[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 201 (Wednesday, October 17, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Page 52737]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-26166]


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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 the Natural 
Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) to issue a series of new or 
revised conservation practice standards in its National Handbook of 
Conservation Practices. These standards include: Dam, Diversion; 
Hedgerow Planting; Prescribed Grazing; Recreation Land Grading and 
Shaping; Recreation Trail and Walkway; Wastewater Treatment Strip; and 
Water and Sediment Control Basin. The procedures are used to convey 
national guidance in developing Field Office Technical Guide Standards 
used in the States. NRCS State Conservationists and Directors for the 
Pacific Basin and Caribbean areas who choose to adopt these guidelines 
for use within their States will incorporate them into Section IV of 
their Field Office Technical Guide. These practices may be used in 
resource management systems that treat highly erodible land or on land 
determined to be wetland.

EFFECTIVE DATES: Comments will be received for a 60-day period starting 
on the date of this publication. This 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, DC. 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, DC 20013-2890; telephone: 
(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 
on 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 in Washington, D.C., on September 24, 2001.
Pearlie S. Reed,
Chief, Natural Resources Conservation Service.
[FR Doc. 01-26166 Filed 10-16-01; 8:45 am]
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