[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 64 (Thursday, April 3, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 16253-16258]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-8029]


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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 2503 of the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 
2002 (Pub. L. 107-171) amended the Food Security Act of 1985 to include 
the Farmland Protection Program (FPP), providing up to $100 million in 
financial assistance in fiscal year 2003, for the purposes described in 
FPP. Congress delegated authority for FPP to the Chief of the Natural 
Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). NRCS, on behalf of the Commodity 
Credit Corporation (CCC) and using its authorities, requests proposals 
from Federally recognized Indian tribes, States, units of local 
government, and nongovernmental organizations to cooperate in the 
acquisition of conservation easements on 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 within May 
19, 2003.

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: Denise Coleman, NRCS; phone: (202) 
720-9476; 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 farm and ranch 
land, as 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 farm and ranch land lost to development and the 
quality of farmland being converted are significant concerns. 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, NRCS announces 
the availability of up to $100 million for FPP, until September 30, 
2003. The 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. Pending offers by an eligible entity must be for 
acquiring an easement for perpetuity, except where State law prohibits 
a permanent easement.
    Under the Farmland Protection Program, NRCS may provide up to 50 
percent of the appraised fair market value of the conservation 
easement. Landowner donations up to 25 percent of the appraised fair 
market value of the conservation easement may be considered part of the 
entity's matching offer. For the entity, two cost-share options are 
available when providing its matching offer. One option is for the

[[Page 16254]]

entity to provide in cash at least 25 percent of the appraised fair 
market value of the conservation easement. The second option is for the 
entity to provide at least 50 percent of the purchase price in cash, of 
the conservation easement. The second option may be preferable to an 
entity in the case of a large bargain sale by the landowner. If the 
second option is selected, the NRCS share cannot exceed the entity's 
contribution.
    The following two examples illustrate how these two cost-share 
options may function. Under Option 1 where 25 percent of the appraised 
fair market value is selected by the entity, the total appraised fair 
market value of the conservation easement is $1 million. The landowner 
chooses to donate 40 percent of the appraised fair market value, 
resulting in the actual easement purchase price being $600,000. In this 
case, the cooperating entity contributes $250,000 and NRCS contributes 
$350,000. Option 2, where 50 percent of the purchase price is selected, 
would occur when a landowner makes a large charitable donation, where 
25% of the appraised fair market value exceeds 50 percent of the 
purchase price. For example, the total appraised fair market value of 
the conservation easement is $1 million. The landowner chooses to 
donate 60 percent of the appraised fair market value, resulting in the 
actual easement purchase price being $400,000. In this case, NRCS and 
the cooperating entity both contribute $200,000.

Definitions

    For the purposes of this notice, the following definitions apply:
    Chief means the Chief of NRCS, USDA.
    Conservation plan is 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 committees as established under section 
8(b)(5) of the Soil Conservation and Domestic Allotment Act (16 U.S.C. 
590h(b)(5)) and by 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, 
State-wide, 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 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. Eligible land 
must be owned by landowners who certify that they do not exceed the 
adjusted gross income limitation eligibility requirements set forth in 
section 1604 of the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002. As 
defined by section 1604 of the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act 
of 2002, a landowner's adjusted gross income cannot exceed $2.5 million 
for the three tax years immediately preceding the payment disbursement, 
which occurs when the conservation easement deed is executed.
    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 would have 
sold on the effective date of the appraisal, after a reasonable 
exposure of time on the open competitive market, given a willing and 
reasonably knowledgeable seller and 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.
    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:
    [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) system is a land 
evaluation site assessment system, approved by the NRCS State 
Conservationist, used to rank land for farm and ranchland protection 
purposes. The ranking is based on soil potential for agriculture, as 
well as social and economic factors, such as location, access to 
markets, 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; and
    [sbull] Is an organization described in section 501(c)(3) of that 
Code that is exempt from taxation under 501(a) of that Code; and
    [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 for the purpose of protecting topsoil by limiting 
nonagricultural uses of the land.
    Prime soils are soils that have 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.
    Soils that are of Statewide or local importance are soils 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.
    State conservationist refers to an 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 soils are soils other than prime soils that are used for the

[[Page 16255]]

production of specific high-value food and fiber crops, as determined 
by the Secretary. They have a 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, acting through NRCS, 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 from 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 will 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 farm and ranch land 
estimated to be protected;
    [sbull] Acreage of prime and important farm and ranch land 
converted to nonagricultural uses;
    [sbull] Number or acreage of historic and archaeological sites 
estimated to be protected on farm or ranch lands;
    [sbull] Degree of development pressure;
    [sbull] Percentage of funding guaranteed to be provided 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 average annual farmland 
protection expenditures over the past five years, 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. This State FPP Plan may be 
completed in consultation with the State Technical Committee, and it 
will include ranking considerations used by the State, including the 
above-mentioned NRCS National criteria and other NRCS State ranking 
criteria. The following examples of NRCS 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, an entity's commitment to assuring farm and ranch succession and 
transfer to viable farming operations, and percentage of funding 
guaranteed to be provided by cooperating entities. 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 their State 
Conservationist 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 Proposal deadline has closed, the NRCS State 
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 (i.e., conservation easement deed or 
conservation easement deed template) 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 unit of government, or nongovernmental 
organization (i.e., the participant(s) abandon, fail to enforce, or 
attempt to terminate the conservation easement). As a condition of 
participation, all highly erodible land in the easement shall be 
included in a conservation plan. The conservation plan will be 
developed using the standards and specifications of the NRCS Field 
Office Technical Guide and 7 CFR part 12, unless otherwise determined 
by the State Conservationist, in partnership with the eligible entity. 
The conservation plan will 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 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

[[Page 16256]]

protect farmland from conversion to nonagricultural uses;
    (b) Demonstrate the capability to acquire, manage, and enforce 
easements;
    (c) Demonstrate the number and ability of staff that will be 
dedicated to monitoring easement stewardship;
    (d) Demonstrate the availability of funds. The purchase price may 
not exceed the appraised fair market value of the conservation 
easement. If a landowner donation is included in the entity's match, 
the entity must demonstrate the availability of 25 percent of the 
appraised fair market value or 50 percent of the purchase price; 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 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 general appraisers will receive higher funding priority by 
the NRCS State Conservationist. Appraisals completed and signed by a 
State-certified or licensed general appraiser must contain a disclosure 
statement by the appraiser. The disclosure statement should include at 
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 to be acquired;
    (c) The criteria used to set the acquisition priorities; and
    (d) A detailed description of the land parcels, including:
    (i) The priority of the offers;
    (ii) The names of the landowners;
    (iii) The address and location maps of the parcels;
    (iv) The size of the parcels, in acres;
    (v) The acres of the prime, unique, or State-wide 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) A description of the eligible entity's farmland protection 
strategy and how the FPP proposal submitted by the entity corresponds 
to the entity's strategic plan;
    (xiv) 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 scores for the 
land parcels slated for acquisition;
    (xv) Other partners involved in acquisition of the easement and 
their estimated financial contribution; and
    (xvi) Other information that may be relevant as determined by the 
NRCS State Conservationist.

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 farm or ranch land is eligible for financial 
assistance from FPP. NRCS will use the National, as well as State 
criteria, which may include a LESA system or other 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, is publicly-owned land, or land that is 
already subject to an easement or deed restriction that limits 
agricultural viability. NRCS will not enroll otherwise eligible lands 
if NRCS 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 that contains hazardous material, or a parcel that 
lies within a local government's long-term plan earmarking 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 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, enters into a cooperative agreement with a 
selected eligible entity to document participation in FPP. The 
cooperative agreement will address, among other subjects--
    (1) The easement type, terms and conditions;
    (2) The management and enforcement of the rights acquired;
    (3) The role and responsibilities of NRCS and the cooperating 
entity;
    (4) The responsibilities of the easement manager on lands acquired 
with FPP assistance; and
    (5) Other requirements deemed necessary by the CCC, acting through

[[Page 16257]]

NRCS, 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 March 17, 2003.
Bruce I. Knight,
Vice President, Commodity Credit Corporation, and Chief, Natural 
Resources Conservation Service.

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; 
[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) 871-4011; fax: (860) 871-4054; 
[email protected].
    Delaware: Elesa K. Cottrell, Suite 101, 1203 College Park Drive, 
Suite 101, Dover, DE19904-8713; 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: Lawrence Yamamoto, Acting, 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: David 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: Richard Vigil, Acting, 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: Anthony J. Kramer, 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, 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].

[[Page 16258]]

    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, SW., 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: Lawrence Butler, W.R. Poage Building, 10l 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. 03-8029 Filed 4-2-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-16-P