[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 102 (Tuesday, May 27, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Page 30376]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-11774]



[[Page 30376]]

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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Farm Service Agency


Emergency Conservation Program

AGENCY: Farm Service Agency, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of availability and request for comments.

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SUMMARY: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Farm Service Agency (FSA) 
announces the availability of a Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact 
Statement (SEIS) for potential changes to the Emergency Conservation 
Program (ECP). ECP provides emergency funding to farmers and ranchers 
who have suffered damage to their agricultural lands as a result of a 
natural disaster. The goals of ECP are to restore farmland (currently, 
cropland, hayland, and pastureland) to a normal productive state after 
a natural disaster and provide assistance to producers to carry out 
emergency water conservation or enhancing measures in times of severe 
drought. The potential changes (proposed action) under consideration 
include expanding ECP eligibility to other types of farmland, namely 
timberland, farmsteads, roads, and feedlots. If FSA implements the 
changes, FSA would publish a proposed rule to reflect changes to the 
policy. The draft SEIS is available for public comment. The draft SEIS 
analyzes the impacts of the proposed action on the nation's 
environmental resources and economy. FSA analyzed the no action 
alternative (continuation of current program) to provide an 
environmental baseline.

DATES: To ensure that the full range of issues and alternatives related 
to the ECP are addressed, FSA requests comments. We will consider 
comments that we receive by June 26, 2008. We will consider comments 
submitted after this date to the extent possible.

ADDRESSES: We invite you to submit comments on this notice. Send 
written comments on the draft SEIS and requests for copies of the draft 
SEIS to ECP SEIS, c/o Geo-Marine Incorporated, 2713 Magruder Blvd., 
Suite D, Hampton, VA 23666-1572; or comment via the Web or request a 
hardcopy of the Draft SEIS by logging on to http://public.geo-marine.com.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Matthew T. Ponish, National 
Environmental Compliance Manager, USDA FSA CEPD, Stop 0513, 1400 
Independence Ave., SW., Washington, DC 20250-0513, (202) 720-6853, or 
e-mail at: [email protected]. More detailed information on 
ECP may be obtained from FSA's Web site: http://www.fsa.usda.gov/FSA/webapp?area=home&subject=copr&topic=ecp.

    Signed in Washington, DC, on May 20, 2008.
Teresa C. Lasseter,
Administrator, Farm Service Agency.
[FR Doc. E8-11774 Filed 5-23-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-05-P