[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 149 (Wednesday, August 4, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 46903-46904]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-19133]


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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), USDA.

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: Channel 
Bed Stabilization (Code 584), Dust Control From Animal Activity on Open 
Lot Surfaces (Code 375), Karst Sinkhole Treatment (Code 527), Lined 
Waterway or Outlet (Code 468), Monitoring Well (Code 353), On-Farm 
Equipment Efficiency Improvement (Code 374), Pond Sealing or Lining--
Bentonite Treatment (Code 521C), Pond Sealing or Lining--Compacted Clay 
Treatment (Code 521D), Pond Sealing or Lining--Soil Dispersant 
Treatment (Code 521B), Salinity and Sodic Soil Management (Code 610), 
Stream Habitat Improvement and Management (Code 395), Vertical Drain 
(Code 630), Water Well (Code 642), Water Well Decommissioning (Code 
351), and Well Water Testing (Code 355).
    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 August 4, 2010.
    Comment Date: Submit comments on or before September 3, 2010. Final 
versions of these new or revised conservation practice standards will 
be adopted after the close of the 30-day comment 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

[[Page 46904]]

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:
    Channel Bed Stabilization (Code 584)--Name changed for better 
description, plus minor edits.
    Dust Control From Animal Activity on Open Lot Surfaces (Code 375)--
This is a new Conservation Practice Standard.
    Karst Sinkhole Treatment (Code 527)--Practice name changed from 
``Sinkhole and Sinkhole Area Treatment'' to ``Karst Sinkhole 
Treatment.'' Practice specially does not apply to sinkholes with non-
karst origins (structural failures due to piping, etc.), plus minor 
edits.
    Lined Waterway or Outlet (Code 468)--Changes to the standard 
include: A revision in the range in Manning's roughness and references 
cited in the criteria section; an expansion of the considerations 
section to include fish and wildlife and soil bioengineering, etc.; and 
more comprehensive guidance on what should be included in the plans and 
specifications section.
    Monitoring Well (Code 353)--Updated references to ASTM standards 
and minor edits.
    On-Farm Equipment Efficiency Improvement (Code 374)--This is a new 
Conservation Practice Standard.
    Pond Sealing or Lining--Bentonite Treatment (Code 521C)--The 
standard was revised to better match the changes to our technical 
guidance document National Engineering Handbook Series, Part 651, 
Agricultural Waste Management Field Handbook (AWMFH), Chapter 10, 
Appendix 10D.
    Pond Sealing or Lining--Compacted Clay Treatment (Code 521D)--The 
standard was revised to better match the changes to our technical 
guidance document National Engineering Handbook Series, Part 651, 
AWMFH, Chapter 10, Appendix 10D.
    Pond Sealing or Lining--Soil Dispersant Treatment (Code 521B)--The 
standard was revised to better match the changes to our technical 
guidance document National Engineering Handbook Series, Part 651, 
AWMFH, Chapter 10, Appendix 10D.
    Salinity and Sodic Soil Management (Code 610)--Clarified the 
Conditions Where Practice Applies and General Criteria Applicable to 
All Purposes sections. Added separate sections for Criteria Applicable 
to Irrigated Lands and to Non-Irrigated Lands. Expanded the sections 
for Criteria To Reduce Problems of Crusting, Permeability or Soil 
Structure on Sodium-Affected Soils, and to Saline Seeps and Their 
Recharge Areas. Expanded the Considerations section. Added detailed 
requirements for Plans and Specifications. Deleted the Operation and 
Maintenance section. Reduced the References section.
    Stream Habitat Improvement and Management (Code 395)--Changed 
``Stream Visual Assessment Protocol'' to ``Stream Visual Assessment 
Protocol, Version 2,'' changed considerations, added monitoring 
guidelines for evaluating the effectiveness of the conservation 
actions, and added post-project monitoring to Operation and 
Maintenance.
    Vertical Drain (Code 630)--Additional emphasis on water quality 
protection if practice is used.
    Water Well (Code 642)--Purpose clarified to exclude human 
consumption. Screen entrance velocity criteria changed in accordance 
with AWWA standard.
    Water Well Decommissioning (Code 351)--Name was changed to Water 
Well Decommissioning, distinguishing this practice from industry 
practices for closure of other purposed wells (oil, injection, etc.). 
Purpose was clarified. Additional clarification on plugging materials 
was added.
    Well Water Testing (Code 355)--Conditions Where Practice Applies 
has been updated to exclude water wells not for agricultural use, plus 
minor edits.

    Signed July 29, 2010, in Washington, DC.
Dave White,
Chief, Natural Resources Conservation Service.
[FR Doc. 2010-19133 Filed 8-3-10; 8:45 am]
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