[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 149 (Wednesday, August 4, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 46903-46904]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-19133]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Natural Resources Conservation Service
Notice of Proposed Changes to the National Handbook of
Conservation Practices for the Natural Resources Conservation Service
AGENCY: Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), USDA.
ACTION: Notice of availability of proposed changes in the NRCS National
Handbook of Conservation Practices for public review and comment.
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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), Dust Control From Animal Activity on Open
Lot Surfaces (Code 375), Karst Sinkhole Treatment (Code 527), Lined
Waterway or Outlet (Code 468), Monitoring Well (Code 353), On-Farm
Equipment Efficiency Improvement (Code 374), Pond Sealing or Lining--
Bentonite Treatment (Code 521C), Pond Sealing or Lining--Compacted Clay
Treatment (Code 521D), Pond Sealing or Lining--Soil Dispersant
Treatment (Code 521B), Salinity and Sodic Soil Management (Code 610),
Stream Habitat Improvement and Management (Code 395), Vertical Drain
(Code 630), Water Well (Code 642), Water Well Decommissioning (Code
351), and Well Water Testing (Code 355).
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 Guides. These practices
may be used in conservation systems that treat highly erodible land
(HEL) or on land determined to be a wetland. 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 August 4, 2010.
Comment Date: Submit comments on or before September 3, 2010. Final
versions of these new or revised conservation practice standards will
be adopted after the close of the 30-day comment period, and after
consideration of all comments.
ADDRESSES: Comments should be submitted using any of the following
methods:
Mail: 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.
E-mail: [email protected].
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.
Electronic copies of these standards can be downloaded or printed
from the following Web site: ftp://ftp-fc.sc.egov.usda.gov/NHQ/practice-standards/federal-register/. Requests for paper versions or
inquiries may be directed to Wayne Bogovich, National Agricultural
Engineer, Conservation Engineering Division, Department of Agriculture,
Natural Resources Conservation Service, 1400
[[Page 46904]]
Independence Avenue SW., Room 6136 South Building, Washington, DC
20250.
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 http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/technical/Standards/nhcp.html. To aid in this comparison, following are highlights of the
proposed revisions to each standard:
Channel Bed Stabilization (Code 584)--Name changed for better
description, plus minor edits.
Dust Control From Animal Activity on Open Lot Surfaces (Code 375)--
This is a new Conservation Practice Standard.
Karst Sinkhole Treatment (Code 527)--Practice name changed from
``Sinkhole and Sinkhole Area Treatment'' to ``Karst Sinkhole
Treatment.'' Practice specially does not apply to sinkholes with non-
karst origins (structural failures due to piping, etc.), plus minor
edits.
Lined Waterway or Outlet (Code 468)--Changes to the standard
include: A revision in the range in Manning's roughness and references
cited in the criteria section; an expansion of the considerations
section to include fish and wildlife and soil bioengineering, etc.; and
more comprehensive guidance on what should be included in the plans and
specifications section.
Monitoring Well (Code 353)--Updated references to ASTM standards
and minor edits.
On-Farm Equipment Efficiency Improvement (Code 374)--This is a new
Conservation Practice Standard.
Pond Sealing or Lining--Bentonite Treatment (Code 521C)--The
standard was revised to better match the changes to our technical
guidance document National Engineering Handbook Series, Part 651,
Agricultural Waste Management Field Handbook (AWMFH), Chapter 10,
Appendix 10D.
Pond Sealing or Lining--Compacted Clay Treatment (Code 521D)--The
standard was revised to better match the changes to our technical
guidance document National Engineering Handbook Series, Part 651,
AWMFH, Chapter 10, Appendix 10D.
Pond Sealing or Lining--Soil Dispersant Treatment (Code 521B)--The
standard was revised to better match the changes to our technical
guidance document National Engineering Handbook Series, Part 651,
AWMFH, Chapter 10, Appendix 10D.
Salinity and Sodic Soil Management (Code 610)--Clarified the
Conditions Where Practice Applies and General Criteria Applicable to
All Purposes sections. Added separate sections for Criteria Applicable
to Irrigated Lands and to Non-Irrigated Lands. Expanded the sections
for Criteria To Reduce Problems of Crusting, Permeability or Soil
Structure on Sodium-Affected Soils, and to Saline Seeps and Their
Recharge Areas. Expanded the Considerations section. Added detailed
requirements for Plans and Specifications. Deleted the Operation and
Maintenance section. Reduced the References section.
Stream Habitat Improvement and Management (Code 395)--Changed
``Stream Visual Assessment Protocol'' to ``Stream Visual Assessment
Protocol, Version 2,'' changed considerations, added monitoring
guidelines for evaluating the effectiveness of the conservation
actions, and added post-project monitoring to Operation and
Maintenance.
Vertical Drain (Code 630)--Additional emphasis on water quality
protection if practice is used.
Water Well (Code 642)--Purpose clarified to exclude human
consumption. Screen entrance velocity criteria changed in accordance
with AWWA standard.
Water Well Decommissioning (Code 351)--Name was changed to Water
Well Decommissioning, distinguishing this practice from industry
practices for closure of other purposed wells (oil, injection, etc.).
Purpose was clarified. Additional clarification on plugging materials
was added.
Well Water Testing (Code 355)--Conditions Where Practice Applies
has been updated to exclude water wells not for agricultural use, plus
minor edits.
Signed July 29, 2010, in Washington, DC.
Dave White,
Chief, Natural Resources Conservation Service.
[FR Doc. 2010-19133 Filed 8-3-10; 8:45 am]
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