[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 47 (Monday, March 11, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 8663-8664]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-04290]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Natural Resources Conservation Service


Review of USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service National 
Conservation Practice Standards

AGENCY: Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), USDA.

ACTION: Notice and request for comment.

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SUMMARY: The Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 (2018 Farm Bill) 
amended the Food Security Act of 1985, to require an expedited review 
of conservation practice standards, including engineering design 
specifications, that were in effect on December 19, 2018. NRCS will 
evaluate opportunities to increase flexibility in the conservation 
practice standards in a manner that ensures equivalent natural resource 
benefits. This notice announces that NRCS will be reviewing the 
national conservation practice standards in the National Handbook of 
Conservation Practices and is requesting comments from the public about 
how to improve the conservation practice standards.

DATES: We will consider comments that we received by April 25, 2019.

ADDRESSES: We invite you to submit comments on this notice. In your 
comments, include the volume, date, and page number of this issue of 
the Federal Register. You may submit your comments by the following 
method:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal website: go to http://www.regulations.gov and search for docket ID NRCS-2019-0003. Follow the 
online instruction for submitting comments electronically.
    All written comments received will be publicly available on 
www.regulations.gov.
    Electronic copies of the national conservation practice standards 
are available at http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/detailfull/national/technical/cp/ncps/?cid=nrcs143_026849.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:  For specific questions related to 
this notice contact Bill Reck; phone: (202) 720-4485; or email: 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NRCS provides technical assistance to 
clients through the conservation planning process. The planning process 
involves:
    (1) Determining client goals and resource concerns (conservation 
needs);
    (2) Developing treatment options;
    (3) Recording client decisions;
    (4) Implementing selected conservation treatment(s) through the 
application of conservation practices; and
    (5) Evaluating and adaptive management of the conservation 
treatment.
    The conservation practice standards contain information on why and 
where the practice is to be applied and specifies the minimum technical 
criteria that must be met during the application of that practice in 
order for it to achieve its intended purposes. Conservation practices 
are designed to address the treatment of natural resource concerns. 
NRCS conservation practice standards are based on sound science and 
include scientifically accepted and demonstrated technologies. 
Conservation practices that have not been adequately demonstrated may 
be eligible for conservation innovation grants or may be implemented as 
interim conservation practices to gain needed field scale demonstration 
and establish and document natural resource benefits.
    Section 2502 of the 2018 Farm Bill (Pub. L. 115-334) amends section

[[Page 8664]]

1242(h) of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3842(h)), to 
require expedited revision of conservation practice standards by USDA. 
The review is for the conservation practice standards, including 
engineering design specifications, that were in effect on December 19, 
2018. In keeping with the review requirement, NRCS will:
     Evaluate opportunities to increase flexibility in the 
conservation practice standards in a manner that ensures equivalent 
natural resource benefits;
     Provide the optimal balance between meeting site-specific 
conservation needs and minimizes risks of design failure and associated 
costs of construction and installation; and
     Ensure, to the maximum extent practicable, the 
completeness and relevance of the standards to local agricultural, 
forestry, and natural resource needs, including specialty crops, native 
and managed pollinators, bioenergy crop production, forestry, and such 
other needs as are determined by NRCS.
    To obtain the widest possible input and to ensure the revision of 
the standards fully meets the intent and spirit of the expedited 
conservation practice review requirements, NRCS is requesting comments 
from the public on its conservation practice standards through April 
25, 2019. The specific content of the standards can be found online at: 
http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/detailfull/national/technical/cp/ncps/?cid=nrcs143_026849.
    This notice announces that NRCS will be reviewing the national 
conservation practice standards in the National Handbook of 
Conservation Practices and is requesting comments from the public about 
how to improve the conservation practice standards. NRCS specifically 
requests comments that include peer reviewed scientific literature 
references or other supporting scientific data, if available, for 
recommended changes or additions to standards.
    Further information on NRCS national conservation practice 
standards can be found at: https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/main/national/technical/cp/ncps/. Further information on Conservation 
Innovation Grants can be found at: https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/main/national/programs/financial/cig/.

Kevin Norton,
Acting Associate Chief, Natural Resources Conservation Service.
[FR Doc. 2019-04290 Filed 3-8-19; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3410-16-P