Emergency Conservation Program; Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement, 60312 [E7-20961]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
• Farm Service Agency

[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 205 (Wednesday, October 24, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Page 60312]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-20961]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Farm Service Agency


Emergency Conservation Program; Supplemental Environmental Impact 
Statement

AGENCY: Farm Service Agency, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of intent; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: The Farm Service Agency (FSA) announces its intention to 
prepare a Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS) for the 
Emergency Conservation Program (ECP). The SEIS will assess the 
potential environmental impacts of alternatives for administration and 
implementation of the ECP. FSA administers this program and is now 
conducting a comprehensive review of its current policies, 
achievements, and potential future program changes. FSA will be 
analyzing a range of ECP program alternatives. The SEIS also provides a 
means for the public to have opportunities to voice any opinions they 
may have about the program, and any ideas for improving it in the 
future. This Notice of Intent (NOI) informs the public that FSA is 
requesting public comment and describes in general the description of 
preliminary ECP Alternatives that will be analyzed in the Draft SEIS.

DATES: To ensure that the full range of issues and alternatives related 
to the ECP are addressed, FSA invites comments. Comments should be 
submitted by close of business on December 24, 2007, to ensure full 
consideration. Comments submitted after this date will be considered to 
the extent possible.

ADDRESSES: Written comments on the scope of the Draft SEIS and requests 
for copies of should be directed to ECP SEIS, Geo-Marine Incorporated, 
2713 Magruder Blvd., Suite D, Hampton, VA 23666-1572; or by logging on 
to https://public.geo-marine.com to obtain state specific public scoping 
meetings dates, locations, directions, and comment forms.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Matthew T. Ponish, National 
Environmental Compliance Manager, USDA/FSA/CEPD/Stop 0513, 1400 
Independence Ave., SW., Washington, DC 20250-0513, (202) 720-6853, or 
e-mail at: Matthew.Ponish@wdc.usda.gov. More detailed information on 
ECP may be obtained from FSA's Web site: https://www.fsa.usda.gov/FSA/
webapp?area=home&subject=copr&topic=ecp.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The SEIS is being prepared on the ECP to 
provide FSA decision makers and the public with an analysis that 
evaluates program effects in appropriate contexts, describes the 
intensity of adverse as well as beneficial impacts, and addresses 
cumulative impacts of ECP. Title IV of the Agricultural Credit Act of 
1978, as amended (codified at 16 U.S.C. 2201-2205) authorized the ECP, 
which provides emergency funding for farmers and ranchers to 
rehabilitate farmland damaged by wind erosion, floods, hurricanes, or 
other natural disasters, and for carrying out emergency water 
conservation measures during periods of severe drought. Conservation 
problems existing prior to the disaster involved are not eligible for 
cost-sharing assistance. ECP is administered by FSA State and county 
committees. The SEIS will help FSA to review potential environmental 
impacts resulting from this program and the results will be used in 
implementing and modifying ECP administration and funding. The Record 
of Decision resulting from the SEIS will serve as guidance to FSA 
program decision makers when considering future ECP changes.

Public Participation

    The public is urged to participate in helping to define the scope 
of the proposed Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement. In 
addition to allowing the opportunity to comment via mail and e-mail at 
the addresses listed previously, FSA plans to hold ten public scoping 
meetings to provide information and opportunities for discussing the 
issues and alternatives to be covered in the Draft SEIS and to receive 
oral and written comments. The meetings will be held in AL, CA, GA, FL, 
LA, MO, and TX. Each scoping meeting will be conducted in the evening 
to allow the greatest opportunity for public input. Please check http:/
/public.geo-marine.com for meeting locations, times, directions, and 
comment forms.

Description of Preliminary SEIS Alternatives

    FSA has developed a set of preliminary alternatives to be studied 
in the draft SEIS to initiate the process. The alternatives will be 
amended, as appropriate, based on input by the public and agencies 
during the public scoping process. The SEIS will address the following 
alternatives, which include recommended changes to the program.

Action (baseline)

    Under this alternative, ECP would continue as it is currently 
administered with no substantive changes.

Alternative A

    This alternative would consider changes to land eligibility that 
would make ECP available for assistance on farmlands other than 
cropland, pastureland, and hayland.

Alternative B

    This alternative would make current ECP available only in those 
counties where disasters designated by the President or Secretary of 
Agriculture have occurred.

Alternative C

    Alternative C would be a combination of Alternatives A and B. Under 
this alternative, farmlands, other than cropland, pastureland and 
hayland, in counties designated as disasters by the President or 
Secretary of Agriculture would be eligible for participation in ECP.

    Signed in Washington, DC, on October 4, 2007.
Teresa C. Lasseter,
Administrator, Farm Service Agency.
[FR Doc. E7-20961 Filed 10-23-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-05-P