[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 27 (Wednesday, February 9, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Page 6355]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-2863]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Natural Resources Conservation Service


Notice of Proposed Changes in the National Handbook of 
Conservation Practices

AGENCY:  Natural Resources Conservation Service, USDA.

ACTION:  Notice and request for comments.

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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 
Alley Cropping, Constructed Wetland, Firebreak, Forest Site 
Preparation, Forest Stand Improvement, Forest Trails and Landings, 
Prescribed Burning, Riparian Forest Buffer, Spring Development, Tree/
Shrub Establishment, Tree/Shrub Pruning, Use Exclusion, Windbreak/
Shelterbelt Establishment, and Windbreak/Shelterbelt Renovation. These 
standards are used to convey national guidance when developing Field 
Office Technical Guide Standards used in the States. NRCS State 
Conservationists who choose to adopt these practices for use within 
their States will incorporate them into Section IV of their Field 
Office Technical Guide. These practices may be used in conservation 
systems that treat highly erodible land or on land determined to be 
wetland.

DATES:  Comments will be received on or before April 10, 2000. T his 
series of new or revised conservation practice standards will be 
adopted after the close of the 60-day period.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:  Single copies of these standards are 
available from NRCS-CED in Washington, D.C. Submit individual inquiries 
and return any comments in writing to William Hughey, National 
Agricultural Engineer, Natural Resources Conservation Service, Post 
Office Box 2890, Room 6139-S, Washington, D.C. 20013-2890. Telephone 
Number 202-720-5023. The standards are also available and can be 
downloaded from the Internet at: http: //www.ftw.nrcs.usda.gov/
practice__stds.html.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:  Section 343 of the Federal Agriculture 
Improvement and Reform Act of 1996 requires 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, NRCS will receive comments 
relative to the proposed changes. Following that period, a 
determination will be made by NRCS regarding disposition of those 
comments, and a final determination of change will be made.

    Signed at Washington, DC, on January 27, 2000.
Danny D. Sells,
Associate Chief, Natural Resources Conservation Service.
[FR Doc. 00-2863 Filed 2-8-00; 8:45 am]
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