Natural Resources Conservation Service

SUMMARY: The United States Department of Agriculture's, Natural

Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and Farm Service Agency (FSA)

will conduct 54 public forums where interested individuals can provide

comments and ideas on the implementation of the conservation provisions

of the Federal Agriculture Improvement and Reform Act of 1996 (the 1996

Act), which includes: Highly Erodible Land Compliance, Wetlands

Conservation, Conservation Reserve Program (CRP), and the Environmental

Quality Incentives Program (EQIP).

DATES: Written or faxed comments are due on or before October 22, 1996.

See the Supplementary Information section for the dates of the

forums.

ADDRESSES: Send comments to:

For comments pertaining to Highly Erodible Land Compliance, Wetland

Conservation, and EQIP: Lloyd Wright, Director, Conservation and

Ecosystem Assistance Division, USDA/NRCS, P. O. Box 2890, Washington,

DC. 20250, FAX: 202-720-4265

For comments pertaining to CRP: Cheryl Zavodny, Conservation and

Environmental Protection Division, USDA/FSA, P. O. Box 2415,

Washington, D. C. 20250, FAX: 202-690-3433.

See the Supplementary Information Section for the location of the

forums.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Lloyd Wright, USDA/NRCS, Phone: 202-720-1845

Cheryl Zavodny, USDA/FSA, Phone: 202-720-7333.

See the Supplementary Information section for forum contacts for

each State.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The public is invited to attend the meetings

to provide brief oral comments. All are encouraged to provide detailed

written comments concerning the implementation of the Act of 1996.

Those who wish to speak at a meeting may make arrangements in advance

by calling the state contact listed for the meeting. In addition,

individuals wishing to provide oral presentations may sign-up at the

forum, as time permits.

The forums will be held October 11-21 at the following locations on

the dates listed:

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

Location Date

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

Alabama Department of Agriculture and October 17.

Industries, Richard Beard Building

(Auditorium),1445 Federal Drive, Montgomery,

AL.

Cooperative Extension, 1514 South Cushman October 18.

Avenue, Room 303, Fairbanks, AK.

Mesa Pavilion Hilton, 1011 W. Holmes Avenue, October 15.

Mesa, AZ (Superstition Freeway and Alma School

Road).

Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service October 11.

Auditorium, 2301 South University Avenue,

Little Rock, AR.

Holiday Inn Capitol Plaza, 300 J Street, October 15.

Sacramento, CA.

Elks Lodge in Longmont, CO, Coffman Street, October 16.

Longmont, CO.

Windsor Public Library, 323 Broad Street, October 16.

Basement Level, Windsor, CT.

Delaware Department of Agriculture Conference October 15.

Room, 2320 S. duPont Highway, Dover, DE.

Holiday Inn West (Bay Room), 7417 W. Newberry October 16.

Road, Gainesville, FL.

Sunbelt Agricultural Exposition, West October 17.

Exhibitors Lounge, Highway 133, Gate 3, Spence

Field, Moultrie, GA.

USDA/NRCS Conference Room, FHB Building, Suite October 18 (via Peace

301, 400 Rt 8, Maite, GU. Satellite)

Pacific Beach Hotel, 2490 Kalakaua Avenue, October 15.

Honolulu, HI.

Nampa Civic Center, 311 3rd Street South (North October 16.

Banquet Room), Nampa, ID.

Illinois Department of Agricultural Auditorium, October 15.

State Fairgrounds, 801 East Sangamon Avenue,

Springfield, IL.

Indiana Farm Bureau Building, Meeting Room October 18

Assembly Hall D, 225 South East Street,

Indianapolis, IN.

Holiday Inn Downtown, 1050 6th Avenue, Des October 18.

Moines, IA.

The Holidome, 1616 W. Crawford Street, Salina, October 16.

KS.

NRCS State Office Conference Room, 771 October 17.

Corporate Drive, Suite 110, Lexington, KY.

Ramada Inn Convention Centre, 2211 MacArthur October 16.

Drive, Alexandria, LA.

Black Bear Inn, 4 Godfrey Drive, Orono, ME..... October 17.

Chesapeake College, Kent Humanities Building, October 15.

Room H117, US Route 50 and State Route 213, PO

Box 8, Wye Mills, MD.

USDA/NRCS Conference Room, 451 West Street, October 15.

Amherst, MA.

Ottawa Building, 611 West Ottawa Street, October 15.

Conference Room 3, Upper Parking Level,

Lansing, MI.

St. Cloud Civic Center, Stockinger Suite, 10 October 15.

4th Avenue South, St. Cloud, MN.

Mississippi Agriculture and Forestry Museum, October 15.

Ethnic Heritage Center, 1150 Lakeland Drive,

Jackson, MS.

Holiday Inn Select, 2200 I-70 Drive S.W., October 15.

Columbia, MO.

Eagles Lobby Conference Room, 24 North 8th, October 17.

Miles City, MT.

Salvation Army Building Auditorium, 1000 17th October 18.

Avenue South, Great Falls, MT.

I-80 Holiday Inn (Intersection of Highway 281 October 15.

and I-80), Grand Island, NE.

Farm Service Agency State Office, 1755 E. Plumb October 17.

Lane, Room 202, Reno, NV.

New Hampshire Department of Agriculture, October 15.

Markets and Food, State House Annex Building,

2nd Floor, Room 201, Concord, NH.

Burlington County Board of Agriculture, 122 October 17.

High Street, Mt. Holly, NJ.

USDA Conference Room, 6200 Jefferson NE, October 15.

Albuquerque, NM.

Art & Home Center, New York State Fairgrounds, October 15.

Syracuse, NY.

USDA/NRCS, 4405 Bland Road, Room 175, Raleigh, October 18.

NC.

Hospitality Inn, 532 15th Street W, PO Box October 15

1778, Dickinson, ND.

Dakota Inn, Junction 281 S & 194, PO Box 1865, October 16

Jamestown, ND, (701) 252-3611.

Holiday Inn (Formerly Sheraton Inn Riverside), October 18.

2200 Burdick Expressway East, PO Box 2228,

Minot, ND.

Fairfield County Office, 831 College Avenue, October 15.

Lancaster, OH.

Oklahoma City Hilton Northwest, 2945 Northwest October 15.

Expressway, Oklahoma City, OK.

Red Lion North, 1415 NE Third Street, Bend, OR. October 18.

PA Game Commission Auditorium, 2001 Elmerton October 17.

Avenue, Harrisburg, PA.

[[Page 52665]]

USDA Conference Room, 60 Quaker Lane, Warwick, October 17.

RI.

Hampton Inn Harbison, 1-26 and Harbison October 17.

Boulevard, Columbia, SC.

Crossroads Hotel and Convention Center, 100 4th October 17.

Street SW, Huron, SD.

Milan Ag Museum Meeting Room, 3 Ledbetter Gate October 16.

Road, Milan, TN.

Frank W. Mayborn Civic & Convention Center, October 17.

3303 North 3rd Street, Temple, TX.

Utah Department of Agriculture, 350 North October 15.

Redwood Road, Salt Lake City, UT.

U.S. Forest Service, Northeastern Forest October 16.

Experiment Station, 705 Spear Street,

Burlington, VT.

Randolph Farm Pavilion, River Road, PO Box October 15.

9081, Virginia State University, Petersburg,

VA.

Joint Center for Higher Education, 665 N. October 21.

Riverpoint Boulevard, Spokane, WA.

Days Inn, 2000 Sutton Lane, Sutton, WV October 16.

(Flatwoods Exit off I-79).

USDA Conference Room, 6515 Watts Road, Room October 18.

209, Madison, WI.

Agricultural Learning Resource Center (Mills/ October 18.

Evansville Rooms), 2011 Fairgrounds Road,

Casper, WY.

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

To obtain additional information about a specific forum, contact

the following individual:

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

Location Contact person Phone Address

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

Montgomery, AL................... Ronnie D. Murphy... 334-887-4535 USDA NRCS, 665 Opelika Road, P O

Box 311, Auburn, AL 36830-0311.

Robert Springer.... 334-279-3550 USDA FSA, Sterling Center, Suite

600, 4121 Carmichael Road,

Montgomery, AL 36106.

Fairbanks, AK.................... Charles W. Bell.... 907-271-2424 USDA NRCS, 949 East 36th Avenue,

Suite 400, Anchorage, AK 99508-

4362.

Karen O. Lee....... 907-745-7982 USDA FSA, 800 West Evergreen,

Suite 216, Palmer, AK 99645-6389.

Mesa, AZ......................... Mike Somerville.... 602-280-8808 USDA NRCS, Suite 800, 3003 North

Central Ave., Phoenix, AZ 85012-

2945.

Robert A. Picano... 602-640-5200 USDA FSA, 77 East Thomas Rd.,

Suite 240, Phoenix, AZ 85012-

3318.

Little Rock, AR.................. Thomas H. Wehri.... 501-324-5445 USDA NRCS, Federal Office

Building, Rm. 5404, 700 West

Capitol Ave., Little Rock, AR

72201-3228.

Wayne Perryman..... 501-324-5220 USDA FSA, New Federal Bldg., Suite

5102, Little Rock, AK 72201-3225.

Sacramento, CA................... Hershel R. Read.... 916-757-8215 USDA NRCS, 2121-C 2nd Street,

Suite 102, Davis, CA 95616-5475.

John G. Smythe..... 916-498-5311 USDA FSA, 1303 J Street, Suite

300, Sacramento, CA 95814-2916.

Longmont, CO..................... Duane L. Johnson... 303-236-2886 USDA NRCS, 655 Parfet Street, Room

E200C, Lakewood, CO 80215-5517.

Robert L. Eisenach. 303-236-2866 USDA FSA, 655 Parfet St., Suite

E301, Lakewood, CO 80215.

Windsor, CT...................... Margo L. Wallace... 203-487-4013 USDA NRCS, 16 Professional Park

Road, Storrs, CT 06268-1299.

Vincent Majchier... 860-285-8483 USDA FSA, 88 Day Hill Road,

Windsor, CT 06095-1778.

Dover, DE........................ Elesa K. Cottrell.. 302-678-4160 USDA NRCS, 1203 College Park

Drive, Suite 101, Dover, DE 19904-

8713.

William D. Clifton. 302-678-2547 USDA FSA, 1201 College Park Drive,

Suite A, Dover, DE 19904-8713.

Gainesville, FL.................. T. Niles Glasgow... 352-338-9500 USDA NRCS, 2614 NW 43rd Street,

Gainesville, FL 32606-6611.

Tim Manning........ 352-379-4500 USDA FSA, 4440 N.W. 25th Pl.,

Suite 1, Gainesville, FL 32606.

Moultrie, GA..................... Earl Cosby......... 706-546-2272 USDA NRCS, Federal Bldg. Box 13,

355 East Hancock Ave, Athens, GA

30601-2769.

Grady Johnson...... 706-546-2266 USDA FSA, Federal Bldg., Room 102,

355 East Hancock Ave., Athens, GA

30601-2775.

Maite, GU........................ Joan Perry 9-011-671-472-7490 USDA NRCS, Suite 602 FHB Bldg.,

(Director). 400 Route 8, Maite, GU 96927.

Jo-Anna Nakata..... 808-541-2644 USDA FSA.

Honolulu, HI..................... Kennneth M. 808-541-2601 USDA NRCS, 300 Ala Moana Blvd.,

Kaneshiro. Rm. 4316, P.O. Box 50004,

Honolulu, HI 96850-0002.

Jo-Anna Nakata..... 808-541-2644 USDA FSA, 300 Ala Moana Blvd., Rm.

5106, P.O. Box 50008, Honolulu,

HI 96850.

Nampa, ID........................ Luana E. Kiger..... 208-334-1601 USDA NRCS, 3244 Elder Street, Rm.

124, Boise, ID 83705-4711.

Richard R. Rush.... 208-378-5650 USDA FSA, 3220 Elder Street,

Boise, ID 83705-4771.

Springfield, IL.................. Thomas W. 217-398-5267 USDA NRCS, 1902 Fox Drive,

Christensen. Champaign, IL 61820-7335.

Stephen Scates..... 217-492-4180 USDA FSA, P.O. Box 19273,

Springfield, IL 62794-9723.

Indianapolis, IN................. Robert L. Eddleman. 317-290-3200 USDA NRCS, 6013 Lakeside Blvd.,

Indianapolis, IN 46278-2933.

Robert Peacock..... 317-290-3030 USDA FSA, 5891 Lakeside Blvd.,

Indianapolis, IN 46278.

Des Moines, IA................... Leroy Brown Jr..... 515-284-6655 USDA NRCS, 693 Federal Bldg., 210

Walnut Street, Des Moines, IA

50309.

Tom Grau........... 515-254-1540 USDA FSA, 10500 Buena Vista Court,

Des Moines, IA 50322.

Salina, KS....................... James Habiger...... 913-823-4565 USDA NRCS, 760 South Broadway,

Salina, KS 67401.

Adrian Polansky.... 913-539-3531 USDA FSA, 3600 Anderson Avenue,

Manhatten, KS 66503-2511.

Lexington, KY.................... Billy W. Milliken.. 606-224-7350 USDA NRCS, 771 Corporate Drive,

Suite 110, Lexington, KY 40503-

5479.

Hampton Henton..... 606-224-7601 USDA FSA, 771 Corporate Drive,

Suite 100, Lexington, KY 40503-

5478.

[[Page 52666]]

Alexandria, LA................... Donald W. Gohmert.. 318-473-7751 USDA NRCS, 3737 Government Street,

Alexandria, LA 71302-3727.

Willie Cooper...... 318-473-7721 USDA FSA, 3737 Government Street,

Alexandria, LA 71302-3395.

Orono, ME........................ M. Darrel Dominick. 207-866-7241 USDA NRCS, 5 Godfrey Drive, Orono,

ME 04473.

G. Arnold Roach.... 207-990-9140 USDA FSA, 444 Stillwater Avenue,

P.O. Box 406, Bangor, ME 04402-

0406.

Wye Mills, MD.................... Jeri Berc.......... 410-757-0861 USDA NRCS, John Hanson Business

Center, 339 Bush's Frontage Rd,

Suite 301, Annapolis, MD 21401-

5534.

James Voss......... 410-381-4550 USDA FSA, 8335 E. Guilford Road,

Suite E, Columbia, MD 21406.

Amherst, MA...................... Cecil Currin....... 413-253-4351 USDA NRCS, 451 West Street,

Amherst, MA 01002-2995.

Charles Costa...... 413-256-0232 USDA FSA, 445 West Street,

Amherst, MA 01002-2957.

Lansing, MI...................... James R. Spacey.... 517-337-6701 USDA NRCS, Room 101, 1405 S.

Harrison Road, East Lansing, MI

48823-5243.

Chris White........ 517-337-6701 USDA FSA, 3001 Collidge Road,

Suite 100, East Lansing, MI 48823-

6321.

St. Cloud, MN.................... William Hunt....... 612-290-3675 USDA NRCS, 600 Farm Credit

Services Bldg., 375 Jackson

Street, St. Paul, MN 55101-1854.

Wally Sparby....... 612-290-3675 USDA FSA, 400 Farm Credit Services

Bldg., 375 Jackson Street, St.

Paul, MN 55101-1854.

Jackson, MS...................... Homer L. Wilkes.... 601-965-5205 USDA NRCS, Suite 1321, Federal

Bldg., 100 West Capitol Street,

Jackson, MS 39629-1399.

Norris Faust....... 601-965-4300 USDA FSA, 6310 I-55 North,

Jackson, MS 39236-4995.

Columbia, MO..................... Roger Hansen....... 314-876-0901 USDA NRCS, Parkade Center Suite

250, 601 Business Loop 70W,

Columbia, MO 65203-2546.

Brad Epperson...... 573-876-0925 USDA FSA, 601 Business 70 W, Suite

225, Columbia, MO 65203.

Miles,City, MT Great Falls, MT... Richard J. Gooby... 406-587-6813 USDA NRCS, Federal Building, Rm.

443, 10 East Babcock St.,

Bozeman, MT 59715-4704.

Bruce E. Nelson.... 406-587-6872 USDA FSA, 10 East Babcock St., Rm

557, Bozeman, MT 59715.

Grand Island, NE................. Steven K. Chick.... 402-437-5302 USDA NRCS, Federal Bldg., Rm. 152,

100 Centennial Mall N., Lincoln,

NE 68508-3866.

Dan Steinkruger.... 402-437-5581 USDA FSA, 7131 A Street, Lincoln,

NE 68510.

Reno, NV......................... William Goddard.... 702-784-5863 USDA NRCS, 301 Longley Lane,

Building F, Suite 201, Reno, NV

89511.

Wendell Newman..... 702-784-5411 USDA FSA, 1755 E. Plumb Lane,

Suite 202, Reno, NV 89502.

Concord, NH...................... Dawn W. Genes...... 603-868-7581 USDA NRCS, Federal Building,

Durham, NH 03824-1499.

James McConaha..... 603-224-7941 USDA FSA, 22 Bridge St., 4th

Floor, Concord, NH 03301-4987.

Mt. Holly, NJ.................... Wayne Maresch...... 908-246-1205 USDA NRCS, 1370 Hamilton Street,

Somerset, NJ 08873-3157.

Debra Borie-Holtz.. 609-298-3446 USDA FSA, 163 Route 130,

Bordentown, NJ 08505.

Albuquerque, NM.................. Rosendo Trevino III 505-761-4400 USDA NRCS, 6200 Jefferson NE,

Suite 305, Albuquerque, NM 27609-

6293.

Larry K. Burnett... 505-761-4900 USDA FSA, 6200 Jefferson St., NE,

Albuquerque, NM 27609-6296.

Raleigh, NC...................... Richard A. Gallo... 919-873-2101 USDA NRCS, 4405 Bland Road, Suite

205, Raleigh, NC 27609.

Sam Coley.......... 919-790-2958 USDA FSA, 4407 Bland Road, Suite

175, Raleigh, NC 27609.

Dickinson, ND Jamestown, ND Scott Hoag......... 701-250-4421 USDA NRCS, Federal Building Room

Minot, ND. 278, 220E Rosser Avenue, P O Box

1458, Bismarck, ND 58502.

Scott B. Stofferahn 701-239-5205 USDA FSA, 1025 28th St., SW,

Fargo, ND 58103.

Syracuse, NY..................... Richard Swenson.... 315-477-6504 USDA NRCS, 441 South Salina

Street, Suite 354, Syracuse, NY

13202-2450.

Marc A. Smith...... 315-477-6303 USDA FSA, 441 South Salina Street,

Suite 356, Syracuse, NY 13202.

Lancaster, OH.................... Daniel L. Conrad... 614-469-6962 USDA NRCS, 200 North High Street,

Room 522, Columbus, OH 43215.

Steve Maurer....... 614-469-6735 USDA FSA, Rm 540 Federal Bldg.,

299 North High St., Columbus, OH

43215.

Oklahoma City, OK................ Ronnie C. Clark.... 405-742-1200 USDA NRCS, USDA Agriculture Bldg.,

Suite 203, Stillwater, OK 74074-

2624.

Terry L. Peach..... 405-742-1130 USDA FSA, 100 USDA, Suite 102,

Stillwater, OK 74074-2653.

Bend, OR......................... Robert J. Graham... 503-414-3201 USDA NRCS, 101 SW Main, Suite

1300, Portland, OR 97204-3221.

Jack L. Sainsbury.. 503-692-6830 USDA FSA, 7620 SW Mohawk, Tulatin,

OR 97062-8121.

Harrisburg, PA................... Janet L. Oertly.... 717-782-2202 USDA NRCS, One Credit Union Place,

Suite 340, Harrisburg, PA 17110-

2993.

William Baumgartner 717-782-4547 USDA FSA, One Credit Union Place,

Suite 320, Harrisburg, PA 17110-

2994.

Warwick, RI...................... Denis G. Nickel.... 401-828-1300 USDA NRCS, 60 Quaker Lane, Suite

46, Warwick, RI 02886-0111.

Paul Brule......... 401-828-8232 USDA FSA, 60 Quaker Lane, Suite

40, Warwick, RI 02886-0111.

Columbia, SC..................... Mark W. Berkland... 803-765-5681 USDA NRCS, 1835 Assembly Street,

Strom Thurmond Federal Bldg.,

Columbia, SC 29201-2489.

Laurie C. Lawson... 803-806-3830 USDA FSA, 1927 Thurmod Mall, Suite

100, Columbia, SC 29201-2375.

Huron, SD........................ Dean F. Fisher..... 605-352-1200 USDA NRCS, Federal Building, 200

4th Street SW, Huron, SD 57350-

2475.

Michael W. O'Connor 605-352-1160 USDA FSA, 200 4th St., SW, Room

308, Huron, SD 57350-2478.

Milan, TN........................ Jerry S. Lee....... 615-736-5471 USDA NRCS, 675 US Courthouse, 801

Broadway, Nashville, TN 37203-

3878.

[[Page 52667]]

Dave McDole........ 615-736-5555 USDA FSA, 579 Federal Bldg., 801

Broadway, Nashville, TN 37203.

Temple, TX....................... Harry W. Oneth..... 817-774-1231 USDA NRCS, WR Poage Federal, Bldg.

101 S. Main Street, Temple, TX

76501-7682.

Harold Bob Bennett. 409-260-9207 USDA FSA, P O Box 2900, College

Station, TX 77841.

Salt Lake City, UT............... Phillip J. Nelson.. 801-524-5050 USDA NRCS, Wallace F Bennett

Federal Bldg., Rm. 4402, 125 S.

State Street, Salt Lake City, UT

84138.

James I. Humlicek.. 801-524-5013 USDA FSA, 125 S. State St., Room

4239, Salt Lake City, UT 84138-

1189.

Burlington, VT................... John C. Titchner... 802-951-6796 USDA NRCS, 69 Union Street,

Winooski, VT 05404-1999.

James W. Monahan... 802-658-2803 USDA FSA 346 Shelburne St.,

Executive Square Office Bldg.,

Burlington, VT 05401-4995.

Petersburg, VA................... Margaret Doetzer... 804-287-1691 USDA NRCS, Culpeper Bldg., Suite

209, 1606 Sanata Rosa Road,

Richmond, VA 23229-5014.

Donald Davis....... 804-287/1500 USDA FSA Culpeper Bldg., Suite

138, 1606 Santa Rosa Road,

Richmond, VA23229.

Spokane, WA...................... Lynn A. Brown...... 509-353-2337 USDA FSA, West 316 Boone Avenue,

Suite 450, Spokane, WA 99201-

2348.

Larry R. Albin..... 509-353-2307 USDA FSA, 316 West Boone Ave.,

Spokane, WA 99201-2350.

Sutton, WV....................... Roger L. Bensey Jr. 304-291-4153 USDA NRCS, 75 High Street, Room

301, Morgantown, WV 26505.

Billy Burke........ 304-291-4351 USDA FSA, 75 High St., P O Box

1049, Morgantown, WV 26507-1049.

Madison, WI...................... Patricia S. 608-264-5577 USDA NRCS, 6515 Watts Road, Suite

Leavenworth. 200, Madison, WI 53719-2726.

Doug Caruso........ 608-276-8732 USDA FSA, 6515 Watts Road, Suite

100, Madison, WI 53719-2726.

Casper, WY....................... Lincoln E. Burton.. 307-261-6453 USDA NRCS, Federal Office Bldg.,

100 East ``B'' Street, Rm. 3124,

Casper, WY 82601-1911.

Carl E. Jensen..... 307-261-5231 USDA NRCS, 951 Werner Court, Suite

130, Casper, WY 82601-1307.

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

The United States Department of Agriculture (the Department),

Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and Farm Service Agency

(FSA) will conduct 54 public forums whereby interested individuals can

provide comments and ideas on the proposed rules that have been

published in the Federal Register to implement the conservation

provisions of the Federal Agriculture Improvement and Reform Act of

1996 (the 1996 Act). These rules include: Highly Erodible Land/Wetland

Conservation (Federal Register, August 27, 1996. (Volume 61, No. 167)

Rules and Regulations, pp. 43943- 43946), Conservation Reserve Program

(CRP)(Federal Register, September 23, 1996. (Volume 61, No. 185) Rules

and Regulations, pp. 49697-49711), and Environmental Quality Incentives

Program (EQIP).

The NRCS held nine public forums, located across the country, in

July and August of 1994 to listen to the public's comments on changes

that were needed in the 1995 Farm Bill and to better understand the

needs of the public served by programs related to conservation of

natural resources. The Department considered the comments and

suggestions received in the 1994 forums when developing its

recommendations for the 1995 Farm Bill. After lengthy debate within the

Congress, the 1996 Farm Bill was passed by the Congress and was cited

as the Federal Agriculture Improvement and Reform Act of 1996 (the 1996

Act). The President signed into law the 1996 Act on April 4, 1996.

Following the passage of the 1996 Act, the NRCS conducted public

forums in these same nine locations to gather ideas on ways to

implement the conservation provisions of the 1996 Act. Now that the

program rules have been published in the Federal Register for public

comment, the Department wants to support the public comment process by

conducting additional listening forums.

Summary of the 1996 Act and the Rules which will be Discussed at the

Public Forums

Conservation Reserve Program

The Conservation Reserve Program(CRP) encourages farmers to plant

permanent areas of grass and trees on land that is subject to erosion,

to improve soil, water and wildlife resources.

The 1996 Act:

Allows up to 36.4 million acres to be enrolled at any one

time. New enrollments can replace expired or terminated contracts.

Allows owners or operators who entered into a contract

before 1995 to terminate contracts on certain acres after giving

written notice. Contracts must have been in effect for at least five

years. Lands with high environmental values are not eligible for early

release.

The CRP Proposed Rule

Allows owners or operators who entered into a contract

before January 1, 1995, to terminate their contract, if the contract

had been in effect for at least five years. Under the statute, there is

a 60-day waiting period before the application to terminate is

effective. This termination will not relieve the participant of

liability for a pre-existing contract violation.

Limits the amount of acreage enrolled with an Erodibility

Index of less than 8 to the following which may be eligible:

Acreage devoted to special practices under the continuous

sign-up.

Acreage designated as cropped wetlands.

Certain acreage enrolled in the Water Bank Program (WBP)

during the last year of the WBP contract.

Acreage located in a conservation priority area.

Limits haying or grazing of acreage enrolled in the CRP to

instances such as drought or similar emergencies.

Outlines lands which are not eligible for early

termination. These lands include: filter strips, grass waterways,

riparian areas, field windbreaks, shelterbelts, shallow water areas for

wildlife, bottom land timber, acreage with an erodibility index of more

than 15, lands within an average distance of 100 feet of a permanent

stream or other body of water, lands with useful life easements, and

other

[[Page 52668]]

lands of high environmental value (including wetlands) as determined by

the Secretary.

Expands the list of acreage ineligible for early

termination to also include: all wetlands, not just those enrolled

under sign-up 8 and 9 criteria, land subject to frequent flooding, any

wetland buffers required to protect the functions and values for

wetland acreage, and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)-designated

wellhead protection areas.

Modifies existing criteria to include cropped wetlands and

certain acreage enrolled in the Water Bank Program (WBP).

Proposes to base rental rates on the relative productivity

of soils within each county, and the average of the past three years of

local dryland cash rent or the cash rent equivalent.

Encourages restoration of wetlands by offering up to 25

percent of the costs incurred. This is in addition to the 50-percent

cost share provided to establish approved cover.

Proposes to restrict the total area in a State that may be

designated as a conservation priority area to no more than 10 percent

of the cropland in the State.

Allows producers who want to restore wetlands enrolled in

the CRP to transfer acreage from the Conservation Reserve Program to

the Wetlands Reserve Program, without penalty, if the acreage is found

to be suitable.

Environmental Quality Incentives Program

The Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) is a new

program which combines the functions of the Agricultural Conservation

Program, Water Quality Incentives Program, Great Plans Conservation

Program, and the Colorado River Basin Salinity Control Program.

EQIP is funded at $130 million in fiscal year 1996 and $200 million

annually thereafter. Livestock-related conservation practices will

receive 50 percent of program funding.

The 1996 Act

Establishes conservation priority areas where significant

water, soil, and related natural resource problems exist, in

cooperation with state and federal agencies and State Technical

Committees.

Gives higher priority to areas where state or local

governments offer financial or technical assistance, or where

agricultural improvements will help meet water quality objectives.

Establishes 5- to 10-year contracts to provide technical

assistance and pay up to 75 percent of the costs of conservation

practices such as manure management systems, pest management, and

erosion control.

Defines land eligible for EQIP contracts as agricultural

land that poses a serious problem to soil, water, and/or related

resources.

Does not allow large livestock operations (to be defined

through a public rule-making process) to be eligible for cost-share

assistance for animal waste management facilities. However, they do

remain eligible for technical assistance.

Requires activities under the contract to be carried out

according to a conservation plan.

Limits total cost-share and incentive payments to any

person to $10,000 annually, and to $50,000 for the life of the

contract.

The Proposed EQIP Rule

Sets forth that the purposes of the program will be

achieved by farmers and ranchers who voluntarily develop conservation

plans and enter into contracts with the Commodity Credit Corporation

(CCC) to carry out the needed conservation practices and land-use

adjustments within a specified time schedule.

Allocates fifty percent of the EQIP funding available to

practices relating to livestock production.

Offers the program in priority areas throughout the

Nation, using the services of the NRCS, county and state committees of

the Farm Service Agency (FSA), and the Cooperative State Research,

Education, and Extension Service (CSREES).

Sets forth the requirements for participant eligibility

and eligible land.

Develops guidance for designation of priority areas.

Outlines the process for selecting priority areas and

conducting a needs assessment.

Allows for program assistance to target other significant

natural resource concerns outside of approved and funded priority

areas.

Allows for a continuous sign-up. CCC will rank and select

the offers of producers during designated periods. To rank and select

the highest priority applicants, NRCS on behalf of CCC, will evaluate

using criteria that are based on national guidance and developed with

the advice of a local work group to give a higher priority to projects

that maximize environmental benefits per dollar expended.

Outlines the producer's responsibilities in regards to a

conservation plan and contract.

Delegates the responsibility of determining what

constitutes a large confined livestock operation to the State Technical

Committee who will advise the State Conservationist. (CCC particularly

solicits public comment on the definition of what constitutes a large

confined livestock operation.)

Describes eligible practices.

Describes upcoming program outreach and educational

efforts.

Allows a producer to seek technical assistance from NRCS

or other qualified sources which may include agricultural producers,

certified crop advisors, agricultural cooperatives, and other technical

consultants.

Sets forth payment limitation criteria.

Addresses the requirements for EQIP contracts.

Addresses the participant's responsibility for

conservation practice and operation maintenance.

Addresses rates for cost-share and incentive payments.

Addresses the procedures to be followed for contract

violations and termination.

Highly Erodible Land (HEL) Conservation Compliance

The 1996 Act

Directs USDA employees who are providing on-site technical

assistance to work with landowners to correct an observed potential

compliance problem. Landowners will have up to one year to take

corrective action before a violation is reported.

Encourages farmers to maintain records of residue

measurement, including those provided by a third party. Where

appropriate, NRCS will use these measurements when conducting annual

status reviews to determine erosion levels.

Authorizes county committees to provide relief in cases of

undue economic hardship.

Revises ``good faith'' to ensure penalties are

commensurate with violations.

Provides for expedited variances related to weather, pest,

and disease problems and establishes a time period to render a decision

on whether to grant those variances.

Requires a measurement of soil erosion on a highly

erodible field prior to the implementation of a conservation system,

based on estimated average annual soil erosion rates.

Provides for a revision or modification of a conservation

plan by a person if the same level of treatment is maintained.

Requires that highly erodible land exiting the

Conservation Reserve

[[Page 52669]]

Program not be held to a higher conservation compliance standard than

similar cropland in the same area.

The Interim Rule

Lists factors that NRCS will consider when a landowner

requests a variance related to weather, pest, or disease problems.

Specifies that when fields are combined, the part of the

new field that was previously a highly erodible field shall continue to

be subject to the highly erodible land requirements.

Clarifies that the adequacy of a conservation system will

be evaluated according to whether it conforms to the NRCS field office

technical guide in use at the time that the plan or system is developed

or revised.

Outlines procedures to be used to evaluate the adequacy of

conservation systems for achieving substantial reduction in soil

erosion on land with and without cropping history.

Sets forth that conservation field trials included in a

person's conservation plan must have prior approval by NRCS and must be

documented in the person's conservation plan specifying the limited

time period during which the field trial is in effect.

Outlines the factors to be considered by the FSA State

Committee in determining whether to grant a person's request for relief

based on undue economic hardship in implementing a conservation system.

Wetland Conservation (Swampbuster)

The 1996 Act

Expands areas where mitigation can be used. This allows

individuals to work with producers, conservation districts or other

relevant entities to select the best area for mitigating wetlands.

Provides more options for mitigation, including

restoration, enhancement, or creation, as long as wetland functions and

values are maintained.

Encourages effective and timely use of ``minimal effect''

determinations. This change allows the NRCS, working with State

Technical Committees, to identify practices that have a minimal effect

on the environment and put them on a ``fast track.''

Stipulates that wetland conversion activities, authorized

by a permit issued under Section 404 of the Clean Water Act, which make

agriculture production possible, will be accepted for farm bill

purposes if they were adequately mitigated.

Revises the concept of ``abandonment'' to ensure that as

long as land is used for agriculture, a certified prior converted

cropland designation remains in effect. When done under an approved

plan, landowners with farmed wetlands (FW) and farmed wetland pasture

(FWP) may allow an area to revert to wetland status, and convert it

back to an FW or FWP for agricultural purposes without violating the

Swampbuster provision.

Provides that a certified wetland delineation will remain

in effect until the person requests a new determination and

certification.

Ensures producers the right to request and appeal a

certified wetland determination.

Allows the Farm Service Agency (FSA) to waive a person's

ineligibility for benefits if FSA believes the person acted in good

faith and without intent to violate the wetland provisions.

Provides the Secretary with authority to identify for

individual producers which programs are affected by Swampbuster

violations and how much the penalty is.

Establishes a pilot program for wetland mitigation banking

in order to allow USDA to assess how well mitigation banking works for

agriculture.

Expands the definition of agricultural land contained in

the interagency wetlands memorandum of agreement to include not only

cropland and pasture land, but also tree farms, rangeland, native

pasture land, and other land used for livestock production.

Repeals the requirements for consultation with the Fish

and Wildlife Service (FWS).

Provides that benefits of affiliates of a business

enterprise who violate highly erodible land or wetland conservation

provisions will be reduced in proportion to the interest held by the

affiliate in the business enterprise.

The Interim Rule

States more precisely the variety of wetland types found

in the agricultural landscape.

Describes how wetland types relate to particular

exemptions from ineligibility.

Provides that when a person requests relief on the basis

of action that was conducted in good faith, USDA may consider whether

the person has a record of violating the wetland provisions of these

regulations or other Federal, State, or local wetland provisions.

Adds that NRCS may accept the assistance of other Federal

agencies to carry out the wetland responsibilities. For example,

specific portions of the rule state that NRCS will consult with FWS at

the State level to develop a process for implementation of the wetland

conservation provisions.

Describes the procedure for certification of wetland

determinations and specifies that certified wetland determinations will

meet current Federal mapping conventions.

Amends to provide that the determination of prevalence of

hydrophytic vegetation will be made in accordance with the current

Federal wetland delineation methodology in use at the time of the

determination. This change assures that the NRCS, FWS, Environmental

Protection Agency and Army Corps of Engineers will utilize consistent

and up-to-date technical standards and criteria.

Creates a new exemption for land that was certified as

having been converted prior to December 23, 1985 (prior converted

croplands), but had returned to wetland characteristics after that

date. This exemption provides that if certain requirements are met, a

prior converted cropland will not be considered abandoned for purposes

of implementation of these provisions.

Allows areas that NRCS determined to be manipulated but

were not completely converted prior to December 23, 1985 (farmed

wetlands and farmed wetland pastures), and which may revert to wetland

status through a voluntary restoration, enhancement or creation action,

will not be considered abandoned for purposes of implementing these

regulations.

Provides that a person who received an individual permit

under section 404 of the Clean Water Act after December 23, 1985, and

met certain sequencing requirements, is exempt from the ineligibility

provisions of these regulations. However, this rule, provides that a

person whose conversion activity is encompassed by a nationwide or

regional general permit issued pursuant to section 404 of the Clean

Water Act may not be exempt under these regulations. USDA will evaluate

whether any mitigation was required, and whether the wetland functions

and values lost by the conversion activity were adequately replaced

before USDA decides whether the conversion activity is exempt from

ineligibility under these regulations.

Provides that a person may remain eligible if the wetland

functions and values are adequately mitigated in accordance with

several requirements, including that the person implement a mitigation

plan approved by NRCS.

Sets forth that NRCS may accept the assistance of the

memorandum of

[[Page 52670]]

agreement agencies in implementing these regulations.

Paul W. Johnson,

Chief, Natural Resources Conservation Service.

Grant Buntrock,

Administrator, Farm Service Agency.

[FR Doc. 96-25749 Filed 10-4-96; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3410-16-P