[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 79 (Wednesday, April 24, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 20082-20083]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-10165]


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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. 67, No. 79 / Wednesday, April 24, 2002 / 
Notices  

[[Page 20082]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Commodity Credit Corporation

Farm Service Agency


Notice of Intent To Prepare a Programmatic Environmental Impact 
Statement for the Conservation Reserve Program, Conservation Reserve 
Enhancement Program and the Emergency Conservation Program and Hold 
Public Scoping Meetings

AGENCY: Commodity Credit Corporation; Farm Service Agency, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of Intent to Prepare a Programmatic Environmental Impact 
Statement.

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SUMMARY: The Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) announces its intention 
to prepare a programmatic environmental impact statement (PEIS) for the 
Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) and Emergency Conservation Program 
(ECP). The Draft PEIS will assess the potential environmental impacts 
of alternatives for administration of the CRP and ECP. Under the CRP, 
the PEIS will address general sign-up, continuous sign-up, and the 
Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP).
    The USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) administers these programs on 
behalf of the CCC and is now conducting a comprehensive review of them. 
New regulations may be needed to implement new farm legislation. Also, 
the PEIS can help review current policies and achievements. FSA hopes 
to analyze a range of CRP/CREP and ECP program alternatives. The Draft 
PEIS also provides a means for the public to have opportunities to 
voice any concerns they may have about the programs, and any ideas for 
improving them. This Notice of Intent informs the public of the 
proposal, announces the dates, times, and places for public scoping 
meetings, solicits public comment, and describes in general the 
preliminary Draft PEIS proposed action and alternatives.

DATES: To ensure that the full range of issues and alternatives related 
to the CRP/CREP and ECP are addressed, FSA invites comments on the 
scope of this proposed Draft PEIS. Comments should be submitted by 
close of business on May 30, 2002, to ensure consideration. Comments 
submitted after this date will be considered to the extent possible. 
See the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section for the public scoping 
meeting dates and locations.

ADDRESSES: Written comments on the scope of the draft PEIS and requests 
for copies of draft PEIS information packages should be directed to CRP 
PEIS, Post Office Box 6830, Falls Church, Virginia 22046, [email protected] 
or telephone (toll free) 1-877-271-3842. See the SUPPLEMENTARY 
INFORMATION section for public scoping meetings dates and locations.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Don Steck, USDA/FSA/CEPD/Stop 0513, 
1400 Independence Ave., SW., Washington, DC 20250-0513, (202) 690-0224, 
or e-mail at: [email protected] or [email protected]. More detailed 
information on these programs may also be obtained from the FSA 
Worldwide Web site at: http://www.fsa.usda.gov/pas/default.asp 
(general); http://www.fsa.usda.gov/dafp/cepd/default.htm (CRP, CREP and 
ECP).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The PEIS being prepared on the CRP and ECP 
will seek to provide FSA decision makers and the public with an 
analysis that evaluates program effects in many appropriate contexts, 
describes the intensity of adverse as well as beneficial impacts, and 
addresses cumulative impacts of the programs being analyzed.
    The Food Security Act of 1985, as amended (16 U.S.C. 3831-3836), 
authorizes the CRP. The program is also governed by the regulations 
published in 7 CFR part 1410. The CRP is administered by the CCC 
through the FSA. The purpose of the CRP is to cost-effectively assist 
farm owners and operators in conserving and improving soil, water, air 
and wildlife resources. This is accomplished by converting highly-
erodible and other environmentally-sensitive acreage normally devoted 
to the production of agricultural commodities to a long-term resource-
conserving cover. CRP participants enter into contracts for 10-15 years 
in exchange for annual rental payments, cost-share and technical 
assistance for implementing approved conservation practices.
    The CREP is a joint, State/Tribal/Federal land retirement 
conservation program under the CRP that is targeted to address State, 
tribal, and nationally significant agriculture-related environmental 
effects. The primary objectives of CREP are to coordinate Federal and 
non-federal resources to address specific conservation objectives of a 
State or tribe and the nation in a cost-effective manner, and to 
improve water quality, air quality, erosion control, and wildlife 
habitat related to agricultural use in specific geographic areas.
    Title IV of the Agricultural Credit Act of 1978, as amended (16 
U.S.C. 2201-2205) authorized the ECP, which provides emergency funding 
for farmers and ranchers to rehabilitate farmland damaged by wind 
erosion, floods, hurricanes, or other natural disasters, and for 
carrying out emergency water conservation measures during periods of 
severe drought. Conservation problems existing prior to the disaster 
involved are not eligible for cost-sharing assistance. ECP is 
administered by the Farm Service Agency State and county committees.
    The Draft PEIS will help to review potential environmental impacts 
resulting from these programs and the results will be used in 
implementing and approving projects for CRP/CREP and ECP funding. The 
Record of Decision resulting from the final PEIS will serve as guidance 
to FSA staff. The Draft PEIS will likely use scenarios to evaluate the 
environmental and socioeconomic impacts of CRP/CREP and ECP 
conservation practices in relation to their effectiveness in achieving 
environmental goals and minimizing any attendant potentially adverse 
effects. In parallel with preparation of the draft PEIS, FSA will 
revise the administrative rules for the CRP/CREP and ECP and 
incorporate any changes that may result from the new Farm Bill.

Public Participation

    The public is urged to participate in helping to define the scope 
of the

[[Page 20083]]

proposed Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement. In addition to 
allowing the opportunity to comment via a toll-free telephone line, 
mail, and e-mail at the addresses listed previously, FSA plans to hold 
six public scoping meetings to provide information and opportunities 
for discussing the issues and alternatives to be covered in the Draft 
PEIS and to receive oral and written comments. Each scoping meeting 
will be conducted in the evening, from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., to allow 
the greatest opportunity for public input.
    The meetings will be held on the following dates in these 
locations:
     May 7, 2002 7-9 p.m.; Chesapeake College Auditorium; 1000 
College Drive; Wye Mills, Maryland 21679
     May 9, 2002 7-9 p.m.; Mobile County Cooperative Extension 
Auditorium; 1070 Schiller Road North; Mobile, Alabama 36608
     May 14, 2002 7-9 p.m.; Ambassador Hotel; 3100 I-40 West; 
Amarillo, Texas 79102
     May 16, 2002 7-9 p.m.; Mt. Hood Community College; 2600 SE 
Stark St.; Portland, Oregon 90730
     May 21, 2002 7-9 p.m.; Holiday Inn; 200 McDonald Dr.; 
Lawrence, Kansas 66044
     May 23, 2002 7-9 p.m.; Northwest Technical College; 1900 
28th Ave. S; Moorehead, Minnesota 56560

Description of Preliminary PEIS Alternatives

    FSA has developed a set of preliminary alternatives to be studied 
in the draft PEIS to initiate the process. This is not a final list of 
alternatives. The alternatives will be amended, as appropriate, based 
on input by the public and agencies during the public scoping process.

CRP/CREP Alternatives

New Farm Bill changes

    The proposed action is for FSA to implement changes in CRP/CREP 
administration based on the requirements of new farm legislation should 
the current Farm Bill under consideration produce new provisions 
dealing with these programs. Some of the changes being considered in 
Congress currently include increasing the enrollment cap for CRP/CREP 
acreage and changing the eligibility and cropping history requirements.

No Program (baseline)

    This alternative would be used as an analytical device to establish 
a baseline upon which to evaluate the other alternatives.

No Action (Current program)

    To continue FSA administration of the CRP/CREP as they are now 
carried out. Under this alternative, FSA will continue administration 
of the CRP/CREP with no substantive changes.

Program Realignment

    Under this alternative FSA would alter the mix of program goals and 
change acreage allocations to CREP, continuous sign-up and general CRP.

ECP Alternatives

Program Modifications

    The proposed action would provide for consolidation of possible 
program changes including changes to allow for a consistent cost-share 
rate, do away with the tiered level of cost sharing currently in use, 
and provide for a higher level of cost share for limited resource 
producers.

No Action

    Under this alternative, ECP would continue as currently 
administered with no substantive changes.

No Program

    This program would be used as an analytical device to establish a 
baseline upon which to evaluate the other alternative.

    Signed in Washington, DC, on April 22, 2002.
James R. Little,
Administrator, Farm Service Agency, and Executive Vice President, 
Commodity Credit Corporation.
[FR Doc. 02-10165 Filed 4-22-02; 12:45 pm]
BILLING CODE 3410-05-P