[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 52 (Wednesday, March 17, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 12632-12637]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-6109]


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 Notices
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  Federal Register / Vol. 69, No. 52 / Wednesday, March 17, 2004 / 
Notices  

[[Page 12632]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Commodity Credit Corporation


Farm and Ranch Lands 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 Farm and Ranch Lands Protection Program (FRPP), formerly called the 
Farmland Protection Program (FPP). Congress delegated authority to 
administer FRPP 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. Over $84 million in FRPP funds is available to 
purchase conservation easements in fiscal year 2004.

DATES: Proposals must be received in the NRCS State Office by May 3, 
2004.

ADDRESSES: Written proposals should be sent to the appropriate NRCS 
State Conservationist, Natural Resources Conservation Service, USDA, in 
the State where the parcel is located. 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: FRPP, or consult the NRCS Web site at http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/farmbill/2002/PubNotc.html. This 
announcement will also be posted at the following Web site: http://www.fedgrants.gov.

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, the housing market, 
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 $84 million for FRPP, until September 30, 
2004. 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, as 
defined herein, 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 FRPP, 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 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, 
occurs when a landowner makes a large charitable donation, and 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.
    Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) is a Government-owned and 
operated entity that was created to stabilize, support, and protect 
farm income and prices. CCC is managed by a Board of Directors, subject 
to the general supervision and direction of the Secretary of 
Agriculture, who is an ex-officio director and chairperson of the 
Board. CCC provides the funding for

[[Page 12633]]

FRPP, and NRCS administers FRPP on its behalf.
    Conservation Easement means a voluntary, legally recorded 
restriction, in the form of a deed, on the use of property, in order to 
protect resources such as agricultural lands, historic structures, open 
space, and wildlife habitat.
    Conservation Plan is the document that--
    (1) Applies to highly erodible cropland;
    (2) 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;
    (3) Is approved by the local soil conservation district in 
consultation with the local committees established under Section 
8(b)(5) of the Soil Conservation and Domestic Allotment Act (16 U.S.C. 
590h(b)(5)) and the Secretary, or by the Secretary.
    Eligible entities means Federally recognized Indian Tribes, States, 
units of local government, and certain non-governmental organizations, 
which have a farmland protection program that purchases agricultural 
conservation easements for the purpose of protecting topsoil by 
limiting conversion to non-agricultural uses of the land. Additionally, 
to be eligible for FRPP, the entity must have pending offers, for 
acquiring conservation easements for the purpose of protecting 
agricultural land from conversion to non-agricultural uses.
    Eligible land is privately owned 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, and pasture land, as well as 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 farm or ranch 
land.
    Fair market value is ascertained through standard real property 
appraisal methods. Fair market value is the amount in cash, for which 
in all probability the property 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. Neither the seller nor 
the buyer act under any compulsion to buy or sell, giving due 
consideration to all available economic uses of the property at the 
time of the appraisal. In valuing conservation easements, the appraiser 
estimates both the fair market value of the whole property before the 
easement acquisition and the fair market value of the remainder 
property after the conservation easement has been imposed. The 
difference between these two values is deemed the value of the 
conservation easement.
    Field Office Technical Guide (FOTG) is the official document for 
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.
    Historical and archaeological resources must be:
    (1) Listed in the National Register of Historic Places (established 
under the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA), 16 U.S.C. 470, et 
seq.), or
    (2) 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
    (3) Formally listed in the State or Tribal Register of Historic 
Places of the SHPO (designated under section 101 (b)(1)(B) of the NHPA) 
or the THPO (designated under section 101(d)(1)(C) of the NHPA).
    Impervious Surface--Impervious surface is the area on the easement 
parcel covered by non-seasonal, permanent roof tops, concrete and 
asphalt.
    Land Evaluation and Site Assessment System (LESA) is the land 
evaluation system approved by the NRCS State Conservationist used to 
rank land for farm and ranch land protection purposes, based on soil 
potential for agriculture, as well as social and economic factors, such 
as location, access to markets, and adjacent land use. (For additional 
information see the Farmland Protection Policy Act rule at 7 CFR part 
658.)
    Landowner means a person, persons, estate, corporation, or other 
business or nonprofit entity having fee title ownership of farm or 
ranch land.
    Natural Resources Conservation Service is an agency of the U.S. 
Department of Agriculture.
    Non-governmental organization is defined as any organization that:
    (1) 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;
    (2) Is an organization described in section 501(c)(3) of that Code 
that is exempt from taxation under 501(a) of that Code;
    (3) Is described in section 509(a)(2) of that Code; or 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.
    Other productive soils are soils that are contained on farm or 
ranch land and that are identified as farmland of Statewide or local 
importance and is used for the production of food, feed, fiber, forage, 
or oilseed crops. The appropriate State or local government agency 
determines Statewide or locally important farmland with concurrence 
from the State Conservationist. Generally, these farmlands produce high 
yields of crops when treated and managed according to acceptable 
farming methods. In some States and localities, farmlands of Statewide 
and local importance may include tracts of land that have been 
designated for agriculture by State law or local ordinance. 7 CFR part 
657, sets forth the process for designating soils as Statewide or 
locally important.
    Pending offer is a written bid, contract, or option extended to a 
landowner by an eligible entity to acquire a conservation easement 
before the legal title to these rights has been conveyed for the 
purpose of limiting non-agricultural uses of the land.
    Prime and unique farmland are defined separately, as follows:
    (1) 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.
    (2) 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

[[Page 12634]]

vegetables. Additional information on the definition of prime, unique, 
or other productive soil can be found in 7 CFR part 657 and 7 CFR part 
658.
    State Technical Committee means a committee established by the 
Secretary of the U.S. Department of Agriculture in a State pursuant to 
16 U.S.C. 3861 and 7 CFR part 610, subpart C.
    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).

Overview of the Farm and Ranch Lands 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 FRPP 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 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 FRPP 
plan. Proposals must provide adequate proof of a pending offer for the 
subject land. Adequate proof includes a copy of 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 FRPP 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 Farm and Ranch Lands Protection Program Plan

    Funding awards to participants will be based on National and State 
criteria. FRPP will be available in those States for which an NRCS 
State Office submits a State FRPP Plan to the NRCS National Office. 
Prior to submitting an application, interested entities should contact 
the appropriate State Conservationist, and ensure a State FRPP Plan has 
been submitted. At a minimum, the State FRPP Plan contains the 
following:
     Acreage of prime and important farm and ranch 
land estimated to be protected;
     Acreage of prime and important farm and ranch 
land converted to nonagricultural uses;
     Number or acreage of historic and archaeological 
sites estimated to be protected on farm or ranch lands;
     Total acres needing protection;
     FRPP cost per acre;
     Rate of land conversion;
     Percentage of funding guaranteed to be provided 
by cooperating entities;
     History of cooperating entities' commitments to 
conservation planning and implementing conservation practices;
     Participating entities' histories of acquiring, 
managing, holding, and enforcing easements (including average annual 
farmland protection expenditures over the past five years, 
accomplishments, and staff);
     Amount of FRPP funding requested; and
     Participating entities' estimated unfunded 
backlog of conservation easements on acres eligible for FRPP 
assistance.
    At the State level, each State Conservationist will develop a State 
FRPP Plan to submit to NRCS National Office. This State FRPP 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 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 FRPP 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 FRPP 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)) abandons, fails to enforce, or 
attempts 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 FRPP 
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. FRPP funds may not be used to 
place an easement on a property in which an employee, board member, or 
immediate family member of an employee or board member of the FRPP 
applicant and any other organizations partnering with the applicant in 
the acquisition of the easement has a property interest.

[[Page 12635]]

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 that 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 in cash, 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 or the Uniform Appraisal 
Standards for Federal Land Acquisitions.
    2. Lands to be acquired: The proposal must describe the lands to be 
acquired with assistance from FRPP. 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 acreage of permanent, non-seasonal impervious surface;
    (vii) The number or acreage of historical or archaeological sites, 
if any, proposed to be protected, and a brief description of the sites' 
significance;
    (viii) A map showing the location of other protected parcels in 
relation to the land parcels proposed to be protected;
    (ix) 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;
    (x) An example of the cooperating entity's proposed easement deed 
used to prevent agricultural land conversion;
    (xi) Indication of the accessibility to markets;
    (xii) Indication of an existing agricultural infrastructure, on- 
and off-farm, and other support system(s);
    (xiii) Statement regarding the level of threat from urban 
development;
    (xiv) A description of the eligible entity's farmland protection 
strategy and how the FRPP proposal submitted by the entity corresponds 
to the entity's strategic plan;
    (xv) Other factors from an evaluation and assessment system used by 
the applicant for selecting parcels. For example, the eligible entity 
may use the LESA system or a similar land evaluation system as its tool 
and include the scores for the land parcels slated for acquisition;
    (xvi) Other partners involved in acquisition of the easement and 
their estimated financial contribution; and
    (xvii) 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 FRPP. NRCS will use the National, as well as State 
criteria, which may include a LESA system or other comprehensive 
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 FRPP 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 FRPP would not be effective because 
of onsite or offsite conditions. For example, as it relates to on-site 
conditions, a proposal may nominate a parcel that contains hazardous 
material, or it may nominate a parcel that contains or may allow over 
two percent impervious surface coverage on the land under easement. The 
presence of hazardous waste or the extensive impervious surface 
coverage will likely cause NRCS to determine that the use of FRPP funds 
is not appropriate. As it relates to offsite conditions, NRCS may avoid 
acquiring land that is surrounded by a developed area or slated to be 
zoned for development by a local government.
    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

[[Page 12636]]

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 FRPP. 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 FRPP assistance; and
    (5) Other requirements deemed necessary by the CCC, acting through 
NRCS, to protect the interests of the United States. The cooperative 
agreement will also include an attachment listing the pending offers 
accepted in FRPP, landowners' names, addresses, location map(s), and 
other relevant information. Interested entities should contact their 
State Conservationist for a copy of a draft cooperative agreement 
before submitting an application.

    Signed in Washington, DC, on March 11, 2004.
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) 280-8808; 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: Ginger Murphy, 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 NW. 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, Suite 301 400 Route 8, Mongmong, GU 96910; 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: Joyce Swartzendruber, 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: (402) 437-5300; fax: (402) 
437-5327; [email protected].
Nevada: Livia Marques, 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, 220 Davidson Avenue, 4th Floor, 
Somerset, NJ 08873-3157; phone: (732) 537-6040; fax: (732) 537-6095; 
[email protected].
New Mexico: Rosendo Trevino III, Suite 305, 6200 Jefferson Street, NE., 
Albuquerque, NM 87109-3734; phone: (505) 761-4400; fax: (505) 761-4462; 
[email protected].

[[Page 12637]]

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: Serapio Flores, Jr., 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 206, 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, 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 76501-7602; phone: (254) 742-9800; fax: (254) 742-9819; 
[email protected].
Utah: Harry Slawter, Acting, 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,356 Mountain View Drive, Suite 105, 
Colchester, VT 05446; 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 V. Woods, Room 301, 75 High Street, Morgantown, 
WV 26505; phone: (304) 284-7540; fax: (304) 284-4839; 
[email protected].
Wisconsin: Patricia S. Leavenworth, 8030 Excelsior Drive, Suite 200, 
Madison, WI 53717; phone: (608) 662-4422; fax: (608) 662-4430; 
[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. 04-6109 Filed 3-16-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-16-P