[Federal Register: December 6, 2004 (Volume 69, Number 233)]
[Notices]
[Page 70427-70432]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr06de04-20]
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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.
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[[Page 70427]]
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Commodity Credit Corporation
Farm and Ranch Lands Protection Program
AGENCY: Commodity Credit Corporation, Department of Agriculture (USDA).
ACTION: Notice of request for proposals.
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SUMMARY: Section 2503 of the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of
2002 (Pub. L. 107-171) amended the Food Security Act of 1985 to include
the Farm and Ranch Lands Protection Program (FRPP), formerly known as
the Farmland Protection Program (FPP). Congress delegated authority to
administer FRPP to the Chief of the Natural Resources Conservation
Service (NRCS). NRCS, on behalf of the Commodity Credit Corporation
(CCC) and using its authorities, requests proposals from Federally
recognized Indian tribes, States, units of local government, and
nongovernmental organizations to cooperate in the acquisition of
conservation easements on farms and ranches. Eligible land includes
farm and ranch land that has prime, unique, or other productive soil,
or that contains historical or archaeological resources. These lands
must also be subject to a pending offer from eligible entities for the
purpose of protecting topsoil by limiting conversion of that land to
nonagricultural uses. Over $78 million in FRPP funds is available to
purchase conservation easements in fiscal year 2005.
DATES: Proposals must be received in the NRCS State Office by April 5,
2005.
ADDRESSES: Written proposals must be sent to the appropriate NRCS State
Conservationist, Natural Resources Conservation Service, USDA. The
telephone numbers and addresses of the NRCS State Conservationists are
in the appendix of this notice.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Denise Coleman, NRCS; phone: (202)
720-3527; fax: (202) 720-4265; or e-mail: denise.coleman@usda.gov;
Subject: FRPP or consult the NRCS Web site at: http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/farmbill/2002/PubNotcChron.html
.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
Urban sprawl continues to threaten the Nation's farm and ranch
land, as social and economic changes over the past three decades have
influenced the rate at which land is converted to non-agricultural
uses. Population growth, demographic changes, preferences for larger
lots, expansion of transportation systems, and economic prosperity have
contributed to increases in agricultural land conversion rates. The
amount of farm and ranch land lost to development and the quality of
farmland being converted are significant concerns. In most States,
prime farmland is being converted at two to four times the rate of
other, less-productive agricultural land.
There continues to be an important national interest in the
protection of farmland. Land use devoted to agriculture provides an
important contribution to environmental quality, protection of the
Nation's historical and archaeological resources, and scenic beauty.
Availability of Funding
Effective on the publication date of this notice, NRCS announces
the availability of up to $78 million for FRPP, until September 30,
2005. The NRCS State Conservationist must receive proposals for
participation within 120 days of the date of this notice. State,
Tribal, and local governmental entities and nongovernmental
organizations may apply. Selection will be based on the criteria
established in this notice and additional criteria developed by the
applicable State Conservationist. Pending offers by an eligible entity
must be for acquiring an easement for perpetuity, except where State
law prohibits a permanent easement.
Under the FRPP, NRCS may provide up to 50 percent of the appraised
fair market value of the conservation easement. Landowner donations up
to 25 percent of the appraised fair market value of the conservation
easement may be considered part of the entity's matching offer. For the
entity, two cost-share options are available when providing its
matching offer. One option is for the entity to provide, in cash, at
least 25 percent of the appraised fair market value of the conservation
easement. The second option is for the entity to provide, in cash, at
least 50 percent of the purchase price of the conservation easement.
The second option may be preferable to an entity in the case of a large
bargain sale by the landowner. If the second option is selected, the
NRCS share cannot exceed the entity's contribution.
The following two examples illustrate how these two cost-share
options may function. Under Option 1, where 25 percent of the appraised
fair market value is selected by the entity, the total appraised fair
market value of the conservation easement is $1 million. The landowner
chooses to donate 40 percent of the appraised fair market value,
resulting in the actual easement purchase price being $600,000. In this
case, the cooperating entity contributes $250,000, and NRCS contributes
$350,000. Option 2, where 50 percent of the purchase price is selected,
would occur when a landowner makes a large charitable donation, where
25% of the appraised fair market value exceeds 50 percent of the
purchase price. For example, the total appraised fair market value of
the conservation easement is $1 million. The landowner chooses to
donate 60 percent of the appraised fair market value, resulting in the
actual easement purchase price being $400,000. In this case, NRCS and
the cooperating entity both contribute $200,000.
Definitions
For the purposes of this notice, the following definitions apply:
Chief means the Chief of NRCS, USDA.
Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) is a Government-owned and
operated entity that was created to stabilize, support, and protect
farm income and prices. CCC is managed by a Board of Directors, subject
to the general supervision and direction of the Secretary of
Agriculture, who is an ex-officio director and chairperson of the
Board. CCC provides the funding for FRPP, and NRCS administers FRPP on
its behalf.
[[Page 70428]]
Conservation Easement means a voluntary, legally recorded
restriction, in the form of a deed, on the use of property, in order to
protect resources such as agricultural lands, historic structures, open
space, and wildlife habitat.
Conservation Plan is the document that--
(1) Applies to highly erodible cropland;
(2) Describes the conservation system applicable to the highly
erodible cropland, and describes the decisions of the person with
respect to location, land use, tillage systems, and conservation
treatment measures and schedules;
(3) Is approved by the local soil conservation district in
consultation with the local committees established under Section 8
(b)(5) of the Soil Conservation and Domestic Allotment Act (16 U.S.C.
5909h(b)(5)) and the Secretary, or by the Secretary.
Eligible entities means Federally recognized Indian Tribes, States,
units of local government, and certain non-governmental organizations,
which have a farmland protection program that purchases agricultural
conservation easements for the purpose of protecting topsoil by
limiting conversion to non-agricultural uses of the land. Additionally,
to be eligible for FRPP, the entity must have pending offers, for
acquiring conservation easements for the purpose of protecting
agricultural land from conversion to non-agricultural uses.
Eligible land is privately owned land on a farm or ranch that has
prime, unique, Statewide, or locally important soil, or contains
historical or archaeological resources, and is subject to a pending
offer by an eligible entity. Eligible land includes cropland,
rangeland, grassland, and pasture land, as well as forest land that is
an incidental part of an agricultural operation. Incidental forest land
is less than fifty percent of the entire area under easement. Other
incidental land that would not otherwise be eligible, but when
considered as part of a pending offer, may be considered eligible, if
inclusion of such land would significantly augment protection of the
associated farm or ranch land.
Fair market value is ascertained through standard real property
appraisal methods. Fair market value is the amount in cash, for which
in all probability the property would have sold on the effective date
of the appraisal, after a reasonable exposure of time on the open
competitive market, from a willing and reasonably knowledgeable seller
to a willing and reasonably knowledgeable buyer. Neither the seller nor
the buyer act under any compulsion to buy or sell, giving due
consideration to all available economic uses of the property at the
time of the appraisal. In valuing conservation easements, the appraiser
estimates both the fair market value of the whole property before the
easement acquisition and the fair market value of the remainder
property after the conservation easement has been imposed. The
difference between these two values is deemed the value of the
conservation easement.
Field Office Technical Guide (FOTG) is the official document for
NRCS guidelines, criteria, and standards for planning and applying
conservation treatments and conservation management systems. The FOTG
contains detailed information on the conservation of soil, water, air,
plant, and animal resources applicable to the local area for which it
is prepared.
Historical and archaeological resources must be:
(1) Listed in the National Register of Historic Places (established
under the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA), 16 U.S.C. 470, et
seq.), or
(2) Formally determined eligible for listing in the National
Register of Historic Places (by the State Historic Preservation Officer
(SHPO) or Tribal Historic Preservation Officer (THPO) and the Keeper of
the National Register in accordance with Section 106 of the NHPA), or
(3) Formally listed in the State or Tribal Register of Historic
Places of the SHPO (designated under Section 101 (b)(1)(B) of the NHPA)
or the THPO (designated under Section 101(d)(1)(C) of the NHPA).
Land Evaluation and Site Assessment System (LESA) is the land
evaluation system approved by the NRCS State Conservationist used to
rank land for farm and ranch land protection purposes, based on soil
potential for agriculture, as well as social and economic factors, such
as location, access to markets, and adjacent land use. (For additional
information see the Farmland Protection Policy Act regulation at 7 CFR
part 658.)
Landowner means a person, persons, estate, corporation, or other
business or nonprofit entity having fee title ownership of farm or
ranch land.
Natural Resources Conservation Service is an agency of the U.S.
Department of Agriculture.
Non-governmental organization is defined as any organization that:
(1) Is organized for, and at all times since the formation of the
organization, has been operated principally for one or more of the
conservation purposes specified in clause (i), (ii), (iii), or (iv) of
section 170(h)(4)(A) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986;
(2) Is an organization described in section 501(c)(3) of that Code
that is exempt from taxation under 501(a) of that Code;
(3) Is described in section 509(a)(2) of that Code; or is described
in section 509(a)(3) of that Code; and is controlled by an organization
described in section 509(a)(2) of that Code.
Other productive soils are soils that are contained on farm or
ranch land that is identified as farmland of Statewide or local
importance and is used for the production of food, feed, fiber, forage,
or oilseed crops. The appropriate State or local government agency
determines Statewide or locally important farmland with concurrence
from the State Conservationist. Generally, these farmlands produce high
yields of crops when treated and managed according to acceptable
farming methods. In some States and localities, farmlands of Statewide
and local importance may include tracts of land that have been
designated for agriculture by State law or local ordinance. 7 CFR part
657, sets forth the process for designating soils as Statewide or
locally important.
Pending offer is a written bid, contract, or option extended to a
landowner by an eligible entity to acquire a conservation easement
before the legal title to these rights has been conveyed for the
purpose of limiting non-agricultural uses of the land.
Prime and unique farmland are defined separately, as follows:
(1) Prime farmland is land that has the best combination of
physical and chemical characteristics for producing food, feed, fiber,
forage, oilseed, and other agricultural crops with minimum inputs of
fuel, fertilizer, pesticides, and labor, without intolerable soil
erosion, as determined by the Secretary.
(2) Unique farmland is land other than prime farmland that is used
for the production of specific high-value food and fiber crops, as
determined by the Secretary. It has the special combination of soil
quality, location, growing season, and moisture supply needed to
economically produce sustained high quality or high yields of specific
crops when treated and managed according to acceptable farming methods.
Examples of such crops include citrus, tree nuts, olives, cranberries,
fruits, and vegetables. Additional information on the definition of
prime, unique, or other productive soil can be found in 7 CFR part 657
and 7 CFR part 658.
State Technical Committee means a committee established by the
Secretary of the U.S. Department of Agriculture in
[[Page 70429]]
a State pursuant to 16 U.S.C. 3861 and 7 CFR part 610, subpart C.
State Conservationist means the NRCS employee authorized to direct
and supervise NRCS activities in a State, the Caribbean Area (Puerto
Rico and the Virgin Islands), or the Pacific Basin Area (Guam, American
Samoa, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Marianna Islands).
Overview of the Farm and Ranch Lands Protection Program
The CCC, acting through NRCS, will accept proposals submitted to
the NRCS State Offices from eligible entities, including federally
recognized Indian tribes, States, units of local government, and
nongovernmental organizations that have pending offers for acquiring
conservation easements for the purposes of protecting topsoil by
limiting nonagricultural use of the land and/or protecting historical
and archaeological sites on farm and ranch lands.
All proposals must be submitted to the appropriate NRCS State
Conservationist within 120 days from the date of this notice. The NRCS
State Conservationist may consult with the State Technical Committee
(established pursuant to 16 U.S.C. 3861) to evaluate the merits of the
proposals.
The NRCS State Conservationist will review and evaluate the
proposals based on State, tribal, or local government or
nongovernmental organization eligibility, land eligibility, and the
extent to which the proposal adheres to FRPP objectives. Proposals must
include adequate proof of a pending offer for the subject land.
Adequate proof includes a written bid, contract, commitment, or option
extended to a landowner. Pending offers based upon appraisals completed
and signed by State-certified or licensed appraisers will receive
higher priority for FRPP funding. Proposals submitted directly to the
NRCS National Office will not be accepted and will be returned to the
submitting entity.
National and State Ranking Criteria
Funding awards to participants will be based on National and State
criteria. Below is a list of national criteria that will be used by the
NRCS State Conservationist to evaluate proposals:
Acreage of prime and important farm and ranch land
estimated to be protected;
Acreage of prime and important farm and ranch land
converted to nonagricultural uses;
Number or acreage of historic and archaeological sites
estimated to be protected on farm or ranch lands;
Total acres needing protection;
FRPP cost per acre;
Rate of land conversion;
Percentage of funding guaranteed to be provided by
cooperating entities;
History of cooperating entities' commitments to
conservation planning and implementing conservation practices;
Participating entities' histories of acquiring, managing,
holding, and enforcing easements (including average annual farmland
protection easement expenditures over the past five years,
accomplishments, and staff);
Amount of FRPP funding requested; and
Participating entities' estimated unfunded backlog of
conservation easements on acres eligible for FRPP assistance.
The NRCS State Conservationist will combine the above-mentioned
NRCS National criteria with NRCS State ranking criteria. The following
examples of NRCS State ranking criteria may be used to evaluate and
rank specific parcels, including, but not limited to, proximity to
protected clusters, viability of the agricultural operations, parcel
size, type of land use, maximum cost expended per acre, and an entity's
commitment to assuring farm and ranch succession and transfer to viable
farming operations. State ranking criteria will be developed on a
State-by-State basis and will be available to interested participating
entities before proposal submission. Interested entities should contact
their State Conservationist for a complete listing of applicable
National and State ranking criteria, and program implementation
guidelines.
The NRCS State Conservationist will make awards to eligible
entities based on available funds, prior to June 1, 2005. Once
selected, eligible entities must work with the appropriate NRCS State
Conservationist to finalize and sign cooperative agreements,
incorporating all FRPP requirements.
The conveyance document (i.e., conservation easement deed or
conservation easement deed template) used by the eligible entity must
be reviewed and approved by the USDA Office of General Counsel before
being recorded. Since title to the easement is held by an entity other
than the United States, the conveyance document must contain a clause
that all rights conveyed by the landowner under the document will
become vested in the United States should the cooperating entity
abandon, fail to enforce, or attempt to terminate the conservation
easement.
As a condition of participation, all highly erodible land in the
easement shall be included in a conservation plan for the future
management of the land. The conservation plan will be developed using
the standards and specifications of the NRCS Field Office Technical
Guide and 7 CFR part 12, unless otherwise determined by the State
Conservationist, in partnership with the eligible entity. The
conservation plan will be implemented in a timely manner, as determined
by the State Conservationist, prior to the easement being recorded.
Organization and Land Eligibility Selection Criteria
To be eligible, a Federally recognized Indian tribe, State, unit of
local government, or nongovernmental organization must have a farmland
protection program that purchases conservation easements for the
purpose of protecting prime, unique, or other productive soil or
historical and archaeological resources by limiting conversion of farm
or ranch land to nonagricultural uses. As a condition of receiving FRPP
funds, the cooperating entity shall not use FRPP funds to place an
easement on a property in which cooperating entity's employee, board
member, or immediate family member of an employee or board member has a
property interest.
Criteria for Proposal Evaluation
Proposals must contain the information set forth below in order to
receive consideration for assistance:
1. Organization and programs: Eligible entities must describe their
farmland protection program, and their record of acquiring and holding
permanent agricultural land protection easements or other interests.
Information provided in the proposal should:
(a) Demonstrate a commitment to long-term conservation of
agricultural lands through the use of voluntary easements that protect
farmland from conversion to nonagricultural uses;
(b) Demonstrate the capability to acquire, manage, and enforce
easements;
(c) Demonstrate the number and ability of staff that will be
dedicated to monitoring easement stewardship;
(d) Demonstrate the availability of funds for the easement(s)
proposed to be acquired. The purchase price may not exceed the
appraised fair market value of the conservation easement. If a
landowner donation is included in the entity's match, the entity must
demonstrate the availability of 25 percent of the appraised fair market
value or 50 percent of the purchase price; and
(e) Include pending offer(s). A pending offer is a written bid,
contract,
[[Page 70430]]
commitment, or option extended to a landowner by an eligible entity to
acquire a conservation easement that limits nonagricultural uses of the
land before the legal title to these rights has been conveyed. The
primary purpose of the pending offers must be for the purchase of
development rights in order to protect topsoil by limiting conversion
to nonagricultural uses. Pending offers having appraisals completed and
signed by State-certified general appraisers will receive higher
funding priority by the NRCS State Conservationist. Appraisals
completed and signed by a State-certified or licensed general appraiser
must contain a disclosure statement by the appraiser. The disclosure
statement should include at a minimum the following: The appraiser
accepts full responsibility for the appraisal, the enclosed statements
are true and unbiased, the value of the land is limited by stated
assumptions only, the appraiser has no interest in the land, and the
appraisal conforms to the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal
Practice or the Uniform Appraisal Standards for Federal Land
Acquisitions.
2. Lands to be acquired: The proposal must describe the lands to be
acquired with funding from FRPP. Specifically, the proposal must
include the following:
(a) A map showing the proposed protected area(s);
(b) The amount and source of funds currently available for each
easement to be acquired;
(c) The criteria used to set the acquisition priorities; and
(d) A detailed description of the land parcels, including:
(i) The priority of the offers;
(ii) The names of the landowners;
(iii) The address and location maps of the parcels;
(iv) The size of the parcels, in acres;
(v) The acres of the prime, unique, or State-wide and locally
important soil in the parcels;
(vi) The number or acreage of historical or archaeological sites,
if any, proposed to be protected, and a brief description of the sites'
significance;
(vii) A map showing the location of other protected parcels in
relation to the land parcels proposed to be protected;
(viii) Estimated cost of the easement(s): The consideration to be
paid to any landowners for the conveyance of any lands or interests in
lands cannot be more than the fair market value of the land or
interests conveyed, as determined by an appraiser licensed in the
State, in which the parcel is located.
(ix) An example of the cooperating entity's proposed easement deed
used to prevent agricultural land conversion;
(x) Indication of the accessibility to markets;
(xi) Indication of an existing agricultural infrastructure, on- and
off-farm, and other support system(s);
(xii) Statement regarding the level of threat from urban
development;
(xiii) A description of the eligible entity's farmland protection
strategy and how the FRPP proposal submitted by the entity corresponds
to the entity's strategic plan;
(xiv) Other factors from an evaluation and assessment system used
to set priorities. If the eligible entity used the LESA system or a
similar land evaluation system as its tool, include the scores for the
land parcels slated for acquisition;
(xv) Other partners involved in acquisition of the easement and
their estimated financial contribution; and
(xvi) Other information that may be relevant as determined by the
NRCS State Conservationist.
Ranking Considerations
When the NRCS State Office has assessed organization eligibility
and the merits of each proposal, the NRCS State Conservationist will
determine whether the farm or ranch land is eligible for financial
assistance from FRPP. NRCS will use the National and State criteria,
which may include a LESA system or other similar system, to evaluate
the land and rank the parcels.
NRCS will only consider enrolling eligible land in the program that
is of sufficient size and has boundaries that allow for efficient
management of the area. The land must have access to markets for its
products and an infrastructure appropriate for agricultural production.
NRCS will not enroll land in FRPP that is owned in fee title by an
agency of the United States, is publicly-owned land, or land that is
already subject to an easement or deed restriction that limits non-
agricultural conversion of farm and ranch land.
NRCS will not enroll otherwise eligible lands if NRCS determines
that the protection provided by the FRPP would not be effective because
of on-site or off-site conditions. For example, as it relates to on-
site conditions, a proposal may nominate a parcel that contains
hazardous material, or it may nominate a parcel that contains or may
allow over two percent impervious surface coverage on the land under
easement. The presence of hazardous waste or the extensive impervious
surface coverage will likely cause NRCS to determine that the use of
FRPP funds is not appropriate. As it relates to off-site conditions,
NRCS may avoid acquiring land that is surrounded by a developed area or
slated to be zoned for development by a local government.
NRCS will place a priority on acquiring easements that provide
permanent protection from conversion to nonagricultural use. NRCS will
place a higher priority on easements acquired by entities that have
extensive experience in managing and enforcing easements. NRCS may
place a higher priority on lands and locations that help create a large
tract of protected area for viable agricultural production and that are
under increasing urban development pressure. NRCS may place a higher
priority on lands and locations that correlate with the efforts of
Federal, State, Tribal, local, or nongovernmental organizations'
efforts that have complementary farmland protection objectives (e.g.,
open space or watershed and wildlife habitat protection). NRCS may
place a higher priority on lands that provide special social, economic,
and environmental benefits to the region. A higher priority may be
given to certain geographic regions where the enrollment of particular
lands may help achieve National, State, and regional goals and
objectives, or enhance existing government or private conservation
projects.
Cooperative Agreements
The CCC, through NRCS, enters into a cooperative agreement with a
selected eligible entity to document participation in FRPP. The
cooperative agreement will address, among other subjects:
(1) The easement type, terms, and conditions;
(2) The management and enforcement of the rights acquired;
(3) The role and responsibilities of NRCS and the cooperating
entity;
(4) The responsibilities of the easement manager on lands acquired
with FRPP assistance; and
(5) Other requirements deemed necessary by the CCC, acting through
NRCS, to protect the interests of the United States. The cooperative
agreement will also include an attachment listing the pending offers
accepted in FRPP, landowners' names, addresses, location map(s), and
other relevant information. Interested entities should contact their
State Conservationist for a copy of a draft cooperative agreement
before submitting an application.
[[Page 70431]]
Signed in Washington, DC, on November 12, 2004.
Bruce I. Knight,
Vice President, Commodity Credit Corporation and Chief, Natural
Resources Conservation Service.
NRCS State Conservationists
Alabama: Robert N. Jones, 3381 Skyway Drive, Post Office Box 311,
Auburn, AL 36830; phone: (334) 887-4500; fax: (334) 887-4552;
robert.jones@al.usda.gov.
Alaska: Shirley Gammon, Atrium Building, Suite 100, 800 West Evergreen,
Atrium Building, Suite 100, Palmer, AK 99645-6539; phone: (907) 761-
7760; fax: (907) 761-7790; sgammon@ak.nrcs.usda.gov.
Arizona: Michael Somerville, Suite 800, 3003 North Central Avenue,
Phoenix, AZ 85012-2945; phone: (602) 280-8808; fax: (602) 280-8809 or
8805; msomerville@az.nrcs.usda.gov.
Arkansas: Kalven L. Trice, Federal Building, Room 3416, 700 West
Capitol Avenue, Little Rock, AR 72201-3228; phone: (501) 301-3100; fax:
(501) 301-3194; kalven.trice@ar.usda.gov.
California: Charles W. Bell, Suite 4164, 430 G Street, Davis,
California 95616-4164; phone: (530) 792-5600; fax: (530) 792-5790;
charles.bell@ca.usda.gov.
Colorado: James Allen Green, Room E200C, 655 Parfet Street, Lakewood,
CO 80215-5521; phone: (720) 544-2810; fax: (720) 544-2965;
allen.green@co.usda.gov.
Connecticut: Margo L. Wallace, 344 Merrow Road, Tolland, Connecticut
06084; phone: (860) 871-4011; fax: (860) 871-4054;
margo.wallace@ct.usda.gov.
Delaware: Ginger Murphy, Suite 101, 1203 College Park Drive, Suite 101,
Dover, DE 19904-8713; phone: (302) 678-4160; fax: (302) 678-0843;
ginger.murphy@usda.gov.
Florida: T. Niles Glasgow, 2614 N.W. 43rd Street, Gainesville, FL
32606-6611, or Post Office Box 141510, Gainesville, FL 32606-6611;
phone: (352) 338-9500; fax: (352) 338-9574; niles.glasgow@fl.usda.gov.
Georgia: Leonard Jordan, Federal Building, Stop 200, 355 East Hancock
Avenue, Athens, GA 30601-2769; phone: (706) 546-2272; fax: (706) 546-
2120; leonard.jordan@ga.usda.gov.
Guam: Joan B. Perry, Director, Pacific Basin Area, Suite 301, FHB
Building, 400 Route 8, Mongmong, G U 96910; phone: (671) 472-7490; fax:
(671) 472-7288; joan.perry@pb.usda.gov.
Hawaii: Lawrence Yamamoto, Room 4-118, 300 Ala Moana Boulevard, Post
Office Box 50004, Honolulu, HI 96850-0002; phone: (808) 541-2600; fax:
(808) 541-1335; larry.yamamoto@hi.nrcs.usda.gov.
Idaho: Richard W. Sims, Suite C, 9173 West Barnes Drive, Boise, ID
83709; phone: (208) 378-5700; fax: (208) 378-5735;
richard.sims@id.usda.gov.
Illinois: William J. Gradle, 2118 W. Park Court, Champaign, IL 61821;
phone: (217) 353-6600; fax: (217) 353-6676; bill.gradle@il.usda.gov.
Indiana: Jane E. Hardisty, 6013 Lakeside Boulevard, Indianapolis, IN
46278-2933; phone: (317) 290-3200; fax: (317) 290-3225;
jane.hardisty@in.usda.gov.
Iowa: Richard VanKlaveren, 693 Federal Building, Suite 693, 210 Walnut
Street, Des Moines, IA 50309-2180; phone: (515) 284-6655; fax: (515)
284-4394; rvanklaveren@ia.usda.gov.
Kansas: Harold Klaege, 760 South Broadway, Salina, KS 67401-4642;
phone: (785) 823-4565; fax: (785) 823-4540; harold.klaege@ks.usda.gov.
Kentucky: David G. Sawyer, Suite 110, 771 Corporate Drive, Lexington,
KY 40503-5479; phone: (859) 224-7350; fax: (859) 224-7399;
dsawyer@ky.usda.gov.
Louisiana: Donald W. Gohmert, 3737 Government Street, Alexandria, LA
71302; phone: (318) 473-7751; fax: (318) 473-7626;
don.gohmert@la.usda.gov.
Maine: Joyce Swartzendruber, Suite 3, 967 Illinois Avenue, Bangor, ME
04401; phone: (207) 990-9100, ext. 3; fax: (207) 990-9599;
joyce.swartzendruber@me.usda.gov.
Maryland: David P. Doss, John Hanson Business Center, Suite 301, 339
Busch's Frontage Road, Annapolis, MD 21401-5534; phone: (410) 757-0861;
fax: (410) 757-0687; david.doss@md.usda.gov.
Massachusetts: Cecil B. Currin, 451 West Street, Amherst, MA 01002-
2995; phone: (413) 253-4351; fax: (413) 253-4375;
cecil.currin@ma.usda.gov.
Michigan: John Bricker, Suite 250, 3001 Coolidge Road, East Lansing, MI
48823-6350; phone: (517) 324-5270; fax: (517) 324-5171;
john.bricker@mi.usda.gov.
Minnesota: William Hunt, Suite 600, 375 Jackson Street, St. Paul, MN
55101-1854; phone: (651) 602-7900; fax: (651) 602-7913 or 7914;
william.hunt@mn.usda.gov.
Mississippi: Homer L. Wilkes, Suite 1321, Federal Building, 100 West
Capitol Street, Jackson, MS 39269-1399; phone: (601) 965-5205; fax:
(601) 965-4940; homer.wilkes@ms.nrcs.usda.gov.
Missouri: Roger A. Hansen, Parkade Center, Suite 250, 601 Business Loop
70, West Columbia, MO 65203-2546; phone: (573) 876-0901; fax: (573)
876-9439; roger.hansen@mo.usda.gov.
Montana: David White, Federal Building, Room 443, 10 East Babcock
Street, Bozeman, MT 59715-4704; phone: (406) 587-6811; fax: (406) 587-
6761, dwhite@mt.nrcs.usda.gov.
Nebraska: Stephen K. Chick, Federal Building, Room 152, 100 Centennial
Mall, North Lincoln, NE 68508-3866; phone: (402) 437-5300; fax: (402)
437-5327; steve.chick@ne.usda.gov.
Nevada: Livia Marques, Building F, Suite 201, 5301 Longley Lane, Reno,
NV 89511-1805; phone: (775) 784-5863; fax: (775) 784-5939;
livia.marques@nv.usda.gov.
New Hampshire: Theresa Chadwick, Federal Building, 2 Madbury Road,
Durham, NH 03824-2043; phone: (603) 868-7581; fax: (603) 868-5301;
theresa.chadwick@nh.nrcs.usda.gov.
New Jersey: Anthony J. Kramer, 1370 Hamilton Street, Somerset, NJ
08873-3157; phone: (732) 246-1171; fax: (732) 246-2358;
tkramer@nj.nrcs.usda.gov.
New Mexico: Rosendo Trevino III, Suite 305, 6200 Jefferson Street, NE.,
Albuquerque, NM 87109-3734; phone: (505) 761-4400; fax: (505) 761-4481;
rosendo.trevino@nm.usda.gov.
New York: Joseph R. DelVecchio, Suite 354, 441 South Salina Street,
Syracuse, NY 13202-2450; phone: (315) 477-6504; fax: (315) 477-6550;
joseph.delvecchio@ny.usda.gov.
North Carolina: Mary K. Combs, Suite 205, 4405 Bland Road, Raleigh, NC
27609-6293; phone: (919) 873-2101; fax: (919) 873-2156;
mary.combs@nc.usda.gov.
North Dakota: J.R. Flores, Room 278, 220 E. Rosser Avenue, Post Office
Box 1458, Bismarck, ND 58502-1458; phone: (701) 530-2000; fax: (701)
530-2110; jr.flores@nd.usda.gov.
Ohio: John Wilson (Acting), Room 522, 200 North High Street, Columbus,
OH 43215-2478; phone: (614) 255-2500; fax: (614) 255-2548;
john.wilson@oh.usda.gov.
Oklahoma: M. Darrel Dominick, USDA Agri-Center Building, Suite 203, 100
USDA, Stillwater, OK 74074-2655; phone: (405) 742-1204; fax: (405) 742-
1126; darrel.dominick@ok.usda.gov.
Oregon: Robert Graham, Suite 1300, 101 SW. Main Street, Portland, OR
97204-3221; phone: (503) 414-3200; fax: (503) 414-3103;
bob.graham@or.usda.gov.
[[Page 70432]]
Pennsylvania: Robin E. Heard, Suite 340, 1 Credit Union Place,
Harrisburg, PA 17110-2993; phone: (717) 237-2200; fax: (717) 237-2238;
robin.heard@pa.usda.gov.
Puerto Rico: Juan A. Martinez, Director, Caribbean Area, IBM Building,
Suite 604, 654 Munoz Rivera Avenue, Hato Rey, PR 00918-4123; phone:
(787) 766-5206; fax: (787) 766-6563; juan.martinez@pr.usda.gov. Rhode
Island: Judith Doerner, Suite 46, 60 Quaker Lane, Warwick, RI 02886-
0111; phone: (401) 828-1300; fax: (401) 828-0433;
judith.doerner@ri.usda.gov.
South Carolina: Walter W. Douglas, Strom Thurmond Federal Building,
Room 950, 1835 Assembly Street, Columbia, SC 29201-2489; phone: (803)
253-3935; fax: (803) 253-3670; walt.douglas@sc.usda.gov.
South Dakota: Janet L. Oertly, Federal Building, Room 203, 200 Fourth
Street, SW., Huron, SD 57350-2475; phone: (605) 352-1200; fax: (605)
352-1288; janet.oertly@sd.nrcs.usda.gov.
Tennessee: James W. Ford, 675 U.S. Courthouse, 801 Broadway, Nashville,
TN 37203-3878; phone: (615) 277-2531; fax: (615) 277-2578;
jford@tn.nrcs.usda.gov.
Texas: Lawrence Butler, W.R. Poage Building, 101 South Main Street,
Temple, TX 76501-7682; phone: (254) 742-9800; fax: (254) 742-9819;
larry.butler@tx.usda.gov.
Utah: Sylvia Gillen, W.F. Bennett Federal Building, Room 4402, 125
South State Street, Salt Lake City, UT 84111, phone: (801) 524-4550,
fax: (801) 524-4403, sylvia.gillen@ut.usda.gov.
Vermont: Francis M. Keeler, 356 Mountain View Drive, Suite 105,
Colchester, VT 05446; phone: (802) 951-6795; fax: (802) 951-6327;
fran.keeler@vt.usda.gov.
Virginia: M. Denise Doetzer, Culpeper Building, Suite 209, 1606 Santa
Rosa Road, Richmond, VA 23229-5014; phone: (804) 287-1691; fax: (804)
287-1737; denise.doetzer@va.usda.gov.
Washington: Raymond L. ``Gus'' Hughbanks, Rock Pointe Tower II, Suite
450, W. 316 Boone Avenue, Spokane, WA 99201-2348; phone: (509) 323-
2900; fax: (509) 323-2909; raymond.hughbanks@wa.usda.gov.
West Virginia: Lillian Woods, Room 301, 75 High Street, Morgantown, WV
26505; phone: (304) 284-7540; fax: (304) 284-4839;
lillian.woods@wv.usda.gov.
Wisconsin: Patricia S. Leavenworth, 8030 Excelsior Drive, Suite 200,
Madison, WI 53717; phone: (608) 662-4422; fax: (608) 662-4430;
pat.leavenworth@wi.usda.gov.
Wyoming: Lincoln E. Burton, Federal Building, Room 3124, 100 East B
Street, Casper, WY 82601-1911; phone: (307) 233-6750; fax: (307) 233-
6753; ed.burton@wy.usda.gov.
[FR Doc. 04-26738 Filed 12-3-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-16-P