[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 18 (Thursday, January 28, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Page 4525]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-1745]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Natural Resources Conservation Service


Notice of Proposed Changes to the National Handbook of 
Conservation Practices for the Natural Resources Conservation Service

AGENCY: Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS).

ACTION: Notice of availability of proposed changes in the NRCS National 
Handbook of Conservation Practices for public review and comment.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given of the intention of NRCS to issue a 
series of revised conservation practice standards in the National 
Handbook of Conservation Practices. These standards include: Air 
Filtration and Scrubbing (Code 371), Animal Trails and Walkways (Code 
575), Combustion System Improvement (Code 372), Conservation Crop 
Rotation (Code 328), Diversion (Code 362), Dust Control on Unpaved 
Roads and Surfaces (Code 373), Forage Harvest Management (Code 511), 
Herbaceous Weed Control (Code 315), Range Planting (Code 550), and 
Riparian Herbaceous Cover (Code 390). NRCS State Conservationists who 
choose to adopt these practices for use within their States will 
incorporate them into Section IV of their respective electronic Field 
Office Technical Guides. These practices may be used in conservation 
systems that treat highly erodible land (HEL) or on land determined to 
be a wetland. Section 343 of the Federal Agriculture Improvement and 
Reform Act of 1996 requires NRCS to make available for public review 
and comment all proposed revisions to conservation practice standards 
used to carry out HEL and wetland provisions of the law.

DATES: Effective Date: This is effective January 28, 2010.
    Comment date: Submit comments on or before March 1, 2010. Final 
versions of these new or revised conservation practice standards will 
be adopted after the close of the 30-day period, and after 
consideration of all comments.

ADDRESSES: Comments should be submitted using any of the following 
methods:
     Mail: Wayne Bogovich, National Agricultural Engineer, 
Conservation Engineering Division, Department of Agriculture, Natural 
Resources Conservation Service, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., Room 
6136 South Building, Washington, DC 20250.
     E-mail: [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Wayne Bogovich, National Agricultural 
Engineer, Conservation Engineering Division, Department of Agriculture, 
Natural Resources Conservation Service, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., 
Room 6136 South Building, Washington, DC 20250.
    Electronic copies of these standards can be downloaded or printed 
from the following Web site: ftp://ftp-fc.sc.egov.usda.gov/NHQ/practice-standards/federal-register/. Requests for paper versions or 
inquiries may be directed to Wayne Bogovich, National Agricultural 
Engineer, Conservation Engineering Division, Department of Agriculture, 
Natural Resources Conservation Service, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., 
Room 6136 South Building, Washington, DC 20250.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The amount of the proposed changes varies 
considerably for each of the Conservation Practice Standards addressed 
in this notice. To fully understand the proposed changes, individuals 
are encouraged to compare these changes with each standard's current 
version as shown at: http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/technical/Standards/nhcp.html. To aid in this comparison, following are highlights of the 
proposed revisions to each standard:
    Air Filtration and Scrubbing (Code 371)--This is a new standard 
which is a device or system for reducing emissions of air contaminants 
from a structure.
    Animal Trails and Walkways (Code 575)--Proposed revisions are 
limited but include greater emphasis of potential impacts to water 
courses and other environmental and cultural resources.
    Combustion System Improvement (Code 372)--This is a new standard to 
improve the air quality and energy efficiency of agricultural 
combustion systems.
    Conservation Crop Rotation (Code 328)--The revised standard adds a 
purpose for cropping system diversity and pollinator habitat. 
Additional criteria have been added to improve soil quality and 
nutrient balance.
    Diversion (Code 362)--Revisions include expansion of the Plans and 
Specifications section along with updated references.
    Dust Control on Unpaved Roads and Surfaces (Code 373)--This is a 
new standard for controlling direct particulate matter emissions 
produced by vehicle and machinery traffic or wind action from unpaved 
roads and other surfaces by applying a palliative on the surface.
    Forage Harvest Management (Code 511)--Revisions are minor in nature 
with updated references included.
    Herbaceous Weed Control (Code-315)--This is a new standard to 
provide for herbaceous weed control on lands not actively in crop 
production. Requirements are included for biological, chemical, and 
mechanical control.
    Range Planting (Code 550)--Revisions incorporate Ecological Site 
Description use for planning purposes and updates the reference 
section. Minor changes in wording occur throughout the standard.
    Riparian Herbaceous Cover (Code 390)--Proposed revisions expand the 
practice purpose to include more habitat functions, including providing 
habitat for pollinator conservation. Use of ecological site 
descriptions for planning and monitoring this practice has been added. 
Additional references have been included.

    Signed this January 25, 2010, in Washington, DC.
Dave White,
Chief, Natural Resource Conservation Service.
[FR Doc. 2010-1745 Filed 1-27-10; 8:45 am]
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