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[Federal Register: August 18, 2009 (Volume 74, Number 158)]
[Notices]
[Page 41674-41675]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr18au09-21]

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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Commodity Credit Corporation

Notice of Finding of No Significant Impact on the Final
Programmatic Environmental Assessment for the Farm Storage Facility
Loan Program

AGENCY: Commodity Credit Corporation and Farm Service Agency, USDA.

ACTION: Notice; Finding of No Significant Impact.

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SUMMARY: This notice announces that the Farm Service Agency (FSA), on
behalf of the Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC), has completed a Final
Programmatic Environmental Assessment (PEA) and is issuing a Finding of
No Significant Impact (FONSI) with respect to the implementation of
changes to the Farm Storage Facility Loan (FSFL) program enacted by the
Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 (2008 Farm Bill).

DATES: We will consider comments that we receive by September 17, 2009.

ADDRESSES: We invite you to submit comments on this Final PEA. In your
comments, include the volume, date, and page number of this issue of
the Federal Register. You may submit comments by any of the following
methods:
     E-mail: FSFLPEA@geo-marine.com.
     Online: Go to the Web site at http://public.geo-
marine.com. Follow the online instructions for submitting comments.
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://
www.regulations.gov. Follow the online instructions for submitting
comments.
     Fax: (757) 873-3703.
     Mail: FSFL Program PEA, c/o Geo-marine Incorporated, 2713
Magruder Boulevard Suite D, Hampton, VA 23666.
     Hand Delivery or Courier: Deliver comments to the above
address.
    Comments may be inspected in the Office of the Director, CEPD, FSA,
USDA, 1400 Independence Ave., SW., Room 4709 South Building,
Washington, DC, between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday,
except holidays. A copy of the FONSI and Final PEA is available through
the FSA home page at http://www.fsa.usda.gov/FSA/
webapp?area=home&subject=ecrc&topic=nep-cd.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Matthew Ponish, National Environmental
Compliance Manager, USDA, FSA, CEPD, Stop 0513, 1400 Independence Ave.,
SW., Washington, DC 20250-0513, (202) 720-6853, or e-mail:
Matthew.Ponish@wdc.usda.gov. Persons with disabilities who require
alternative means for communication (Braille, large print, audio tape,
etc.) should contact the USDA Target Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice
and TDD).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FSFL program provides, through the FSA
county offices, low-interest loans to eligible producers for the
purposes of constructing or upgrading on-farm storage facilities for
storing eligible

[[Page 41675]]

facility loan commodities that such producers produce. The FSFL program
is authorized under the CCC Charter Act (15 U.S.C. 714-714p). FSA, on
behalf of CCC, administers the FSFL program. The 2008 Farm Bill (Pub.
L. 110-246) includes several changes to the FSFL program.
    The Final PEA assesses the potential environmental impacts
associated with implementing changes to provisions of the FSFL program
as required by sections 1404 and 1614 of the 2008 Farm Bill (7 U.S.C.
8789). The 2008 Farm Bill specifies the increases to the maximum term
of a farm storage facility loan and the maximum loan amount, identifies
additional commodities eligible for storage, specifies the required
loan security, allows for partial disbursement of loans, and no longer
requires a severance agreement if certain conditions are met. In
addition, the 2008 Farm Bill gives the Secretary discretionary
authority to determine other eligible facility loan commodities. The
need for the Proposed Action is to implement provisions of the 2008
Farm Bill that revise the FSFL program. The specific changes to the
FSFL program include:
     Adding hay and renewable biomass as eligible facility loan
commodities and making the appropriate storage facilities eligible for
loans;
     Extending the maximum loan term to 12 years;
     Increasing the maximum loan amount to $500,000;
     Allowing one partial loan disbursement and the final
disbursement;
     Specifying the loan security requirements and allowing the
borrower the option to increase the down payment on a loan, instead of
requiring a severance agreement from the holder of any prior lien on
the real estate where the storage facility is located; and
     As a discretionary provision, adding vegetables and fruits
that require cold storage facilities as eligible facility loan
commodities.
    FSA analyzed the No Action Alternative (continuation of the FSFL
program as currently implemented) as an environmental baseline.
    The Final PEA also provides a means for the public to voice any
suggestions they may have about the program and any ideas for
rulemaking. The Final PEA can be reviewed online at: http://
www.fsa.usda.gov/FSA/webapp?area=home&subject=ecrc&topic=nep-cd.
    The Final PEA was completed as required by the National
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA, 42 U.S.C. 4321-4347), the Council on
Environmental Quality (CEQ) Regulations for Implementing the Procedural
Provisions of NEPA (40 CFR parts 1500-1508), and FSA's policy and
procedures (7 CFR part 799). Additional analysis under NEPA of
potential impacts associated with certain implementation alternatives
not included in the PEA may be conducted, as appropriate.

Determination

    In consideration of the analysis documented in the Final PEA and
the reasons outlined in the FONSI, the preferred alternative (proposed
action) would not constitute a major State or Federal action that would
significantly affect the human environment. In accordance with NEPA, 40
CFR part 1502.4, ``Major Federal Actions Requiring the Preparation of
Environmental Impact Statements,'' and 7 CFR part 799, ``Environmental
Quality and Related Environmental Concerns--Compliance with the
National Environmental Policy Act,'' and the regulations of the Council
on Environmental Quality (40 CFR parts 1500-1508), I find that neither
the proposed action nor any of the alternatives analyzed constitute a
major Federal action significantly affecting the quality of the human
environment. Therefore, no environmental impact statement will be
prepared.

    Signed in Washington, DC, on August 11, 2009.
Jonathan W. Coppess,
Acting Administrator, Farm Service Agency, and Acting Executive Vice
President, Commodity Credit Corporation.
[FR Doc. E9-19644 Filed 8-17-09; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3410-05-P

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