Conservation Reserve Program, 44067-44072 [2010-18473]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
• Commodity Credit Corporation

[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 144 (Wednesday, July 28, 2010)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 44067-44072]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-18473]



[[Page 44067]]

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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Commodity Credit Corporation

7 CFR Part 1410

RIN 0560-AH80


Conservation Reserve Program

AGENCY: Commodity Credit Corporation, USDA.

ACTION: Interim rule.

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SUMMARY: The Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) is amending the 
Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) regulations to implement provisions 
of the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 (the 2008 Farm Bill). 
The 2008 Farm Bill generally extends the existing CRP through 2012 with 
some changes in eligibility requirements. The changes in this rule 
include adding alfalfa to the definition of agricultural commodity for 
the purposes of determining cropping history, adding incentives for 
limited resource farmers and Indian tribes, adding pollinator habitat 
incentives, adding a provision allowing preference for local residents 
in accepting competitive offers, adding an additional waiver provision 
to exclude certain acreage for CRP county acreage maximums, and 
clarifying the limited harvesting and grazing activities that may be 
allowed on CRP land. The purpose of CRP is to cost-effectively assist 
producers in conserving and improving soil, water, wildlife, and other 
natural resources by converting environmentally-sensitive acreage from 
the production of agricultural commodities to a long-term vegetative 
cover and to address issues raised by State, regional and national 
conservation initiatives.

DATES: Effective Date: This rule is effective July 28, 2010.
    Comment Date: We will consider comments that we receive by 
September 27, 2010.

ADDRESSES: We invite you to submit comments on this interim rule. In 
your comment, include the volume, date, and page number of this issue 
of the Federal Register. You may submit comments by any of the 
following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to https://www.regulations.gov. Follow the online instructions for submitting 
comments.
     Mail: Director, Conservation and Environmental Programs 
Division (CEPD), USDA FSA CEPD, Mail Stop 0513, 1400 Independence Ave, 
SW., Washington, DC 20250-0513.
     Hand Delivery or Courier: Deliver comments to the above 
address.
    Comments may be inspected at the mail address listed above between 
8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, except holidays. A copy 
of this interim rule is available through the U.S. Department of 
Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) home page at https://www.fsa.usda.gov/.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Beverly J. Preston, CRP Program 
Manager, USDA FSA CEPD, Mail Stop 0513, 1400 Independence Ave, SW., 
Washington, DC 20250-0513 at, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., 
Washington, DC 20250-0513; telephone: (202) 720-9563; e-mail: 
beverly.preston@wdc.usda.gov. Persons with disabilities who require 
alternative means for communication (Braille, large print, audiotape, 
etc.) should contact the USDA Target Center at 202-720-2600 (voice and 
TDD).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background

    This rule amends CRP regulations in 7 CFR part 1410 to implement 
certain changes to CRP as required by the 2008 Farm Bill (Pub. L. 110-
246). This is the third of three interim rules that CCC has published 
to implement 2008 Farm Bill changes to CRP. On June 29, 2009, (74 FR 
30907-30912) CCC published an interim rule to implement CRP provisions 
in the 2008 Farm Bill regarding farmable wetlands, thinning of trees to 
improve the condition of resources, income and payment limitations, and 
address issues raised by State, regional, and National conservation 
initiatives.
    On May 14, 2010, (75 FR 27165-69) CCC published an interim rule to 
implement provisions in the 2008 Farm Bill regarding transition 
incentives for CRP participants with expiring contracts to sell or 
lease the land to a beginning or socially disadvantaged farmer or 
rancher.
    This interim rule implements the remaining 2008 Farm Bill CRP 
provisions, which include updating cropping history requirements, 
adding an additional waiver provision as an exclusion to exceed the 25 
percent of the county cropland CRP acreage maximum, adding an 
acceptability-of-offer provision to allow local resident preference, 
and clarifying permissive uses of CRP land. It also adds provisions for 
pollinator habitat incentives and incentives for limited resource 
farmers and ranchers and Indian tribes. This rule also updates dates 
and makes minor plain language improvements. This interim rule is 
effective on publication, but is subject to modification after the 
consideration of comments. After the comment period closes, CCC expects 
to publish a final rule that will discuss the comments and implement 
any amendments determined to be justified based on a review of the 
comments.
    CRP participants enroll land under contracts for 10 to 15 years in 
exchange for annual rental payments and financial assistance to install 
certain conservation practices and to maintain approved vegetative, 
tree, or other appropriate covers. A wide range of conservation 
practices may be enrolled under CRP including, for example, introduced 
and native grasses and legumes, hardwood trees, wildlife habitat, grass 
waterways, filter strips, riparian buffers, wetlands, rare and 
declining habitat, upland bird habitat, longleaf pine, and duck nesting 
habitat. The basic structure and nature of CRP remains the same.

Definitions

    This rule amends Sec.  1410.2, ``Definitions,'' to add a definition 
for ``pollinator.'' The 2008 Farm Bill allows the Secretary to add the 
development of pollinator habitat and practices to encourage native and 
managed pollinators to any of the USDA conservation programs. The 2008 
Farm Bill does not define ``native or managed pollinator.'' This rule 
adds a definition of ``pollinator'' to mean ``an insect or other animal 
that carries pollen from one flower to another.'' Other animals would 
include birds and bats.
    Consistent with section 2105 of the 2008 Farm Bill, this rule also 
adds alfalfa, other multi-year grasses, and legumes grown in rotation 
to the definition of ``agricultural commodity.'' This will permit, for 
example, land with alfalfa grown under a long-term rotation with 
another agricultural commodity to meet the cropping history requirement 
for eligible land.
    This rule adds definitions for ``limited resource farmer or 
rancher'' and ``Indian tribe'' that are consistent with the definitions 
used for other USDA programs and with the 2008 Farm Bill. The 2008 Farm 
Bill gives the term ``Indian tribe'' the definition given under section 
4(e) of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 
U.S.C. 450b(e)). In implementing the Indian Self-Determination and 
Education Assistance Act, the Department of the Interior, Bureau of 
Indian Affairs, and the Department of Health and Human Services, Indian 
Health Service, established the definition of ``Indian tribe'' in 25 
CFR 900.6. This rule adds that definition to 7 CFR 1410.2. The 
definition of ``limited resource farmer or

[[Page 44068]]

rancher'' in this rule is consistent with the definition that applies 
under the regulations for the Environmental Quality Incentives Program 
(EQIP) at 7 CFR 1466.3. These definitions are needed because this rule 
adds authority to provide additional incentives for enrollment of 
Indian tribes and limited resource farmers and ranchers.
    This rule amends the definitions for ``conserving use'' and 
``considered planted'' to update the period of time--to the period 2002 
through 2007--that is considered for land use history. This change is 
consistent with other updates to the cropping history requirement for 
eligible land, as described below, required by the 2008 Farm Bill.

Maximum County Acreage

    This rule amends Sec.  1410.4, ``Maximum County Acreage,'' to add 
an additional waiver provision as an exclusion of certain acreage 
enrolled under CRP. Under the current regulations, the amount of 
cropland that may be enrolled under CRP and the Wetlands Reserve 
Program, as specified in Sec.  1410.4, may not exceed 25 percent of a 
county's total cropland unless CCC waives this cap. To implement a 
waiver, CCC must determine that enrolling additional land would not 
adversely affect the local economy of the county and that operators in 
the county are having difficulties complying with conservation plans 
implemented under 7 CFR part 12. The existing waiver provisions are not 
changed with this rule. This rule adds an additional waiver provision 
specifying that CCC may exclude high-priority continuous signup 
acreage, including acreage in the Conservation Reserve Enhancement 
Program (CREP), Farmable Wetlands Program (FWP), or State Acreage for 
Wildlife Enhancement (SAFE) Program, from the 25 percent cropland 
limitation, if the county government agrees. The 2008 Farm Bill 
specifies that the Secretary may implement the waiver to exclude for 
high-priority acreage; it does not require CCC to do so.
    Under CRP, eligible land may be enrolled competitively during 
publicly announced general signups. An environmental benefits index 
(EBI) to optimize costs and benefits is used for competitive 
enrollment. When an offer is made, FSA collects data for a number of 
factors for each piece of ground offered into CRP. Each offer is 
assigned a point score based on its relative environmental factors and 
competes with all other offers. Offer acceptability is determined based 
on the ranking results. Generally, FSA has used these EBI factors to 
assess the environmental benefits for the land offered:
     Wildlife habitat benefits;
     Water quality benefits from reduced erosion, runoff, and 
leaching;
     On-farm benefits from reduced erosion;
     Benefits that will likely endure beyond the contract 
period;
     Air quality benefits from reduced wind erosion; and
     Cost.
    Land may also be enrolled non-competitively on a continuous basis 
if the land meets certain criteria. That is not changing with this 
rule. Non-competitive continuous enrollment is available for certain 
high-priority practices including, but not limited to, filter strips, 
wetlands, buffers, grass waterways, land enrolled under CREP, FWP, and 
for certain initiatives such as wetland restoration, longleaf pine 
restoration, quail habitat, and SAFE. This rule amends the regulations 
to allow the special high-priority land including acreage in CREP, FWP, 
or SAFE Program to be excluded from the 25 percent maximum county 
acreage limit if the county government agrees.

Eligible Land

    As provided for in the existing CRP regulations in Sec.  1401.6, 
``Eligible Land,'' eligible land for CRP must be cropland with a 
history of production of tillable crops or marginal pastureland. The 
purpose of this eligibility requirement, which is not changing with 
this rule, is to ensure CRP is used to convert environmentally-
sensitive land to a long-term environmentally-beneficial cover crop.
    As provided in the 2008 Farm Bill, this rule amends Sec.  1410.6, 
``Eligible Land,'' to change the dates of the cropping history required 
for certain cropland to be eligible. In the current regulation, 
eligible cropland must have been planted or considered planted for four 
of the six years during the period of 1996 through 2001. This rule 
amends that section to modify the cropping history dates to the four of 
the six years during 2002 through 2007. This rule also updates this 
section to refer to CCC rather than the Deputy Administrator to reflect 
more consistently that the program is a CCC program. References to the 
dates for expiring Water Bank Program contracts are removed from the 
eligibility requirements for marginal pastureland because all such 
contracts have already expired.

Acceptability of Offers

    This rule amends Sec.  1410.31, ``Acceptability of Offers,'' to add 
the 2008 Farm Bill specified ``local preference'' as a factor in offer 
acceptability. This means that CCC may preferentially accept offers 
from residents of the county or a contiguous county where the land is 
offered for enrollment, provided that offer has at least equal expected 
benefits to offers from non-resident landowners. Section 2110 of the 
2008 Farm Bill requires the Secretary to give preference to such 
offers.

Permissive Uses of CRP Land

    The CRP regulations limit the uses of CRP land to a list of uses 
specified in Sec.  1410.63 ``Permissive Uses.'' The intent is to ensure 
that CRP land is not used for activities that would tend to defeat the 
conservation purposes of the program. Permissive uses must be 
consistent with the conservation of soil, water quality and wildlife 
habitat, including habitat during nesting season for birds in the area. 
To achieve this goal, section 2108 of the 2008 Farm Bill clarifies the 
specific restrictions on managed harvesting, grazing, other commercial 
uses of forage on CRP land, and installation of wind turbines. 
Therefore, Sec.  1410.63 is amended to implement the specific 
permissive uses, and permissive use restrictions, as specified in the 
2008 Farm Bill. The amendments to permissive uses are as follows:
     Provisions for managed harvesting and grazing uses are 
revised and clarified, as specified in the 2008 Farm Bill. Specific 
types of harvesting and grazing are allowed, in exchange for a payment 
reduction as determined by CCC. The provision for ``haying'' is 
removed, but haying is understood to be a type of harvesting. Managed 
harvesting provisions are expanded to include uses in addition to 
biomass harvest, in exchange for a payment reduction as determined by 
CCC. The specific requirement for harvesting biomass not more than once 
every three years is removed, but CCC will continue to require that 
biomass harvesting and any other harvesting not defeat the conservation 
purposes of the contract. Appropriate vegetation management 
requirements for the land will apply including the timing, frequency, 
and duration that is consistent with the purposes of CRP. Managed 
harvesting will be conducted according to an approved CRP conservation 
plan.
     Routine grazing, in exchange for a payment reduction, is 
added as a permissive use, as specified in the 2008 Farm Bill. 
Appropriate vegetation management requirements and stocking rates for 
the land will apply, as appropriate, consistent with the Natural 
Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Field Office Technical Guide 
(FOTG) grazing standards that are suitable for

[[Page 44069]]

continued routine grazing. The allowed frequency and timing of routine 
grazing will take into account regional differences that are consistent 
with the purposes of CRP according to an approved CRP conservation 
plan. The provision for managed grazing that is incidental to the 
gleaning of crop residue is removed, but this practice is understood to 
be a type of routine grazing.
     Prescribed grazing to control invasive species, in 
exchange for a payment reduction, is added as a permissive use, as 
specified in the 2008 Farm Bill. Appropriate vegetation management 
requirements and stocking rates for the land will apply. The allowed 
frequency of prescribed grazing will take into account regional 
differences that are consistent with the purposes of CRP according to 
an approved CRP conservation plan. Invasive species such as kudzu and 
leafy spurge will be targeted.
     Harvesting, grazing, or other commercial use of forage 
allowed in response to a drought or other emergency, is added as a 
permissive use in exchange for a payment reduction. Emergency haying 
and grazing has been allowed in the past, in response to droughts and 
other emergencies, but was not specified as a permitted use in the CFR.
     Wind turbine installation provisions are revised; the 2008 
Farm Bill requires a payment reduction for this use.
    The following permissive use provisions in Sec.  1410.63 remain 
unchanged:
     The general provision that the permissive uses in this 
section may be allowed, but are not automatically allowed, is 
unchanged.
     Commercial shooting preserve use provisions are unchanged.
     Spot grazing use provisions are unchanged.
     Forestry maintenance use provisions are unchanged.
     Sale of carbon, water quality, or other environmental 
credits provisions are unchanged.
    As noted above, in Sec.  1410.63, there is the general provision 
that the permissive uses may be allowed, but are not automatically 
allowed. All of the permissive uses in Sec.  1410.63 require approval 
by CCC, which also means that they may not be approved for use in a 
particular region or for a specific CRP contract. CCC will exercise the 
discretionary authority provided in section 2108 of the 2008 Farm Bill 
to determine which activities will be approved for specific CRP 
contracts.
    As noted above, the 2008 Farm Bill requires a payment reduction for 
the permissive use for wind turbine installation. All of the permissive 
uses except commercial shooting preserves and sale of carbon, water 
quality, or other environmental credits will, as in the past, require a 
payment reduction as determined by CCC. The reduction for the 
installation of wind turbines is new. The 2008 Farm Bill requires the 
payment reduction, but gives CCC discretionary authority as to the 
amount of the reduction.

Incentives for Native and Managed Pollinator Habitat, Limited Resource 
Farmers and Ranchers, and Indian Tribes

    Section 2708 of the 2008 Farm Bill allows, but does not require, 
the Secretary to add provisions to encourage the development of habitat 
for, and use of conservation practices to benefit, native and managed 
pollinators. Accordingly, this rule adds a new paragraph to Sec.  
1410.62 ``Miscellaneous,'' to add a provision that will allow approval 
of practices to encourage the development of habitat for, and use of 
conservation practices to benefit, native and managed pollinators. FSA, 
working with NRCS and State technical committees, will develop and 
define conservation practice standards that provide habitats for 
pollinators. The requirements in those practices for acreage and other 
characteristics of habitat will take into account appropriate habitat 
needs relevant to specific geographical areas and species.
    Section 2708 of the 2008 Farm Bill also allows the Secretary to 
provide special incentives for certain categories of participants, 
including Indian tribes and limited resource farmers and ranchers. This 
rule therefore amends Sec.  1410.62, ``Miscellaneous,'' to add 
incentives for Indian tribes and for limited resource farmers and 
ranchers. Implementation of the incentives will be coordinated with 
other USDA programs that provide assistance, including CRP technical 
assistance, to these farmers and ranchers. Implementation will be 
subject to funding availability and acreage limits that apply to CRP as 
a whole.

Notice and Comment

    CCC is not required by 5 U.S.C. 553 or any other provision of law 
to publish a notice of proposed rulemaking with respect to the subject 
matter of this rule. CCC is authorized by section 2904 of the 2008 Farm 
Bill to issue an interim rule effective on publication with an 
opportunity for comment.

Executive Order 12866

    This rule has been determined to be economically significant and 
was reviewed by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) under 
Executive Order 12866. A Cost Benefit Analysis is summarized below and 
is available from the contact information listed above.

Cost Benefit Analysis

    The changes to CRP in this rule are expected to cost about $6.7 
million per year over ten years (2011-2020). This is a net cost that 
reflects roughly $77 million in additional CRP payments to participants 
over the next ten years for additional land enrolled through the county 
maximum acreage waivers to exclude certain acreage and revised cropping 
history requirements and payments for pollinator habitat practices, 
minus roughly $10 million in reduced payments for the revised 
permissive uses. The benefits to participants will be the net 
additional $6.7 million per year over the next ten years. There are 
expected to be additional non-quantifiable environmental benefits from 
the waivers to exclude that will allow more environmentally sensitive 
acres to be enrolled through continuous signup, from additional highly 
erodible land enrollment that could result from making land in long-
term hay rotations eligible, and from the incentives for pollinator 
habitat.
    The other provisions in this rule, such as local preference, are 
expected to have little to no cost. These provisions will largely 
substitute one CRP participant for another, or one practice for 
another, leading in a shift in costs and benefits to different 
participants and practices, but little net cost or benefit for CRP as a 
whole.

Regulatory Flexibility Act

    It has been determined that the Regulatory Flexibility Act is not 
applicable to this interim rule because CCC is not required by 5 U.S.C. 
553 or any other provision of law to publish a notice of proposed 
rulemaking for this rule. CCC is authorized by section 2904 of the 2008 
Farm Bill to issue an interim rule effective on publication with an 
opportunity for comment.

Environmental Evaluation

    In 2003, FSA, on behalf of CCC, finalized a Programmatic 
Environmental Impact Statement (PEIS) for the reauthorization of the 
CRP in Title II of the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 
(2002 Farm Bill) and published a Record of Decision (ROD). Consistent 
with provisions in 40 CFR 1508.28, in order to focus primarily on

[[Page 44070]]

the issues relevant to this specific rule and not duplicate material 
found in the 2003 EIS, FSA tiered a Programmatic Environmental 
Assessment (PEA) on select provisions of the 2008 Farm Bill for CRP to 
the 2003 PEIS; tiering is appropriate when the sequence of analysis is 
lesser in scope than the initial programmatic statement.
    The PEA incorporated by reference general discussions and analysis 
from the 2003 PEIS to assess potential environmental impacts associated 
with implementation of only those non-discretionary provisions 
identified in this rule for CRP consistent with the 2008 Farm Bill. The 
Final PEA and Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) on select 
provisions of the 2008 Farm Bill for CRP was published in the Federal 
Register on December 16, 2008 (73 FR 76331-76332) for public review and 
comment. The proposed changes analyzed in the PEA were separate and 
distinct from the proposals for discretionary changes examined in the 
2010 Final Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (Final SEIS). 
For those 2008 Farm Bill changes not examined in the PEA where 
discretion was exercised, FSA published a Final SEIS to the 2003 
Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (PEIS) on CRP on February 
19, 2010, (75 FR 7438-7440) for public comment and review.
    On behalf of the Commodity Credit Corporation, FSA prepared a Final 
Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS) for CRP and the 
Notice of Availability (NOA) was published in the Federal Register (FR) 
on June 18, 2010 (75 FR 34737-34738). Based on a thorough evaluation of 
the resource areas affected by CRP, a detailed analysis of the 
Alternatives, and a comprehensive review of public comments, FSA has 
issued a Record of Decision (ROD). This decision was made after 
comparing overall environmental impacts and other relevant information 
with regard to the reasonable alternatives considered in the Final 
SEIS. The ROD can be found on FSA's Web site: https://www.fsa.usda.gov/FSA/webapp?area=home&subject=ecrc&topic=nep-cd.

Executive Order 12372

    This program is not subject to Executive Order 12372, which 
requires consultation with State and local officials. See the notice 
related to 7 CFR part 3015, subpart V, published in the Federal 
Register on June 24, 1983 (48 FR 29115).

Executive Order 12988

    This rule has been reviewed under Executive Order 12988, Civil 
Justice Reform. This final rule is not retroactive and does not preempt 
State or local laws, regulations, or policies unless they represent an 
irreconcilable conflict with this rule. Before any judicial action may 
be brought regarding provisions of this rule, the administrative appeal 
provisions of 7 CFR parts 11, 624, and 780 must be exhausted.

Executive Order 13132

    The policies contained in this rule do not have any substantial 
direct effect on States, on the relationship between the Federal 
government and the States, or on the distribution of power and 
responsibilities among the various levels of government. Nor does this 
rule impose substantial direct compliance costs on State and local 
governments. Therefore, consultation with the States is not required.

Executive Order 13175

    The policies contained in this rule do not have tribal implications 
that preempt tribal law.
    USDA will undertake, within 6 months after this rule becomes 
effective, a series of regulation Tribal consultation sessions to gain 
input by Tribal officials concerning the impact of this rule on Tribal 
governments, communities, and individuals. These sessions will 
establish a baseline of consultation for future actions, should any 
become necessary, regarding this rule. Reports from these sessions for 
consultation will be made part of the USDA annual reporting on Tribal 
Consultation and Collaboration. USDA will respond in a timely and 
meaningful manner to all Tribal government requests for consultation 
concerning this rule and will provide additional venues, such as 
webinars and teleconferences, to periodically host collaborative 
conversations with Tribal leaders and their representatives concerning 
ways to improve this rule in Indian country.

Unfunded Mandates

    This rule contains no Federal mandates under the regulatory 
provisions of Title II of the Unfunded Mandate Reform Act of 1995 
(UMRA, Pub. L. 104-4) for State, local, or tribal governments, or the 
private sector. In addition, CCC is not required to publish a notice of 
proposed rulemaking for this rule. Therefore, this rule is not subject 
to the requirements of sections 202 and 205 of UMRA.

Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act of 1996

    This rule has been determined to be Major under the Small Business 
Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act of 1996, (Pub. L. 104-121) 
(SBREFA). SBREFA normally requires that an agency delay the effective 
date of a major rule for 60 days from the date of publication to allow 
for Congressional review. Section 808 of SBREFA allows an agency to 
make a major regulation effective immediately if the agency finds there 
is good cause to do so. Section 2904(c) provides that the authority in 
Section 808 of SBREFA will be used in implementing the 2008 Farm bill 
changes to the CRP. Consistent with section 2904(c) of the 2008 Farm 
Bill, FSA finds that it would be contrary to the public interest to 
delay implementation of this rule because it would significantly delay 
implementation of the program changes required by the 2008 Farm Bill by 
impeding the conduct of future general signups without having these 
additional changes to the program regulations in place. Therefore, this 
rule is effective on the date of its publication in the Federal 
Register.

Federal Domestic Assistance Program

    The title and number of the Federal Domestic Assistance Program in 
the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance to which this rule applies 
is the Conservation Reserve Program--10.069.

Paperwork Reduction Act

    The regulations in this rule are exempt from the requirements of 
the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. Chapter 35), as specified in 
section 2904 of the 2008 Farm Bill, which provides that these 
regulations be promulgated and the programs administered without regard 
to the Paperwork Reduction Act.

E-Government Act Compliance

    CCC is committed to complying with the E-Government Act, to promote 
the use of the Internet and other information technologies to provide 
increased opportunities for citizen access to Government information 
and services, and for other purposes.

List of Subjects in 7 CFR Part 1410

    Administrative practice and procedure, Agriculture, Environmental 
protection, Grant programs--Agriculture, Natural resources, Reporting 
and recordkeeping requirements, Soil conservation, Technical 
assistance, Water resources, Wildlife.

0
For the reasons explained above, this rule amends 7 CFR part 1410 as 
follows:

[[Page 44071]]

PART 1410--CONSERVATION RESERVE PROGRAM

0
1. The authority citation for 7 CFR part 1410 continues to read as 
follows:

    Authority: 15 U.S.C. 714b and 714c; 16 U.S.C. 3801-3847.


0
2. Amend Sec.  1410.2 as follows:
0
a. Revise the definition in paragraph (b) for ``Agricultural 
commodity'' to read as set forth below;
0
b. Add definitions in paragraph (b), in alphabetical order, for 
``Indian tribe,'' ``Limited resource farmer or rancher,'' and 
``Pollinator'' to read as set forth below;
0
c. Amend the definition of ``Conserving use'' by removing the words 
``1996 through 2001'' each time they appear and adding, in their place, 
the words ``2002 through 2007''; and
0
d. Amend the definition of ``Considered planted'' by removing the words 
``or will expire during calendar year 2000, 2001, or 2002''.


Sec.  1410.2  Definitions.

* * * * *
    (b) * * *
    Agricultural commodity means:
    (1) Any crop planted and produced by annual tilling of the soil or 
on an annual basis by one-trip planters,
    (2) Sugarcane planted or produced in a State, or
    (3) Alfalfa and other multi-year grasses and legumes grown in a 
rotation practice as approved by CCC.
* * * * *
    Indian tribe means any Indian tribe, band, nation, or other 
organized group, or community, including pueblos, rancherias, colonies 
and 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. 1601-1629h), which is recognized as eligible 
for the special programs and services provided by the United States to 
Indians because of their status as Indians.
* * * * *
    Limited resource farmer or rancher means:
    (1) A person with direct or indirect gross farm sales of not more 
than $155,200 in each of the previous two calendar years preceding the 
year of enrollment (adjusted for inflation using Prices Paid by Farmer 
Index as compiled by the USDA National Agricultural Statistics 
Service), and
    (2) A total household income at or below the national poverty level 
for a family of four, or less than 50 percent of county median 
household income in each of the previous two years (to be determined 
annually using U.S. Department of Commerce data).
* * * * *
    Pollinator means an insect or other animal that carries pollen from 
one flower to another.
* * * * *


0
3. Revise Sec.  1410.4(b) to read as follows:


Sec.  1410.4  Maximum county acreage.

* * * * *
    (b) The restrictions in paragraph (a) of this section may be waived 
by CCC as follows:
    (1) If CCC determines that such action would not adversely affect 
the local economy of the county and that operators in the county are 
having difficulties complying with conservation plans implemented under 
part 12 of this title; or
    (2) Cropland in a county enrolled under continuous signup 
provisions as specified in Sec.  1410.30 or Sec.  1410.50 may be 
excluded from the restrictions in paragraph (a) of this section, as 
determined by CCC, provided that the county government concurs.
* * * * *


Sec.  1410.6  [Amended]


0
4. Amend Sec.  1410.6 as follows:
0
a. In paragraphs (a)(1), (a)(2) introductory text, (a)(2)(i)(B), 
(a)(2)(i)(C), (a)(2)(ii) introductory text, (a)(2)(ii))B), (a)(3), 
(b)(1) introductory text, (b)(2)(iii), (b)(6), (b)(7), (b)(11), 
(b)(12), (c) introductory text and (c)(3), remove the words ``the 
Deputy Administrator'' each time they appear and add, in their place, 
the word ``CCC'',
0
b. In paragraph (a)(1), remove the words ``1996 through 2001'' and add, 
in their place, the words ``2002 through 2007'',
0
c. Remove paragraph (a)(2)(i),
0
d. Redesignate paragraph (a)(2)(ii) as paragraph (a)(2)(i) and reserve 
paragraph (a)(2)(ii), and
0
e. In newly redesignated paragraph (a)(2)(i), introductory text, second 
sentence, add the word ``by'' before the word ``CCC''.


0
5. Amend Sec.  1410.31 to redesignate paragraph (c) as paragraph (d) 
and to add new paragraph (c) to read as follows:


Sec.  1410.31  Acceptability of offers.

* * * * *
    (c) Notwithstanding paragraph (b) of this section, when all other 
appropriate factors are equivalent, CCC may give preference to offers 
from residents of the county or contiguous county where the offered 
land is located.
* * * * *


0
6. Amend Sec.  1410.62 as follows:
0
a. In paragraph (g), remove the words ``beginning and socially 
disadvantaged'' and add, in their place, the words ``Indian tribes and 
beginning, limited resource, and socially disadvantaged'' and
0
b. Add paragraph (h) to read as follows:


Sec.  1410.62  Miscellaneous.

* * * * *
    (h) As determined by CCC, consistent with the purposes of CRP, the 
development of habitat for, and use of conservation practices for, 
native and managed pollinators may be authorized.


0
7. Amend Sec.  1410.63 by revising paragraph (c) to read as follows:


Sec.  1410.63  Permissive uses.

* * * * *
    (c) The following activities may be permitted, as determined by 
CCC, on CRP enrolled land insofar as they are consistent with the 
conservation purposes of the program including timing, frequency, and 
duration as provided in an approved CRP conservation plan that 
identifies appropriate vegetative management requirements:
    (1) Managed harvesting, including harvest of biomass, but only in 
exchange for a payment reduction as determined by CCC and in accordance 
with harvest frequency and timing of harvesting activities outside the 
official nesting and broodrearing season only as identified in an 
approved CRP conservation plan;
    (2) Routine grazing, but only in exchange for a payment reduction 
as determined by CCC and in accordance with appropriate vegetative 
management requirements and stocking rates for the land, grazing 
frequency, and grazing periods outside the official nesting and 
broodrearing season only as identified in an approved CRP conservation 
plan;
    (3) Prescribed grazing to control invasive species, but only in 
exchange for a payment reduction as determined by CCC and in accordance 
with appropriate vegetative management requirements and stocking rates 
for the land, grazing frequency, and grazing periods outside the 
official nesting and broodrearing season only as identified in an 
approved CRP conservation plan;
    (4) Harvesting, grazing, or other commercial use of the forage on 
the land in response to a drought or other emergency, but only in 
exchange for a payment reduction as determined by CCC;
    (5) Wind turbines on CRP land installed in numbers and locations as 
determined appropriate by CCC

[[Page 44072]]

considering the location, size, and other physical characteristics of 
the land, the extent to which the land contains wildlife and wildlife 
habitat, and the purposes of CRP, but only in exchange for a payment 
reduction as determined by CCC;
    (6) Spot grazing, if necessary for control of weed infestation, and 
not to exceed a 30-day period according to an approved conservation 
plan, but only in exchange for a payment reduction as determined by 
CCC;
    (7) Forestry maintenance such as pruning, thinning, and timber 
stand improvement on lands converted to forestry use, but only in 
accordance with a conservation plan, and only in exchange for a payment 
reduction as determined by CCC; and
    (8) The sale of carbon, water quality, or other environmental 
credits, as determined appropriate by CCC.

    Signed at Washington, DC, on July 21, 2010.
Jonathan W. Coppess,
Executive Vice President, Commodity Credit Corporation.
[FR Doc. 2010-18473 Filed 7-27-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-05-P