Agricultural Water Enhancement Program, 2040-2045 [E9-504]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
• Commodity Credit Corporation

[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 9 (Wednesday, January 14, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 2040-2045]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-504]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Commodity Credit Corporation


Agricultural Water Enhancement Program

AGENCY: Commodity Credit Corporation and Natural Resources Conservation 
Service, Department of Agriculture (USDA).

ACTION: Notice of request for proposals.

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SUMMARY: Section 2510 of the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 
(2008 Act) established the Agricultural Water Enhancement Program 
(AWEP) by amending section 1240I of the Food Security Act of 1985. The 
Secretary of Agriculture delegated the authority for AWEP to the Chief 
of the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), who is a vice 
president of the Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC). NRCS is an agency 
of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). Up to $58.4 million in 
AWEP financial assistance is expected to be available in fiscal year 
2009 for NRCS to enter into contracts with producers. The purpose of 
this notice is to inform agricultural producers of the availability of 
AWEP funds and to solicit proposals from potential partners who seek to 
enter into partnership agreements with the Chief to promote the 
conservation of ground and surface water and the improvement of water 
quality.

DATES: Proposals must be postmarked by March 2, 2009.

ADDRESSES: Proposals should be submitted to the Chief (Attn: Financial 
Assistance Programs Division), Natural Resources Conservation Service, 
USDA, AWEP Proposals, P.O. Box 2890, Washington, DC 20013 by March 2, 
2009. Applicants also must send their proposal to the appropriate State 
Conservationist(s) postmarked, or dated if electronic, no later than 
March 2, 2009. To submit your application electronically, visit https://
www.grants.gov/apply and follow the on-line instructions.

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FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Greg Johnson, Director, Financial 
Assistance Programs Division, NRCS; phone: (202) 720-1845; fax: (202) 
720-4265; or e-mail: AWEP2008@wdc.usda.gov; Subject: AWEP Proposal; or 
via Internet. Users can access the NRCS homepage at https://
www.nrcs.usda.gov/; select the Farm Bill link from the menu; select the 
Notices link from beneath the Federal Register Notices Index title. 
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).
    Catalogue of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number: 10.912.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Availability of Funding:
    Effective on the publication date of this notice, the CCC announces 
the availability, until September 30, 2009, of up to $58.4 million for 
AWEP financial assistance. NRCS will implement AWEP by entering into 
partnership agreements with eligible entities to conserve ground and 
surface water or improve water quality, or both, in their region. 
Partners submit complete proposals, as described in this notice, to the 
Chief, NRCS. Partnership agreement selection will be based on the 
criteria established in this notice. Once the Chief selects a partner's 
proposal, agricultural producers within the selected partner's project 
area may work through the partner to submit an AWEP contract 
application or submit a contract application directly to NRCS.
    Entities are eligible to enter into partnership agreements. These 
entities include, but are not limited to, federally recognized Indian 
Tribes, States, units of local government, agricultural or 
silvicultural associations, other groups of such producers, such as an 
irrigation association, agricultural land trust, or other 
nongovernmental organization that has experience working with 
agricultural producers. All Federal funds awarded through this request 
for proposals (RFP) will be paid to producers. No Federal funding may 
be used to cover administrative expenses of partners. Administrative 
activities include any indirect or direct costs relating to submitting 
or implementing the project proposal.
    Definitions:
    Agricultural land means cropland, grassland, rangeland, pasture, 
and other agricultural land, on which agricultural and forest-related 
products or livestock are produced and resource concerns may be 
addressed. Other agricultural lands may include cropped woodland, 
marshes, incidental areas included in the agricultural operation, and 
other types of agricultural land used for production of livestock.
    Agricultural water enhancement activity means the following, which 
are conducted in accordance with State water law:
     Water quality or water conservation plan development, 
including resource condition assessment and modeling.
     Water conservation restoration or enhancement projects, 
including the conversion to the production of less water-intensive 
agricultural commodities or dryland farming.
     Water quality or quantity restoration or enhancement 
projects.
     Irrigation system improvement and irrigation efficiency 
enhancements.
     Activities designed to mitigate the effects of drought, 
(e.g., construction, improvement, or maintenance of irrigation ponds, 
small on-farm reservoirs, or other agricultural water impoundment 
structures, which are designed to capture surface water runoff).
     Related activities that the Chief determines will help 
achieve water quality or water conservation benefits on agricultural 
land.
    Chief means the Chief of NRCS, USDA.
    Conservation practice means one or more conservation improvements 
and activities, including structural practices, land management 
practices, vegetative practices, forest management practices, and other 
improvements that are planned and applied according to NRCS standards 
and specifications.
    Contract means a legal document that specifies the rights and 
obligations of any participant accepted to participate in the program. 
An AWEP contract is an agreement for the transfer of assistance from 
USDA to the participant to share in the costs of applying conservation 
practices.
    Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) means a program 
administered by NRCS in accordance with 7 CFR 1466, which provides for 
the installation and implementation of conservation practices on 
agricultural and nonindustrial private forest land.
    Exceptional Drought (D-4) means, as defined by the National Oceanic 
and Atmospheric Administration, exceptional widespread crop/pasture 
losses; exceptional fire risk; shortages of water in reservoirs, 
streams, and wells, creating water emergencies.
    Field Office Technical Guide means the official local NRCS source 
of resource information and interpretation of guidelines, criteria, and 
requirements for planning and applying conservation practices and 
conservation management systems. It contains detailed information on 
the conservation of soil, water, air, plant, and animal resources 
applicable to the local area for which it is prepared.
    Indian land is an inclusive term describing all lands held in trust 
by the United States for individual Indians or Tribes, or all lands, 
titles to which are held by individual Indians or Tribes, subject to 
Federal restrictions against alienation or encumbrance, or all lands 
which are subject to the rights of use, occupancy and/or benefit of 
certain Tribes. For purposes of this notice, the term Indian land also 
includes land for which the title is held in fee status by Indian 
Tribes, and the U.S. Government-owned land under Bureau of Indian 
Affairs jurisdiction.
    Indian Tribe means any Indian Tribe, band, nation, or other 
organized group or community, including any Alaska Native village or 
regional or village corporation as defined in or established pursuant 
to the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (43 U.S.C. 1601 et seq.) 
that is federally recognized as eligible for the special programs and 
services provided by the United States to Indians because of their 
status as Indians.
    Partner means an entity that enters into a partnership agreement 
with the Chief to carry out an agricultural water enhancement project. 
Partners that are eligible to participate in AWEP include, but are not 
limited to, federally recognized Indian Tribes, States, units of local 
government, agricultural or silvicultural associations, or other such 
groups of agricultural producers.
    Partnership agreement means an agreement between the Chief and the 
partner that describes the duties and obligations of NRCS and the 
partner. It does not transfer financial assistance to a partner.
    Payment means financial assistance provided to the participant for 
the estimated costs incurred for performing or implementing 
conservation practices, including costs for: planning, materials, 
equipment, labor, design and installation, maintenance, management, or 
training, as well as the estimated income foregone by the producer for 
designated conservation practices.
    Producer means a person, legal entity, or joint operation who has 
an interest in the agricultural operation, according to 7 CFR 1400, or 
who is engaged in agricultural production or forest management.
    Projects of Special Environmental Significance means projects, as 
determined by the Chief, which meet the following criteria:
     Site-specific evaluations have been completed, documenting 
that the project

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will have substantial positive impacts on critical resources in or near 
the project area (e.g., impaired water bodies, at-risk species, or air 
quality attainment);
     The project clearly addresses a national priority and 
State, Tribal, or local priorities, as applicable; and
     The project assists the participant in complying with 
Federal, State, and local regulatory requirements.
    State Conservationist means the NRCS employee who is authorized to 
implement conservation programs, administered by NRCS, and who directs 
and supervises NRCS activities in a State, the Caribbean Area, or the 
Pacific Islands Area.
    State Technical Committee means a committee established by the 
Secretary in a State pursuant to 16 U.S.C. 3861.
    Technical assistance means technical expertise, information, and 
tools necessary for the conservation of natural resources on land 
active in agricultural, forestry, or related uses. The term includes 
the following: (1) Technical services provided directly to farmers, 
ranchers, and other eligible entities, such as conservation planning, 
technical consultation, and assistance with design and implementation 
of conservation practices; and 2) technical infrastructure, including 
activities, processes, tools, and agency functions needed to support 
delivery of technical services, such as technical standards, resource 
inventories, training, data, technology, monitoring, and effects 
analyses.
    Technical Service Provider means an individual, private-sector 
entity, or public agency certified by NRCS, in accordance with 7 CFR 
652, to provide technical services to program participants in lieu of 
or on behalf of NRCS.

Overview of the Agricultural Water Enhancement Program

Background

    The Agricultural Water Enhancement Program (AWEP) is a voluntary 
conservation program that provides financial and technical assistance 
to agricultural producers to implement agricultural water enhancement 
activities on agricultural land for the purposes of conserving surface 
and ground water and improving water quality. As part of the 
Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), AWEP operates through 
contracts with producers to plan and implement conservation practices 
to conserve ground and surface water and improve water quality in 
project areas established through partnership agreements. Producers may 
participate individually in AWEP, or collectively through a partnership 
project. For example, the role of the partner may be to facilitate the 
submission of producers' applications, or it may be to provide 
additional technical or financial assistance to participating 
agricultural producers. AWEP funding will be delivered to producers; no 
AWEP funding may be used to cover the administrative expenses of 
partners.

Producer Applications and Contracts

    Agricultural producers in selected project areas may apply for 
available AWEP funds at their local United States Department of 
Agriculture (USDA) service center or on-line at: https://www.grants.gov/
apply, using the on-line instructions. Once an application is selected, 
an eligible agricultural producer will enter into a contract with NRCS 
to implement agricultural water enhancement activities. Through these 
contracts, NRCS provides payments to agricultural producers for 
implementing conservation practices. The contract term will be for a 
minimum duration of one year after completion of the last practice, but 
not more than 10 years. In States with water quantity concerns, where 
the partner proposal includes the conversion of agricultural land from 
irrigated farming to dryland farming, NRCS may enter into contracts, 
through which a producer receives payments for such activity for up to 
five years, when applying through a State partner and such activities 
are consistent with State law. An agricultural producer may elect to 
use a technical service provider for technical assistance. A 
participant may not receive, directly or indirectly, payments that, in 
the aggregate, exceed $300,000. NRCS may waive this limitation up to 
$450,000 for projects of special environmental significance, as 
determined by the Chief. All agricultural producers receiving 
assistance through AWEP must meet EQIP eligibility requirements and 
will be subject to EQIP payment limitations. Participating AWEP 
producers are not required to have an existing EQIP contract, although 
they must be determined eligible for EQIP assistance prior to entering 
into an AWEP contract. For information on the limitations and benefits 
that apply to land and agricultural producers enrolled in the AWEP 
program, please consult EQIP's authorizing legislation (16 U.S.C. 
3839aa) and regulation (7 CFR 1466) (https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/
eqip).

Submitting Partnership Proposals

    Potential partners must submit proposals that contain the 
information set forth in ``Proposal Requirements'' to receive 
consideration for entering into partnership agreements. The potential 
partner must submit a complete proposal, including letters of review 
from the appropriate State Conservationists, to the Chief, as specified 
in this notice. In providing letters of review for partner proposals, 
the State Conservationist may consult with the State Technical 
Committee (established pursuant to 16 U.S.C. 3861) to evaluate the 
merits of the proposals.
    The Chief will review and evaluate the proposals based on the 
criteria provided in this notice. Incomplete proposals and those that 
do not meet the requirements set forth in this notice will not be 
considered, and notification of elimination will be mailed to the 
applicant.

Entity and Land Eligibility

    Entities that are eligible to enter into AWEP partnership 
agreements include, but are not limited to, federally recognized Indian 
Tribes, States, units of local government, agricultural or 
silvicultural associations, or other groups of such producers, such as 
an irrigation association, agricultural land trust, or other 
nongovernmental organization that has experience working with 
agricultural producers. The following land is eligible for enrollment 
in the AWEP:
     Private agricultural land:
     For agricultural lands not irrigated for two of the 
previous five years, the construction, improvement, or maintenance of 
irrigation ponds, small on-farm reservoirs, or other agricultural water 
impoundment structures, which are designed to capture surface water 
runoff, are eligible only in an area that is experiencing or has 
experienced exceptional drought conditions between June 18, 2006 and 
June 18, 2008.
     Indian land; and
     Publicly owned land where:
     The conservation practices to be implemented on the public 
land are necessary and will contribute to an improvement in the 
identified resource concern that is on private land; and
     The land is a working component of the participant's 
agricultural and forestry operation; and
     The participant has control of the land for the term of 
the contract.

Partnership Proposal Requirements

    To participate in AWEP, a potential partner must submit a proposal 
to the Chief. The proposal must contain the

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information set forth below in order to receive consideration:
    1. Partnership capacity: Potential partners must describe their 
project and their record of working with agricultural producers to 
address water quality and quantity issues.
    Information provided in the proposal must:
    (a) Demonstrate a commitment by the partner to the long-term 
conservation of surface and ground water or water quality improvement;
    (b) Demonstrate the ability to coordinate water quality and 
quantity efforts among agricultural producers;
    (c) Demonstrate the availability of non-Federal matching funds or 
other resources being contributed;
    (d) Demonstrate the ability to monitor and evaluate project effects 
on natural resources;
    (e) Demonstrate the capacity to deliver a final project performance 
report;
    (f) Identify potential criteria to be used by NRCS to prioritize 
and rank agricultural producers' AWEP applications in the project area;
    (g) Describe the partners collaborating to achieve the project 
objectives and the roles, responsibilities, and capabilities of each 
partner;
    (h) Describe the proposed agricultural water enhancement activities 
to be applied within the designated five-year timeframe;
    (i) Describe the amount of funds needed annually for producer 
contracts;
    (j) Describe the amount and source of non-Federal funds or other 
resources that are anticipated to be leveraged by AWEP;
    (k) Identify the project funding NRCS is requested to provide 
through AWEP; and
    (l) Provide a project implementation schedule.
    2. Lands to be treated: The proposal should describe the geographic 
area to be covered by the partnership agreement. Specifically, the 
proposal should include:
    (a) A map showing the proposed project area(s);
    (b) A description of the agricultural water quality or water 
conservation issues to be addressed by the partnership agreement;
    (c) A description of the agricultural water enhancement objectives 
to be achieved through the partnership;
    (d) The total number of acres anticipated to need conservation 
treatment; and
    (e) The proposed agricultural water enhancement activities that may 
be implemented.
    3. Producer Information: The partner must identify:
    (a) The number of agricultural producers that are likely to 
participate in the project; and
    (b) The total number of agricultural producers in the project area.
    4. Letter of review: Potential partners must include a copy of the 
cover letter showing that the proposal was sent to the appropriate 
State Conservationist(s) for review. If a project is multi-state in 
scope, all State Conservationists in the project area must be sent the 
proposal for review. The State Conservationist(s) will review the 
proposal for potential duplication of efforts, consistency with overall 
EQIP objectives, and the expected benefits to EQIP implementation in 
their State(s). Applicants must send their proposal to the appropriate 
State Conservationist in accordance with the proposals submission 
instructions. State Conservationist(s) must submit letters to NRCS 
National Headquarters by March 2, 2009. A list of NRCS State Office 
addresses and phone numbers is included at the end of this notice. 
Potential partners are encouraged to consult with the appropriate State 
Conservationist(s) during proposal development to discuss the letter of 
review.
    5. Potential partners should submit project action plans and 
schedules, not to exceed five years, detailing activities, including 
timeframes related to project milestones and monitoring and evaluation 
activities. The project action plan should describe how often the 
potential partner plans to monitor and evaluate the project and how it 
plans to quantify the results of the project for the final project 
performance report.

Ranking Considerations

    The Chief will evaluate the proposals using a competitive process. 
The Chief may give a higher priority to proposals that:
     Include high percentages of agricultural land and 
producers in a region or other appropriate area;
     Result in high levels of applied agricultural water 
quality and water conservation activities;
     Significantly enhance agricultural activity;
     Allow for monitoring and evaluation;
     Assist agricultural producers in meeting a regulatory 
requirement that reduces the economic scope of the producer's 
operation;
     Achieve the project's land and water treatment objectives 
within five years or less;
     For proposals from states with water quantity concerns:
     Assist producers in states with water quantity concerns, 
as determined by the Chief;
     Include the conversion of agricultural land from irrigated 
farming to dryland farming;
     Leverage Federal funds provided under the program with 
funds provided by partners; or
     Are located in the following regions: Eastern Snake Plain 
Aquifer, Puget Sound, Ogallala Aquifer, Sacramento River Watershed, 
Upper Mississippi River Basin, Red River of the North Basin, or 
Everglades.

Partnership Agreements

    The Chief will enter into a partnership agreement with a selected 
partner. The partnership agreement will not obligate funds, but will 
address:
     Agricultural water enhancement activities anticipated to 
be applied;
     The role of NRCS;
     The responsibilities of the partner related to the 
monitoring and evaluation of project performance;
     The frequency and duration of the monitoring and 
evaluation of project performance;
     The content and format of the final project performance 
report that is required as a condition of the agreement;
     The specified project schedule; and
     Other requirements deemed necessary by NRCS to achieve the 
purposes of AWEP.
    Once the Chief has entered into a partnership agreement with a 
partner, NRCS will enter into contracts directly with agricultural 
producers participating in the project and other eligible producers 
within the project area. Participating producers must meet all EQIP 
eligibility requirements (7 CFR 1466.8).

Waiver Authority

    To assist in the implementation of agricultural water enhancement 
activities under the program, the Chief may waive the applicability of 
the Adjusted Gross Income Limitation (AGI), on a case-by-case basis in 
accordance with policy and processes promulgated in 7 CFR 1400. Such 
waiver requests must be submitted to the Chief at the address listed in 
this notice.

    Signed in Washington, DC on January 8, 2009.
Arlen L. Lancaster,
Vice President, Commodity Credit Corporation and Chief, Natural 
Resources Conservation Service.

NRCS State Conservationists

Alabama: Gary Kobylski, 3381 Skyway Drive, Post Office Box 311, Auburn,

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AL 36830, Phone: (334) 887-4535, Fax: (334) 887-4551, 
gary.kobylski@al.usda.gov.
Alaska: Robert Jones, Atrium Building, Suite 100, 800 West Evergreen, 
Palmer, AK 99645-6539, Phone: (907) 761-7760, Fax: (907) 761-7790, 
robert.jones@ak.usda.gov.
Arizona: David McKay, 230 N. First Avenue, Suite 509, Phoenix, AZ 
85003-1733, Phone: (602) 280-8801, Fax: (602) 280-8809, 
david.mckay@az.usda.gov.
Arkansas: Kalven L. Trice, Federal Building, Room 3416, 700 West 
Capitol Avenue, Little Rock, AR 72201-3228, Phone: (501) 301-3100, Fax: 
(501) 301-3194, kalven.trice@ar.usda.gov.
California: Lincoln E. Burton, Suite 4164, 430 G Street, Davis, CA 
95616-4164, Phone: (530) 792-5600, Fax: (530) 792-5790, 
ed.burton@ca.usda.gov.
Caribbean Area: Juan A. Martinez, Director, IBM Building, Suite 604, 
654 Munoz Rivera Avenue, Hato Rey, PR 00918-4123, Phone: (787) 766-
5206, Fax: (787) 766-5987, juan.martinez@pr.usda.gov.
Colorado: James Allen Green, Room E200C, 655 Parfet Street, Lakewood, 
CO 80215-5521, Phone: (720) 544-2810, Fax: (720) 544-2965, 
allen.green@co.usda.gov.
Connecticut: Douglas Zehner, 344 Merrow Road, Suite A, Tolland, CT 
06084, Phone: (860) 871-4011, Fax: (860) 871-4054, 
doug.zehner@ct.usda.gov.
Delaware: Russell Morgan, Suite 100, 1221 College Park Drive, Dover, DE 
19904-8713, Phone: (302) 678-4160, Fax: (302) 678-0843, 
russell.morgan@de.usda.gov.
Florida: Carlos Suarez, 2614 N.W. 43rd Street, Gainesville, FL 32606-
6611, Phone: (352) 338-9500, Fax: (352) 338-9574, 
carlos.suarez@fl.usda.gov.
Georgia: James Tillman, Federal Building, Stop 200, 355 East Hancock 
Avenue, Athens, GA 30601-2769, Phone: (706) 546-2272, Fax: (706) 546-
2120, james.tillman@ga.usda.gov.
Pacific Islands Area: Lawrence T. Yamamoto, Room 4-118, 300 Ala Moana 
Boulevard, Honolulu, HI 96850-0002, Phone: (808) 541-2600, Ext. 100, 
Fax: (808) 541-1335, larry.yamamoto@hi.usda.gov.
Idaho: Jeff Burwell, Suite C, 9173 West Barnes Drive, Boise, ID 83709, 
Phone: (208) 378-5700, Fax: (208) 378-5735, 
jeffery.burwell@id.usda.gov.
Illinois: William J. Gradle, 2118 W. Park Court, Champaign, IL 61821, 
Phone: (217) 353-6600, Fax: (217) 353-6676, bill.gradle@il.usda.gov.
Indiana: Jane E. Hardisty, 6013 Lakeside Blvd., Indianapolis, IN 46278-
2933, Phone: (317) 290-3200, Fax: (317) 290-3225, 
jane.hardisty@in.usda.gov.
Iowa: Richard Sims, 693 Federal Building, Suite 693, 210 Walnut Street, 
Des Moines, IA 50309-2180, Phone: (515) 284-6655, Fax: (515) 284-4394, 
richard.sims@ia.usda.gov.
Kansas: Eric Banks, 760 South Broadway, Salina, KS 67401-4642, Phone: 
(785) 823-4500, Fax: (785) 452-3369, eric.banks@ks.usda.gov.
Kentucky: Tom Perrin, Suite 210, 771 Corporate Drive, Lexington, KY 
40503-5479, Phone: (859) 224-7350, Fax: (859) 224-7399, 
tom.perrin@ky.usda.gov.
Louisiana: Kevin Norton, 3737 Government Street, Alexandria, LA 71302, 
Phone: (318) 473-7751, Fax: (318) 473-7626, kevin.norton@la.usda.gov.
Maine: Joyce Swartzendruber, Suite 3, 967 Illinois Avenue, Bangor, ME 
04401, Phone: (207) 990-9100, Ext. 3, Fax: (207) 990-9599, 
joyce.swartzendruber@me.usda.gov.
Maryland: Jon Hall, John Hanson Business Center, Suite 301, 339 Busch's 
Frontage Road, Annapolis, MD 21409-5543, Phone: (410) 757-0861 Ext. 
315, Fax: (410) 757-6504, jon.hall@md.usda.gov.
Massachusetts: Christine Clarke, 451 West Street, Amherst, MA 01002-
2995, Phone: (413) 253-4351, Fax: (413) 253-4375, 
christine.clarke@ma.usda.gov.
Michigan: Garry Lee, Suite 250, 3001 Coolidge Road, East Lansing, MI 
48823-6350, Phone: (517) 324-5270, Fax: (517) 324-5171, 
garry.lee@mi.usda.gov.
Minnesota: William Hunt, Suite 600, 375 Jackson, St. Paul, MN 55101-
1854, Phone: (651) 602-7900, Fax: (651) 602-7913, 
william.hunt@mn.usda.gov.
Mississippi: Homer L. Wilkes, Suite 1321, Federal Building, 100 West 
Capitol Street, Jackson, MS 39269-1399, Phone: (601) 965-5205 ext.130, 
Fax: (601) 965-4940, homer.wilkes@ms.nrcs.usda.gov.
Missouri: Roger A. Hansen, Parkade Center, Suite 250, 601 Business Loop 
70 West, West Columbia, MO 65203-2546, Phone: (573) 876-0901, Fax: 
(573) 876-0913, roger.hansen@mo.usda.gov.
Montana: Jon Hempel, Acting, Federal Building, Room 443, 10 East 
Babcock Street, Bozeman, MT 59715-4704, Phone: (406) 587-6811, Fax: 
(406) 587-6761, jon.hempel@one.usda.gov.
Nebraska: Stephen K. Chick, Federal Building, Room 152, 100 Centennial 
Mall N., Lincoln, NE 68508-3866, Phone: (402) 437-5300, Fax: (402) 437-
5327, steve.chick@ne.usda.gov.
Nevada: Bruce Petersen, 1365 Corporate Blvd, Reno, NV 89502, Phone: 
(775) 857-8500 x. 102, Fax: (775) 857-8524, bruce.petersen@nv.usda.gov.
New Hampshire: George W. Cleek, IV, Federal Building, 2 Madbury Road, 
Durham, NH 03824-2043, Phone: (603) 868-9931, Ext. 125, Fax: (603) 868-
5301, george.cleek@nh.usda.gov.
New Jersey: Thomas Drewes, 220 Davidson Avenue, 4th Floor, Somerset, NJ 
08873-3157, Phone: (732) 537-6040, Fax: (732) 537-6095, 
thomas.drewes@nj.usda.gov.
New Mexico: Dennis Alexander, Suite 305, 6200 Jefferson Street, NE., 
Albuquerque, NM 87109-3734, Phone: (505) 761-4400, Fax: (505) 761-4481, 
dennis.alexander@nm.usda.gov.
New York: Astor Boozer, Suite 354, 441 South Salina Street, Syracuse, 
NY 13202-2450, Phone: (315) 477-6504, Fax: (315) 477-6560, 
astor.boozer@ny.usda.gov.
North Carolina: Mary K. Combs, 4407 Bland Road, Suite 117, Raleigh, NC 
27609-6293, Phone: (919) 873-2101, Fax: (919) 873-2156, 
mary.combs@nc.usda.gov.
North Dakota: J.R. Flores, Jr., Federal Building Room 270, 220 E. 
Rosser Avenue, Bismarck, ND 58501-1458, Phone: (701) 530-2000, Fax: 
(701) 530-2110, jr.flores@nd.usda.gov.
Ohio: Terry Cosby, Room 522, 200 North High Street, Columbus, OH 43215-
2478, Phone: (614) 255-2472, Fax: (614) 255-2548, 
terry.cosby@oh.usda.gov.
Oklahoma: Ronald L. Hilliard, 100 USDA, Suite 206, Stillwater, Oklahoma 
74074-2655, Phone: (405) 742-1204, Fax: (405) 742-1126, 
ron.hilliard@ok.usda.gov.
Oregon: Ron Alvarado, 1201 NE Lloyd Blvd., Suite 900, Portland, OR 
97232, Phone: (503) 414-3200, Fax: (503) 414-3103, 
ron.alvarado@or.usda.gov.
Pennsylvania: Craig Derickson, Suite 340, One Credit Union Place, 
Harrisburg, PA 17110-2993, Phone: (717) 237-2203, Fax: (717) 237-2238, 
craig.derickson@pa.usda.gov.
Rhode Island: Paul Sweeney, Acting, Suite 46, 60 Quaker Lane, Warwick, 
RI 02886-0111, Phone: (401) 828-1300 ext. 844, Fax: (401) 828-0433, 
michelle.moore@ri.usda.gov.
South Carolina: Niles Glasgow, Strom Thurmond Federal Building, Room 
950, 1835 Assembly Street, Columbia, SC 29201-2489, Phone: (803) 253-
3935, Fax: (803) 253-3670, niles.glasgow@sc.usda.gov.
South Dakota: Janet L. Oertly, 200 Fourth Street SW., Huron, SD 57350-

[[Page 2045]]

2475, Phone: (605) 352-1200, Fax: (605) 352-1288, 
janet.oertly@sd.usda.gov.
Tennessee: J. Kevin Brown, 675 U.S. Courthouse, 801 Broadway, 
Nashville, TN 37203-3878, Phone: (615) 277-2531, Fax: (615) 277-2578, 
kevin.brown@tn.usda.gov.
Texas: Salvador Salinas, Acting, W.R. Poage Federal Building, 10l South 
Main Street, Temple, TX 76501-7602, Phone: (254) 742-9800, Fax: (254) 
742-9819, salvador.salinas@tx.usda.gov.
Utah: Sylvia Gillen, W.F. Bennett Federal Building, Room 4402, 125 
South State Street, Salt Lake City, UT 84138-1100, Phone: (801) 524-
4555, Fax: (801) 524-4403, sylvia.gillen@ut.usda.gov.
Vermont: Judith Doerner, Suite 105, 356 Mountain View Drive, 
Colchester, VT 05446, Phone: (802) 951-6795 ext. 228, Fax: (802) 951-
6327, judy.doerner@vt.usda.gov.
Virginia: Jack Bricker, Culpeper Building, Suite 209, 1606 Santa Rosa 
Road, Richmond, VA 23229-5014, Phone: (804) 287-1691, Fax: (804) 287-
1737, jack.bricker@va.usda.gov.
Washington: Roylene Rides at the Door, Rock Pointe Tower II, Suite 450, 
W. 316 Boone Avenue, Spokane, WA 99201-2348, Phone: (509) 323-2900, 
Fax: (509) 323-2909, roylene.rides-at-the-door@wa.usda.gov.
West Virginia: Kevin Wickey, Room 301, 75 High Street, Morgantown, WV 
26505, Phone: (304) 284-7540, Fax: (304) 284-4839, 
kevin.wickey@wv.usda.gov.
Wisconsin: Patricia S. Leavenworth, 8030 Excelsior Drive, Suite 200, 
Madison, WI 53717, Phone: (608) 662-4422, Fax: (608) 662-4430, 
pat.leavenworth@wi.usda.gov.
Wyoming: Xavier Montoya, P.O. Box 33124, Casper, WY 82602, Phone: (307) 
233-6750, Fax: (307) 233-6753, xavier.montoya@wy.usda.gov.

[FR Doc. E9-504 Filed 1-13-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-16-P