Notice of Proposed Changes to the National Handbook of Conservation Practices for the Natural Resources Conservation Service, 43057-43058 [2015-17797]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 139 / Tuesday, July 21, 2015 / Notices towards the desired ranges. Often two or more treatments, for example commercial harvest followed by noncommercial thinning may be prescribed for the same unit. Pre-commercial thinning would occur either following a commercial entry or as the only treatment. Trees cut during this activity may be removed as biomass (if future market opportunities develop) or left on site and the slash treated by a variety of fuels treatments. Possible Alternatives The Forest Service will consider a range of alternatives. One of these will be the ‘‘no action’’ alternative in which none of the proposed action would be implemented. Additional alternatives may be included in response to issues raised by the public during the scoping process or due to additional concerns for resource values identified by the Interdisciplinary Team. Responsible Official The Forest Supervisor of the Kootenai National Forest, 31374 US Highway 2, Libby, MT 59923–3022, is the Responsible Official. As the Responsible Official, I will decide if the proposed action will be implemented. I will document the decision and rationale for the decision in the Record of Decision. asabaliauskas on DSK5VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES Nature of Decision To Be Made Based on the purpose and need, the Responsible Official reviews the proposed action, the other alternatives, the environmental consequences, and public comments on the analysis in order to make the following decision: (1) Whether the proposed action will proceed as proposed, as modified by an alternative, or not at all? (2) Whether to implement timber harvest and associated fuels treatments, and prescribed burning, including the design features and potential mitigation measures to protect resources; and if so, how much and at what specific locations; (3) What, if any, specific project monitoring requirements are needed to assure design features and potential mitigation measures are implemented and effective, and to evaluate the success of the project objectives. A project specific monitoring plan will be developed. Preliminary Issues Initial analysis by the Interdisciplinary Team has brought forward seven issues that may affect the design of the project: (1) Susceptibility to severe wildfire; (2) Effect on wildlife habitat, especially lynx, grizzly bear, and bull trout; (3) Effect on big game VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:58 Jul 20, 2015 Jkt 235001 winter range; (4) Economic viability of commercial treatments; (5) Cost of noncommercial treatments; (6) Effects on water quality and aquatic habitats; and (7) Effects on weed introduction and spread. Scoping Process This notice of intent initiates the scoping process, which guides the development of the environmental impact statement. The Interdisciplinary Team will continue to seek information, comments, and assistance from Federal, State, and local agencies, Tribal governments, and other individuals or organizations that may be interested in, or affected by, the proposed action. The overall development of the project would also be done through a collaborative process with interested parties, including the Kootenai Forest Stakeholders Coalition, Lincoln County, Sanders County, and timber industry. It is important that reviewers provide their comments at such times and in such manner that they are useful to the agency’s preparation of the environmental impact statement. Therefore, comments should be provided prior to the close of the comment period and should clearly articulate the reviewer’s concerns and contentions. Comments received in response to this solicitation, including names and addresses of those who comment, will become part of the public record for this proposed action. Comments submitted anonymously will be accepted and considered. Dated: July 10, 2015. Chris S. Savage, Forest Supervisor, Kootenai National Forest . [FR Doc. 2015–17770 Filed 7–20–15; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3411–15–P DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Natural Resources Conservation Service [Docket No. NRCS–2015–0010] Notice of Proposed Changes to the National Handbook of Conservation Practices for the Natural Resources Conservation Service Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). ACTION: Notice of availability of proposed changes in the NRCS National Handbook of Conservation Practices for public review and comment. AGENCY: PO 00000 Frm 00007 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 43057 Notice is hereby given of the intention of NRCS to issue a series of revised conservation practice standards in the National Handbook of Conservation Practices. These standards include: Channel Bed Stabilization (Code 584), Karst Sinkhole Treatment (Code 527), Open Channel (Code 582), Pond (Code 378), Surface Drain, Field Ditch (Code 607), Surface Drain, Main or Lateral (Code 608), Vertical Drain (Code 630) and Waste Hauling (Code 321). NRCS State Conservationists who choose to adopt these practices for use within their States will incorporate them into section IV of their respective electronic Field Office Technical Guide. Section 343 of the Federal Agriculture Improvement and Reform Act of 1996 requires NRCS to make available for public review and comment all proposed revisions to conservation practice standards used to carry out HEL and wetland provisions of the law. DATES: Effective Date: This is effective July 21, 2015. Comment Date: Submit comments on or before August 20, 2015. Final versions of these new or revised conservation practice standards will be adopted after the close of the 30-day period and after consideration of all comments. SUMMARY: Comments should be submitted, identified by Docket Number NRCS–2015–0010, using any of the following methods: • Federal eRulemaking Portal: https:// www.regulations.gov. Follow the instructions for submitting comments. • Mail or hand delivery: Public Comments Processing, Attention: Regulatory and Agency Policy Team, Strategic Planning and Accountability, Natural Resources Conservation Service, 5601 Sunnyside Avenue, Building 1– 1112D, Beltsville, Maryland 20705. NRCS will post all comments on https://www.regulations.gov. In general, personal information provided with comments will be posted. If your comment includes your address, phone number, email, or other personal identifying information (PII), your comments, including personal information, may be available to the public. You may ask in your comment that your PII be withheld from public view, but this cannot be guaranteed. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Wayne Bogovich, National Agricultural Engineer, Conservation Engineering Division, Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service, 1400 Independence Avenue SW., Room 6136 South Building, Washington, DC 20250. ADDRESSES: E:\FR\FM\21JYN1.SGM 21JYN1 asabaliauskas on DSK5VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES 43058 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 139 / Tuesday, July 21, 2015 / Notices Electronic copies of the proposed revised standards are available through https://www.regulations.gov by accessing Docket No. NRCS–2015–0010. Alternatively, copies can be downloaded or printed from the following Web site: https://go.usa.gov/ TXye. Requests for paper versions or inquiries may be directed to Emil Horvath, National Practice Standards Review Coordinator, Natural Resources Conservation Service, Central National Technology Support Center, 501 West Felix Street, Fort Worth, Texas 76115. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The amount of the proposed changes varies considerably for each of the conservation practice standards addressed in this notice. To fully understand the proposed changes, individuals are encouraged to compare these changes with each standard’s current version as shown at: https:// www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/ detailfull/national/technical/cp/ncps/ ?cid=nrcs143026849. To aid in this comparison, following are highlights of some of the proposed revisions to each standard: Channel Bed Stabilization (Code 584)—The proposed changes provide additional clarification regarding the conditions where the practice applies, general criteria, considerations, and technical references. Karst Sinkhole Treatment (Code 527)—The proposed changes provide additional clarification regarding the conditions where the practice applies, general criteria, sinkhole treatment/ closing and considerations. Open Channel (Code 582)—The agency refined the definition, modified criteria, added considerations, updated requirements for plans and specifications, and updated requirements for operation and maintenance. Pond (Code 378)—The agency refined the definition, modified criteria, updated considerations, updated requirements for plans and specifications, and updated requirements for operation and maintenance. Surface Drain, Field Ditch (Code 607)—The agency changed the definition for clarity, along with a purpose and criteria added to allow use of this practice to collect irrigation tailwater for reuse. Surface Drain, Main or Lateral (Code 608)—The agency removed the reference to the ambiguous phrase ‘water management system’ in the purpose to improve clarity. Criteria was added allowing the use of this practice as a component to collect irrigation VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:58 Jul 20, 2015 Jkt 235001 tailwater, for use in a Tailwater Recovery System, (Code 447) along with a reference to the two-stage channel design process in NRCS National Engineering Handbook, Part 654.1005 in areas where increased channel stability is required. Vertical Drain (Code 630)—The agency incorporated plain language into this practice standard by adding verbiage to address potential negative effects on underground habitat, in conditions where practice applies. NRCS also added a statement in plans and specifications, focusing on documenting specific site characteristics, in relation to potential contamination sources. Finally, the agency added a references section with National Engineering Handbook 633, Chapter 26, gradation Design of Sand and Gravel Filters. Waste Hauling (Code 321)—This is a new national conservation practice standard with a 1-year lifespan. This practice removes manure hauling from the Waste Transfer (Code 634) standard that has been utilized extensively by a number of States for several years. The Waste Transfer standard is structural and long-term in character which does not fit the hauling of manure and other agricultural waste very well. The Waste Hauling standard is short term and nonstructural. Waste Hauling is the practice of moving manure or other agricultural waste products by vehicle from a region where concentration of waste production makes it very difficult to find cropland for application that does not already exhibit very high nutrient levels due to previous application. Additionally, the practice will be used to move agricultural waste in watersheds with water quality problems to markets outside the impacted watershed. The Waste Hauling contract will be with the end user of the product, and must be used in conjunction with a CPS Nutrient Management (Code 590) plan. Signed this 13th day of July, 2015, in Washington, DC. Jason A. Weller, Chief, Natural Resources Conservation Service. [FR Doc. 2015–17797 Filed 7–20–15; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3410–16–P PO 00000 Frm 00008 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 COMMISSION ON CIVIL RIGHTS Notice of Public Meeting of the Missouri Advisory Committee for a Meeting To Hear Testimony Regarding Police and Community Interaction in Missouri U.S. Commission on Civil Rights. ACTION: Notice of meeting. AGENCY: Notice is hereby given, pursuant to the provisions of the rules and regulations of the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights (Commission) and the Federal Advisory Committee Act that the Missouri Advisory Committee (Committee) will hold a meeting on Thursday, August 20, 2015, for the purpose of hearing presenters testify about the civil rights issues regarding police and community interactions in Missouri. Members of the public are invited and welcomed to make statements into the record during two open forum periods. The first open forum will be held from 12:00 p.m. until 12:30 p.m. The second open forum will be held from 6:15 p.m. until 6:45 p.m. Members of the public are also entitled to submit written comments; the comments must be received in the regional office by September 20, 2015. Written comments may be mailed to the Midwestern Regional Office, U.S. Commission on Civil Rights, 55 W. Monroe St., Suite 410, Chicago, IL 60615. They may also be faxed to the Commission at (312) 353–8311, or emailed to Melissa Wojnaroski, Civil Rights Analyst, at mwojnaroski@usccr.gov. Persons who desire additional information may contact the Midwestern Regional Office at (312) 353–8311. Closed-captioning of the meeting will be provided. If other persons who will attend the meeting require other accommodations, please contact Carolyn Allen at callen@usccr.gov at the Midwestern Regional Office at least ten (10) working days before the scheduled date of the meeting. Records and documents discussed during the meeting will be available for public viewing prior to and after the meeting at https://facadatabase.gov/ committee/meetings.aspx?cid=258 and clicking on the ‘‘Meeting Details’’ and ‘‘Documents’’ links. Records generated from this meeting may also be inspected and reproduced at the Regional Programs Unit, as they become available, both before and after the meeting. Persons interested in the work of this Committee are directed to the Commission’s Web site, https:// www.usccr.gov, or may contact the SUMMARY: E:\FR\FM\21JYN1.SGM 21JYN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 139 (Tuesday, July 21, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 43057-43058]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-17797]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Natural Resources Conservation Service

[Docket No. NRCS-2015-0010]


Notice of Proposed Changes to the National Handbook of 
Conservation Practices for the Natural Resources Conservation Service

AGENCY: Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), U.S. Department 
of Agriculture (USDA).

ACTION: Notice of availability of proposed changes in the NRCS National 
Handbook of Conservation Practices for public review and comment.

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

SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given of the intention of NRCS to issue a 
series of revised conservation practice standards in the National 
Handbook of Conservation Practices. These standards include: Channel 
Bed Stabilization (Code 584), Karst Sinkhole Treatment (Code 527), Open 
Channel (Code 582), Pond (Code 378), Surface Drain, Field Ditch (Code 
607), Surface Drain, Main or Lateral (Code 608), Vertical Drain (Code 
630) and Waste Hauling (Code 321). NRCS State Conservationists who 
choose to adopt these practices for use within their States will 
incorporate them into section IV of their respective electronic Field 
Office Technical Guide. Section 343 of the Federal Agriculture 
Improvement and Reform Act of 1996 requires NRCS to make available for 
public review and comment all proposed revisions to conservation 
practice standards used to carry out HEL and wetland provisions of the 
law.

DATES: Effective Date: This is effective July 21, 2015.
    Comment Date: Submit comments on or before August 20, 2015. Final 
versions of these new or revised conservation practice standards will 
be adopted after the close of the 30-day period and after consideration 
of all comments.

ADDRESSES: Comments should be submitted, identified by Docket Number 
NRCS-2015-0010, using any of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: https://www.regulations.gov. 
Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
     Mail or hand delivery: Public Comments Processing, 
Attention: Regulatory and Agency Policy Team, Strategic Planning and 
Accountability, Natural Resources Conservation Service, 5601 Sunnyside 
Avenue, Building 1-1112D, Beltsville, Maryland 20705.
    NRCS will post all comments on https://www.regulations.gov. In 
general, personal information provided with comments will be posted. If 
your comment includes your address, phone number, email, or other 
personal identifying information (PII), your comments, including 
personal information, may be available to the public. You may ask in 
your comment that your PII be withheld from public view, but this 
cannot be guaranteed.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Wayne Bogovich, National Agricultural 
Engineer, Conservation Engineering Division, Department of Agriculture, 
Natural Resources Conservation Service, 1400 Independence Avenue SW., 
Room 6136 South Building, Washington, DC 20250.

[[Page 43058]]

    Electronic copies of the proposed revised standards are available 
through https://www.regulations.gov by accessing Docket No. NRCS-2015-
0010. Alternatively, copies can be downloaded or printed from the 
following Web site: https://go.usa.gov/TXye. Requests for paper versions 
or inquiries may be directed to Emil Horvath, National Practice 
Standards Review Coordinator, Natural Resources Conservation Service, 
Central National Technology Support Center, 501 West Felix Street, Fort 
Worth, Texas 76115.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The amount of the proposed changes varies 
considerably for each of the conservation practice standards addressed 
in this notice. To fully understand the proposed changes, individuals 
are encouraged to compare these changes with each standard's current 
version as shown at: https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/detailfull/national/technical/cp/ncps/?cid=nrcs143026849.
    To aid in this comparison, following are highlights of some of the 
proposed revisions to each standard:
    Channel Bed Stabilization (Code 584)--The proposed changes provide 
additional clarification regarding the conditions where the practice 
applies, general criteria, considerations, and technical references.
    Karst Sinkhole Treatment (Code 527)--The proposed changes provide 
additional clarification regarding the conditions where the practice 
applies, general criteria, sinkhole treatment/closing and 
considerations.
    Open Channel (Code 582)--The agency refined the definition, 
modified criteria, added considerations, updated requirements for plans 
and specifications, and updated requirements for operation and 
maintenance.
    Pond (Code 378)--The agency refined the definition, modified 
criteria, updated considerations, updated requirements for plans and 
specifications, and updated requirements for operation and maintenance.
    Surface Drain, Field Ditch (Code 607)--The agency changed the 
definition for clarity, along with a purpose and criteria added to 
allow use of this practice to collect irrigation tailwater for reuse.
    Surface Drain, Main or Lateral (Code 608)--The agency removed the 
reference to the ambiguous phrase `water management system' in the 
purpose to improve clarity. Criteria was added allowing the use of this 
practice as a component to collect irrigation tailwater, for use in a 
Tailwater Recovery System, (Code 447) along with a reference to the 
two-stage channel design process in NRCS National Engineering Handbook, 
Part 654.1005 in areas where increased channel stability is required.
    Vertical Drain (Code 630)--The agency incorporated plain language 
into this practice standard by adding verbiage to address potential 
negative effects on underground habitat, in conditions where practice 
applies. NRCS also added a statement in plans and specifications, 
focusing on documenting specific site characteristics, in relation to 
potential contamination sources. Finally, the agency added a references 
section with National Engineering Handbook 633, Chapter 26, gradation 
Design of Sand and Gravel Filters.
    Waste Hauling (Code 321)--This is a new national conservation 
practice standard with a 1-year lifespan. This practice removes manure 
hauling from the Waste Transfer (Code 634) standard that has been 
utilized extensively by a number of States for several years. The Waste 
Transfer standard is structural and long-term in character which does 
not fit the hauling of manure and other agricultural waste very well. 
The Waste Hauling standard is short term and non-structural. Waste 
Hauling is the practice of moving manure or other agricultural waste 
products by vehicle from a region where concentration of waste 
production makes it very difficult to find cropland for application 
that does not already exhibit very high nutrient levels due to previous 
application. Additionally, the practice will be used to move 
agricultural waste in watersheds with water quality problems to markets 
outside the impacted watershed. The Waste Hauling contract will be with 
the end user of the product, and must be used in conjunction with a CPS 
Nutrient Management (Code 590) plan.

    Signed this 13th day of July, 2015, in Washington, DC.
Jason A. Weller,
Chief, Natural Resources Conservation Service.
[FR Doc. 2015-17797 Filed 7-20-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-16-P
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