[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 242 (Monday, December 19, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 77547-77549]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-27441]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Natural Resources Conservation Service

[Docket No. NRCS-2022-0018]


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

AGENCY: Natural Resources Conservation Service, U.S. Department of 
Agriculture.

ACTION: Notice of availability; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: The Natural Resources Conservation Service (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 the NHCP.

DATES: We will consider comments that we receive by January 18, 2023.

ADDRESSES: We invite you to submit comments in response to this notice. 
You may submit your comments through one of the methods below:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov and search for Docket ID NRCS-2022-0018. Follow

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the online instructions for submitting comments; or
     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, please specify the Docket ID NRCS-2022-0018.
    All comments received will be made publicly 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-2022-0018.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Clarence Prestwich at (202) 720-
2972 or email [email protected]. Persons with disabilities 
who require alternative means for communication should contact the U.S. 
Department of Agriculture (USDA) Target Center at (202) 720-2600 
(voice).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background

    NRCS plans to revise the conservation practice standards in the 
NHCP. This notice provides an overview of the planned changes and gives 
the public an opportunity to offer comments on the specific 
conservation practice standards and NRCS's proposed changes.
    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 wetland. Section 343 of the Federal Agriculture 
Improvement and Reform Act of 1996 (Pub. L. 104-127) 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: https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/resources/guides-and-instructions/conservation-practice-standards.
    NRCS is requesting comments on the following conservation practice 
standards:
     Animal Mortality Facility (Code 316);
     Forest Trails and Landings (Code 655);
     Lined Waterway or Conveyance Channel (Code 468);
     Obstruction Removal (Code 500);
     Terrace (Code 600);
     Tree-Shrub Establishment (Code 612);
     Underground Outlet (Code 620);
     Waste Storage Facility (Code 313); and
     Water and Sediment Control Basin (Code 638).
    The following are highlights of some of the proposed changes to 
each standard:
    Animal Mortality Facility (Code 316): Criteria for preprocessing 
mortality for composting and additional criteria for forced air 
composting and treatment using alkaline hydrolysis and dehydration were 
added to the standard. Other minor changes were made, and document was 
edited to improve the clarity of the practice and align temperature and 
moisture criteria with references.
    Forest Trails and Landings (Code 655): The ``Purpose'' section was 
revised to align with the NRCS identified resource concerns. Minor 
rewording throughout to improve readability.
    Lined Waterway or Conveyance Channel (Code 468): Changed name from 
``Lined Waterway or Outlet'' to ``Lined Waterway or Conveyance 
Channel.'' Clarified ``Conditions Where Practice Applies'' section. 
Updated ``Criteria'' and ``Considerations'' sections to include more 
material on downstream waters and aquatic organism passage. Updated 
references and language.
    Obstruction Removal (Code 500): Improved readability and changed 
definition and purposes to be more concise. Reorganized ``Criteria'' by 
moving statements to ``Consideration'' and ensuring compliance to state 
and local laws. Added statement of treated wood and source water to 
``Considerations.'' Updated references.
    Terrace (Code 600): Minor rewording throughout to improve 
readability. Moved the statement on using the soil survey to identify 
problem soils from ``Considerations'' to ``General Criteria.'' In 
``Considerations,'' removed the statement about potentially hazardous 
slopes as it is already addressed in the cross-section portion of 
``Criteria'' and removed a statement regarding potential erosion at the 
exit of an underground outlet as it is addressed in CPS620 Underground 
Outlet.
    Tree-Shrub Establishment (Code 612): Minor rewording throughout to 
improve readability. The Purpose section was revised to align with 
agency identified resource concerns. A new purpose and an additional 
criterion added for ``Provide Livestock Shelter.'' Removed ``Develop 
Renewable Energy System'' purpose and criterion since it does not 
directly address an agency identified resource concern.
    Underground Outlet (Code 620): Minor rewording throughout to 
improve readability. Maintain water quality was added as a ``Purpose'' 
to address situations where an underground outlet is used with roof 
runoff structures to keep clean water from areas with livestock and 
animal waste. Revisions to the ``Materials'' and ``Outlet'' sections of 
the ``Criteria'' were made to better align with CPS Subsurface Drain 
(Code 606). A ``Consideration'' was added about potential effects on 
the hydrology of adjacent lands and especially wetlands.
    Waste Storage Facility (Code 313): The ``Purpose'' section was 
updated to clarify the resource concerns that address surface and 
groundwater quality. A new section was added to address considerations 
for health and safety. Revisions were made to improve clarity of the 
standard, align with the Plain Writing Act of 2010 (Pub. L. 111-274), 
and improve the document format to meet NRCS general writing 
guidelines.
    Water and Sediment Control Basin (Code 638): Minor rewording 
throughout to improve readability. Moved ``using the soil survey to 
identify problem soils'' from ``Considerations'' to ``General 
Criteria.'' In the ``Earth Embankment'' section of ``Criteria,'' 
clarified the steepest safe farmable embankment slope as 5 horizontal 
to 1 vertical. In the ``Outlets'' section of ``Criteria,'' a statement 
from ``Considerations'' regarding outlets with auxiliary spillways was 
moved to ``Criteria'' to clarify design requirements.

USDA Non-Discrimination Policy

    In accordance with Federal civil rights law and USDA civil rights 
regulations and policies, USDA, its agencies, offices, and employees, 
and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs are 
prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, 
religion, sex, gender identity (including gender expression), sexual 
orientation, disability, age, marital status, family or parental 
status, income derived from a public assistance program, political 
beliefs, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity, in 
any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA (not all bases 
apply to all programs).

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Remedies and complaint filing deadlines vary by program or incident.
    Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of 
communication for program information (e.g., braille, large print, 
audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.) should contact the responsible 
agency or USDA's TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TTY) or 
contact USDA though the Federal Relay Service at 800-877-8339 (toll-
free nationwide). Additionally, program information may be made 
available in languages other than English.
    To file a program discrimination complaint, complete the USDA 
Program Discrimination Complaint Form, AD-3027, found online at https://www.usda.gov/oascr/how-to-file-a-program-discrimination-complaint and 
at any USDA office, or write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in 
the letter all the information requested in the form. To request a copy 
of the complaint form, call (866) 632-9992. Submit your completed form 
or letter to USDA by mail to: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Office of 
the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue SW, 
Washington, DC 20250-9410 or email to [email protected].
    USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.

Louis Aspey,
Associate Chief, Natural Resources Conservation Service.
[FR Doc. 2022-27441 Filed 12-16-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-16-P