Proposed Revisions to Section 1 of the Field Office Technical Guides for Several States, 52632-52634 [2021-20474]

Download as PDF 52632 Notices Federal Register Vol. 86, No. 181 Wednesday, September 22, 2021 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 Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request September 16, 2021. The Department of Agriculture will submit the following information collection requirement(s) to OMB for review and clearance under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 104–13 on or after the date of publication of this notice. Comments are requested regarding: (1) Whether the collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including whether the information will have practical utility; (2) the accuracy of the agency’s estimate of burden including the validity of the methodology and assumptions used; (3) ways to enhance the quality, utility and clarity of the information to be collected; and (4) ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on those who are to respond, including through the use of appropriate automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or other forms of information technology. Comments regarding these information collections are best assured of having their full effect if received by October 22, 2021. Written comments and recommendations for the proposed information collection should be submitted within 30 days of the publication of this notice on the following website www.reginfo.gov/ public/do/PRAMain. Find this particular information collection by selecting ‘‘Currently under 30-day Review—Open for Public Comments’’ or by using the search function. An agency may not conduct or sponsor a collection of information unless the collection of information displays a currently valid OMB control number and the agency informs potential persons who are to respond to the collection of information that such VerDate Sep<11>2014 16:44 Sep 21, 2021 Jkt 253001 persons are not required to respond to the collection of information unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number. National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) Title: 2022 Census of Agriculture— Substantive Change. OMB Control Number: 0535–0226. Summary of Collection: General authority for these data collection activities is granted under U.S. Code Title 7, Section 2204 which specifies that ‘‘The Secretary of Agriculture shall procure and preserve all information concerning agriculture which he can obtain . . . by the collection of statistics . . .’’. The primary objective of the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) is to provide data users with timely and reliable agricultural production and economic statistics, as well as environmental and specialty agricultural related statistics. To accomplish this objective, NASS relies on the use of diverse surveys that show changes within the farming industry over time. This is a request to make a substantive change to the currently approved Census of Agriculture clearance. In this substantive change, NASS provides details to the separate data collection of agricultural decision makers’ sexual orientation and gender identification (SOGI) and disability status data that was mentioned in the original approval. This experimental data collection will be called The Farm Producer Study and will take place in late 2021. The Farm Producer Study will provide experimental data that will help determine if these questions should be included in future data collections, such as the 2027 Census of Agriculture. Need and Use of the Information: Census of Agriculture data, including data that may be used to better understand the demographics of agricultural producers, are an integral part of the primary function of the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), which is the collection, processing, and dissemination of current State, regional, and national agricultural statistics. Description of Respondents: Farms: Individuals or households. Number of Respondents: 75,000. Frequency of Responses: Once. PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 Total Burden Hours: 15,965. Levi S. Harrell, Departmental Information Collection Clearance Officer. [FR Doc. 2021–20443 Filed 9–21–21; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3410–20–P DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Natural Resources Conservation Service [Docket No. NRCS–2021–0003] Proposed Revisions to Section 1 of the Field Office Technical Guides for Several States Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). ACTION: Notice of availability; request for comment. AGENCY: NRCS is giving notice that it is proposing to revise Section 1 of the Field Office Technical Guides in Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Caribbean Area, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii and Pacific Islands Area, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. The proposed changes include hydrology indicators for the identification in each of these States of farmed wetlands (FW) that are not playas, pocosins, or potholes. These indicators will be used by NRCS to identify FWs while completing wetland determinations for USDA program eligibility purposes. DATES: Comment Date: We will consider comments that we receive by October 22, 2021. ADDRESSES: We invite you to submit comments on this notice. You may submit comments through the: • Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to https://www.regulations.gov and search for docket ID NRCS–2021–0003. Follow the instructions for submitting comments. SUMMARY: E:\FR\FM\22SEN1.SGM 22SEN1 Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 181 / Wednesday, September 22, 2021 / Notices • Mail, or Hand Delivery: Mr. Jason Outlaw, National Leader for Wetland and Highly Erodible Land Conservation, Ecological Sciences Division, NRCS, USDA, 1400 Independence Ave., South Building, Room 4634, Washington, DC 20250. In your comment, specify the docket ID NRCS–2021–0003 and the name of the specific State for which you are submitting comments. All comments will be available on https://www.regulations.gov. Each State’s proposed hydrology indicators for the identification of FWs that are not playas, pocosins, or potholes are available through https:// www.regulations.gov by accessing Docket No. NRCS–2021–0003. Alternatively, the proposed indicators can be downloaded or printed from https://www.nrcs.®usda.gov/wps/portal/ nrcs/detailfull/national/programs/ farmbill/?cid=NRCSEPRD1792621. Requests for paper versions or inquiries may be directed to the specific State Conservationist at the contact points listed below. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: The appropriate NRCS State Conservationist as listed below: • Alabama: Ben Malone; (334) 887– 4500; ben.malone@usda.gov; • Alaska: Alan McBee; (907) 761– 7780; alan.mcbee@usda.gov; • Arizona: Keisha Tatem; (602) 280– 8808; keisha.tatem@usda.gov; • Arkansas: Michael E. Sullivan; (501) 301–3100; michael.sullivan@ usda.gov; • California: Carlos Suarez; (530) 792–5600; carlos.suarez@usda.gov; • Caribbean Area: Luis Cruz-Arroyo; 787–281–4836; luis.cruz-arroyo@ usda.gov; • Colorado: Clint Evans; (720) 544– 2802; clint.evans@usda.gov; • Connecticut: Thomas Morgart; (860) 871–4014; thomas.morgart@usda.gov; • Delaware: Kasey L. Taylor; (302) 678–4160; kasey.taylor@.usda.gov; • Florida: Juan Hernandez; (352) 338– 9500; juan.hernandez@usda.gov; • Georgia: Terrance O. Rudolph; (706) 546–2272; terrance.rudolph@usda.gov; • Hawaii/Pacific Islands Area: Travis L. Thomason; (808) 600–2969; travis.thomason@usda.gov; • Idaho: Curtis Elke; (208) 378–5701; curtis.elke@usda.gov; • Illinois: Ivan N. Dozier; (217) 353– 6600; ivan.dozier@usda.gov; • Indiana: Jerry Raynor; (317) 295– 5801; jerry.raynor@usda.gov; • Iowa: Jon Hubbert; (515) 284–6655; jon.hubbert@usda.gov; • Kansas: Karen Woodrich; (785) 823–4565; karen.woodrich@usda.gov; • Kentucky: C. Gregory Stone; (859) 224–7350; greg.stone@usda.gov; VerDate Sep<11>2014 16:44 Sep 21, 2021 Jkt 253001 • Louisiana: Richard ‘‘Chad’’ Kacir; (318) 473–7751; richard.kacir@usda.gov; • Maine: Matt Walker; (207) 990– 9585; matt.walker@usda.gov; • Maryland: Terron Hillsman, Ph.D.; (443) 757–0861; terron.hillsman@ usda.gov; • Massachusetts: Daniel Wright; (413) 253–4350; daniel.wright@usda.gov; • Minnesota: Troy Daniell; (651) 602– 7900; troy.daniell@usda.gov; • Mississippi: Kurt Readus; (601) 965–5205 x140; kurt.readus@usda.gov; • Missouri: Scott Edwards; (573) 876– 0901; scott.edwards@usda.gov • Montana: Tom Watson; (406) 587– 6811; tom.watson@usda.gov; • Nebraska: Jeff Vander Wilt (acting); (402) 437–4103; jeffrey.vanderwilt@ usda.gov; • Nevada: Ray Dotson; (775) 857– 8500 x102; ray.dotson@usda.gov; • New Hampshire: Becky Ross; (603) 868–7581; becky.ross@usda.gov; • New Jersey: Julie Hawkins; (732) 537–6041; julie.hawkins@usda.gov; • New Mexico: J. Xavier Montoya; (505) 761–4402; xavier.montoya@ usda.gov; • New York: Blake Glover; (315) 477– 6504; blake.glover@usda.gov; • North Carolina: Timothy A. Beard; (919) 873–2101; tim.beard@usda.gov; • Ohio: John Wilson (acting); (614) 255–2475; john.wilson@usda.gov; • Oklahoma: Gary O’Neill; (405) 742– 1204; gary.oneill@usda.gov; • Oregon: Ron Alvarado; (503) 414– 3200; ron.alvarado@usda.gov; • Pennsylvania: Denise Coleman; (717) 237–2100; denise.coleman@ usda.gov; • Rhode Island: R. Phou Vongkhamdy; (401) 822–8815; pooh.vongkhamdy@usda.gov; • South Carolina: Ann English; (803) 253–3935; ann.english@usda.gov; • Tennessee: Sheldon Hightower; (615) 277–2531; sheldon.hightower@ usda.gov; • Texas: Kristy Oates; (254) 742– 9800; kristy.oates@usda.gov; • Utah: Emily Fife; (801) 524–4551; emily.fife@usda.gov; • Vermont: Vicky Drew; (802) 951– 6796; vicky.drew@usda.gov; • Virginia: Edwin Martinez; (804) 287–1691; edwin.martinez@usda.gov; • Washington: Roylene Comes at Night; (509) 323–2900; Roylene.comesat-night@usda.gov; • West Virginia: Jon Bourdon; (304) 284–7540; jon.bourdon@usda.gov; • Wisconsin: Angela L. Biggs; (608) 662–4422 x241; angela.biggs@usda.gov; and • Wyoming: Astrid Martinez; (307) 233–6750; astrid.martinez@usda.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 52633 Background To participate in most USDA programs, agricultural producers agree to comply with the wetland conservation provisions. This means producers will not farm converted wetlands or convert wetlands to enable agricultural production. One of NRCS’ roles is to make wetland determinations that locate and certify the existence of wetlands subject to the Food Security Act of 1985 on producers’ land. This notice announces that NRCS plans to revise Section 1 of the Field Office Technical Guide for the following States: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Caribbean Area, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii/Pacific Islands Area, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. Section 1 of each State’s Field Office Technical Guide may be used by NRCS to identify FWs while completing wetland determinations for USDA program eligibility purposes in that particular State. Specifically, the proposed changes will include hydrology indicators to identify FWs that are not playas, pocosins, or potholes. Each State’s proposed hydrology indicators for the identification of FWs that are not playas, pocosins, or potholes are available through https:// www.regulations.gov by accessing Docket No. NRCS–2021–0003. Alternatively, the proposed indicators can be downloaded or printed from https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/ nrcs/detailfull/national/programs/ farmbill/?cid=NRCSEPRD1792621. Requests for paper versions or inquiries may be directed to the specific State Conservationist at the contact points listed below. Proposed Changes to the Field Office Technical Guide NRCS plans to revise Section 1 of the Field Office Technical Guides for the States of Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Caribbean Area, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii/Pacific Islands Area, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, E:\FR\FM\22SEN1.SGM 22SEN1 52634 Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 181 / Wednesday, September 22, 2021 / Notices Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming to include hydrology indicators for the identification of FWs that are not playas, pocosins, or potholes. These indicators will be used by NRCS to identify FWs as part of the technical documents and procedures to conduct wetland determinations on agricultural land for USDA program eligibility purposes as required by law as specified in 16 U.S.C. 3822. The controlling regulations for the wetland conservation (WC) provisions of the Food Security Act of 1985, as amended, are provided in 7 CFR part 12, ‘‘Highly Erodible Land and Wetland Conservation.’’ The regulations’ broad definition of ‘‘wetland determination’’ describe an FW (in part) using two criteria. First, an FW is a wetland that prior to December 23, 1985, was manipulated and used to produce an agricultural commodity at least once before December 23, 1985. Second, FWs are described as wetlands that on December 23, 1985, did not support woody vegetation, and met the following hydrologic criteria: If not a playa, pocosin, or pothole, experienced inundation for 15 consecutive days or more during the growing season or 10 percent of the growing season, whichever is less, in most years (50percent chance or more). To decide effectively whether an area supports the required inundation for a FW that is not identified as a playa, pocosin, or pothole, the regulations then provide three options: 1. Observation of wetland hydrology indicators as identified in the local NRCS Field Office Technical Guide; 2. Procedures identified in State OffSite Methods for wetland identification set forth in the local NRCS Field Office Technical Guide; or 3. The use of analytic techniques, such as the use of drainage equations or the evaluation of monitoring data. The proposed FW hydrology indicators provide those NRCS will use under option one. On August 28, 2020, USDA published a final rule in the Federal Register (85 FR 53137–53152) for the highly erodible land and wetland conservation provisions of the Food Security Act of 1985, as amended. The rule changed how NRCS identifies hydrology criteria for FWs that are not playas, pocosins, or potholes, consistent with the discussion above. Prior to that final rule, the regulations specified that NRCS would VerDate Sep<11>2014 16:44 Sep 21, 2021 Jkt 253001 identify FWs by using hydrology indicators showing evidence of recent inundation as contained in the applicable regional supplement to the Corps of Engineers Wetland Delineation Manual. The preamble to the August 28, 2020, final rule provided that until such time as the updates to the NRCS Field Office Technical Guides have been published and public notice provided, NRCS will continue to use Group B (Evidence of Recent Inundation) hydrology indicators from the regional supplements to the Corps of Engineers Wetland Delineation Manual, as specified in the interim rule, published December 7, 2018, in the Federal Register (83 FR 63046–63052), to identify FWs that are not playas, pocosins, or potholes. Those Group B wetland hydrology indicators currently used by NRCS can be found in the regional supplements to the Corps of Engineers Wetland Delineation Manual at https://www.usace.army.mil/ Missions/Civil-Works/RegulatoryProgram-and-Permits/reg_supp/. The Corps of Engineers hydrology indicators will no longer be used by NRCS for the identification of FWs that are not playas, pocosins, or potholes once the State-specific NRCS indicators are considered final and published in Section 1 of each State’s Field Office Technical Guide. Notification and Public Comment Section 343 of the Federal Agriculture Improvement and Reform Act of 1996 (16 U.S.C. 3862 note) specifies that USDA must allow public notice and comment for revisions to NRCS State technical guides which are used to carry out the Food Security Act of 1985 highly erodible land and wetland conservation provisions (16 U.S.C. 3801–3824). NRCS will consider all comments that are received during the 30-day comment period. The final version of the Field Office Technical Guide for the States of Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Caribbean Area, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii/Pacific Islands Area, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming as revised to include hydrology indicators for the identification of FWs that are not playas, pocosins, or potholes will be PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 adopted after the close of the 30-day period and after consideration of all comments. Responses to comments will be posted at https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/ wps/portal/nrcs/detailfull/national/ programs/farmbill/ ?cid=nrcseprd1542016 once each State’s final version is adopted. Astor Boozer, Regional Conservationist, West Region, Natural Resources Conservation Service. Terrell Erickson, Regional Conservationist, Northeast Region, Natural Resources Conservation Service. Noller Herbert, Acting Regional Conservationist, Central Region, Natural Resources Conservation Service. James Tillman, Regional Conservationist, Southeast Region, Natural Resources Conservation Service. [FR Doc. 2021–20474 Filed 9–21–21; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3410–16–P DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE Census Bureau Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for Review and Approval; Comment Request; Redistricting Data Program The Department of Commerce will submit the following information collection request to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and clearance in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, on or after the date of publication of this notice. We invite the general public and other Federal agencies to comment on proposed, and continuing information collections, which helps us assess the impact of our information collection requirements and minimize the public’s reporting burden. Public comments were previously requested via the Federal Register on May 07, 2021, during a 60-day comment period. This notice allows for an additional 30 days for public comments. Agency: U.S. Census Bureau, Department of Commerce. Title: Redistricting Data Program. OMB Control Number: 0607–0988. Form Number(s): P4–02, P4–03, P4– 04, P4–05, and P4–06. Type of Request: Regular submission, Revision of a Currently Approved Collection. Number of Respondents: 52. Average Hours per Response: Phase 4: 8 hours. Phase 5: 2 hours. Burden Hours: 520 hours. Phase 4: 416 hours. Phase 5: 104 hours. E:\FR\FM\22SEN1.SGM 22SEN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 181 (Wednesday, September 22, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 52632-52634]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-20474]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Natural Resources Conservation Service

[Docket No. NRCS-2021-0003]


Proposed Revisions to Section 1 of the Field Office Technical 
Guides for Several States

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

ACTION: Notice of availability; request for comment.

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

SUMMARY: NRCS is giving notice that it is proposing to revise Section 1 
of the Field Office Technical Guides in Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, 
Arkansas, California, Caribbean Area, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, 
Florida, Georgia, Hawaii and Pacific Islands Area, Idaho, Illinois, 
Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, 
Massachusetts, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, 
Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North 
Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South 
Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West 
Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. The proposed changes include 
hydrology indicators for the identification in each of these States of 
farmed wetlands (FW) that are not playas, pocosins, or potholes. These 
indicators will be used by NRCS to identify FWs while completing 
wetland determinations for USDA program eligibility purposes.

DATES: Comment Date: We will consider comments that we receive by 
October 22, 2021.

ADDRESSES: We invite you to submit comments on this notice. You may 
submit comments through the:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to https://www.regulations.gov and search for docket ID NRCS-2021-0003. Follow the 
instructions for submitting comments.

[[Page 52633]]

     Mail, or Hand Delivery: Mr. Jason Outlaw, National Leader 
for Wetland and Highly Erodible Land Conservation, Ecological Sciences 
Division, NRCS, USDA, 1400 Independence Ave., South Building, Room 
4634, Washington, DC 20250. In your comment, specify the docket ID 
NRCS-2021-0003 and the name of the specific State for which you are 
submitting comments.
    All comments will be available on https://www.regulations.gov.
    Each State's proposed hydrology indicators for the identification 
of FWs that are not playas, pocosins, or potholes are available through 
https://www.regulations.gov by accessing Docket No. NRCS-2021-0003. 
Alternatively, the proposed indicators can be downloaded or printed 
from https://www.nrcs.[supreg]usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/detailfull/national/programs/farmbill/?cid=NRCSEPRD1792621. Requests for paper 
versions or inquiries may be directed to the specific State 
Conservationist at the contact points listed below.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: The appropriate NRCS State 
Conservationist as listed below:
     Alabama: Ben Malone; (334) 887-4500; [email protected];
     Alaska: Alan McBee; (907) 761-7780; [email protected];
     Arizona: Keisha Tatem; (602) 280-8808; 
[email protected];
     Arkansas: Michael E. Sullivan; (501) 301-3100; 
[email protected];
     California: Carlos Suarez; (530) 792-5600; 
[email protected];
     Caribbean Area: Luis Cruz-Arroyo; 787-281-4836; [email protected];
     Colorado: Clint Evans; (720) 544-2802; 
[email protected];
     Connecticut: Thomas Morgart; (860) 871-4014; 
[email protected];
     Delaware: Kasey L. Taylor; (302) 678-4160; 
[email protected];
     Florida: Juan Hernandez; (352) 338-9500; 
[email protected];
     Georgia: Terrance O. Rudolph; (706) 546-2272; 
[email protected];
     Hawaii/Pacific Islands Area: Travis L. Thomason; (808) 
600-2969; [email protected];
     Idaho: Curtis Elke; (208) 378-5701; [email protected];
     Illinois: Ivan N. Dozier; (217) 353-6600; 
[email protected];
     Indiana: Jerry Raynor; (317) 295-5801; 
[email protected];
     Iowa: Jon Hubbert; (515) 284-6655; [email protected];
     Kansas: Karen Woodrich; (785) 823-4565; 
[email protected];
     Kentucky: C. Gregory Stone; (859) 224-7350; 
[email protected];
     Louisiana: Richard ``Chad'' Kacir; (318) 473-7751; 
[email protected];
     Maine: Matt Walker; (207) 990-9585; [email protected];
     Maryland: Terron Hillsman, Ph.D.; (443) 757-0861; 
[email protected];
     Massachusetts: Daniel Wright; (413) 253-4350; 
[email protected];
     Minnesota: Troy Daniell; (651) 602-7900; 
[email protected];
     Mississippi: Kurt Readus; (601) 965-5205 x140; 
[email protected];
     Missouri: Scott Edwards; (573) 876-0901; 
[email protected]
     Montana: Tom Watson; (406) 587-6811; [email protected];
     Nebraska: Jeff Vander Wilt (acting); (402) 437-4103; 
[email protected];
     Nevada: Ray Dotson; (775) 857-8500 x102; 
[email protected];
     New Hampshire: Becky Ross; (603) 868-7581; 
[email protected];
     New Jersey: Julie Hawkins; (732) 537-6041; 
[email protected];
     New Mexico: J. Xavier Montoya; (505) 761-4402; 
[email protected];
     New York: Blake Glover; (315) 477-6504; 
[email protected];
     North Carolina: Timothy A. Beard; (919) 873-2101; 
[email protected];
     Ohio: John Wilson (acting); (614) 255-2475; 
[email protected];
     Oklahoma: Gary O'Neill; (405) 742-1204; 
[email protected];
     Oregon: Ron Alvarado; (503) 414-3200; 
[email protected];
     Pennsylvania: Denise Coleman; (717) 237-2100; 
[email protected];
     Rhode Island: R. Phou Vongkhamdy; (401) 822-8815; 
[email protected];
     South Carolina: Ann English; (803) 253-3935; 
[email protected];
     Tennessee: Sheldon Hightower; (615) 277-2531; 
[email protected];
     Texas: Kristy Oates; (254) 742-9800; 
[email protected];
     Utah: Emily Fife; (801) 524-4551; [email protected];
     Vermont: Vicky Drew; (802) 951-6796; [email protected];
     Virginia: Edwin Martinez; (804) 287-1691; 
[email protected];
     Washington: Roylene Comes at Night; (509) 323-2900; 
[email protected];
     West Virginia: Jon Bourdon; (304) 284-7540; 
[email protected];
     Wisconsin: Angela L. Biggs; (608) 662-4422 x241; 
[email protected]; and
     Wyoming: Astrid Martinez; (307) 233-6750; 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background

    To participate in most USDA programs, agricultural producers agree 
to comply with the wetland conservation provisions. This means 
producers will not farm converted wetlands or convert wetlands to 
enable agricultural production. One of NRCS' roles is to make wetland 
determinations that locate and certify the existence of wetlands 
subject to the Food Security Act of 1985 on producers' land.
    This notice announces that NRCS plans to revise Section 1 of the 
Field Office Technical Guide for the following States: Alabama, Alaska, 
Arizona, Arkansas, California, Caribbean Area, Colorado, Connecticut, 
Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii/Pacific Islands Area, Idaho, 
Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, 
Massachusetts, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, 
Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North 
Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South 
Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West 
Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. Section 1 of each State's Field 
Office Technical Guide may be used by NRCS to identify FWs while 
completing wetland determinations for USDA program eligibility purposes 
in that particular State. Specifically, the proposed changes will 
include hydrology indicators to identify FWs that are not playas, 
pocosins, or potholes.
    Each State's proposed hydrology indicators for the identification 
of FWs that are not playas, pocosins, or potholes are available through 
https://www.regulations.gov by accessing Docket No. NRCS-2021-0003. 
Alternatively, the proposed indicators can be downloaded or printed 
from https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/detailfull/national/
programs/farmbill/?cid=NRCSEPRD1792621. Requests for paper versions or 
inquiries may be directed to the specific State Conservationist at the 
contact points listed below.

Proposed Changes to the Field Office Technical Guide

    NRCS plans to revise Section 1 of the Field Office Technical Guides 
for the States of Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, 
Caribbean Area, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, 
Hawaii/Pacific Islands Area, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, 
Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, 
Mississippi, Missouri, Montana,

[[Page 52634]]

Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, 
North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, 
South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, 
West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming to include hydrology indicators 
for the identification of FWs that are not playas, pocosins, or 
potholes. These indicators will be used by NRCS to identify FWs as part 
of the technical documents and procedures to conduct wetland 
determinations on agricultural land for USDA program eligibility 
purposes as required by law as specified in 16 U.S.C. 3822.
    The controlling regulations for the wetland conservation (WC) 
provisions of the Food Security Act of 1985, as amended, are provided 
in 7 CFR part 12, ``Highly Erodible Land and Wetland Conservation.'' 
The regulations' broad definition of ``wetland determination'' describe 
an FW (in part) using two criteria. First, an FW is a wetland that 
prior to December 23, 1985, was manipulated and used to produce an 
agricultural commodity at least once before December 23, 1985. Second, 
FWs are described as wetlands that on December 23, 1985, did not 
support woody vegetation, and met the following hydrologic criteria: If 
not a playa, pocosin, or pothole, experienced inundation for 15 
consecutive days or more during the growing season or 10 percent of the 
growing season, whichever is less, in most years (50-percent chance or 
more).
    To decide effectively whether an area supports the required 
inundation for a FW that is not identified as a playa, pocosin, or 
pothole, the regulations then provide three options:
    1. Observation of wetland hydrology indicators as identified in the 
local NRCS Field Office Technical Guide;
    2. Procedures identified in State Off-Site Methods for wetland 
identification set forth in the local NRCS Field Office Technical 
Guide; or
    3. The use of analytic techniques, such as the use of drainage 
equations or the evaluation of monitoring data.
    The proposed FW hydrology indicators provide those NRCS will use 
under option one.
    On August 28, 2020, USDA published a final rule in the Federal 
Register (85 FR 53137-53152) for the highly erodible land and wetland 
conservation provisions of the Food Security Act of 1985, as amended. 
The rule changed how NRCS identifies hydrology criteria for FWs that 
are not playas, pocosins, or potholes, consistent with the discussion 
above. Prior to that final rule, the regulations specified that NRCS 
would identify FWs by using hydrology indicators showing evidence of 
recent inundation as contained in the applicable regional supplement to 
the Corps of Engineers Wetland Delineation Manual.
    The preamble to the August 28, 2020, final rule provided that until 
such time as the updates to the NRCS Field Office Technical Guides have 
been published and public notice provided, NRCS will continue to use 
Group B (Evidence of Recent Inundation) hydrology indicators from the 
regional supplements to the Corps of Engineers Wetland Delineation 
Manual, as specified in the interim rule, published December 7, 2018, 
in the Federal Register (83 FR 63046-63052), to identify FWs that are 
not playas, pocosins, or potholes. Those Group B wetland hydrology 
indicators currently used by NRCS can be found in the regional 
supplements to the Corps of Engineers Wetland Delineation Manual at 
https://www.usace.army.mil/Missions/Civil-Works/Regulatory-Program-and-Permits/reg_supp/. The Corps of Engineers hydrology indicators will no 
longer be used by NRCS for the identification of FWs that are not 
playas, pocosins, or potholes once the State-specific NRCS indicators 
are considered final and published in Section 1 of each State's Field 
Office Technical Guide.

Notification and Public Comment

    Section 343 of the Federal Agriculture Improvement and Reform Act 
of 1996 (16 U.S.C. 3862 note) specifies that USDA must allow public 
notice and comment for revisions to NRCS State technical guides which 
are used to carry out the Food Security Act of 1985 highly erodible 
land and wetland conservation provisions (16 U.S.C. 3801-3824).
    NRCS will consider all comments that are received during the 30-day 
comment period. The final version of the Field Office Technical Guide 
for the States of Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, 
Caribbean Area, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, 
Hawaii/Pacific Islands Area, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, 
Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, 
Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New 
Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, 
Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, 
Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming as 
revised to include hydrology indicators for the identification of FWs 
that are not playas, pocosins, or potholes will be adopted after the 
close of the 30-day period and after consideration of all comments. 
Responses to comments will be posted at https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/
portal/nrcs/detailfull/national/programs/farmbill/?cid=nrcseprd1542016 
once each State's final version is adopted.

Astor Boozer, Regional Conservationist, West Region, Natural 
Resources Conservation Service.

Terrell Erickson, Regional Conservationist, Northeast Region, 
Natural Resources Conservation Service.

Noller Herbert, Acting Regional Conservationist, Central Region, 
Natural Resources Conservation Service.

James Tillman,
Regional Conservationist, Southeast Region, Natural Resources 
Conservation Service.
[FR Doc. 2021-20474 Filed 9-21-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-16-P
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