[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 104 (Thursday, May 30, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 37756-37760]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-13430]



[[Page 37756]]

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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Commodity Credit Corporation


Farmland Protection Program

AGENCY: Commodity Credit Corporation, Department of Agriculture (USDA).

ACTION: Notice of request for proposals.

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SUMMARY: Section 388 of the Federal Agriculture Improvement and Reform 
Act of 1996 established the Farmland Protection Program (FPP). The 
Secretary of Agriculture delegated the authority for FPP to the Chief 
of the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), who is a vice 
president of the Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC). Section 2503 of 
the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 (Public Law 107-171) 
amended the Food Security Act of 1985 to include FPP, providing up to 
$50 million in financial and technical assistance for the purposes 
described in FPP. The CCC requests proposals from federally recognized 
Indian tribes, States, units of local government, and nongovernmental 
organizations to cooperate in the acquisition of conservation easements 
or other interests in farms and ranches. Eligible land includes farm 
and ranch land that has prime, unique, or other productive soil, or 
that contains historical or archaeological resources. These lands must 
also be subject to a pending offer from eligible entities for the 
purpose of protecting topsoil by limiting conversion of that land to 
nonagricultural uses.

DATES: Proposals must be received in the NRCS State Office by July 15, 
2002.

ADDRESSES: Written proposals should be sent to the appropriate NRCS 
State Conservationist, Natural Resources Conservation Service, USDA. 
The telephone numbers and addresses of the NRCS State Conservationists 
are in the appendix of this notice.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Douglas J. Lawrence, NRCS; phone: 
(202) 720-1510; fax: (202) 720-0745; or e-mail: [email protected]; 
Subject: FPP or consult the NRCS Web site at: http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/farmbill/2002/PubNotc.html.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    Urban sprawl continues to threaten the Nation's farmland. Social 
and economic changes over the past three decades have influenced the 
rate at which land is converted to non-agricultural uses. Population 
growth, demographic changes, preferences for larger lots, expansion of 
transportation systems, and economic prosperity have contributed to 
increases in agricultural land conversion rates.
    The amount of farmland lost to development is not the only 
significant concern. Another cause for concern is the quality and 
pattern of farmland being converted. In most States, prime farmland is 
being converted at two to four times the rate of other, less-productive 
agricultural land.
    There continues to be an important national interest in the 
protection of farmland. Land use devoted to agriculture provides an 
important contribution to environmental quality, protection of the 
Nation's historical and archaeological resources, and scenic beauty.

Availability of Funding

    Effective on the publication date of this notice, the CCC announces 
the availability of up to $50 million for FPP, until September 30, 
2002. The CCC, acting through the applicable NRCS State 
Conservationist, must receive proposals for participation within 45 
days of the date of this notice. State, tribal, and local government 
entities and nongovernmental organizations may apply.
    Selection will be based on the criteria established in this notice 
and additional criteria developed by the applicable State 
Conservationist. Selected eligible entities may receive no more than 50 
percent of the appraised fair market value for each conservation 
easement from FPP. A landowner donation of up to 25 percent of the 
appraised fair market value of the conservation easement or other 
interest in land may be considered part of the entity's matching offer. 
Where a landowner's donation is considered to be part of an entity's 
matching offer, the entity is required to match the landowner's 
donation with 25 percent of the appraised fair market value of the 
easement or 50 percent of the purchase price. Pending offers by an 
eligible entity must be for acquiring an easement for perpetuity except 
where State law prohibits a permanent easement.

Definitions

    For the purposes of this notice, the following definitions apply:
    Chief means the Chief of NRCS, USDA.
    Conservation plan means the document that--
    [sbull] Applies to highly erodible cropland;
    [sbull] Describes the conservation system applicable to the highly 
erodible cropland and describes the decisions of the person with 
respect to location, land use, tillage systems, and conservation 
treatment measures and schedules; and
    [sbull] Is approved by the local soil conservation district in 
consultation with the local communities established under section 8 
(b)(5) of the Soil Conservation and Domestic Allotment Act (16 U.S.C. 
590h(b)(5)) and the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) for 
purposes of compliance with 7 CFR Part 12.
    Eligible entities means federally recognized Indian tribes, States, 
units of local government, and nongovernmental organizations that have 
pending offers for acquiring conservation easements for the purpose of 
protecting agricultural use.
    Eligible land is land on a farm or ranch that has prime, unique, 
statewide, or locally important soil, or contains historical or 
archaeological resources, and is subject to a pending offer by an 
eligible entity. Eligible land includes cropland, rangeland, grassland, 
pastureland, and incidental forest land that is an incidental part of 
an agricultural operation. Other incidental land that would not 
otherwise be eligible, but when considered as part of a pending offer, 
may be considered eligible if inclusion of such land would 
significantly augment protection of the associated eligible farmland.
    Fair market value of the conservation easement is ascertained 
through standard real property appraisal methods. Fair market value is 
the amount in cash, for which in all probability the easement or other 
interest in land would have sold on the effective date of the 
appraisal, after a reasonable exposure of time on the open competitive 
market, from a willing and reasonably knowledgeable seller to a willing 
and reasonably knowledgeable buyer, with neither acting under any 
compulsion to buy or sell, giving due consideration to all available 
economic uses of the property at the time of the appraisal.
    Farmland that is of statewide or local importance is land used to 
produce food, feed, fiber, forage, or oilseed crops. The appropriate 
State or local government agency determines statewide or locally 
important farmland with concurrence from the Secretary.
    Field Office Technical Guide (FOTG) contains the official NRCS 
guidelines, criteria, and standards for planning and applying 
conservation treatments and conservation management systems. The FOTG 
contains detailed information on the conservation of soil, water, air, 
plant, and animal resources applicable to the local area for which it 
is prepared.
    Historic and archaeological resources are--

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    [sbull] Listed in the National Register of Historic Places 
established under the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA), 16 
U.S.C. 470, et seq., or
    [sbull] Formally determined eligible for listing in the National 
Register of Historic Places by the State Historic Preservation Officer 
(SHPO) or Tribal Historic Preservation Officer (THPO) and the Keeper of 
the National Register in accordance with Section 106 of the NHPA, or
    [sbull] Formally listed in the State or Tribal Register of Historic 
Places of the SHPO that is designated under Section 101 (b)(1)(B) of 
the NHPA or the THPO that is designated under Section 101(d)(1)(C) of 
the NHPA.
    Land Evaluation and Site Assessment (LESA) is the Federal land 
evaluation site assessment system used to rank land. The ranking is 
based on soil potential for agriculture, as well as social and economic 
factors, such as location, access to market, and adjacent land use.
    Nongovernmental organization is any organization that--
    [sbull] is organized for, and at all times since the formation of 
the organization, has been operated principally for one or more of the 
conservation purposes specified in clause (i), (ii), (iii), or (iv) of 
section 170(h)(4)(A) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986;
    [sbull] is an organization described in section 501(c)(3) of that 
Code that is exempt from taxation under 501(a) of that Code;
    [sbull] is described in section 509(a)(2) of that Code; or
    [sbull] is described in section 509(a)(3) of that Code and is 
controlled by an organization described in section 509(a)(2) of that 
Code.
    Pending offer is a written bid, contract, commitment, or option 
extended to a landowner by one or more eligible entities to acquire a 
conservation easement or other interest in land for the purpose of 
protecting topsoil by limiting nonagricultural uses of the land.
    Prime farmland is land that has the best combination of physical 
and chemical characteristics for producing food, feed, fiber, forage, 
oilseed, and other agricultural crops with minimum inputs of fuel, 
fertilizer, pesticides, and labor, without intolerable soil erosion, as 
determined by the Secretary.
    State conservationist means the NRCS employee authorized to direct 
and supervise NRCS activities in a State, the Caribbean Area, (Puerto 
Rico and the Virgin Islands) or the Pacific Basin Area (Guam, American 
Samoa, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Marianna Islands).
    Unique farmland is land other than prime farmland that is used for 
the production of specific high-value food and fiber crops, as 
determined by the Secretary. It has the special combination of soil 
quality, location, growing season, and moisture supply needed to 
economically produce sustained high quality or high yields of specific 
crops when treated and managed according to acceptable farming methods. 
Examples of such crops include citrus, tree nuts, olives, cranberries, 
fruits, and vegetables. Additional information on the definition of 
prime, unique, or other productive soil can be found in section 
1540(c)(1) of the Farmland Protection Policy Act (Public Law 97-98) (7 
U.S.C. 4201, et seq.) and 7 CFR part 658.

Overview of the Farmland Protection Program

    The CCC will accept proposals submitted to the NRCS State Offices 
from eligible entities, including federally recognized Indian tribes, 
States, units of local government, and nongovernmental organizations 
that have pending offers for acquiring conservation easements for the 
purposes of protecting topsoil by limiting nonagricultural use of the 
land and/or protecting historical and archaeological sites on farm and 
ranch lands. Reference information regarding the FPP can be found in 
the ``Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance 10.913.''
    All proposals must be submitted to the appropriate NRCS State 
Conservationist within 45 days of the date of this notice. The NRCS 
State Conservationist may consult with the State Technical Committee 
(established pursuant to 16 U.S.C. 3861) to evaluate the merits of the 
proposals.
    The NRCS State Conservationist will review and evaluate the 
proposals based on State, Tribal or local government or nongovernmental 
organization eligibility, land eligibility, and the extent to which the 
proposal adheres to the objectives outlined in the NRCS State FPP plan. 
Proposals must provide adequate proof of a pending offer for the 
subject land. Adequate proof includes a written bid, contract, 
commitment, or option extended to a landowner. Pending offers based 
upon appraisals completed and signed by State-certified or licensed 
appraisers shall receive higher priority for FPP funding. Proposals 
submitted directly to the NRCS National Office will not be accepted and 
will be returned to the submitting entity.

Development of the State Farmland Protection Program Plan

    Funding awards to participants will be based on National and State 
criteria. FPP will be available in those States for which an NRCS State 
Office submits a State FPP Plan to the NRCS National Office. At a 
minimum, the State FPP Plan contains the following:
    [sbull] Acreage of prime and important farmland estimated to be 
protected;
    [sbull] Acreage of prime and important farmland lost;
    [sbull] Number or acreage of historic and archaeological sites 
estimated to be protected on farm or ranch lands;
    [sbull] Degree of development pressure;
    [sbull] Degree of leveraging guaranteed by cooperating entities;
    [sbull] History of cooperating entities' commitments to 
conservation planning and implementing conservation practices;''
    [sbull] Participating entities' histories of acquiring, managing, 
holding, and enforcing easements (including annual farmland protection 
expenditures, accomplishments, and staff);
    [sbull] Amount of FPP funding requested; and
    [sbull] Participating entities' estimated unfunded backlog of 
conservation easements on prime, unique, and important farmland acres.
    At the State level, each State Conservationist will develop a State 
FPP Plan to submit to NRCS National Office every three years. State 
allocations may be adjusted every three years based on new State FPP 
plan submissions. This State FPP Plan may be completed in consultation 
with the State Technical Committee. The State FPP Plan shall include 
ranking considerations used by the State, including the above-mentioned 
National criteria and other State ranking criteria. The following 
examples of State ranking criteria may be used to evaluate and rank 
specific parcels, including but not limited to proximity to protected 
clusters, viability of the agricultural operations, parcel size, type 
of land use, maximum cost expended per acre, degree of leveraging by 
the entity. State ranking criteria will be developed on a State-by-
State basis and will be available to interested participating entities 
before proposal submission. Interested entities should contact the 
State Conservationist located in their State for a complete listing of 
applicable National and State ranking criteria.
    The National Office will allocate funds to States based on the 
information provided in the State FPP Plan. Within 30 days after the 
Request for Proposals has closed, the NRCS State

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Conservationist may make awards to eligible entities based on the funds 
provided. Once selected, eligible entities must work with the 
appropriate NRCS State Conservationist to finalize and sign cooperative 
agreements, incorporating all FPP requirements.
    The conveyance document (e.g., conservation easement deed) used by 
the eligible entity must be reviewed and approved by the USDA Office of 
General Counsel before being recorded. Since title to the easement is 
held by an entity other than the United States, the conveyance document 
must contain a clause that all rights conveyed by the landowner under 
the document will become vested in the United States should the 
federally recognized Indian tribe, State, local government entity, or 
nongovernmental organization (i.e., the participant(s)) abandon, fail 
to enforce, or attempt to terminate the conservation easement). As a 
condition for participation, all land in the easement shall be included 
in a conservation plan in accordance with 7 CFR part 12. The 
conservation plan shall be developed according to the NRCS Field Office 
Technical Guide and shall be implemented in a timely manner, as 
determined by the State Conservationist, following FPP enrollment.

Organization and Land Eligibility Selection Criteria

    To be eligible, a federally recognized Indian tribe, State, unit of 
local government, or nongovernmental organization must have a farmland 
protection program that purchases agricultural conservation easements 
for the purpose of protecting prime, unique, or other productive soil 
or historical and archaeological resources by limiting conversion of 
farm or ranch land to nonagricultural uses.

Criteria for Proposal Evaluation

    Proposals must contain the information set forth below in order to 
receive consideration for assistance:
    1. Organization and programs: Eligible entities must describe their 
farmland protection program and their record of acquiring and holding 
permanent agricultural land protection easements or other interests. 
Information provided in the proposal should:
    (a) Demonstrate a commitment to long-term conservation of 
agricultural lands through the use of voluntary easements or other 
interests in land that protect farmland from conversion to 
nonagricultural uses;
    (b) Demonstrate the capability to acquire, manage, and enforce 
easements and other interests in land;
    (c) Demonstrate the number and ability of staff that will be 
dedicated to monitoring easement stewardship;
    (d) Demonstrate the availability of funds equal to at least 50 
percent of the purchase of the conservation easement, not to exceed the 
appraised fair market value of the conservation easement, or when 
accompanied by a landowner donation, funds equal to or more than 25 
percent of the appraised fair market value of the conservation 
easement; and
    (e) Include pending offer(s). A pending offer is a written bid, 
contract, commitment, or option extended to a landowner by an eligible 
entity to acquire a conservation easement or other interest in land 
that limits nonagricultural uses of the land before the legal title to 
these rights has been conveyed. The primary purpose of the pending 
offers must be for protecting topsoil by limiting conversion to 
nonagricultural uses. Pending offers having appraisals completed and 
signed by State-certified appraisers will receive higher funding 
priority by the NRCS State Conservationist. Appraisals completed and 
signed by a State-certified or licensed appraiser must contain a 
disclosure statement by the appraiser. The disclosure statement should 
include as a minimum the following: The appraiser accepts full 
responsibility for the appraisal, the enclosed statements are true and 
unbiased, the value of the land is limited by stated assumptions only, 
the appraiser has no interest in the land, and the appraisal conforms 
to the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice, the 
Uniform Appraisal Standards for Federal Land Acquisitions, or another 
land valuation system used by the State, where the land transaction 
will occur, in purchasing real estate.
    2. Lands to be acquired: The proposal must describe the lands to be 
acquired with assistance from FPP. Specifically, the proposal must 
include the following:
    (a) A map showing the proposed protected area(s);
    (b) The amount and source of funds currently available for each 
easement (or other interest) to be acquired;
    (c) The criteria used to set the acquisition priorities; and
    (d) A detailed description of the land parcel(s), including--
    (i) The priority of the offer;
    (ii) The name(s) of the landowner(s);
    (iii) The address and location map(s) of the parcel(s);
    (iv) The size of the parcel, in acres;
    (v) The acres of the prime, unique, or statewide and locally 
important soil in the parcels;
    (vi) The number or acreage of historical or archaeological sites, 
if any, proposed to be protected, and a brief description of the sites' 
significance;
    (vii) A map showing the location of other protected parcels in 
relation to the land parcels proposed to be protected;
    (viii) Estimated cost of the easement(s): The consideration to be 
paid to any landowners for the conveyance of any lands or interests in 
lands cannot be more than the fair market value of the land or 
interests conveyed, as determined by an appraiser licensed in the 
State.
    (ix) An example of the cooperating entity's proposed easement deed 
used to prevent agricultural land conversion;
    (x) Indication of the accessibility to markets;
    (xi) Indication of an existing agricultural infrastructure, on- and 
off-farm, and other support system(s);
    (xii) Statement regarding the level of threat from urban 
development;
    (xiii) Other factors from an evaluation and assessment system used 
to set priorities. If the eligible entity used the LESA system or a 
similar land evaluation system as its tool, include the score(s) for 
the land parcels slated for acquisition;
    (xiv) Other partners involved in acquisition of the easement and 
their estimated financial contribution; and
    (xv) Other information that may be relevant as determined by the 
NRCS State Conservationist.
    In submitting proposals, entities should indicate on the cover of 
the proposal whether they are a State, Tribal, local agency or a 
nongovernmental organization.

Ranking Considerations

    When the NRCS State Office has assessed organization eligibility 
and the merits of each proposal, the NRCS State Conservationist will 
determine whether the farmland is eligible for financial assistance 
from FPP. NRCS will use the National and State criteria and/or a LESA 
system or similar system to evaluate the land and rank the parcels. 
NRCS will only consider enrolling eligible land in the program that is 
of sufficient size and has boundaries that allow for efficient 
management of the area. The land must have access to markets for its 
products and an infrastructure appropriate for agricultural production. 
NRCS will not enroll land in FPP that is owned in fee title by an 
agency of the United States, or land that is already subject to an 
easement or deed restriction that limits the conversion of the land to 
nonagricultural use. NRCS will not enroll otherwise eligible lands if 
NRCS

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determines that the protection provided by the FPP would not be 
effective because of onsite or offsite conditions. For example, a 
proposal may nominate an agricultural parcel surrounded by a developed 
area or a parcel may contain hazardous materials. In addition, NRCS may 
learn that the local government's long-term plan or zoning regulations 
earmark the parcel for future development. The parcel's isolation from 
other farms and the local government's position, expressed in either 
its land use plan or zoning, may cause NRCS to determine that the use 
of FPP funds is not appropriate.
    NRCS will place a priority on acquiring easements or other 
interests in lands that provide permanent protection from conversion to 
nonagricultural use. NRCS will place a higher priority on easements 
acquired by entities that have extensive experience in managing and 
enforcing easements. NRCS may place a higher priority on lands and 
locations that help create a large tract of protected area for viable 
agricultural production and that are under increasing urban development 
pressure. NRCS may place a higher priority on lands and locations that 
correlate with the efforts of Federal, State, Tribal, local, or 
nongovernmental organizations' efforts that have complementary farmland 
protection objectives (e.g., open space or watershed and wildlife 
habitat protection). NRCS may place a higher priority on lands that 
provide special social, economic, and environmental benefits to the 
region. A higher priority may be given to certain geographic regions 
where the enrollment of particular lands may help achieve National, 
State, and regional goals and objectives, or enhance existing 
government or private conservation projects.

Cooperative Agreements

    The CCC, through NRCS, will use a cooperative agreement with a 
selected eligible entity to document participation in FPP. The 
cooperative agreement will address, among other subjects--
    (1) The interests in land to be acquired, including the form of the 
easements to be used and terms and conditions;
    (2) the management and enforcement of the rights acquired;
    (3) the role of NRCS;
    (4) the responsibilities of the easement manager on lands acquired 
with FPP assistance; and
    (5) other requirements deemed necessary by the CCC to protect the 
interests of the United States.
    The cooperative agreement will also include an attachment listing 
the pending offers accepted in FPP, landowners' names, addresses, 
location map(s), and other relevant information. An example of a 
cooperative agreement may be obtained from the NRCS State 
Conservationist.

    Signed in Washington, DC, on May 21, 2002.
Bruce I. Knight,
Vice President, Commodity Credit Corporation; and Chief, Natural 
Resources Conservation Service.

Appendix

NRCS State Conservationists

    Alabama: Robert N. Jones, 3381 Skyway Drive, Post Office Box 
311, Auburn, AL 36830; phone: (334) 887-4500; fax: (334) 887-4552; 
[email protected].
    Alaska: Shirley Gammon, Atrium Building, Suite 100, 800 West 
Evergreen, Atrium Building, Suite 100, Palmer, AK 99645-6539; phone: 
(907) 761-7760; fax: (907) 761-7790; [email protected].
    Arizona: Michael Somerville, Suite 800, 3003 North Central 
Avenue, Phoenix, AZ 85012-2945; phone: (602) 280-8810; fax: (602) 
280-8809 or 8805; [email protected].
    Arkansas: Kalven L. Trice, Federal Building, Room 3416, 700 West 
Capitol Avenue, Little Rock, AR 72201-3228; phone: (501) 301-3100; 
fax: (501) 301-3194; [email protected].
    California: Charles W. Bell, Suite 4164, 430 G Street, Davis, 
California 95616-4164; phone: (530) 792-5600; fax: (530) 792-5790; 
e-mail: [email protected].
    Colorado: James Allen Green, Room E200C, 655 Parfet Street, 
Lakewood, CO 80215-5521; phone: (720) 544-2810; fax: (720) 544-2965; 
[email protected].
    Connecticut: Margo L. Wallace, 344 Merrow Road, Tolland, 
Connecticut 06084; phone: (860) 872-4011; fax: (860) 871-4054; 
[email protected].
    Delaware: Elesa K. Cottrell, Suite 101, 1203 College Park Drive, 
Suite 101, Dover, DE 19904-8713; phone: (302) 678-4160; fax: (302) 
678-0843; [email protected].
    Florida: T. Niles Glasgow, 2614 N.W. 43rd Street, Gainesville, 
FL 32606-6611, or Post Office Box 141510, Gainesville, FL 32606-
6611; phone: (352) 338-9500; fax: (352) 338-9574; 
[email protected].
    Georgia: Leonard Jordan, Federal Building, Stop 200, 355 East 
Hancock Avenue, Athens, GA 30601-2769; phone: (706) 546-2272; fax: 
(706) 546-2120; [email protected].
    Guam: Joan B. Perry, Director, Pacific Basin Area, Suite 301, 
FHB Building, 400 Route 8, Maite, G U 96927; phone: (671) 472-7490; 
fax: (671) 472-7288; [email protected].
    Hawaii: Kenneth M. Kaneshiro, Room 4-118, 300 Ala Moana 
Boulevard, Post Office Box 50004, Honolulu, HI 96850-0002; phone: 
(808) 541-2600; fax: (808) 541-1335; [email protected].
    Idaho: Richard W. Sims, Suite C, 9173 West Barnes Drive, Boise, 
ID 83709; phone: (208) 378-5700; fax: (208) 378-5735; 
[email protected].
    Illinois: William J. Gradle, 2118 W. Park Court, Champaign, IL 
61821; phone: (217) 353-6600; fax: (217) 353-6676; 
[email protected].
    Indiana: Jane E. Hardisty, 6013 Lakeside Boulevard, 
Indianapolis, IN 46278-2933; phone: (317) 290-3200; fax: (317) 290-
3225; [email protected].
    Iowa: Leroy Brown, 693 Federal Building, Suite 693, 210 Walnut 
Street, Des Moines, IA 50309-2180; phone: (515) 284-6655; fax: (515) 
284-4394; [email protected].
    Kansas: Harold Klaege, 760 South Broadway, Salina, KS 67401-
4642; phone: (785) 823-4565; fax: (785) 823-4540; 
[email protected].
    Kentucky: David G. Sawyer, Suite 110, 771 Corporate Drive, 
Lexington, KY 40503-5479; phone: (859) 224-7350; fax: (859) 224-
7399; [email protected].
    Louisiana: Donald W. Gohmert, 3737 Government Street, 
Alexandria, LA 71302; phone: (318) 473-7751; fax: (318) 473-7626; 
[email protected].
    Maine: Russell A. Collett, Suite 3, 967 Illinois 
Avenue, Bangor, ME 04401; phone: (207) 990-9100, ext. 3; 
fax: (207) 990-9599; [email protected].
    Maryland: David P. Doss, John Hanson Business Center, Suite 301, 
339 Busch's Frontage Road, Annapolis, MD 21401-5534; phone: (410) 
757-0861; fax: (410) 757-0687; [email protected].
    Massachusetts: Cecil B. Currin, 451 West Street, Amherst, MA 
01002-2995; phone: (413) 253-4351; fax: (413) 253-4375; 
[email protected].
    Michigan: Ronald C. Williams, Suite 250, 3001 Coolidge Road, 
East Lansing, MI 48823-6350; phone: (517) 324-5270; fax: (517) 324-
5171; [email protected].
    Minnesota: William Hunt, Suite 600, 375 Jackson Street, St. 
Paul, MN 55101-1854; phone: (651) 602-7900; fax: (651) 602-7913 or 
7914; [email protected].
    Mississippi: Homer L. Wilkes, Suite 1321, Federal Building, 100 
West Capitol Street, Jackson, MS 39269-1399; phone: (601) 965-5205; 
fax: (601) 965-4940; [email protected].
    Missouri: Roger A. Hansen, Parkade Center, Suite 250, 601 
Business Loop 70, West Columbia, MO 65203-2546; phone: (573) 876-
0901; fax: (573) 876-0913; [email protected].
    Montana: Dave White, Federal Building, Room 443, 10 East Babcock 
Street, Bozeman, MT 59715-4704; phone: (406) 587-6811; fax: (406) 
587-6761, [email protected].
    Nebraska: Stephen K. Chick, Federal Building, Room 152, 100 
Centennial Mall, North Lincoln, NE 68508-3866 phone: (732) 246-1171; 
fax: (732) 246-2358; [email protected].
    Nevada: Nicholas N. Pearson, Building F, Suite 201, 5301 Longley 
Lane, Reno, NV 89511-1805; phone: (775) 784-5863; fax: (775) 784-
5939; [email protected].
    New Hampshire: Richard D. Babcock, Federal Building, 2 Madbury 
Road, Durham, NH 03824-2043; phone: (603) 868-7581; fax: (603) 868-
5301; [email protected].
    New Jersey: Tom Drewes, Acting, 1370 Hamilton Street, Somerset, 
NJ 08873-3157; phone: (732) 246-1171; fax: (732)246-2358; 
[email protected].
    New Mexico: Rosendo Trevino III, Suite 305, 6200 Jefferson 
Street, N.E., Albuquerque,

[[Page 37760]]

NM 87109-3734; phone: (505) 761-4400; fax: (505) 761-4462; 
[email protected].
    New York: Joseph R. DelVecchio, Suite 354, 441 South Salina 
Street, Syracuse, NY 13202-2450; phone: (315) 477-6504; fax: (315) 
477-6550; [email protected].
    North Carolina: Mary K. Combs, Suite 205, 4405 Bland Road, 
Raleigh, NC 27609-6293; phone: (919) 873-2101; fax: (919) 873-2156; 
[email protected].
    North Dakota: Thomas E. Jewett, Room 278, 220 E. Rosser Avenue, 
Post Office Box 1458, Bismarck, ND 58502-1458; phone: (701) 530-
2000; fax: (701) 530-2110; [email protected].
    Ohio: J. Kevin Brown, Room 522, 200 North High Street, Columbus, 
OH 43215-2478; phone: (614) 255-2500; fax: (614) 255-2548; 
[email protected].
    Oklahoma: M. Darrel Dominick, USDA Agri-Center Building, Suite 
203, 100 USDA, Stillwater, Oklahoma 74074-2655; phone: (405) 742-
1204; fax: (405) 742-1126; [email protected].
    Oregon: Robert Graham, Suite 1300, 101 SW Main Street, Portland, 
OR 97204-3221; phone: (503) 414-3200; fax: (503) 414-3103; 
[email protected].
    Pennsylvania: Robin E. Heard, Suite 340, 1 Credit Union Place, 
Harrisburg, PA 17110-2993; phone: (717) 237-2202; fax: (717) 237-
2238; [email protected].
    Puerto Rico: Juan A. Martinez, Director, Caribbean Area, IBM 
Building, Suite 604, 654 Munoz Rivera Avenue, Hato Rey, PR 00918-
4123; phone: (787) 766-5206; fax: (787) 766-5987; 
[email protected].
    Rhode Island: Judith Doerner, Suite 46, 60 Quaker Lane, Warwick, 
RI 02886-0111; phone: (401) 828-1300; fax: (401) 828-0433; 
[email protected].
    South Carolina: Walter W. Douglas, Strom Thurmond Federal 
Building, Room 950, 1835 Assembly Street, Columbia, SC 29201-2489; 
phone: (803) 253-3935; fax: (803) 253-3670; 
[email protected].
    South Dakota: Janet L. Oertly, Federal Building, Room 203, 200 
Fourth Street, S.W., Huron, SD 57350-2475; phone: (605) 352-1200; 
fax: (605) 352-1288; [email protected].
    Tennessee: James W. Ford, 675 U.S. Courthouse, 801 Broadway, 
Nashville, TN 37203-3878; phone: (615) 277-2531; fax: (615) 277-
2578; [email protected].
    Texas: Tomas Dominguez, Acting, W.R. Poage Building, 101 South 
Main Street, Temple, TX 76501-7682; phone: (254) 742-9800; fax: 
(254) 742-9819; [email protected].
    Utah: Phillip J. Nelson, W.F. Bennett Federal Building, Room 
4402, 125 South State Street, Salt Lake City, UT 84138, Post Office 
Box 11350, Salt Lake City, UT 84147-0350, phone: (801) 524-4550, 
fax: (801) 524-4403, [email protected].
    Vermont: Francis M. Keeler, 69 Union Street, Winooski, VT 05404-
1999; phone: (802) 951-6795; fax: (802) 951-6327; 
[email protected].
    Virginia: M. Denise Doetzer, Culpeper Building, Suite 209, 1606 
Santa Rosa Road, Richmond, VA 23229-5014; phone: (804) 287-1691; 
fax: (804) 287-1737; [email protected].
    Washington: Raymond L. ``Gus'' Hughbanks, Rock Pointe Tower II, 
Suite 450, W. 316 Boone Avenue, Spokane, WA 99201-2348; phone: (509) 
323-2900; fax: (509) 323-2909; [email protected].
    West Virginia: Lillian Woods, Room 301, 75 High Street, 
Morgantown, WV 26505; phone: (304) 284-7540; fax: (304) 284-4839; 
[email protected].
    Wisconsin: Patricia S. Leavenworth, Suite 200, 6515 Watts Road, 
Madison, WI 53719-2726; phone: (608) 276-8732; fax: (608) 276-5890; 
[email protected].
    Wyoming: Lincoln E. Burton, Federal Building, Room 3124, 100 
East B Street, Casper, WY 82601-1911; phone: (307) 261-6453; fax: 
(307) 261-6490; [email protected].

[FR Doc. 02-13430 Filed 5-29-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-16-P