Notice2023-13929
Proposed Revisions to the National Handbook of Conservation Practices for the Natural Resources Conservation Service
Primary source
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Published
June 30, 2023
Issuing agencies
Agriculture DepartmentNatural Resources Conservation Service
Abstract
The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is revising specific conservation practice standards in the National Handbook of Conservation Practices (NHCP). This notice provides an overview of the planned changes and gives the public an opportunity to offer comments on the proposed changes to the specific conservation practice standards.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 88 Issue 125 (Friday, June 30, 2023)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 125 (Friday, June 30, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 42287-42288]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2023-13929]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Natural Resources Conservation Service
[Docket No. NRCS-2023-0013]
Proposed Revisions to the National Handbook of Conservation
Practices for the Natural Resources Conservation Service
AGENCY: Natural Resources Conservation Service, U.S. Department of
Agriculture.
ACTION: Notice of availability, request for comments.
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SUMMARY: The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is revising
specific conservation practice standards in the National Handbook of
Conservation Practices (NHCP). This notice provides an overview of the
planned changes and gives the public an opportunity to offer comments
on the proposed changes to the specific conservation practice
standards.
DATES: We will consider comments that we receive by July 31, 2023.
ADDRESSES: We invite you to submit comments in response to this notice.
You may submit your comments through one of the following methods:
<bullet> Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to <a href="http://www.regulations.gov">http://www.regulations.gov</a> and search for Docket ID NRCS-2023-0013. Follow the
online instructions for submitting comments.
<bullet> Mail or Hand Delivery: National Agricultural Engineer,
Conservation Engineering Division, NRCS, USDA, 1400 Independence
Avenue, South Building, Room 4636, Washington, DC 20250. In your
comment, please specify the Docket ID NRCS-2023-0013.
All comments received will be made publicly available on <a href="http://www.regulations.gov">http://www.regulations.gov</a>.
Copies of the proposed revised standards are available through
<a href="http://www.regulations.gov">http://www.regulations.gov</a> by accessing Docket No. NRCS-2023-0013.
Alternatively, the proposed revised standards can be downloaded or
printed from <a href="https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/getting-assistance/conservation-practices">https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/getting-assistance/conservation-practices</a>.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. William Reck at (202) 720-4485, or
by email at <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#c7a5aeababe9b5a2a4ac87b2b4a3a6e9a0a8b1"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="87e5eeebeba9f5e2e4ecc7f2f4e3e6a9e0e8f1">[email protected]</span></a>. Individuals who require alternative
means for communication should contact the U.S. Department of
Agriculture (USDA) Target Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice).
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
NRCS plans to revise the conservation practice standards in NHCP.
This notice provides an overview of the planned changes and gives the
public an opportunity to offer comments on the specific conservation
practice standards and NRCS's proposed changes.
NRCS State Conservationists who choose to adopt these practices in
their states will incorporate these practices into the respective
electronic Field Office Technical Guide. These practices may be used in
conservation systems that treat highly erodible land (HEL) or on land
determined to be wetland. Section 343 of the Federal Agriculture
[[Page 42288]]
Improvement and Reform Act of 1996 (Pub. L. 104-127) 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.
Revisions to NHCP
The extent 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 current standard, which can be found at:
<a href="https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/resources/guides-and-instructions/conservation-practice-standards">https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/resources/guides-and-instructions/conservation-practice-standards</a>.
NRCS is requesting comments on the following conservation practice
standards:
<bullet> Fish Raceway or Tank (Code 398);
<bullet> Irrigation Pipeline (Code 430);
<bullet> Stripcropping (Code 585); and
<bullet> Woody Residue Treatment (Code 384).
The following paragraphs highlight some of the proposed changes to
each standard.
Fish Raceway or Tank (Code 398): The revised standard expands the
practice purposes to include treatment of effluents before release into
receiving waters as well as assessment and planning for increased
system efficiency to conserve energy use. The revised standard makes
clear that it applies to the production of aquatic organisms in
general, and not just finfish. We added additional component details
for flow[hyphen]through systems to the ``Criteria'' section for waste
(effluent) management. We removed the species[hyphen]specific water
quality requirements for the two species listed and replaced them with
references to land[hyphen]grant university requirements. We added new
content to the ``Considerations'' section to provide options for
recirculating aquaculture system approaches that minimize water use and
permit secondary use of wastewater (such as in aquaponics systems).
Also, in the ``Considerations'' section, we added an additional
evaluation of the effects of water withdrawal on native aquatic
organisms. Finally, we made minor revisions throughout the standard to
improve readability, and references were updated based on literature
review.
Irrigation Pipeline (Code 430): We made minor rewording edits
throughout the standard to improve readability. We added maximum
permitted surge for a high-density polyethylene (HDPE) pipe to the
``Flexible conduit design'' subsection. We added a new subsection to
address protection of pipeline and appurtenances was added to the
``Considerations'' section. We updated the ``Additional Considerations
for Economics'' subsection to include the collapsible lay flat tubing
application, replacement of which is considered operation and
maintenance. We updated the ``Additional Considerations for Water
Quality and Quantity'' subsection to include impacts to downstream
drinking water and drought mitigation; we also updated references were
also updated.
Stripcropping (Code 585): We edited the ``Definition,''
``Criteria,'' and ``Considerations'' sections of the standard for
clarity. We added a reference to the use of the ``Implementation
Requirement'' document to the ``Plans and Specifications'' section.
Woody Residue Treatment (Code 384): We reduced the practice life
span to 1 year and refined the ``Purpose'' section. We removed two
purposes and combined two other purposes. We modified the burning
criteria to follow the ``Prescribed Burning'' (Code 338). We refined
the ``Considerations,'' ``plans and Specifications,'' and ``Operation
and Maintenance'' sections, and updated references.
USDA Non-Discrimination Policy
In accordance with Federal civil rights law and USDA civil rights
regulations and policies, USDA, its agencies, offices, and employees,
and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs are
prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin,
religion, sex, gender identity (including gender expression), sexual
orientation, disability, age, marital status, family or parental
status, income derived from a public assistance program, political
beliefs, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity, in
any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA (not all bases
apply to all programs). Remedies and complaint filing deadlines vary by
program or incident.
Individuals who require alternative means of communication for
program information (for example, braille, large print, audiotape,
American Sign Language, etc.) should contact the responsible agency or
USDA's TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and text telephone (TTY))
or dial 711 for Telecommunications Relay Service (both voice and text
telephone users can initiate this call from any phone). Additionally,
program information may be made available in languages other than
English.
To file a program discrimination complaint, complete the USDA
Program Discrimination Complaint Form, AD-3027, found online at the
USDA web page on How to File a Program Discrimination Complaint and at
any USDA office, or write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in the
letter all the information requested in the form. To request a copy of
the complaint form, call (866) 632-9992. Submit your completed form or
letter to USDA by (1) mail to U.S. Department of Agriculture, Office of
the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue SW,
Washington, DC 20250-9410; or (2) email to <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#92e2e0fdf5e0f3ffbcfbfce6f3f9f7d2e7e1f6f3bcf5fde4"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="cbbbb9a4acb9aaa6e5a2a5bfaaa0ae8bbeb8afaae5aca4bd">[email protected]</span></a>.
USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.
Terry Cosby,
Chief, Natural Resources Conservation Service.
[FR Doc. 2023-13929 Filed 6-29-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-16-P
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