The Secretary of Agriculture's Determination of the Primary Purpose of the Southwest Florida Water Management District's Facilitating Agricultural Resource Management Systems Program, Mini-FARMS Program, Flow Meter Reimbursement Program, Quality of Water Improvement Program, and Back- Plugging Funding Assistance Initiative, 36965-36966 [2015-15937]
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Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 124 / Monday, June 29, 2015 / Notices
be purchased off-site at over 200 retail
vendors or online.
The Federal Lands Recreation
Enhancement Act (Title VII, Pub. L.
108–447) directs the Secretary of
Agriculture to publish a six month
advance notice in the Federal Register
whenever new recreation fee areas are
established. This new fee, as well as the
fee changes proposed in the larger fee
proposal, were reviewed and
recommended by the BLM Arizona
Recreation Resource Advisory Council
(R–RAC) on June 4, 2015.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Greg
Schuster at 620–225–5200 or by email at
tonto_recreation@fs.fed.us. Information
about the 2014 Recreation Fee Proposal
can also be found on the Tonto National
Forest Web site: https://www.fs.usda.gov/
detail/tonto/home/
?cid=STELPRDB5405154.
Dated: June 17, 2015.
Kerwin Dewberry,
Deputy Forest Supervisor, Tonto National
Forest.
[FR Doc. 2015–15596 Filed 6–26–15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410–11–P
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Natural Resources Conservation
Service
[Docket No. NRCS–2015–0008]
The Secretary of Agriculture’s
Determination of the Primary Purpose
of the Southwest Florida Water
Management District’s Facilitating
Agricultural Resource Management
Systems Program, Mini-FARMS
Program, Flow Meter Reimbursement
Program, Quality of Water
Improvement Program, and BackPlugging Funding Assistance Initiative
Natural Resources
Conservation Service (NRCS), USDA.
ACTION: Notice of determination.
AGENCY:
The Natural Resources
Conservation Service is providing
public notice that the Secretary of
Agriculture has determined that costshare payments made by the Southwest
Florida Water Management District
(SWFWMD) through its Facilitating
Agricultural Resource Management
Systems (FARMS) Program, MiniFARMS Program, Flow Meter
Reimbursement Program, Quality of
Water Improvement Program (QWIP),
and Back-Plugging Funding Assistance
Initiative are primarily for the purpose
of conserving soil and water resources
or protecting and restoring the
environment. SWFWMD is a political
mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
SUMMARY:
VerDate Sep<11>2014
17:13 Jun 26, 2015
Jkt 235001
subdivision of the State of Florida.
NRCS was assigned technical and
administrative responsibility for
reviewing SWFWMD’s FARMS
Program, Mini-FARMS Program, Flow
Meter Reimbursement Program, QWIP,
and Back-Plugging Funding Assistance
Initiative, and for making appropriate
recommendations for the Secretary’s
determination of primary purpose. The
Secretary made the determination for
the State of Florida’s Agricultural Best
Management Practices Program, which
is a counterpart to SWFWMD’s FARMS
Program (74 FR 49850).
This determination is in accordance
with section 126 of the Internal Revenue
Code of 1954, as amended (26 U.S.C.
126), and permits recipients of costshare payments to exclude such
payments from gross income to the
extent allowed by the Internal Revenue
Service.
ADDRESSES: A ‘‘Record of Decision’’ for
SWFWMD’s FARMS Program, MiniFARMS Program, Flow Meter
Reimbursement Program, QWIP, and
Back-Plugging Funding Assistance
Initiative has been prepared and is
available upon request from Mark Rose,
Director, Financial Assistance Programs
Division, Natural Resources
Conservation Service, 1400
Independence Avenue SW., Room 5237
South Building, Washington, DC 20250.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Robert Beltran, Executive Director,
Southwest Florida Water Management
District, Phone: (352) 796–7211; or Mark
Rose, Director, Financial Assistance
Programs Division, Natural Resources
Conservation Service. Phone: (202) 720–
1844.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Under
section 126(a)(10) of the Internal
Revenue Code, gross income does not
include the ‘‘excludable portion’’ of
payments received under any program
of a State, or a political subdivision of
a State, under which payments are made
to individuals primarily for the purpose
of protecting or restoring the
environment. In general, a cost-share
payment for selected conservation
practices is exempt from Federal
taxation if it meets three tests: (1) It was
for a capital expense, (2) it does not
substantially increase the operator’s
annual income from the property for
which it is made, and (3) the Secretary
of Agriculture certified that the payment
was made primarily for conserving soil
and water resources, protecting or
restoring the environment, improving
forests, or providing habitat for wildlife.
The Secretary of Agriculture evaluates
a conservation program on the basis of
criteria set forth in 7 CFR part 14, and
PO 00000
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Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
36965
makes a ‘‘primary purpose’’
determination for the payments made
under the program. The objective of the
determination made under part 14 is to
provide maximum conservation,
environmental, forestry improvement,
and wildlife benefits to the general
public from the operation of applicable
programs. Final determinations are
made on the basis of program, category
of practices, or individual practices.
Following a primary purpose
determination by the Secretary of
Agriculture, the Secretary of the
Treasury determines if the payments
made under the conservation program
substantially increases the annual
income derived from the property
benefited by the payments.
Determination
As provided for by section 126 of the
Internal Revenue Code, the Secretary
examined the authorizing legislation,
regulations, and operating procedures
regarding SWFWMD, a political
subdivision of the State of Florida, and
its FARMS Program, Mini-FARMS
Program, Flow Meter Reimbursement
Program, QWIP, and Back-Plugging
Funding Assistance Initiative. In
accordance with the criteria set out in
7 CFR part 14, the Secretary has
determined the primary purpose of cost
share payments made under
SWFWMD’s FARMS Program, MiniFARMS Program, Flow Meter
Reimbursement Program, QWIP, and
Back-Plugging Funding Assistance
Initiative is conserving soil and water
resources, or protecting and restoring
the environment. The FARMS and MiniFARMS programs are implemented
through Rule 40D–26 of the Florida
Administrative Code. SWFWMD
implements the FARMS and MiniFARMS Programs to provide overall
water resource benefits and to protect
the environment. SWFWMD provides
cost-share reimbursement for select best
management practices that have
potential water conservation, natural
system restoration, and water quality
benefits. The objectives of the programs
are met through cost-shared
construction of specific engineered
structures, as well as acquisition of
specific equipment to meet water
conservation and environmental needs.
FARMS is a cost-share program to
reduce groundwater use through water
conservation best management practices
(BMP) in agricultural operations. The
Mini-FARMS program reimburse
growers for on-farm installation of select
agricultural practices that have potential
water conservation, sediment control,
and water improvement benefits up to a
$5,000 per project cap. Projects that
E:\FR\FM\29JNN1.SGM
29JNN1
36966
Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 124 / Monday, June 29, 2015 / Notices
exceed $5,000 would be considered for
funding through the FARMS program.
Chapter 40D–2, F.A.C. contains the
SWFWMD water use permit regulations
that implements the Flow Meter
Reimbursement Program. Through its
Flow Meter Reimbursement Program,
SWFWMD provides cost-share funding
for flow meter equipment and
installation in the Dover/Plant City
Water Use Caution Area. The program
provides cost share for flow meter
equipment installed on operational
withdraw points, inflow lines,
catchment facilities, tail water recovery
or rainfall capture ponds and storage
facilities that have been in existence
prior to June 16, 2011.
Flow meters on all withdrawal points
are required as a condition of all permits
with crops that utilize frost/freeze
protection water quantities in the
Dover/Plant City Water Use Caution
Area to ensure that withdrawals will not
cause any unmitigated adverse impacts
on the water resources and existing legal
users, and that the use continues to be
in the public interest.
Chapter 373 of the Florida Statutes
enables SWFWMD to implement QWIP.
Section 373.206 of the Florida Statute
authorizes SWFWMD to implement the
Back Plugging Funding Assistance
Initiative to identify and plug highly
mineralized wells of poor water quality
to minimize effects upon an aquifer or
water bodies. SWFWMD’s QWIP and
Back-Plugging Funding Assistance
Initiative provide reimbursement for the
plugging of groundwater wells that have
poor water quality. Properly plugging
poor quality groundwater wells
enhances water conservation, natural
system restoration, and water quality
benefits. SWFWMD provides financial
assistance to properly plug abandoned
and deteriorating artesian wells in order
to comply with Chapter 373 of the
Florida Statutes. Plugging wells
involves filling the abandoned well with
cement or bentonite.
mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
Signed this 1st day of May 2015, in
Washington, DC.
Jason A. Weller,
Chief, Natural Resources Conservation
Service.
[FR Doc. 2015–15937 Filed 6–26–15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410–16–P
VerDate Sep<11>2014
17:13 Jun 26, 2015
Jkt 235001
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Natural Resources Conservation
Service
Request for Nominations to the
Agricultural Air Quality Task Force
Natural Resources
Conservation Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice of Request for
Nominations to the Agricultural Air
Quality Task Force.
AGENCY:
The Secretary of Agriculture
invites nominations of qualified
candidates to be considered for a 2-year
term on the Agricultural Air Quality
Task Force (AAQTF) established by the
Federal Agriculture Improvement and
Reform Act of 1996 to provide
recommendations to the Secretary of
Agriculture on agricultural air quality
issues. This notice solicits nominations
for membership on AAQTF.
DATES: Effective Date: This is effective
June 29, 2015.
ADDRESSES: Nominations should be
postmarked no later than August 13,
2015 to Greg Johnson, Designated
Federal Official, Department of
Agriculture, Natural Resources
Conservation Service, 1201 Northeast
Lloyd Boulevard, Suite 1000, Portland,
Oregon 97232, or sent by email to
greg.johnson@por.usda.gov.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Greg
Johnson, Designated Federal Official,
Department of Agriculture, Natural
Resources Conservation Service, 1201
Northeast Lloyd Boulevard, Suite 1000,
Portland, Oregon 97232; telephone:
(503) 273–2424; fax: (503) 273–2401;
email: greg.johnson@por.usda.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
SUMMARY:
AAQTF Purpose
Section 391 of the Federal Agriculture
Improvement and Reform Act of 1996,
Public Law 104–127, 7 U.S.C. 5405,
requires the Chief of the Natural
Resource Conservation Service (NRCS)
to establish a task force to address air
agricultural quality issues. The task
force advises the Secretary of
Agriculture on the role of the Secretary
for providing oversight and
coordination related to agricultural air
quality. The requirements of the Federal
Advisory Committee Act, 5 U.S.C.
App.2, apply to this task force.
The Task Force will:
1. Strengthen vital research efforts
related to agricultural air quality;
2. Determine the extent to which
agricultural activities contribute to air
pollution;
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Frm 00006
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
3. Determine cost-effective ways in
which the agricultural industry can
improve air quality;
4. Coordinate and ensure
intergovernmental cooperation on
research activities related to agricultural
air quality issues to avoid duplication,
and ensure data quality and sound
interpretation of data; and
5. Advise the Secretary of Agriculture
on the role of the Secretary for
providing oversight and coordination
related to agricultural air quality.
AAQTF Membership
The task force expects to meet two to
three times each year, with meetings
held at various locations across the
United States. A task force member will
serve for a term of 2 years, starting with
the date of charter establishment for this
task force. The Chief of NRCS serves as
Chair of the task force. The task force is
composed of United States citizens
representing a broad spectrum of
individuals with interest in agricultural
air quality issues. This includes, but is
not limited to, representatives from the
agricultural production and processing
sector, as well as those from academia,
agribusiness, regulatory organizations,
environmental organizations, and local
or State agencies.
Nominees to AAQTF will be
evaluated on a number of criteria,
including expertise in or experience
with agricultural air quality research,
agricultural production, and air quality
environmental or regulatory issues.
Serving as a task force member will
not constitute employment by, or the
holding of, an office of the United States
for the purpose of any Federal law.
Persons selected for membership on the
task force will not receive compensation
from NRCS for their service as task force
members, except that while away from
home or regular place of business the
member will be eligible for travel
expenses paid by NRCS, including per
diem in lieu of subsistence, at the same
rate as a person employed intermittently
in the government service, under
section 5703 of Title 5, U.S.C.
Additional information about AAQTF
may be found on the World Wide Web
at https://www.airquality.nrcs.usda.gov/
wps/portal/nrcs/detail/national/air/
taskforce/.
Member Nominations
Any interested person or organization
may nominate qualified individuals for
membership. Interested candidates may
nominate themselves. Previous
nominees and task force members who
wish to be considered for membership
on the task force must submit a new
nomination with updated information,
E:\FR\FM\29JNN1.SGM
29JNN1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 124 (Monday, June 29, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 36965-36966]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-15937]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Natural Resources Conservation Service
[Docket No. NRCS-2015-0008]
The Secretary of Agriculture's Determination of the Primary
Purpose of the Southwest Florida Water Management District's
Facilitating Agricultural Resource Management Systems Program, Mini-
FARMS Program, Flow Meter Reimbursement Program, Quality of Water
Improvement Program, and Back- Plugging Funding Assistance Initiative
AGENCY: Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), USDA.
ACTION: Notice of determination.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The Natural Resources Conservation Service is providing public
notice that the Secretary of Agriculture has determined that cost-share
payments made by the Southwest Florida Water Management District
(SWFWMD) through its Facilitating Agricultural Resource Management
Systems (FARMS) Program, Mini-FARMS Program, Flow Meter Reimbursement
Program, Quality of Water Improvement Program (QWIP), and Back-Plugging
Funding Assistance Initiative are primarily for the purpose of
conserving soil and water resources or protecting and restoring the
environment. SWFWMD is a political subdivision of the State of Florida.
NRCS was assigned technical and administrative responsibility for
reviewing SWFWMD's FARMS Program, Mini-FARMS Program, Flow Meter
Reimbursement Program, QWIP, and Back-Plugging Funding Assistance
Initiative, and for making appropriate recommendations for the
Secretary's determination of primary purpose. The Secretary made the
determination for the State of Florida's Agricultural Best Management
Practices Program, which is a counterpart to SWFWMD's FARMS Program (74
FR 49850).
This determination is in accordance with section 126 of the
Internal Revenue Code of 1954, as amended (26 U.S.C. 126), and permits
recipients of cost-share payments to exclude such payments from gross
income to the extent allowed by the Internal Revenue Service.
ADDRESSES: A ``Record of Decision'' for SWFWMD's FARMS Program, Mini-
FARMS Program, Flow Meter Reimbursement Program, QWIP, and Back-
Plugging Funding Assistance Initiative has been prepared and is
available upon request from Mark Rose, Director, Financial Assistance
Programs Division, Natural Resources Conservation Service, 1400
Independence Avenue SW., Room 5237 South Building, Washington, DC
20250.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Robert Beltran, Executive Director,
Southwest Florida Water Management District, Phone: (352) 796-7211; or
Mark Rose, Director, Financial Assistance Programs Division, Natural
Resources Conservation Service. Phone: (202) 720-1844.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Under section 126(a)(10) of the Internal
Revenue Code, gross income does not include the ``excludable portion''
of payments received under any program of a State, or a political
subdivision of a State, under which payments are made to individuals
primarily for the purpose of protecting or restoring the environment.
In general, a cost-share payment for selected conservation practices is
exempt from Federal taxation if it meets three tests: (1) It was for a
capital expense, (2) it does not substantially increase the operator's
annual income from the property for which it is made, and (3) the
Secretary of Agriculture certified that the payment was made primarily
for conserving soil and water resources, protecting or restoring the
environment, improving forests, or providing habitat for wildlife.
The Secretary of Agriculture evaluates a conservation program on
the basis of criteria set forth in 7 CFR part 14, and makes a ``primary
purpose'' determination for the payments made under the program. The
objective of the determination made under part 14 is to provide maximum
conservation, environmental, forestry improvement, and wildlife
benefits to the general public from the operation of applicable
programs. Final determinations are made on the basis of program,
category of practices, or individual practices. Following a primary
purpose determination by the Secretary of Agriculture, the Secretary of
the Treasury determines if the payments made under the conservation
program substantially increases the annual income derived from the
property benefited by the payments.
Determination
As provided for by section 126 of the Internal Revenue Code, the
Secretary examined the authorizing legislation, regulations, and
operating procedures regarding SWFWMD, a political subdivision of the
State of Florida, and its FARMS Program, Mini-FARMS Program, Flow Meter
Reimbursement Program, QWIP, and Back-Plugging Funding Assistance
Initiative. In accordance with the criteria set out in 7 CFR part 14,
the Secretary has determined the primary purpose of cost share payments
made under SWFWMD's FARMS Program, Mini-FARMS Program, Flow Meter
Reimbursement Program, QWIP, and Back-Plugging Funding Assistance
Initiative is conserving soil and water resources, or protecting and
restoring the environment. The FARMS and Mini-FARMS programs are
implemented through Rule 40D-26 of the Florida Administrative Code.
SWFWMD implements the FARMS and Mini-FARMS Programs to provide overall
water resource benefits and to protect the environment. SWFWMD provides
cost-share reimbursement for select best management practices that have
potential water conservation, natural system restoration, and water
quality benefits. The objectives of the programs are met through cost-
shared construction of specific engineered structures, as well as
acquisition of specific equipment to meet water conservation and
environmental needs. FARMS is a cost-share program to reduce
groundwater use through water conservation best management practices
(BMP) in agricultural operations. The Mini-FARMS program reimburse
growers for on-farm installation of select agricultural practices that
have potential water conservation, sediment control, and water
improvement benefits up to a $5,000 per project cap. Projects that
[[Page 36966]]
exceed $5,000 would be considered for funding through the FARMS
program.
Chapter 40D-2, F.A.C. contains the SWFWMD water use permit
regulations that implements the Flow Meter Reimbursement Program.
Through its Flow Meter Reimbursement Program, SWFWMD provides cost-
share funding for flow meter equipment and installation in the Dover/
Plant City Water Use Caution Area. The program provides cost share for
flow meter equipment installed on operational withdraw points, inflow
lines, catchment facilities, tail water recovery or rainfall capture
ponds and storage facilities that have been in existence prior to June
16, 2011.
Flow meters on all withdrawal points are required as a condition of
all permits with crops that utilize frost/freeze protection water
quantities in the Dover/Plant City Water Use Caution Area to ensure
that withdrawals will not cause any unmitigated adverse impacts on the
water resources and existing legal users, and that the use continues to
be in the public interest.
Chapter 373 of the Florida Statutes enables SWFWMD to implement
QWIP. Section 373.206 of the Florida Statute authorizes SWFWMD to
implement the Back Plugging Funding Assistance Initiative to identify
and plug highly mineralized wells of poor water quality to minimize
effects upon an aquifer or water bodies. SWFWMD's QWIP and Back-
Plugging Funding Assistance Initiative provide reimbursement for the
plugging of groundwater wells that have poor water quality. Properly
plugging poor quality groundwater wells enhances water conservation,
natural system restoration, and water quality benefits. SWFWMD provides
financial assistance to properly plug abandoned and deteriorating
artesian wells in order to comply with Chapter 373 of the Florida
Statutes. Plugging wells involves filling the abandoned well with
cement or bentonite.
Signed this 1st day of May 2015, in Washington, DC.
Jason A. Weller,
Chief, Natural Resources Conservation Service.
[FR Doc. 2015-15937 Filed 6-26-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-16-P
