[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 150 (Monday, August 5, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 47271-47272]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-18845]


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 Notices
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 This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains documents other than rules 
 or proposed rules that are applicable to the public. Notices of hearings 
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  Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 150 / Monday, August 5, 2013 / 
Notices  

[[Page 47271]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE


Draft Environmental Assessment for the Kika de la Garza 
Subtropical Agricultural Research Center Land Transfer

AGENCY: Agricultural Research Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of the Draft Environmental Assessment for the Kika de la 
Garza Subtropical Agricultural Research 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 approximately 70 acres of land and 
associated buildings at the Kika de la Garza Subtropical Agricultural 
Research Center (KSARC) from the USDA Agricultural Research Service 
(ARS) in Weslaco, Texas, to The Texas A&M University System (TAMUS). 
The KSARC is divided into two separate properties, with the main 
research station located at 2413 East Highway 83, Weslaco, Texas 77840 
and a research farm located at 2301 South International Boulevard, 
Weslaco, Texas 77840. This notice is announcing the opening of a 30-day 
public comment period.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before August 30, 2013.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments related to the proposed KSARC Land 
Transfer by any of the following methods: Email: 
[email protected], Fax: 979-260-9344. Mail: USDA-ARS-WBSC, 1001 
Holleman Drive East, College Station, Texas 77840. Copies of the Draft 
EA for the KSARC Land Transfer are available for public inspection 
during normal business hours at the following locations:
     Weslaco Public Library, 525 South Kansas Avenue, Weslaco, 
Texas 78596
     Larry Ringer Library, 1818 Harvey Mitchell Parkway South, 
College Station, Texas 77845

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Phil Smith, Acting Property Team Lead, 
USDA-ARS-WBSC, 1001 Holleman Drive East, College Station, Texas, 77840; 
979-260-9449.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The USDA is proposing to transfer 
approximately 70 acres of land and facilities at the KSARC from USDA-
ARS in Weslaco, Texas, to TAMUS. As a condition of the transfer, TAMUS 
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. TAMUS would assume responsibility and maintenance of 
the constructed facilities and land to be conveyed from USDA. The KSARC 
has been in operation as a USDA-ARS research facility since 1960, with 
the mission ``to increase food and fiber productivity by developing new 
technology for safe and efficient agricultural production methods and 
by conserving natural resources and protecting the environment.'' The 
facility was closed under Public Law (Pub. L.) 112-55, Consolidated and 
Further Continuing Appropriations Act, 2012 and is currently being 
utilized in a very limited capacity by researchers from other ARS 
locations. Under the terms of the Public Law, the Secretary of 
Agriculture will decide whether to formally transfer the Property from 
USDA to TAMUS or have USDA retain possession of the Property. If the 
decision is made to transfer the Property, it will be done with no 
monetary cost to TAMUS and a Deed Without Warranty will be prepared by 
the USDA to convey the title/property rights to TAMUS. The Deed Without 
Warranty 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 approximate 70 acres of land and facilities at the KSARC. The 
USDA would no longer operate and/or maintain approximately 85-90% of 
the property and it would likely fall into a state of disrepair. The 
USDA will continue ongoing research funded by other Locations on the 
remaining 10-15% of the property.
     Alternative 2--Proposed Action. The USDA would formally 
transfer approximately 70 acres of land at the KSARC to TAMUS. As a 
condition of the transfer, TAMUS 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. TAMUS 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 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.


[[Page 47272]]


    Dated: July 23, 2013.
Edward B. Knipling,
Administrator, Agricultural Research Service.
[FR Doc. 2013-18845 Filed 8-2-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-03-P