Proposed Directive on Groundwater Resource Management, Forest Service Manual 2560, 35299 [2015-15151]

Download as PDF 35299 Notices Federal Register Vol. 80, No. 118 Friday, June 19, 2015 This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains documents other than rules or proposed rules that are applicable to the public. Notices of hearings and investigations, committee meetings, agency decisions and rulings, delegations of authority, filing of petitions and applications and agency statements of organization and functions are examples of documents appearing in this section. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Forest Service RIN 0596–AC51 Proposed Directive on Groundwater Resource Management, Forest Service Manual 2560 Forest Service, USDA. Notice of withdrawal of proposed directive. AGENCY: ACTION: On May 7, 2014, the Forest Service published an action proposing to amend its internal agency directives for the National Forest System (NFS), Watershed and Air Management to establish direction for management of groundwater resources on NFS lands (79 FR 25815). The proposed amendment was intended to provide internal agency direction on the consideration of groundwater resources in Agency activities, approvals, and authorizations; encourage source water protection and water conservation; establish systematic procedures for reviewing new proposals for groundwater withdrawals on NFS lands; and require the evaluation of potential impacts from groundwater withdrawals on public resources on NFS lands. That notice invited public comment on the proposal. DATES: Not applicable. ADDRESSES: No further comments will be accepted on this proposal. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Robert Harper, Director, Watershed, Fish, Wildlife, Air and Rare Plants Staff, (202) 205–1671. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Agency has determined that its proposal does not adequately meet its needs. Therefore, the Agency hereby withdraws the proposal to amend its internal Agency directives for Watershed and Air Management to establish direction for management of groundwater resources on National Forest System lands and will engage in asabaliauskas on DSK5VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES SUMMARY: VerDate Sep<11>2014 19:33 Jun 18, 2015 Jkt 235001 a public conversation to develop revised proposed directives. The response to the proposal from conservation organizations and Tribes was generally favorable; however, States and a number of other organizations raised concerns that the proposed directive would exceed the Agency’s authorities and infringe on State authorities to allocate water. The proposed directives did not, and any future actions will not, infringe on State authority, impose requirements on private landowners, or change the longstanding relationship between the Forest Service, States, and Tribes on water. The intent of any new groundwater proposed directive or next steps would be to establish a clearer and more consistent approach to evaluating and monitoring the effects of actions on groundwater resources of the National Forest System. It is clear the Agency must have further discussions with key publics on this issue. The decision to withdraw the May 2014 groundwater proposed directives will allow these conversations to take place. The Forest Service will use the additional input received from engagements with States and other citizen groups to develop new proposed directives to create a consistent approach to evaluating and monitoring effects to groundwater resulting from actions on NFS lands. Dated: June 15, 2015. Thomas L. Tidwell, Chief, Forest Service. [FR Doc. 2015–15151 Filed 6–18–15; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3411–15–P DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Rural Business-Cooperative Service Notice of Funds Availability (NOFA) for the Rural Microentrepreneur Assistance Program for Fiscal Year 2015 Rural Business-Cooperative Service, USDA. ACTION: Notice. AGENCY: This Notice is to invite applications for loans and grants under the Rural Microentrepreneur Assistance Program (RMAP) pursuant to 7 CFR part 4280, subpart D, for fiscal year (FY) 2015. Funding to support $14.190 million in loans and $2.086 million in SUMMARY: PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 grants is currently available. The RMAP funds were provided through the Agricultural Act of 2014, Public Law 113–79, on February 7, 2014 (2014 Farm Bill). RMAP provides the following types of support: loan only, combination loan and technical assistance grant, and subsequent technical assistance grants to Microenterprise Development Organizations (MDO). All applicants are responsible for any expenses incurred in developing their applications or costs incurred prior to the obligation date. Applicants may apply during a Federal fiscal quarter to be considered for the next quarter’s funding. Complete applications for loan only, and combination loan and grant, must be received in the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development State Offices no later than 4:30 p.m. (local time) on the last day prior to the beginning of each Federal fiscal quarter to be considered for funding. Applications received after a Federal fiscal quarter deadline will be reviewed and evaluated for funding in the next Federal fiscal quarter. Applications that have not competed for four consecutive quarters, depending on funding availability, may be considered in FY 2016. The subsequent microlender technical assistance grant (existing MDOs with a microentrepenuer revolving loan fund) will be made, non-competitively, based on the microlender’s microlending activity and availability of funds. To determine the microlender technical assistance grant awards for FY 2015, the Agency will use the microlender’s outstanding balance of microloans as of June 30, 2015, to calculate this amount. MDOs that are eligible for an annual grant may apply. DATES: Applications and forms may be obtained from any Rural Development State Office or online at https://www.rd.usda.gov/programsservices/rural-microentrepreneurassistance-program. Applicants must submit an original complete application to the USDA Rural Development State Office in the State where the applicant’s headquarters is located. A list of the USDA Rural Development State Offices addresses and telephone numbers can be found online at https:// www.rurdev.usda.gov/ StateOfficeAddresses.html. ADDRESSES: E:\FR\FM\19JNN1.SGM 19JNN1

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[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 118 (Friday, June 19, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Page 35299]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-15151]


========================================================================
Notices
                                                Federal Register
________________________________________________________________________

This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains documents other than rules 
or proposed rules that are applicable to the public. Notices of hearings 
and investigations, committee meetings, agency decisions and rulings, 
delegations of authority, filing of petitions and applications and agency 
statements of organization and functions are examples of documents 
appearing in this section.

========================================================================


Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 118 / Friday, June 19, 2015 / 
Notices

[[Page 35299]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service

RIN 0596-AC51


Proposed Directive on Groundwater Resource Management, Forest 
Service Manual 2560

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of withdrawal of proposed directive.

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

SUMMARY: On May 7, 2014, the Forest Service published an action 
proposing to amend its internal agency directives for the National 
Forest System (NFS), Watershed and Air Management to establish 
direction for management of groundwater resources on NFS lands (79 FR 
25815). The proposed amendment was intended to provide internal agency 
direction on the consideration of groundwater resources in Agency 
activities, approvals, and authorizations; encourage source water 
protection and water conservation; establish systematic procedures for 
reviewing new proposals for groundwater withdrawals on NFS lands; and 
require the evaluation of potential impacts from groundwater 
withdrawals on public resources on NFS lands. That notice invited 
public comment on the proposal.

DATES: Not applicable.

ADDRESSES: No further comments will be accepted on this proposal.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Robert Harper, Director, Watershed, 
Fish, Wildlife, Air and Rare Plants Staff, (202) 205-1671.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Agency has determined that its proposal 
does not adequately meet its needs. Therefore, the Agency hereby 
withdraws the proposal to amend its internal Agency directives for 
Watershed and Air Management to establish direction for management of 
groundwater resources on National Forest System lands and will engage 
in a public conversation to develop revised proposed directives.
    The response to the proposal from conservation organizations and 
Tribes was generally favorable; however, States and a number of other 
organizations raised concerns that the proposed directive would exceed 
the Agency's authorities and infringe on State authorities to allocate 
water. The proposed directives did not, and any future actions will 
not, infringe on State authority, impose requirements on private 
landowners, or change the long-standing relationship between the Forest 
Service, States, and Tribes on water.
    The intent of any new groundwater proposed directive or next steps 
would be to establish a clearer and more consistent approach to 
evaluating and monitoring the effects of actions on groundwater 
resources of the National Forest System. It is clear the Agency must 
have further discussions with key publics on this issue. The decision 
to withdraw the May 2014 groundwater proposed directives will allow 
these conversations to take place. The Forest Service will use the 
additional input received from engagements with States and other 
citizen groups to develop new proposed directives to create a 
consistent approach to evaluating and monitoring effects to groundwater 
resulting from actions on NFS lands.

    Dated: June 15, 2015.
Thomas L. Tidwell,
Chief, Forest Service.
[FR Doc. 2015-15151 Filed 6-18-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3411-15-P
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