[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 191 (Wednesday, October 2, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Page 61848]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-24963]


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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: Animal Mortality 
Facility; Aquaculture Ponds; Bedding; Contour Orchard and Other Fruit 
Areas; Fence; Grazing Land Mechanical Treatment; Irrigation Canal or 
Lateral; Irrigation Field Ditch; Irrigation System, Sprinkler; 
Irrigation System, Surface, and Subsurface; Irrigation Water 
Conveyance, Ditch and Canal Lining, Plain Concrete; Irrigation Water 
Conveyance, Ditch and Canal Lining, Galvanized Steel; Mole Drain; Range 
Planting; and Surface Drainage, Field Ditch. These standards are used 
to convey national guidance in developing Field Office Technical Guide 
Standards used in the States and the Pacific Basin and Caribbean Areas. 
NRCS State Conservationists and Directors for the Pacific Basin and 
Caribbean Areas who choose to adopt these practices for use within 
their States/Areas 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 on or before November 1, 
2002. This series of new or revised conservation practice standards 
will be adopted after the close of the 30-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. The telephone 
number is (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 30 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, DC, on September 20, 2002.
Bruce I. Knight,
Chief, Natural Resources Conservation Service.
[FR Doc. 02-24963 Filed 10-1-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-16-P