[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 149 (Tuesday, August 4, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 46237-46238]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-19036]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Natural Resources Conservation Service

[Docket No. NRCS-2015-0004]


Notice of Availability (NOA) of the Finding of No Significant 
Impact (FONSI) and Final Environmental Assessment (EA) for the 
Voluntary Public Access and Habitat Incentive Program (VPA-HIP)

AGENCY: Natural Resources Conservation Service.

ACTION: Notice of availability.

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SUMMARY: On April 27, 2015, the Natural Resources Conservation Service 
(NRCS) published an NOA in the Federal Register announcing the 
availability of a draft EA for VPA-HIP and requesting public comment. 
The draft EA was available for a 30-day public comment period that 
ended May 27, 2015. The draft EA was prepared to meet the requirements 
of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969 and NRCS 
implementing regulations. Brief comments were received from one State 
and those comments expressed no concerns about the analysis or the 
effects of the program. NRCS has determined that implementing VPA-HIP 
is not a major Federal action significantly affecting the quality of 
the human environment within the context of NEPA and, therefore, an 
Environmental Impact Statement will not be prepared.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: A copy of the final Programmatic EA 
and FONSI can be accessed on the Internet by clicking on the 
appropriate link at www.nrcs.usda.gov/ea. Single copies of the FONSI 
and Programmatic EA or additional information may also be obtained by 
contacting Ms. Andr[eacute]e DuVarney, National Environmental 
Coordinator, USDA-NRCS, Ecological Sciences Division, Room 6158-S, P.O. 
Box 2890, Washington, DC 20013-2890 or by sending a request via email 
to [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Background: VPA-HIP is a competitive grants program that is 
available to State and Tribal governments. The program is authorized 
under the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008, as amended (2008 
Farm Bill, as amended) (16 U.S.C. 3839bb-5). Regulations at 7 CFR part 
1455 govern implementation of VPA-HIP. The primary objective of VPA-HIP 
is to support State and Tribal government programs that encourage 
owners and operators of privately held

[[Page 46238]]

farm, ranch, and forest land to voluntarily make that land available 
for access by the public for hunting, fishing, and other wildlife-
dependent recreation. Grant recipients may also use VPA-HIP funds to 
improve habitat on enrolled public access program lands.
    NRCS expects most actions carried out with VPA-HIP funds to follow 
NRCS conservation practice standards and fall within existing 
categorical exclusions. Although VPA-HIP applicants that agree to 
follow NRCS conservation practice standards will receive preference for 
acceptance and funding, there is no requirement they do so. It is also 
possible some actions may not fall within a categorical exclusion. 
Therefore, NRCS decided to prepare a Programmatic EA to review the 
effects of activities that are likely to occur with VPA-HIP grants.
    Proposed Action: The Proposed Action is to award VPA-HIP grants as 
authorized by the 2008 Farm Bill, as amended. Under this alternative, 
NRCS will provide an opportunity for State and Tribal governments to 
apply for grants to encourage owners and operators of privately held 
farm, ranch, and forest land to voluntarily make that land available 
for access by the public for hunting, fishing, and other wildlife-
dependent recreation, and to improve and manage fish and wildlife 
habitat on their land under programs administered by State or Tribal 
governments. Grants will be awarded through a competitive process.
    Alternatives: The Programmatic EA evaluates the environmental 
impacts of the Proposed Action and the no-action alternative. The 
Proposed Action is the agency's preferred alternative, and it meets the 
purpose of and need for the project with only minor, short-term adverse 
impacts to the environment anticipated. The no-action alternative does 
not meet the purpose and need for the action, and results in more 
adverse impacts to the environment than the preferred alternative.
    Scoping: In developing the Programmatic EA, NRCS conducted internal 
scoping with various agency discipline experts, and used experience 
gained from previous VPA-HIP grants and associated EAs. Potential 
adverse impacts identified through the scoping process include 
localized, temporary, minor increases in soil erosion, sediment 
transport, and particulate matter from ground-disturbing activities and 
the use of agricultural equipment during the installation of 
conservation practices. In the longer term, there will be habitat 
improvements, and increased recreational and economic benefits. NRCS 
solicited comments from the public for 30 days on its analysis and 
received only one comment that expressed no concerns.
    Other Environmental Review and Coordination Requirements: VPA-HIP 
grant recipients will conduct site-specific evaluations of lands where 
habitat improvement projects are planned to address project compliance 
with applicable laws and regulations, including NEPA, Clean Water Act, 
Endangered Species Act, and the National Historic Preservation Act. 
NRCS will conduct or oversee any required consultation with the VPA-HIP 
grant recipients in accordance with applicable regulations.

    Signed this 22nd day of July 2015, in Washington, DC.
Jason A. Weller,
Chief, Natural Resources Conservation Service.
[FR Doc. 2015-19036 Filed 8-3-15; 8:45 am]
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