[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 69 (Monday, April 11, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 19971-19973]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-8483]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Natural Resources Conservation Service

[Docket No. NRCS-2011-0011]


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.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

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: Alley 
Cropping (Code 311), Anionic Polyacrylamide (PAM) Application (Code 
450), Conservation Crop Rotation (Code 328), Cover Crop (Code 340), Dam 
(Code 402), Dam, Diversion (Code 348), Farmstead Energy Improvement 
(Code 374), Forest Stand Improvement (Code 666), Irrigation Ditch 
Lining (Code 428), Irrigation Pipeline (Code 430), Irrigation Reservoir 
(Code 436), Irrigation System, Microirrigation (Code 441), Irrigation 
System, Sprinkler (Code 442), Irrigation System, Surface and Subsurface 
(Code 443), Irrigation System, Tailwater Recovery (Code 447), 
Irrigation Water Management (Code 449), Mulching (Code 484), Pipeline 
(Code 516), Pond (Code 378), Pumping Plant (Code 533), Renewable Energy 
System (Code 671), Residue and Tillage Management, Mulch Till (Code 
345), Residue and Tillage Management No Till/Strip Till/Direct Seed 
(Code 329), Residue and Tillage Management, Ridge Till (Code 346), 
Residue Management, Seasonal (Code 344), Silvopasture Establishment 
(Code 381), Tree/Shrub Establishment (Code 612), Waste Recycling (Code 
633), Windbreak/Shelterbelt--Establishment (Code 380), and Woody 
Residue Treatment (formerly Forest Slash Treatment) (Code 384).
    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 Guide. 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 April 11, 2011.
    Comment Date: Submit comments on or before May 11, 2011. 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, identified by Docket Number 
NRCS-2011-0011, using any of the following methods:

[[Page 19972]]

     Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. 
Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
     E-mail: [email protected]. Include Docket Number 
NRCS-2011-0011 or ``comment on practice standards'' in the subject line 
of the message.
     Mail: Comment Submissions, Attention: Anetra L. Harbor, 
Policy Analyst, Resource Economics, Analysis and Policy Division, 
Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service, 
George Washington Carver Center, Room 1-1112D, Beltsville, Maryland 
20705.
    All comments received will become a matter of public record and 
will be posted without change to http://www.regulations.gov, including 
any personal information provided.

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:
    Alley Cropping (Code 311)--A new Purpose of ``Develop Renewable 
Energy Systems'' and accompanying additional Criteria were added.
    Anionic Polyacrylamide (PAM) Application (Code 450)--A new Purpose 
of ``Reduce Energy Use'' and accompanying Criteria were added.
    Conservation Crop Rotation (Code 328)--A new Purpose of ``Reduce 
Energy Use'' and accompanying Criteria were added to reduce energy by 
introducing legumes into the rotation to reduce synthetic nitrogen 
inputs and using crops with less consumptive water use. Where the 
practice applies was clarified. Criteria for a positive trend in 
organic matter from the General Criteria were changed to Additional 
Criteria to improve soil quality. Additional criteria were added to the 
Operation and Maintenance to evaluate the cropping sequence to ensure 
the objectives are being achieved.
    Cover Crop (Code 340)--The Definition was revised to exclude 
harvesting the cover crop. An annual crop planted for harvest is 
covered under Conservation Cropping Rotation (Code 328). The purpose to 
produce supplemental forage was removed. A Purpose and accompanying 
Criteria were added to promote biological nitrogen fixation and 
``Reduce Energy Use'' by using legume cover crops. Additional Operation 
and Maintenance criteria were added to evaluate the onsite application 
of the practice to ensure the planned purposes are achieved.
    Dam (Code 402)--A new Purpose of ``Develop Renewable Energy 
Systems'' and accompanying additional Criteria were added.
    Dam, Diversion (Code 348)--A new Purpose of ``Develop Renewable 
Energy Systems'' and accompanying additional Criteria were added.
    Farmstead Energy Improvement (Code 374)--The title was changed from 
``On-Farm Equipment Efficiency Improvements'' to ``Farmstead Energy 
Improvement.'' The Definition was changed. A new Purpose of ``Reduce 
Energy Use'' and accompanying Criteria were added. Technologies with 
corresponding industry standards were added to the Criteria section.
    Forest Stand Improvement (Code 666)--A new Purpose of ``Develop 
Renewable Energy Systems'' and accompanying additional Criteria were 
added.
    Irrigation Ditch Lining (Code 428)--A new Purpose of ``Reduce 
Energy Use'' and accompanying Criteria were added.
    Irrigation Pipeline (Code 430)--New Purposes of ``Reduce Energy 
Use'' and ``Develop Renewable Energy Systems'' along with accompanying 
Criteria were added.
    Irrigation Reservoir (Code 436)--New Purposes of ``Reduce Energy 
Use'' and ``Develop Renewable Energy Systems'' along with accompanying 
Criteria were added.
    Irrigation System, Microirrigation (Code 441)--The Unit was changed 
from (No. & Ac.) to (Ac.). A new Purpose of ``Reduce Energy Use'' and 
accompanying Criteria were added. The filter permissible design head 
loss was changed, and a requirement for an Irrigation Water Management 
Plan was added.
    Irrigation System, Sprinkler (Code 442)--A new Purpose of ``Reduce 
Energy Use'' and accompanying Criteria were added.
    Irrigation System, Surface and Subsurface (Code 443)--A new Purpose 
of ``Reduce Energy Use'' and accompanying Criteria were added.
    Irrigation System, Tailwater Recovery (Code 447)--A new Purpose of 
``Reduce Energy Use'' and accompanying additional Criteria were added.
    Irrigation Water Management (Code 449)--A new Purpose of ``Reduce 
Energy Use'' and accompanying additional Criteria were added.
    Mulching (Code 484)--A new Purpose of ``Reduce Energy Use'' and 
accompanying additional Criteria were added. Criteria were added to the 
Operation and Maintenance section of the standard to evaluate the 
effectiveness of the practice to achieve the planned purpose(s).
    Pipeline (Code 516)--New Purposes of ``Reduce Energy Use'' and 
``Develop Renewable Energy Systems'' along with accompanying Criteria 
were added.
    Pond (Code 378)--A new Purpose of ``Develop Renewable Energy 
Systems'' and accompanying additional Criteria were added.
    Pumping Plant (Code 533)--A new Purpose of ``Reduce Energy Use'' 
and accompanying additional Criteria were added. The Criteria 
Applicable to All Purposes removed criteria for Photovoltaic Panels, 
Windmills, and Water Powered Pumps (hydraulic rams), and removed 
Additional Criteria Applicable to the Improvement of Energy Efficiency.
    Renewable Energy System (Code 671)--This is a new conservation 
practice standard for the purpose of ``Develop Renewable Energy 
Systems.''
    Residue and Tillage Management, Mulch Till (Code 345)--A new 
Purpose of ``Reduce Energy Use'' and accompanying additional Criteria 
were added. The revision combined Additional Criteria for wind and 
water erosion into one set of criteria. Criteria were added to the 
Operation and Maintenance section of the practice to evaluate on-site 
performance of the practice to determine if the purpose(s) are being 
achieved.
    Residue and Tillage Management No Till/Strip Till/Direct Seed (Code 
329)--A new Purpose of ``Reduce Energy Use'' and accompanying 
additional Criteria were added. Additional Criteria to Reduce Sheet/
Rill Erosion; Reduce Wind Erosion; and Reduce Soil Particulate 
Emissions were combined

[[Page 19973]]

into one set of criteria. The Operation and Maintenance had additions 
to evaluate the function of the practice onsite to ensure the 
purpose(s) is/are achieved.
    Residue and Tillage Management, Ridge Till (Code 346)--A new 
Purpose of ``Reduce Energy Use'' and accompanying additional Criteria 
were added. Criteria were added to the Operation and Maintenance 
section of the standard to evaluate the effectiveness of the practice 
to achieve the planned Purpose(s).
    Residue Management, Seasonal (Code 344)--A new Purpose of ``Develop 
Renewable Energy Systems'' and accompanying additional Criteria were 
added to provide crop residues for biofuel feedstocks and additional 
criteria to harvest crop residues for biofuel feedstocks for renewable 
energy production. Where Practice Applies section was revised to 
include all cropland where biomass is removed for biofuel feedstocks. 
Additional Operation and Maintenance criteria were added to evaluate 
the onsite application of the practice to ensure the planned purposes 
are achieved.
    Silvopasture Establishment (Code 381)--A new Purpose of ``Develop 
Renewable Energy Systems'' and accompanying additional Criteria were 
added.
    Tree/Shrub Establishment (Code 612)--A new Purpose of ``Develop 
Renewable Energy Systems'' and accompanying additional Criteria were 
added.
    Waste Recycling (Code 633)--The title was changed from ``Waste 
Utilization'' to ``Waste Recycling.'' A new Purpose of ``Reduce Energy 
Use'' and accompanying Criteria were added. The application is more 
focused to processing and recycling agriculture waste material into a 
valuable by-product.
    Windbreak/Shelterbelt--Establishment (Code 380)--A new Purpose of 
``Reduce Energy Use'' and accompanying additional Criteria were added.
    Woody Residue Treatment (formerly Forest Slash Treatment) (Code 
384)--The title was changed from ``Forest Slash Treatment'' to ``Woody 
Residue Treatment.'' A new Purpose of ``Develop Renewable Energy 
Systems'' and accompanying additional Criteria were added.

    Signed this 4th day of April 2011, in Washington, DC.
Dave White,
Chief, Natural Resources Conservation Service.
[FR Doc. 2011-8483 Filed 4-8-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-16-P