[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 187 (Wednesday, September 27, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 56468-56469]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-15855]


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 Notices
                                                 Federal Register
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 This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains documents other than rules 
 or proposed rules that are applicable to the public. Notices of hearings 
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 delegations of authority, filing of petitions and applications and agency 
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  Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 187 / Wednesday, September 27, 2006 / 
Notices  

[[Page 56468]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Commodity Credit Corporation


Finding of No Significant Impact

AGENCY: Commodity Credit Corporation, USDA.

SUMMARY: The Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) is issuing a Finding of 
No Significant Impact (FONSI) with respect to the implementation of the 
Emergency Forestry Conservation Reserve Program (EFCRP). EFCRP provides 
cost-share assistance for cleanup and replanting for those owners or 
operators of non-industrial forest land and school trust land that 
experienced a loss of 35 percent or more of merchantable timber 
directly related to hurricanes that occurred during the 2005 calendar 
year.

DATES: This action is effective 30 days after publication of this 
Notice.

ADDRESSES: The Final Programmatic Environmental Assessment and FONSI 
may be reviewed at http://www.fsa.usda.gov/dafp/cepd/epb/assessments.htm. Written comments should be directed to Mike 
Linsenbigler, USDA/FSA/CEPD/Stop 0513, 1400 Independence Ave., SW., 
Washington, DC 20250-0513. Electronic comments may be submitted to 
[email protected]. Persons with disabilities who require alternative 
means for communication (Braille, large print, audio tape, etc.) should 
contact the USDA Target Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TDD).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Consistent with the National Environmental 
Policy Act of 1969, as amended, (42 U.S.C. 4321, et seq.) (NEPA), the 
Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) Regulations for Implementing the 
Procedural Provisions of NEPA (40 CFR parts 1500-1508), and FSA's 
policy and procedures (7 CFR part 799), the United States Department of 
Agriculture, Farm Service Agency (FSA), on behalf of the CCC, prepared 
a Programmatic Environmental Assessment for the Emergency Forestry 
Conservation Reserve Program (EFCRP) to evaluate the environmental 
consequences associated with the 2005 hurricane season. During the 
course of the 2005 hurricane season, one of the worst on record, five 
hurricanes made landfall on the United States (U.S.) between July and 
October 2006: Dennis, Katrina, Ophelia, Rita, and Wilma. Each of these 
caused damage to infrastructure, homes, personal property, and 
agricultural resources, including privately owned forests. The purpose 
of EFCRP is to provide cost-share assistance for cleanup and replanting 
for those owners or operators of non-industrial forest land and school 
trust land that experienced a loss of 35 percent or more of 
merchantable timber directly related to hurricanes that occurred during 
the 2005 calendar year.
    The EFCRP was authorized by Section 107 of Division B, Title I, of 
the Department of Defense Appropriations Act of 2006, H.R. 2863, signed 
by the President on December 30, 2005. The program applies to the 
States of Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, and 
Texas.

Preferred Alternative

    Implementation of the Preferred Alternative will provide cost-share 
assistance for cleanup and replanting for owners or operators of non-
industrial private forest land (including school trust lands) who 
experienced a loss of 35 percent or more of merchantable timber 
directly related to hurricanes Katrina, Ophelia, Rita, Dennis, and 
Wilma during the 2005 calendar year.
    Producers will be provided financial assistance for the following 
nine eligible conservation practices: CP 35A and CP 35B: New and 
Existing Longleaf Pine; CP 35C and CP 35D: New and Existing Bottomland 
Hardwood; CP 35E and CP 35F: New and Existing Softwood; CP 35G and CP 
35H: New and Existing Upland Hardwood; and Mixed Existing, CP35I. Each 
EFCRP contract would have a conservation plan developed by a 
professional forester. There would be a status review by FSA on each 
contract until the Practice is established.

Reasons for Finding of No Significant Impact

    In consideration of the analysis documented in the Programmatic 
Environmental Assessment for the Emergency Forestry Conservation 
Reserve Program and the reasons outlined in this FONSI, the preferred 
alternative would not constitute a major State or Federal action that 
would significantly affect the human environment. Therefore, an 
Environmental Impact Statement need not be prepared. This determination 
is based on the following:
    1. Both beneficial and adverse impacts of implementing the 
preferred alternative have been fully considered within the 
Programmatic Environmental Assessment for the Emergency Forestry 
Conservation Reserve Program. The beneficial impacts outweigh any 
adverse impacts. Adverse cumulative impacts are expected to be minor as 
implementation of the preferred alternative will cause very little if 
any adverse impacts on the area of potential effects and the human 
environment.
    2. The preferred alternative would not significantly affect public 
health or safety. Further, the removal of downed timber as a result of 
the preferred alternative would reduce fire fuel, minimizing the 
potential for wildfires to threaten public safety.
    3. The preferred alternative would not significantly affect any 
unique characteristics which includes historic and cultural resources, 
parklands, prime farmlands, wetlands, wild and scenic rivers, or 
ecologically critical areas.
    4. The preferred alternative does not involve effects to the 
quality of the human environment that are likely to be highly 
controversial. Implementing the preferred alternative will reduce 
contamination of drinking water, improve air quality, and further 
recreational and socioeconomic benefits.
    5. The preferred alternative would not impose highly uncertain, or 
involve unique or unknown risks.
    6. The preferred alternative would not establish a precedent for 
future actions with significant effects and does not represent a 
decision in principle about a future consideration. The preferred 
alternative is intended to assist owners or operators of non-industrial 
private forest land in recovering from the 2005 hurricane damage. Any 
future projects that are similar in nature will need to be reviewed on 
a case-by-case basis to determine their individual potential for impact 
on the human environment.

[[Page 56469]]

    7. The preferred alternative is not related to other actions with 
individually insignificant but cumulative significant impacts. The 
Environmental Consequences section of the Programmatic Environmental 
Assessment for the Emergency Forestry Conservation Reserve Program 
discusses potential cumulative impacts of implementing the preferred 
alternative. Cumulative impacts of implementing the preferred 
alternative were determined to not be significant.
    8. The preferred alternative would not adversely affect districts, 
sites, highways, structures, or objects listed in or eligible for 
listing in the National Register of Historic Places or cause loss or 
destruction of significant scientific, cultural, or historical 
resources. Consultation with the State Historic Preservation Offices 
was completed. Site-specific cultural resource considerations will be 
addressed during the environmental review process for individual 
contracts.
    9. The preferred alternative would not have adverse effects on 
threatened or endangered species or designated critical habitat. In 
accordance with section 7 of the Endangered Species Act, 16 U.S.C. 
1536, the effects of implementing the preferred alternative on 
threatened and endangered species and designated critical habitat were 
addressed in the Programmatic Environmental Assessment for the 
Emergency Forestry Conservation Reserve Program. Informal consultation 
with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service was completed.
    10. The preferred alternative does not threaten a violation of 
Federal, State, or local law or requirements imposed for the protection 
of the environment.

Determination

    Consistent with the National Environmental Policy Act, 40 CFR part 
1502.4, ``Major Federal actions requiring the preparation of 
Environmental Impact Statements,'' 7 CFR part 799, ``Environmental 
Quality and Related Environmental Concerns--Compliance with NEPA 
implementing the regulations of the Council on Environmental Quality,'' 
and 40 CFR Parts 1500-1508, I find that neither the proposed action nor 
any of the alternatives analyzed constitute a major Federal action 
significantly affecting the quality of the human environment. 
Therefore, no environmental impact statement will be prepared.

    Signed in Washington, DC on September 21, 2006.
Thomas B. Hofeller,
Acting Executive Vice President, Commodity Credit Corporation.
 [FR Doc. E6-15855 Filed 9-26-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-05-P