United States Government Publishing Office publisher pbl distributor dst United States National Archives and Records Administration Office of the Federal Register author aut Government Organization text government publication eng FR Regulatory Information 2016_register executive 2016-08-02 article Part II Rules and Regulations D09002ee1c7f520be D09002ee1c7f52202 United States Department of Agriculture originator org United States Government Agency or Subagency United States Farm Service Agency originator org United States Government Agency or Subagency United States Commodity Credit Corporation originator org United States Government Agency or Subagency United States Rural Housing Service, Rural Business-Cooperative Service, Rural Utilities Service, and Farm Service Agency originator org United States Government Agency or Subagency The Farm Service Agency (FSA) is consolidating, updating, and amending its regulations implementing the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as amended (NEPA). FSA's previous NEPA regulations had been in place since 1980. Significant changes to the structure of FSA and the scope of FSA's programs require changes in FSA's NEPA regulations. The changes will also better align FSA's NEPA regulations with the President's Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) NEPA regulations and meet the FSA responsibilities for periodic review of their categorical exclusions (CatExs). CatExs involve proposed actions that typically do not result in individual or cumulative significant environmental effects or impacts and therefore do not merit further environmental review in an Environmental Assessment (EA) or Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). The additions to the existing list of CatExs improves the clarity and consistency of the regulations. This final rule also expands and clarifies the list of proposed actions that require an EA. The FSA NEPA implementing regulations also cover the Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) programs that FSA administers on behalf of CCC. In addition, this rule makes conforming changes to existing references to FSA NEPA regulations in other FSA regulations. The revisions to the FSA NEPA implementing regulations are intended to improve transparency and clarity of the FSA NEPA process for FSA program participants, and to provide for a more efficient environmental review that will lead to better decisions and outcomes for stakeholders and the environment. Finally, in coordination with the Rural Housing Service, Rural Business-Cooperative Service, and Rural Utilities Service, this rule removes the old NEPA regulations. 81 FR 51274 https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/FR-2016-08-03/2016-18075 2016-18075 fr03au16-19 RIN 0560-AH02 3410-05-P https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/FR-2016-08-03/2016-18075 https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2016-08-03/html/2016-18075.htm https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2016-08-03/pdf/2016-18075.pdf Administrative Practice and Procedure Penalties Price Support Programs Environmental Protection Flood Plains Grant Programs-Agriculture Grant Programs-Housing and Community Development Loan Programs-Housing and Community Development Low and Moderate Income Housing Truth in Lending Accounting Loan Programs-Agriculture Rural Areas Agriculture Banks Banking Credit Reporting and Recordkeeping Requirements Disaster Assistance Agricultural Commodities Livestock Government Property Government Property Management Indians-Loans Indians Apples Seeds Environmental Impact Statements 23 p. 51274 51296 81 FR 51274 Title 7 Part 1436 7 CFR Part 1436 Title 7 Part 1940 7 CFR Part 1940 Title 7 Part 761 7 CFR Part 761 Title 7 Part 762 7 CFR Part 762 Title 7 Part 763 7 CFR Part 763 Title 7 Part 764 7 CFR Part 764 Title 7 Part 765 7 CFR Part 765 Title 7 Part 766 7 CFR Part 766 Title 7 Part 767 7 CFR Part 767 Title 7 Part 770 7 CFR Part 770 Title 7 Part 772 7 CFR Part 772 Title 7 Part 773 7 CFR Part 773 Title 7 Part 774 7 CFR Part 774 Title 7 Part 799 7 CFR Part 799 RIN 0560-AH02 Environmental Policies and Procedures; Compliance With the National Environmental Policy Act and Related Authorities; Federal Register Vol. 81, Issue RULE 2016-18075 II DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Farm Service Agency Commodity Credit Corporation Rural Housing Service, Rural Business-Cooperative Service, Rural Utilities Service, and Farm Service Agency 2016-08-03 3410-05-P 2016-18075 Final rule.

The Farm Service Agency (FSA) is consolidating, updating, and amending its regulations implementing the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as amended (NEPA). FSA's previous NEPA regulations had been in place since 1980. Significant changes to the structure of FSA and the scope of FSA's programs require changes in FSA's NEPA regulations. The changes will also better align FSA's NEPA regulations with the President's Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) NEPA regulations and meet the FSA responsibilities for periodic review of their categorical exclusions (CatExs). CatExs involve proposed actions that typically do not result in individual or cumulative significant environmental effects or impacts and therefore do not merit further environmental review in an Environmental Assessment (EA) or Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). The additions to the existing list of CatExs improves the clarity and consistency of the regulations. This final rule also expands and clarifies the list of proposed actions that require an EA. The FSA NEPA implementing regulations also cover the Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) programs that FSA administers on behalf of CCC. In addition, this rule makes conforming changes to existing references to FSA NEPA regulations in other FSA regulations. The revisions to the FSA NEPA implementing regulations are intended to improve transparency and clarity of the FSA NEPA process for FSA program participants, and to provide for a more efficient environmental review that will lead to better decisions and outcomes for stakeholders and the environment. Finally, in coordination with the Rural Housing Service, Rural Business-Cooperative Service, and Rural Utilities Service, this rule removes the old NEPA regulations.

Effective: August 3, 2016. Nell Fuller; telephone (202) 720-6303. Persons with disabilities or who require alternative means for communication should contact the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Target Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice). Administrative Practice and Procedure Penalties Price Support Programs Environmental Protection Flood Plains Grant Programs-Agriculture Grant Programs-Housing and Community Development Loan Programs-Housing and Community Development Low and Moderate Income Housing Truth in Lending Accounting Loan Programs-Agriculture Rural Areas Agriculture Banks Banking Credit Reporting and Recordkeeping Requirements Disaster Assistance Agricultural Commodities Livestock Government Property Government Property Management Indians-Loans Indians Apples Seeds Environmental Impact Statements Environmental Policies and Procedures: Compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act and Related Authorities , http://www.epa.gov/compliance/nepa/submiteis/index.html Vol. 81, no. 149 Office of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration 2016-08-03 continuing daily deposited born digital 231 p. Table of Contents: AE 2.7: GS 4.107: AE 2.106: KF70.A2 https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/FR-2016-08-03 P0b002ee19074cb37 0097-6326 0042-1219 0364-1406 769-004-00000-9 000582072 f:fr03au16 https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/FR-2016-08-03 https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2016-08-03/pdf/FR-2016-08-03.pdf https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2016-08-03/xml/FR-2016-08-03.xml fdlp 51075 51296 DGPO 2016-08-02 2024-06-01 FR-2016-08-03 machine generated eng FR FR-2016-08-03 81 149