Natural Resources Conservation Service 2019 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

NRCS is providing public notice that the Secretary of Agriculture has determined that cost share payments made by the Nevada Division of Environmental Protection (NDEP) are primarily for the purpose of conserving soil and water resources or protecting and restoring the environment. NRCS was assigned technical and administrative responsibility for reviewing NDEP's Petroleum Claims Fund program and for making appropriate recommendations for the Secretary's determination of primary purpose. The Secretary made the determination for the State of Nevada's Petroleum Claims Fund program administered by the Nevada Division of Environmental Protection.

NRCS announces its intent to adopt the FEIS, titled ``Bruneau- Owyhee Sage-grouse Habitat Project'' (BOSH), prepared by the U.S. Department of the Interior Bureau of Land Management (BLM), under the provisions of the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) regulations. The proposed action will improve and maintain suitable sage-grouse habitat within southwestern Idaho by removing early stage encroaching western juniper.

NRCS gives notice that an environmental impact statement is not being prepared for the rehabilitation of Johns Creek Watershed Dam No. 1, Craig County, Virginia and Finding of No Significant Impact.

NRCS announces the availability of the agency's Record of Decision (ROD) to adopt the Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS), ``Feral Swine Damage Management: A National Approach EIS'', prepared by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), under the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) adoption provisions of the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ).

The Agricultural Improvement Act of 2018 (the 2018 Farm Bill) made several minor changes to certain of the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) conservation programs and related requirements. The conservation programs and related requirements include the administration of the State Technical Committee, the Watershed Protection and Flood Prevention Act Program, the Healthy Forests Reserve Program (HFRP), the Technical Service Provider (TSP) Assistance provisions, and the Voluntary Public Access and Habitat Incentive Program (VPA-HIP). This rule makes changes to the existing regulations for the conservation programs that are consistent with the changes made by the 2018 Farm Bill.

The NRCS Montana State Office gives notice that an EIS is being prepared for the Willow Creek Watershed Project in the proximity of Browning, Montana on the Blackfeet Indian Reservation. This notice announces our intent to prepare an EIS, provide information on the nature of the proposed action and possible alternatives, invite public participation in the EIS process, and identify cooperating agency contacts. The EIS process will evaluate alternatives recommended for detailed study because of previous planning-level studies completed by NRCS and additional (new) alternatives identified during scoping.

The Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 (2018 Farm Bill) amended the Food Security Act of 1985, to require an expedited review of conservation practice standards, including engineering design specifications, that were in effect on December 19, 2018. NRCS will evaluate opportunities to increase flexibility in the conservation practice standards in a manner that ensures equivalent natural resource benefits. This notice announces that NRCS will be reviewing the national conservation practice standards in the National Handbook of Conservation Practices and is requesting comments from the public about how to improve the conservation practice standards.

In preparing to implement the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 (commonly referred to as the 2018 Farm Bill), we are hosting a listening session for initial public input about new programs and changes to existing programs implemented by the Farm Service Agency (FSA), the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), and the Risk Management Agency (RMA). The 2018 Farm Bill is intended to provide support, certainty, and stability to our Nation's farmers, ranchers, and land stewards by enhancing farm support programs, improving crop insurance, maintaining disaster programs, and promoting and supporting voluntary conservation. We invite you to participate in the listening session. The listening session is open to the public.