programs, in particular the general or 
continuous sign-ups under the CRP or other Department of Agriculture 
conservation programs.
    Any proposed obligations beyond the term of any CRP contract, such 
as through long term agreements and/or permanent easements, would be 
between State government and the participant.
    CCC encourages State governments to work closely with all 
interested groups within the State when developing options for 
obligations beyond the term of the CRP contract. It is CCC's experience 
that successful CREP agreements are the result of State governments, in 
preparing CREP proposals, working closely with all interested local 
parties including, but not limited to, farm, commodity, conservation, 
environmental, and landowner groups. Working with all interested local 
parties ensures the broad range of support needed for a successful 
CREP.
    To ensure proper Federal/State cooperation, each proposal should 
specify the level of non-federal funding needed to fulfill objectives 
of the proposal. Normally, USDA expects that non-federal funding would 
be equal to at least 20 percent of the overall program-related costs of 
the CREP project. Examples of non-federal funding include, but are not 
limited to: funding of contract extensions or easements, cost-share 
assistance for conservation practices, and program monitoring costs. 
The CREP is anticipated to be initially limited to a maximum of 100,000 
acres for each State, with possible expansion after the initial 100,000 
acres are enrolled.
    Submissions by a State should provide for a complete understanding 
of the proposal. To ensure consistency, each proposal should include: 
(1) an abstract; (2) a discussion of existing conditions; (3) an 
analysis of

[[Page 28966]]

agriculture-related adverse impacts; (4) project objectives; (5) 
project description; (6) proposals for the monitoring program; (7) a 
discussion of public support and ongoing public information that will 
accompany the project; (8) an analysis of the cost-effectiveness of the 
project; and (9) any additional documentation to ensure compliance with 
any other laws, including environmental laws. A description of each of 
these criteria follows.

Abstract

    A single page summary of the project should be provided to include: 
project name; description of the project area; summary of existing 
conditions and agricultural impacts to be addressed; brief description 
of the project; total area of the project (including a list of the 
counties in which the project is located); and estimated cost of the 
project.

Existing Conditions

    A synopsis of relevant existing conditions should be provided to 
include: a brief description of the importance to the community of the 
resource to be protected; a detailed map outlining the geographic area 
of the project; a description of the various human activities and land 
uses within the project boundary (including a summary of such 
information within each watershed); a summary of agricultural 
activities within the project boundary/watershed; and a brief 
description of relevant environmental factors (precipitation, soils, 
geology, vegetation patterns, wildlife, Federally listed endangered and 
threatened species, air quality, and water resources).

Analysis of Agriculture-Related Environmental Impacts

    An analysis of agriculture-related environmental impacts to be 
addressed by the project should be provided to include: magnitude of 
agricultural impacts on the environment; past and projected trends in 
agricultural impacts, including any scientific data that demonstrates 
such trends; nature of any public health-related agricultural impacts; 
and past and ongoing efforts to address agricultural impacts through 
other Federal and State conservation programs, such as the CRP.

Project Objectives

    A list of project objectives should be provided to include specific 
and measurable objectives in addition to any general objectives.

Project Description

    The description of the project should include the following: 
summary of the project; conservation practices to be adopted; number of 
acres proposed to be included in the project; length of time for 
project implementation; analysis of both Federal and non-Federal costs 
(including a justification for special incentive payments to be made); 
and an analysis of the likelihood that project objectives will be 
achieved. The project description should also address such process and 
interagency coordination questions as: how applicant eligibility 
determinations will be made; which agency will provide technical 
assistance; how the application process will be coordinated among 
agencies; and how contract oversight will be conducted.

Monitoring Program

    A comprehensive monitoring and evaluation plan should be provided 
to include: specific targets to be met in the accomplishment of project 
objectives; a description of the methods for collecting data to measure 
accomplishment of specific targets; the process for refinement of the 
project, if monitoring indicates that project objectives are not being 
met; and the identification of funding for the monitoring program. The 
proposal should identify the nature and funding sources for the 
preparation of annual reports to record and summarize the conclusions 
developed in the monitoring program.

Education, Outreach, and Public Support

    A program for public participation should be presented that 
indicates: the level of public support for the proposal, among 
producers, conservation groups and other interested organizations, at 
the time the proposal is submitted; an analysis of the number of 
producers expected to enroll in the program; and the measures that will 
be taken for continued public involvement and education over the 
duration of the project.

Cost-Effectiveness Analysis

    Proposals should include a cost-effectiveness analysis which 
compares the cost and likelihood of accomplishing project goals under 
the CREP proposal versus other State and Federal programs, such as the 
general and continuous signups under CRP.

Compliance With Other Laws

    The application should include adequate information and 
documentation to demonstrate compliance with any applicable laws.
    Each proposal should be developed in conjunction with the State FSA 
office and the USDA-established ``State Technical Committee.'' 
Following submittal to the Secretary of Agriculture, each proposal will 
be reviewed by an interagency team for consistency with overall program 
goals, magnitude of environmental benefits, likelihood that project 
benefits will be achieved and cost-effectiveness. The team is expected 
to make a recommendation for action to the Deputy Administrator within 
60 days of receipt of a completed proposal. Further negotiation and 
discussion will follow as needed to implement the joint effort of the 
CCC and the State. To effectuate the joint agreement, a draft 
Memorandum of Agreement should be developed by the State based on 
discussions regarding the proposal. No agreement will be final until 
signed by authorized representatives of CCC and the State.

    Signed at Washington, DC, on May 21, 1998.
Keith Kelly,
Executive Vice President, Commodity Credit Corporation
[FR Doc. 98-13980 Filed 5-21-98; 2:10 pm]
BILLING CODE 3410-05-P