[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 125 (Friday, June 30, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 42287-42288]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-13929]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Natural Resources Conservation Service

[Docket No. NRCS-2023-0013]


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 revising 
specific 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 offer comments 
on the proposed changes to the specific conservation practice 
standards.

DATES: We will consider comments that we receive by July 31, 2023.

ADDRESSES: We invite you to submit comments in response to this notice. 
You may submit your comments through one of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov and search for Docket ID NRCS-2023-0013. Follow the 
online instructions for submitting comments.
     Mail or Hand Delivery: 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-2023-0013.
    All comments received will be made publicly available on http://www.regulations.gov.
    Copies of the proposed revised standards are available through 
http://www.regulations.gov by accessing Docket No. NRCS-2023-0013. 
Alternatively, the proposed revised standards can be downloaded or 
printed from https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/getting-assistance/conservation-practices.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. William Reck at (202) 720-4485, or 
by email at [email protected]. Individuals 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 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

[[Page 42288]]

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 NHCP

    The extent 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 current standard, 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:
     Fish Raceway or Tank (Code 398);
     Irrigation Pipeline (Code 430);
     Stripcropping (Code 585); and
     Woody Residue Treatment (Code 384).
    The following paragraphs highlight some of the proposed changes to 
each standard.
    Fish Raceway or Tank (Code 398): The revised standard expands the 
practice purposes to include treatment of effluents before release into 
receiving waters as well as assessment and planning for increased 
system efficiency to conserve energy use. The revised standard makes 
clear that it applies to the production of aquatic organisms in 
general, and not just finfish. We added additional component details 
for flow[hyphen]through systems to the ``Criteria'' section for waste 
(effluent) management. We removed the species[hyphen]specific water 
quality requirements for the two species listed and replaced them with 
references to land[hyphen]grant university requirements. We added new 
content to the ``Considerations'' section to provide options for 
recirculating aquaculture system approaches that minimize water use and 
permit secondary use of wastewater (such as in aquaponics systems). 
Also, in the ``Considerations'' section, we added an additional 
evaluation of the effects of water withdrawal on native aquatic 
organisms. Finally, we made minor revisions throughout the standard to 
improve readability, and references were updated based on literature 
review.
    Irrigation Pipeline (Code 430): We made minor rewording edits 
throughout the standard to improve readability. We added maximum 
permitted surge for a high-density polyethylene (HDPE) pipe to the 
``Flexible conduit design'' subsection. We added a new subsection to 
address protection of pipeline and appurtenances was added to the 
``Considerations'' section. We updated the ``Additional Considerations 
for Economics'' subsection to include the collapsible lay flat tubing 
application, replacement of which is considered operation and 
maintenance. We updated the ``Additional Considerations for Water 
Quality and Quantity'' subsection to include impacts to downstream 
drinking water and drought mitigation; we also updated references were 
also updated.
    Stripcropping (Code 585): We edited the ``Definition,'' 
``Criteria,'' and ``Considerations'' sections of the standard for 
clarity. We added a reference to the use of the ``Implementation 
Requirement'' document to the ``Plans and Specifications'' section.
    Woody Residue Treatment (Code 384): We reduced the practice life 
span to 1 year and refined the ``Purpose'' section. We removed two 
purposes and combined two other purposes. We modified the burning 
criteria to follow the ``Prescribed Burning'' (Code 338). We refined 
the ``Considerations,'' ``plans and Specifications,'' and ``Operation 
and Maintenance'' sections, and updated references.

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). Remedies and complaint filing deadlines vary by 
program or incident.
    Individuals who require alternative means of communication for 
program information (for example, braille, large print, audiotape, 
American Sign Language, etc.) should contact the responsible agency or 
USDA's TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and text telephone (TTY)) 
or dial 711 for Telecommunications Relay Service (both voice and text 
telephone users can initiate this call from any phone). 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 the 
USDA web page on 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 (1) mail to U.S. Department of Agriculture, Office of 
the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue SW, 
Washington, DC 20250-9410; or (2) email to [email protected].
    USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.

Terry Cosby,
Chief, Natural Resources Conservation Service.
[FR Doc. 2023-13929 Filed 6-29-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-16-P