[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 44 (Tuesday, March 9, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 13522-13524]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-05005]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Natural Resources Conservation Service

[Docket No. NRCS-2020-0008]


Proposed Revisions to the National Handbook of Conservation 
Practices for the Natural Resources Conservation Service

AGENCY: Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), U.S. Department 
of Agriculture (USDA).

ACTION: Notice of availability; request for comment.

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SUMMARY: NRCS is giving notice that it intends to issue a series of 
revised conservation practice standards in the National Handbook of 
Conservation Practices (NHCP). NRCS is also giving the public an 
opportunity to provide comments on specified conservation practice 
standards in NHCP.

DATES: We will consider comments that we receive by April 8, 2021.

ADDRESSES: We invite you to submit comments on this notice. You may 
submit comments through the:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov and search for docket ID NRCS-2020-0008. Follow the 
instructions for submitting comments.
     Mail, or Hand Delivery: Mr. Clarence Prestwich, National 
Agricultural Engineer, Conservation Engineering Division, NRCS, USDA, 
1400 Independence Avenue, South Building, Room 4636, Washington, DC 
20250. In your comment, specify the docket ID NRCS-2020-0008.
    All comments will be available on http://www.regulations.gov.
    The copies of the proposed revised standards are available through 
http://www.regulations.gov by accessing Docket No. NRCS-2020-0008. 
Alternatively, the proposed revised standards can be downloaded or 
printed from http://go.usa.gov/TXye.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Clarence Prestwich; telephone: 
(202) 720-2972; or email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    NRCS is planning to revise the conservation practice standards in 
the National Handbook of Conservation Practices (NHCP). This notice 
provides an overview of the planned changes and gives the public an 
opportunity to provide comments on the specific conservation practice 
standards that NRCS is changing.
    NRCS State Conservationists who choose to adopt these practices in 
their States will incorporate these practices into the 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.

Revisions to the National Handbook of Conservation Practices

    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, which can be found 
at: http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/detailfull/national/technical/cp/ncps/?cid=nrcs143_026849.
    NRCS is requesting comments on the following conservation practice 
standards:
     Agrichemical Handling Facility (Code 309);
     Air Filtration and Scrubbing (Code 371);
     Channel Bed Stabilization (Code 584);
     Contour Orchard and Other Perennial Crops (Code 331);
     Cover Crop (Code 340);
     Dry Hydrant (Code 432);
     Dust Management for Pen Surfaces (Code 375);
     Energy Efficient Agricultural Operation (Code 374);
     Fence (Code 382);
     Grazing Land Mechanical Treatment (Code 548);
     Land Reclamation;
     Abandoned Mined Land (Code 543);
     On-Farm Secondary Containment Facility (Code 319);
     Precision Land Forming and Smoothing (Code 462);
     Recreation Land Improvement and Protection (Code 566);
     Roof Runoff Structure (Code 558);
     Sinkhole Treatment (Code 527);
     Sprinkler System (Code 442);
     Stream Crossing (Code 578);
     Waste Separation Facility (Code 632);
     Waste Transfer (Code 634);
     Wastewater Treatment--Milk House (Code 627);
     Wetland Creation (Code 658); and
     Windbreak/Shelterbelt Establishment and Renovation (Code 
380).
    The following are highlights of some of the proposed changes to 
each standard:
    Agrichemical Handling Facility (Code 309): Minor revisions were 
made for improved organization and for clarity. Some flexible membrane 
liner thicknesses were changed. The minimum storage volume of the 
Agrichemical Handling Facility was changed to 1.1 times the volume of 
largest storage container within the containment area, plus the 
displacement volume that is occupied by all the other tanks within and 
below the height of the containment wall or dike.
    Air Filtration and Scrubbing (Code 371): Formatting and writing 
style were updated to meet current agency requirements. Minor revisions 
were made for clarity and readability purposes and to update citations 
for existing references. Major changes were made to the Plans and 
Specifications to identify needed information and to remove 
requirements of supplying supporting documentation with plans and 
specifications.
    Channel Bed Stabilization (Code 584): Minor changes were made, 
mostly requiring more specific channel and sedimentation information in 
the Plans and Specifications section.
    Contour Orchard and Other Perennial Crops (Code 331): The standard 
was edited for clarity. Minor revisions were made for clarity and 
readability purposes. Definition was edited for

[[Page 13523]]

improved explanation. Paragraphs in General Criteria and Considerations 
were edited for improved understanding.
    Cover Crop (Code 340): Minor wording changes were made throughout 
for clarification. In the Purpose section, specific soil health 
resource concerns were added as two purpose statements on soil organic 
matter quantity and aggregate instability, soil organic matter quality, 
and habitat for soil organisms. In the General Criteria section, the 
reference to when cover crops are established has been better defined. 
One change added ``no mechanically harvest of cover crops'' to clarify 
that cover crops can be grazed but not harvested otherwise. In the 
Additional Criteria section, a change established criteria for grazing 
cover crops to improve organic matter.
    Dry Hydrant (Code 432): The revised standard expands the purpose of 
dry hydrant to include providing access of available water for 
additional purposes including livestock water, small acreage 
irrigation, wetland management, and other purposes where water is 
needed in limited quantities on a periodic basis in addition to the 
purpose of providing access to an available water source for fire 
suppression. The revised standard is intended to be more flexible 
regarding the use of the standard and encouraging landowners to install 
dry hydrants to meet needs in addition to fire suppression. Criteria 
were divided to separately address fire suppression and other purposes. 
Criteria were revised to be more general.
    Dust Management for Pen Surfaces (Code 375): The name of this 
standard has been changed from ``Dust Control from Animal Activity on 
Open Lot Surfaces'' to ``Dust Management for Pen Surfaces'' to reflect 
that it is now entirely a management standard and to simplify the name. 
Formatting and writing style were updated to meet current agency 
requirements. Specific criteria, considerations, and references to 
water application via solid set sprinkler systems were removed from the 
standard because it is now covered in Sprinkler System (Code 442). 
Specific criteria related to increased stocking density to supply 
additional moisture to the pen surface for reducing dust potential were 
added. New references were added, and minor revisions were made for 
clarity and readability purposes and to update citations for existing 
references.
    Energy Efficient Agricultural Operation (Code 374): The standard 
has been revised extensively. The name has been changed from 
``Farmstead Energy Improvement'' to ``Energy Efficient Agricultural 
Operation'' to reflect the energy efficiency purpose. The standard has 
been rewritten to focus on the energy efficiency criteria, fire and 
electrical safety, flexibility, and manufacturer's requirements. The 
requirement for an ASABE S612 Type 2 energy audit has been revised to 
allow other assessment methods. Criteria was added to support 
Prescriptive Upgrades to simplify and streamline implementation of some 
instances of the practice. Criteria was added for heat and air transfer 
systems and equipment.
    Fence (Code 382): Formatting and writing style were updated to meet 
current agency requirements. Minor revisions were made for clarity and 
readability purposes. References were updated based on literature 
review.
    Grazing Land Mechanical Treatment (Code 548): The definition was 
changed by removing the equipment listed. Added equipment list to 
criteria separated by soil or plant disturbances. Reduced safe slope 
work from 30 to 20 percent.
    Land Reclamation, Abandoned Mined Land (Code 543): The criteria in 
Land Reclamation, Currently Mined Land (Code 544) and Land Reclamation, 
Toxic Discharge Control (Code 455), were added to criteria for Land 
Reclamation, Abandoned Mined Land to put all of the related technical 
criteria into one standard. The definition, purpose, and conditions 
where the practice applies were updated to reflect the intent of the 
practice. The criteria were updated to include the current 
environmental and personal safety laws and requirements. Plans and 
Specifications were updated to include the required level of detail.
    On-Farm Secondary Containment Facility (Code 319): Formatting and 
writing style were updated to meet current agency requirements. The 
redundant purpose was removed since both were to protect water quality. 
Technical requirements were added or revised, as needed, to be 
consistent with other referenced codes within the standard.
    Precision Land Forming and Smoothing (Code 462): The standard has 
been combined with CPS 466-Land Smoothing since both standards are 
similar in practice. Minor revisions were made. Clarity was added 
regarding grading plan and soil health.
    Recreation Land Improvement and Protection (Code 566): CPS 566, 
originally titled Recreation Land Grading and Shaping, is being 
combined with CPS 562, Recreation Area Improvement, and renamed CPS 
566, Recreation Land Improvement and Protection. Combining the two 
standards into a single standard makes sense logically and allows for 
eliminating one of the standards. The new standard retains the number 
Code 566, and titled, Recreation Land Improvement and Protection to 
better reflect the elements of the two standards being combined. CPS 
562 will be archived. CPS 566 is not a standard likely to be used under 
NRCS administered programs, such as EQIP, but is a useful standard for 
Watersheds Protection and Flood Prevention Act (Pub. L. 83-566) work in 
those locations with the potential for development of recreational 
facilities.
    Roof Runoff Structure (Code 558): One purpose was rewritten to 
remove references to foundation protection since that is not an 
established resource concern and now just addresses soil erosion. Minor 
wording changes were made to the Criteria section for clarity and 
specificity. Changes were made to the Additional Criteria section to 
Capture Water for Other Uses to address water quality for reuse of 
captured water and criteria modified for storage of the captured water.
    Sinkhole Treatment (Code 527): The name was changed from Karst 
Sinkhole Treatment to Sinkhole Treatment. Safety hazard was addressed 
as well as minor wording changes to improve clarity.
    Sprinkler System (Code 442): Formatting and writing style were 
updated to meet current agency requirements. Minor revisions were made 
for clarity and readability purposes. Updated Tables to meet current 
industry standards. Modified the Land Slope section to allow for pivot 
systems that may not meet the slope requirement but meet the run-off 
and application rate requirements. Added a section for Mobile Drip 
Irrigation (MDI). MDI is a type of irrigation that is partially 
sprinkler and partially drip type irrigation and it was decided that 
MDI criteria is more applicable to the standard.
    Stream Crossing (Code 578): This standard has a few major changes 
including that it increases siting flexibility, and the addition of 
vented fords as an alternative where frequent overtopping is expected.
    Waste Separation Facility (Code 632): Safety was moved to the 
beginning of the General Criteria section to emphasize the need for 
safety on all separation technologies. Wording was added to address 
location of the facilities and the requirement to manage the 25-year, 
24-hour storm event. The sections on Separator selection and Separation 
efficiency were revised to reference NRCS guidance document National 
Engineering Handbook (NEH),

[[Page 13524]]

Part 637, Chapter 4. Direction was added to the Storage or Treatment of 
Separated Solids section to design storage facilities for separated 
solids in accordance with the appropriate NRCS standard. A 
consideration on the biosecurity of separation facilities was added.
    Waste Transfer (Code 634): Formatting and writing style were 
updated to meet current agency requirements. Minor revisions were made 
for clarity and readability purposes. The structural design 
requirements were updated to align with changes made to the National 
Engineering Manual. The criteria for reception pit size, pipe clean-
outs and pipeline velocity were revised.
    Wastewater Treatment--Milk House (Code 627): Added a new 
conservation practice standard developed to better address the 
technical complexities of treating greywater from cleaning the milking 
equipment. The practice standard is based on several university 
extension publications referenced in the standard and NRCS field 
experience.
    Wetland Creation (Code 658): The standard revision removed soils as 
a purpose and added an additional purpose of creating a native plant 
community adapted to growth and regeneration in anerobic conditions. 
Establishment of hydric soil was removed as a purpose because anaerobic 
soil conditions is an outcome, not a purpose. The new practice standard 
Wildlife Habitat Planting (Code 420) is listed as appropriate for 
vegetative establishment when wildlife habitat is a purpose. This 
allows the use of Wetland Creation (Code 658) when the purpose is to 
establish a unique plant community without targeting a single species 
of wildlife or guild.
    Windbreak/Shelterbelt Establishment and Renovation (Code 380): Two 
practice standards were combined, and Code 380 now includes windbreak 
renovation as well as establishment. The definition, purpose, 
conditions where practice applies, and considerations sections were 
updated. Criteria sections were added to address renovation; several 
other sections were moved to the Considerations section. The Plans and 
Specifications section were expanded to align with conservation plan 
requirements, and operations and maintenance sections were expanded to 
clarify requirements. References were added.

Terry Cosby,
Acting Chief, Natural Resources Conservation Service.
[FR Doc. 2021-05005 Filed 3-8-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-16-P