[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 129 (Friday, July 5, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 40425-40426]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-16209]


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 Notices
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 This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains documents other than rules 
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  Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 129 / Friday, July 5, 2013 / 
Notices  

[[Page 40425]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE


Draft Environmental Assessment for the J. Phil Campbell, Senior, 
Natural Resource Conservation Center Land Transfer

AGENCY: Agricultural Research Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of the Draft Environmental Assessment for the J. Phil 
Campbell, Senior, Natural Resource Conservation Center Land Transfer.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act 
(NEPA) of 1969, as amended, and the Federal Land Policy and Management 
Act of 1976 (FLPMA), as amended, the United States Department of 
Agriculture (USDA) has prepared a Draft Environmental Assessment (EA) 
for the proposed transfer of 1,070 acres of land at the J. Phil 
Campbell, Senior (JPC), Natural Resource Conservation Center (NRCC) 
from the USDA Agricultural Research Service (ARS) in Watkinsville, 
Georgia, to the University of Georgia (UGA) College of Agricultural and 
Environmental Sciences (CAES). This notice is announcing the opening of 
a 30-day public comment period.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before August 5, 2013.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments related to the Proposed JPC-NRCC 
Land Transfer by any of the following methods: Email: 
[email protected], Fax: 309-681-6683. Mail: USDA-ARS-SHEMB, 
NCAUR, 1815 North University Avenue, Room 2016, Peoria, Ilinois 61604. 
Copies of the Draft EA for the JPC-NRCC Land Transfer are available for 
public inspection during normal business hours at the following 
locations:
     JPC-REC Headquarters, 1420 Experiment Station Road, 
Watkinsville, Georgia 30677
     Oconee County Public Library, 1080 Experiment Station 
Road, Watkinsville, Georgia 30677
     Athens-Clarke County Public Library, 2025 Baxter Street, 
Athens, Georgia 30606

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Cal Mather, Environmental Protection 
Specialist, USDA-ARS-SHEMB, NCAUR, 1815 North University Street, Room 
2016, Peoria, Illinois 61604; 309-681-6608.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The USDA is proposing to transfer 1,070 
acres of land and facilities at the JPC-NRCC from USDA-ARS in 
Watkinsville, Georgia, to the UGA CAES. As a condition of the transfer, 
UGA would commit to using the property for agricultural and natural 
resources research for a period of 25 years, supporting the strategic 
goals of USDA and establishing a Beginning Farmers and Ranchers Program 
at the Property. UGA would assume responsibility and maintenance of the 
constructed facilities and land to be conveyed from USDA. The JPC-NRCC 
has been in operation as a USDA-ARS research station since 1937, with 
the mission ``to develop and transfer environmentally sustainable and 
profitable agricultural systems to landowners and managers in order to 
protect the natural resource base, build accord with non-agricultural 
sectors, and support healthy rural economies.'' The facility was closed 
under Public Law (Pub. L.) 112-55, Consolidated and Further Continuing 
Appropriations Act, 2012. In August 2012, a 5-year revocable permit was 
issued between USDA and the Board of Regents of UGA that allows the 
CAES to utilize the Property as a Research and Education Center (REC) 
and conduct a wide range of research, teaching, extension, and 
demonstration activities. Since August 2012 it has been operated by the 
CAES as the JPC-REC under this permit. A Memorandum of Understanding 
was executed on March 25, 2013, that would allow the formal transfer of 
the Property from USDA to the Board of Regents of the UGA. Under the 
terms of the Public Law, the Secretary of Agriculture will decide 
whether to formally transfer the Property from USDA to the UGA or have 
USDA retain the possession of the Property. If the decision is made to 
transfer the Property, it will be done with no monetary cost to the 
University and a Quit Claim Deed will be prepared by the USDA to convey 
the title/property rights to UGA. The Quit Claim Deed would incorporate 
any use restrictions identified by the NEPA process, as well as the 25-
year use restriction for agricultural and natural resources research as 
required by Section 732 of the Public Law. Two alternatives are 
analyzed in the Draft EA, the No Action Alternative and the Proposed 
Action. The draft EA addresses potential impacts of these alternatives 
on the natural and human environment.
     Alternative 1--No Action. The USDA would retain possession 
of the 1,070 acres of land and facilities at the JPC-REC (former JPC-
NRCC). USDA would no longer operate and/or maintain the property and 
current research at the JPC-REC would cease.
     Alternative 2--Proposed Action. The USDA would formerly 
transfer 1,070 acres of land at the JPC-REC to the Board of Regents of 
UGA. As a condition of the transfer, UGA would commit to using the 
Property for agricultural and natural resources research for a period 
of 25 years, supporting the strategic goals of USDA and establishing a 
Beginning Farmers and Ranchers Program at the Property. UGA would 
assume responsibility and maintenance of the constructed facilities and 
land to be conveyed from USDA.

In addition, one alternative was considered in the Draft EA but 
eliminated from detailed study. In this alternative, USDA would retain 
possession of the land and it would be transferred to the General 
Services Administration for disposal. Since it cannot reasonably be 
determined who would ultimately take possession of the property and how 
it would be utilized, it was not analyzed in detail in the EA. The USDA 
will use and coordinate the NEPA commenting process to satisfy the 
public involvement process for Section 106 of the National Historic 
Preservation Act (16 U.S.C. 470(f) as provided for in 36 CFR 
800.2(d)(3)). Following the public comment period, comments will be 
used to prepare the Final EA. The USDA will respond to each substantive 
comment by making appropriate revisions to the document or by 
explaining why a comment did not warrant a change. A Notice of 
Availability of the Final EA will be published in the Federal Register. 
All comments, including any personal

[[Page 40426]]

identifying information included in the comment will become a matter of 
public record. While you can ask us in your comment to withhold your 
personal identifying information from public review, we cannot 
guarantee that we will be able to do so.

    Dated: June 25, 2013.
Edward B. Knipling,
Administrator, Agricultural Research Service.
[FR Doc. 2013-16209 Filed 7-3-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-03-P