[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 75 (Monday, April 19, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 20853-20854]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-8773]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Farm Service Agency


Regulatory Streamlining of the Direct Farm Loan Programs; 
Availability of a Draft Environmental Assessment and a Draft Finding of 
No Significant Impact

AGENCY: Farm Service Agency, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of availability and request for comments.

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SUMMARY: The Farm Service Agency (FSA) announces the availability of 
the Draft Environmental Assessment (EA) and Draft Finding of No 
Significant Impact (FONSI) for the Regulatory Streamlining of FSA's 
Direct Farm Loan Programs regulations for public review and comment. 
The EA has been prepared in accordance with the requirements of the 
National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 as amended (NEPA); Council on 
Environmental Quality regulations implementing NEPA at 40 CFR parts 
1500-1508; and FSA NEPA regulations at 7 CFR part 1940, subpart G.

DATES: Comments should be submitted by May 19, 2004, to be assured 
consideration. Comments received after that date will be considered to 
the extent practical.

ADDRESSES: FSA invites interested persons to submit comments on the EA 
and FONSI. Comments may be submitted by any of the following methods:
     E-Mail: Send comments to [email protected].
     Fax: Submit comments by facsimile transmission 
to: (202) 720-4619.
     Mail: Send comments to James P. Fortner, 
National Environmental Compliance Manager, Conservation and 
Environmental Protection Division (CEPD), Farm Service Agency, Stop 
Code 0513, 1400 Independence Ave., SW., Washington, DC 20250-0513.
     Hand Delivery or Courier: Deliver comments to 
the above address.
    Comments may be inspected in the Office of the Director, CEPD, FSA, 
USDA, Room 4714 South Building, 1400 Independence Ave., SW., 
Washington, DC between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, 
except holidays.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For a copy of the draft EA or for 
further information, contact James P. Fortner, National Environmental 
Compliance Manager, telephone (202) 720-5533; fax (202) 720-4619; e-
mail [email protected]. The draft EA and associated FONSI are also 
available on FSA's Web site at http://www.fsa.usda.gov/dafp/cepd/epb/assessments.htm.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: FSA published a proposed rule February 9, 
2004 (69 FR 6055), that will: Simplify and clarify direct loan 
regulations; implement the recommendations of the USDA Civil Rights 
Action Team; meet the objectives of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 
1995; meet the goals and objectives of the National Performance Review; 
and separate FSA's direct farm loan program regulations from the Rural 
Development mission area loan program regulations. The draft EA 
evaluates the potential impacts to the human environment associated 
with this proposed streamlining of the regulations governing its direct 
farm loan programs.
    On the basis of the draft EA, FSA has concluded that the proposed 
regulatory action will not result in either short-term, long-term, or 
cumulative significant adverse impacts to the

[[Page 20854]]

human environment. Because the proposed regulatory action would not 
result in significant adverse environmental impacts, FSA concluded that 
the preparation of a FONSI was appropriate, and therefore, an 
environmental impact statement is not required.
    The basis for the conclusion is supported by the following 
findings. Cumulative impacts are expected to be minor as implementation 
of the proposed regulatory action will mainly result in FSA continuing 
to provide farm ownership, operating and emergency loans and loan 
servicing actions to farmers and ranchers. Each loan request will be 
reviewed on a site-specific basis to determine the potential impacts to 
the human environment.
    Title: Draft Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant 
Impact for Regulatory Streamlining of the Farm Service Agency's Direct 
Farm Loan Programs.

    Signed in Washington, DC, April 12, 2004.
Verle E. Lanier,
Acting Administrator, Farm Service Agency.
[FR Doc. 04-8773 Filed 4-16-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3450-05-P