[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 234 (Thursday, December 6, 2007)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 68743-68744]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-23525]



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  Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 234 / Thursday, December 6, 2007 / 
Rules and Regulations  

[[Page 68743]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Natural Resources Conservation Service

7 CFR Part 613


Plant Materials Centers

AGENCY: Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), USDA.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: Minor editorial changes are being made to clarify and update 
the existing regulation on plant materials centers. Although the 
changes are minor, the entire part is published in this final rule for 
the convenience of the reader.

DATES: Effective December 6, 2007.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Questions and comments should be 
directed at Diane E. Gelburd, Director, Ecological Sciences Division. 
Ms. Gelburd may be contacted at USDA, Natural Resources Conservation 
Service, Post Office Box 2890, Room 6160--South, Washington, DC 20013; 
telephone: (202) 720-2587; e-mail: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Since Part 613 became effective (49 FR 
12188, March 29, 1989), several changes have occurred--requiring the 
need to update it. These changes include an expanded mission for the 
Plant Materials Program, such as working with threatened and endangered 
and pollinator species; selecting plants that will mitigate odor, PM-
10, and PM-2.5; testing plants for biofuels and other energy-related 
activities; and evaluating plants and technologies to combat invasive 
plant species. Three additional plant materials centers have been 
added. These plant materials centers are located in Booneville, 
Arkansas; Alderson, West Virginia; and Fallon, Nevada. These changes 
are minor and do not significantly affect Part 613.
    This rule sets forth general statements of Agency policy and 
internal Agency organization and management. Therefore, pursuant to 5 
U.S.C. 553, it is found that notice and public comment is not required. 
Further, in light of the minor changes, good cause is found for making 
this rule effective on publication in the Federal Register. Since this 
rule relates to internal Agency management, it is exempt from Executive 
Order 12291. Finally, this action is not a rule as defined by Public 
Law 96-354, the Regulatory Flexibility Act, and thus is exempt from the 
provisions of that Act.

List of Subjects in 7 CFR Part 613

    Plants (agriculture), Soil conservation.

0
Accordingly, 7 CFR part 613 is revised to read as follows:

PART 613--PLANT MATERIALS CENTERS

Sec.
613.1 Purpose.
613.2 Policy and objectives.
613.3 NRCS responsibilities in plant materials.
613.4 Special production of plant materials.
613.5 Plant materials centers.

    Authority: 16 U.S.C. 590a-f 590f, 5908; 7 U.S.C. 1010-1011.


Sec.  613.1  Purpose.

    This part provides NRCS policy on the operation of plant materials 
centers. The centers have responsibilities for assembling, testing, 
releasing, and providing for the commercial production and use of plant 
materials and plant materials technology for programs of soil, water, 
and related resource conservation and development.


Sec.  613.2  Policy and objectives.

    (a) It is NRCS policy to assemble, comparatively evaluate, release, 
and distribute for commercial increase new or improved plant materials 
and plant materials technology needed for broad programs of resource 
conservation and development for agriculture, wildlife, urban, 
recreation, and other land uses and environmental needs. Also, it is 
NRCS policy to conduct plant materials work in cooperation with other 
agencies of the Department of Agriculture, such as the Agricultural 
Research Service, and with other Federal and State research agencies 
including State agricultural experiment stations. The emphasis of the 
NRCS plant materials work is to find suitable plants to address 
conservation needs. In contrast, the emphasis of research agencies and 
organizations in plant development is to improve economically important 
crops. The NRCS program of testing and releasing new seed-propagated 
plant materials follows the guidelines in ``Statement of 
Responsibilities and Policies Relating to the Development, Release, and 
Multiplication of Publicly Developed Varieties of Seed-Propagated 
Crops,'' which was adopted in June 1972 by land grant colleges and 
interested Federal agencies. NRCS releases improved conservation plant 
materials requiring vegetative multiplication in ways appropriate for 
particular States and particular species by working with experiment 
stations, crop improvement associations, and other State and Federal 
agencies.
    (b) The objective of the plant materials activity is to select or 
develop special and improved plants, and techniques for their 
successful establishment and maintenance to solve conservation problems 
and needs related to:
    (1) Controlling soil erosion on all lands;
    (2) Conserving water;
    (3) Protecting upstream watersheds;
    (4) Reducing sediment movement into waterways and reservoirs 
through the stabilization of critical sediment sources such as surface 
mined lands, highway slopes, recreation sites, and urban and industrial 
development areas;
    (5) Stabilizing disposal areas for liquid and solid wastes;
    (6) Improving plant diversity and lengthening the grazing season on 
dryland pastures and rangelands;
    (7) Managing brush on mountain slopes with fire-retarding plant 
cover to reduce the possibility of fires that threaten life and 
property or result in serious sediment sources;
    (8) Improving the effectiveness of windbreaks and shelterbelts for 
reducing airborne sediment, controlling snow drifting, and preventing 
crop damage from wind erosion;
    (9) Protecting streambank, pond, and lake waterlines from erosion 
by scouring and wave action;
    (10) Improving wildlife food and cover, including threatened and 
endangered and pollinator species;
    (11) Selecting special purpose plants to meet specific needs for 
environment protection and enhancement;

[[Page 68744]]

    (12) Selecting plants that tolerate air pollution agents and toxic 
soil chemicals;
    (13) Selecting plants that mitigate odor, PM-10, and PM-2.5;
    (14) Testing plants for biofuels and other energy-related 
activities; and
    (15) Evaluating plants and techniques to combat invasive plant 
species and for reestablishment of desirable species after eradication.


Sec.  613.3  NRCS responsibilities in plant materials.

    NRCS operates or enters into agreements with State universities or 
other State organizations to operate plant materials centers. Also, 
NRCS cooperates, both formally and informally, with other Federal, 
State, county, and nonprofit agencies or organizations on the selection 
of plants and evaluation of plant technology to increase the 
capabilities of plant materials centers. NRCS employs specialists for 
testing and selecting plant materials for conservation uses and the 
development of plant materials technology. NRCS responsibilities are 
to:
    (a) Identify the resource conservation needs and cultural 
management methods for environmental protection and enhancement.
    (b) Assemble and comparatively evaluate plant materials at plant 
materials centers and on sites where soil, climate, or other conditions 
differ significantly from those at the centers.
    (c) Make comparative field plantings for final testing of promising 
plants and techniques in cooperation with conservation districts and 
other interested cooperators.
    (d) Release cooperatively improved conservation plants and maintain 
the breeder or foundation stocks in ways appropriate for particular 
State and plant species by working with experiment stations, crop 
improvement associations, and other State and Federal agencies.
    (e) Produce limited amounts of foundation or foundation-quality 
seed and plants available by grant to or by exchange with conservation 
districts, experiment stations, other Federal and State research 
agencies, and State seed certifying organizations that will use the 
material to establish seed fields, seed orchards, or plantings for 
vegetative increase.
    (f) Encourage and assist conservation districts, commercial seed 
producers, and commercial and State nurseries to produce needed plant 
materials for conservation uses.
    (g) Encourage the use of improved plant materials and plant 
materials technology in resource conservation and environmental 
improvement programs.


Sec.  613.4  Special production of plant materials.

    NRCS can produce plant materials in the quantity required to do a 
specific conservation job if this production will serve the public 
welfare and only if the plant materials are not available commercially. 
This function will be performed only until the plant materials are 
available commercially. Specific production of plant materials by NRCS 
requires the approval of the Chief.


Sec.  613.5  Plant materials centers.

    (a) The National Plant Materials Center. The National Plant 
Materials Center at Beltsville, Maryland focuses on national 
initiatives and provides coordination for plant materials work across 
all 50 States. In addition, the center provides plants and plant 
technology to address resource concerns in the mid-Atlantic region.
    (b) Other Plant Materials Centers. There are 26 other plant 
materials centers; each serves several major land resource areas. 
Twenty-four of these centers are operated by NRCS and two by 
cooperating agencies as follows:
    (1) Operated by NRCS: Tucson, Arizona; Booneville, Arkansas; 
Lockeford, California; Brooksville, Florida; Americus, Georgia; 
Molokai, Hawaii; Aberdeen, Idaho; Manhattan, Kansas; Golden Meadows, 
Louisiana; East Lansing, Michigan; Coffeeville, Mississippi; Elsberry, 
Missouri; Bridger, Montana; Fallon, Nevada; Cape May Courthouse, New 
Jersey; Los Lunas, New Mexico; Big Flats, New York; Bismarck, North 
Dakota; Corvallis, Oregon; Kingsville, Texas; Knox City, Texas; 
Nacogdoches, Texas; Pullman, Washington; and Alderson, West Virginia.
    (2) Operated by cooperating agencies with financial and technical 
assistance from NRCS: Meeker, Colorado--White River and Douglas Creek 
Soil Conservation Districts with partial funding from NRCS.
    (3) Operated by cooperating agencies with technical assistance from 
NRCS: Palmer, Alaska--State of Alaska, Department of Natural Resources.

    Signed in Washington, DC, on November 20, 2007.
Arlen L. Lancaster,
Chief.
 [FR Doc. E7-23525 Filed 12-5-07; 8:45 am]
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