Notice of Proposed Changes to the National Handbook of Conservation Practices for the Natural Resources Conservation Service, 69779-69780 [2016-24329]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 195 / Friday, October 7, 2016 / Notices call ahead to facilitate entry into the building. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Caroline Mitchell, Committee Coordinator, by phone at 501–321–5318 or via email at carolinemitchell@ fs.fed.us. Individuals who use telecommunication devices for the deaf (TDD) may call the Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1–800–877–8339 between 8:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m., Eastern Standard Time, Monday through Friday. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The purpose of the meeting is: 1. To review Title II proposals. The meeting is open to the public. The agenda will include time for people to make oral statements of three minutes or less. Individuals wishing to make an oral statement should request in writing by October 28, 2016, to be scheduled on the agenda. Anyone who would like to bring related matters to the attention of the committee may file written statements with the committee staff before or after the meeting. Written comments and requests for time for oral comments must be sent to Caroline Mitchell, Committee Coordinator, PO Box 1270, Hot Springs, Arkansas, or via facsimile to 501–321–5399. Meeting Accommodations: If you are a person requiring reasonable accommodation, please make requests in advance for sign language interpreting, assistive listening devices or other reasonable accommodation for access to the facility or proceedings by contacting the person listed in the section titled FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT. All reasonable accommodation requests are managed on a case by case basis. Dated: September 30, 2016. Bill Pell, Designated Federal Official. [FR Doc. 2016–24311 Filed 10–6–16; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3411–15–P DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Natural Resources Conservation Service mstockstill on DSK3G9T082PROD with NOTICES [Docket No. NRCS–2016–0008] Notice of Proposed Changes to the National Handbook of Conservation Practices for the Natural Resources Conservation Service Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). ACTION: Notice of availability of proposed changes in the NRCS National AGENCY: VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:36 Oct 06, 2016 Jkt 241001 Handbook of Conservation Practices (NHCP) for public review and comment. Notice is hereby given of the intention of NRCS to issue a series of revised conservation practice standards in NHCP. These standards include Brush Management (Code 314), Herbaceous Weed Treatment (Code 315), Lined Waterway or Outlet (Code 468), Prescribed Grazing (Code 528), and Restoration of Rare or Declining Natural Communities (Code 643). NRCS State Conservationists who choose to adopt these practices for use within their States will incorporate them into section IV of their 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. DATES: Effective Date: This is effective October 7, 2016. Comment Date: Submit comments on or before November 7, 2016. Final versions of these new or revised conservation practice standards will be adopted after the close of the 30-day period and after consideration of all comments. SUMMARY: Comments should be submitted, identified by Docket Number NRCS–2016–0008, using any of the following methods: • Federal eRulemaking Portal: https:// www.regulations.gov. Follow the instructions for submitting comments. • Mail or hand-delivery: Public Comments Processing, Attention: Regulatory and Agency Policy Team, Strategic Planning and Accountability, Natural Resources Conservation Service, 5601 Sunnyside Avenue, Building 1– 1112D, Beltsville, Maryland 20705. NRCS will post all comments on https://www.regulations.gov. In general, personal information provided with comments will be posted. If your comment includes your address, telephone number, email, or other personal identifying information, your comments, including personal information, may be available to the public. You may ask in your comment that your personal identifying information be withheld from public view, but this cannot be guaranteed. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Terri Ruch, acting national agricultural engineer, Conservation Engineering ADDRESSES: PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 69779 Division, Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service, 1400 Independence Avenue SW., Room 6133 South Building, Washington, DC 20250. Electronic copies of the proposed revised standards are available from https://go.usa.gov/TXye. Requests for paper versions or inquiries may be directed to Emil Horvath, national practice standards review coordinator, Natural Resources Conservation Service, Central National Technology Support Center, 501 West Felix Street, Fort Worth, Texas 76115. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 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 as shown at: https:// www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/ detailfull/national/technical/cp/ncps/ ?cid=nrcs143_026849 .To aid in this comparison, following are highlights of some of the proposed revisions to each standard: Brush Management (Code 314): The brush management standard was reviewed and updated to reflect current agency policy and science. Changes also were made to bring the standard up to date on current ecological site descriptions. Added statement to the ‘‘purpose’’ that when standard is applied successively, it facilitates the process to achieve the desired plant community. ‘‘Criteria’’ section was changed to add statement to ensure practice area has the correct plant diversity for the desired plant community after completion. Herbaceous Weed Treatment (Code 315): The herbaceous weed control standard was reviewed and updated to reflect current agency policy and science. Changes also were made to bring standard up to date on current ecological site descriptions. ‘‘Purpose’’ was adjusted to focus on consideration of reducing wildfire fuel loading. Two ‘‘purposes’’ were added that reflect agency consideration and focus on improving rangeland health, and that when the standard is applied successively, it facilitates the process to achieve the desired plant community. Lined Waterway or Outlet (Code 468): The entire document is edited for clarity. Restriction for maximum capacity is removed. Criteria for minimum capacity is modified to include provisions for minimal slopes and downstream conveyance capacities. Specific ‘‘n’’ values and design criteria E:\FR\FM\07OCN1.SGM 07OCN1 69780 Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 195 / Friday, October 7, 2016 / Notices are replaced with references to NRCS National Engineering Handbook. References and citations are updated to the current editions. Prescribed Grazing (Code 528): The prescribed grazing standard was reviewed and updated to reflect current agency policy and science. Changes were made to clarify and recognize the benefits of prescribed grazing on soil health. Clarified ‘‘practice description’’ by adding ‘‘. . . with the intent to achieve specific ecological, economic, and management objectives.’’ In ‘‘purpose,’’ the concept of plant community ‘‘structure’’ was added when addressing plant communities, and added verbiage identifying the benefits of this practice to soil health. Restoration of Rare or Declining Natural Communities (Code 643): Changed title from Restoration and Management of Rare and Declining Habitats to Restoration of Rare or Declining Natural Communities. The term ‘‘habitats’’ is changed to ‘‘natural communities’’ to encompass not only wildlife resource concerns, but also activities targeting a unique plant community. Unique to restoration efforts of rare and declining natural communities, the restoration of the abiotic conditions is typically necessary, prior to restoration of biotic conditions. Broadened the scope to include abiotic restoration and restoration of plant communities. Dated: September 29, 2016. Jason A. Weller, Chief, Natural Resources Conservation Service. [FR Doc. 2016–24329 Filed 10–6–16; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3410–16–P COMMISSION ON CIVIL RIGHTS Agenda and Notice of Public Meeting of the West Virginia Advisory Committee Commission on Civil Rights. Announcement of monthly planning meetings. AGENCY: ACTION: Notice is hereby given, pursuant to the provisions of the rules and regulations of the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights (Commission), and the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA), that meetings of the West Virginia Advisory Committee (Committee) to the Commission will convene by conference call at 12:00 p.m. (EST) on. The purpose of meetings are to discuss and vote on the Committee’s report regarding Mental Health and discuss topics for the Committee’s future civil rights review. mstockstill on DSK3G9T082PROD with NOTICES SUMMARY: VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:36 Oct 06, 2016 Jkt 241001 Friday, November 4, 2016; Friday, December 2, 2016; and Friday, January 6, 2017. TIME: 12:00 p.m. (EST). PUBLIC CALL-IN INFORMATION: Conference call-in number: 1–888–601–3861 and password: 636552. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ivy L. Davis, at ero@usccr.gov or by phone at 202–376–7533 SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Interested members of the public may listen to the discussion by calling the following tollfree conference call-in number: 1–888– 601–3861 and password: 636552. Please be advised that before placing them into the conference call, the conference call operator will ask callers to provide their names, their organizational affiliations (if any), and email addresses (so that callers may be notified of future meetings). Callers can expect to incur charges for calls they initiate over wireless lines, and the Commission will not refund any incurred charges. Callers will incur no charge for calls they initiate over land-line connections to the toll-free conference call-in number. Persons with hearing impairments may also follow the discussion by first calling the Federal Relay Service at 1800–977–8339 and providing the operator with the toll-free conference call-in number: 1–888–601–3861 and password: 636552. Members of the public are invited to submit written comments; the comments must be received in the regional office approximately 30 days after each scheduled meeting. Written comments may be mailed to the Eastern Regional Office, U.S. Commission on Civil Rights, 1331 Pennsylvania Avenue, Suite 1150, Washington, DC 20425, faxed to (202) 376–7548, or emailed to Evelyn Bohor at ero@ usccr.gov. Persons who desire additional information may contact the Eastern Regional Office at (202) 376– 7533. Records and documents discussed during the meeting will be available for public viewing as they become available at https://facadatabase.gov/committee/ meetings.aspx?cid=281; click the ‘‘Meeting Details’’ and ‘‘Documents’’ links. Records generated from this meeting may also be inspected and reproduced at the Eastern Regional Office, as they become available, both before and after the meetings. Persons interested in the work of this advisory committee are advised to go to the Commission’s Web site, www.usccr.gov, or to contact the Eastern Regional Office at the above phone numbers, email or street address. DATES: PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 Agenda I. Welcome and Introductions —Rollcall Planning Meeting —Discuss Mental Health Project and Other Topics for Civil Right Project II. Other Business III. Open Comment IV. Adjournment Dated: October 3, 2016. David Mussatt, Supervisory Chief, Regional Programs Unit. [FR Doc. 2016–24238 Filed 10–6–16; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE P DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE Foreign-Trade Zones Board [B–67–2016] Foreign-Trade Zone (FTZ) 82—Mobile, Alabama; Notification of Proposed Production Activity; Airbus Americas, Inc. (Commercial Passenger Jet Aircraft); Mobile, Alabama The City of Mobile, Alabama, grantee of FTZ 82, submitted a notification of proposed production activity to the FTZ Board on behalf of Airbus Americas, Inc. (Airbus), located in Mobile, Alabama. The notification conforming to the requirements of the regulations of the FTZ Board (15 CFR 400.22) was received on September 29, 2016. Airbus already has authority to produce commercial passenger jet aircraft within Site 1 of FTZ 82. The current request would add additional foreign status materials/components to the scope of authority. Pursuant to 15 CFR 400.14(b), additional FTZ authority would be limited to the specific foreignstatus materials/components and specific finished products described in the submitted notification (as described below) and subsequently authorized by the FTZ Board. Production under FTZ procedures could exempt Airbus from customs duty payments on the foreign-status materials/components used in export production. On its domestic sales, Airbus would be able to choose the duty rates during customs entry procedures that apply to commercial passenger jet aircraft (duty rate free) for the foreignstatus materials/components noted below and in the existing scope of authority. Customs duties also could possibly be deferred or reduced on foreign-status production equipment. The materials/components sourced from abroad include: Talcum powder; oil-based preservatives; engine, turbine and gear box oils; petroleum jelly; glycerol; non-aqueous paints and E:\FR\FM\07OCN1.SGM 07OCN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 195 (Friday, October 7, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 69779-69780]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-24329]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Natural Resources Conservation Service

[Docket No. NRCS-2016-0008]


Notice of Proposed Changes 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 of proposed changes in the NRCS National 
Handbook of Conservation Practices (NHCP) for public review and 
comment.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given of the intention of NRCS to issue a 
series of revised conservation practice standards in NHCP. These 
standards include Brush Management (Code 314), Herbaceous Weed 
Treatment (Code 315), Lined Waterway or Outlet (Code 468), Prescribed 
Grazing (Code 528), and Restoration of Rare or Declining Natural 
Communities (Code 643). NRCS State Conservationists who choose to adopt 
these practices for use within their States will incorporate them into 
section IV of their 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.

DATES: Effective Date: This is effective October 7, 2016.
    Comment Date: Submit comments on or before November 7, 2016. Final 
versions of these new or revised conservation practice standards will 
be adopted after the close of the 30-day period and after consideration 
of all comments.

ADDRESSES: Comments should be submitted, identified by Docket Number 
NRCS-2016-0008, using any of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: https://www.regulations.gov. 
Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
     Mail or hand-delivery: Public Comments Processing, 
Attention: Regulatory and Agency Policy Team, Strategic Planning and 
Accountability, Natural Resources Conservation Service, 5601 Sunnyside 
Avenue, Building 1-1112D, Beltsville, Maryland 20705.
    NRCS will post all comments on https://www.regulations.gov. In 
general, personal information provided with comments will be posted. If 
your comment includes your address, telephone number, email, or other 
personal identifying information, your comments, including personal 
information, may be available to the public. You may ask in your 
comment that your personal identifying information be withheld from 
public view, but this cannot be guaranteed.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Terri Ruch, acting national 
agricultural engineer, Conservation Engineering Division, Department of 
Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service, 1400 Independence 
Avenue SW., Room 6133 South Building, Washington, DC 20250.
    Electronic copies of the proposed revised standards are available 
from https://go.usa.gov/TXye. Requests for paper versions or inquiries 
may be directed to Emil Horvath, national practice standards review 
coordinator, Natural Resources Conservation Service, Central National 
Technology Support Center, 501 West Felix Street, Fort Worth, Texas 
76115.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 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 as shown at: https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/detailfull/national/technical/cp/ncps/?cid=nrcs143_026849 .To aid in 
this comparison, following are highlights of some of the proposed 
revisions to each standard:
    Brush Management (Code 314): The brush management standard was 
reviewed and updated to reflect current agency policy and science. 
Changes also were made to bring the standard up to date on current 
ecological site descriptions. Added statement to the ``purpose'' that 
when standard is applied successively, it facilitates the process to 
achieve the desired plant community. ``Criteria'' section was changed 
to add statement to ensure practice area has the correct plant 
diversity for the desired plant community after completion.
    Herbaceous Weed Treatment (Code 315): The herbaceous weed control 
standard was reviewed and updated to reflect current agency policy and 
science. Changes also were made to bring standard up to date on current 
ecological site descriptions. ``Purpose'' was adjusted to focus on 
consideration of reducing wildfire fuel loading. Two ``purposes'' were 
added that reflect agency consideration and focus on improving 
rangeland health, and that when the standard is applied successively, 
it facilitates the process to achieve the desired plant community.
    Lined Waterway or Outlet (Code 468): The entire document is edited 
for clarity. Restriction for maximum capacity is removed. Criteria for 
minimum capacity is modified to include provisions for minimal slopes 
and downstream conveyance capacities. Specific ``n'' values and design 
criteria

[[Page 69780]]

are replaced with references to NRCS National Engineering Handbook. 
References and citations are updated to the current editions.
    Prescribed Grazing (Code 528): The prescribed grazing standard was 
reviewed and updated to reflect current agency policy and science. 
Changes were made to clarify and recognize the benefits of prescribed 
grazing on soil health. Clarified ``practice description'' by adding 
``. . . with the intent to achieve specific ecological, economic, and 
management objectives.'' In ``purpose,'' the concept of plant community 
``structure'' was added when addressing plant communities, and added 
verbiage identifying the benefits of this practice to soil health.
    Restoration of Rare or Declining Natural Communities (Code 643): 
Changed title from Restoration and Management of Rare and Declining 
Habitats to Restoration of Rare or Declining Natural Communities. The 
term ``habitats'' is changed to ``natural communities'' to encompass 
not only wildlife resource concerns, but also activities targeting a 
unique plant community. Unique to restoration efforts of rare and 
declining natural communities, the restoration of the abiotic 
conditions is typically necessary, prior to restoration of biotic 
conditions. Broadened the scope to include abiotic restoration and 
restoration of plant communities.

    Dated: September 29, 2016.
Jason A. Weller,
Chief, Natural Resources Conservation Service.
[FR Doc. 2016-24329 Filed 10-6-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3410-16-P
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