Technical Assistance

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Natural Resources Conservation Service

7 CFR Part 610

RIN 0578-AA22

Technical Assistance

AGENCY: Natural Resources Conservation Service, Agriculture.

ACTION: Proposed rule with request for comments.

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SUMMARY: Section 342 of the Federal Agriculture Improvement and Reform

Act of 1996 (the 1996 Act) expands the membership and roles of State

Technical Committees established pursuant to Section 1261 of the Food

Security Act of 1985 (the 1985 Act), as amended. Under Section 1261,

the Secretary must establish a technical committee in each State to

assist in making technical considerations related to the implementation

of the 1985 Act's conservation provisions. Consistent with the 1985

Act, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) uses these

State Technical Committees in an advisory capacity.

This proposed rule sets forth the policies and procedures for the

use of State Technical Committees by the USDA, the membership criteria,

and the responsibilities assigned to these Committees. It also amends

Sec. 610.2 to reflect the responsibilities assigned to the Natural

Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) beyond that of soil conservation.

This proposed rule amends Sec. 610.2 to acknowledge the NRCS mission to

promote the long-term sustainability of all agricultural lands,

including cropland, grazing land, pastureland, rangeland, and

forestland.

DATES: Comments must be received by January 5, 1998.

ADDRESSES: All comments concerning this proposed rule should be

addressed to: Gary Nordstrom, Director, Conservation Operations

Division, Natural Resources Conservation Service, P.O. Box 2890,

Washington, D.C. 20013-2890; Attention: State Technical Committee. Fax

(202) 720-1838. This rule may also be accessed, and comments submitted,

via Internet. Users can access the NRCS Federal Register homepage and

submit comments at: http://astro.itc.nrcs.usda.gov:6500.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Denise Coleman, Conservation

Operations Division, Natural Resources Conservation Service; phone:

(202) 720-9476; Fax: (202) 720-4265; E-mail:

[email protected], Attention: State Technical Committee.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Executive Order 12866

This rule has been determined to be significant and was reviewed by

the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) under Executive Order 12866.

Pursuant to Sec. 6(a)(3) of Executive Order 12866, the NRCS has

conducted an economic analysis of the potential impacts associated with

this proposed rule. Because it is not possible to measure all costs or

benefits of State Technical Committee involvement in the decision-

making process using strict benefit-cost techniques, a cost effect

analysis was used. This analysis estimates that no material adverse

effects on the economy, a sector of the economy, agricultural

productivity, competition, jobs, the environment, public safety, or

State, local, or tribal governments or communities are expected from

implementation of this proposed rule.

Regulatory Flexibility Act

The Regulatory Flexibility Act is not applicable to this proposed

rule because USDA is not required by 5 U.S.C. 553 or any other

provisions of law to publish a notice of proposed rulemaking with

respect to the subject matter of this rule.

Environmental Evaluation

NRCS has determined that this proposed rule is within the

categorical exclusion for advisory and consultative activities under 7

CFR 1b.3(a)6; therefore, an environmental assessment was not conducted.

Paperwork Reduction Act

This proposed rule does not require identical collection of

information. As a result, the Paperwork Reduction Act provisions do not

apply.

Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995

Pursuant to Title II of the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995,

Public Law 104-4, the effects of this rulemaking action on State,

local, and tribal governments, and the public have been assessed. This

action does not compel the expenditure of $100 million or more by any

State, local, or tribal governments, or anyone in the private sector;

therefore, a statement under Section 202 of the Unfunded Mandates

Reform Act of 1995 is not required.

Federal Crop Insurance Reform and Department of Agriculture

Reorganization Act of 1994

USDA classified this proposed rule as not major, therefore,

pursuant to Section 304 of the Department of Agriculture Reorganization

Act of 1994, Public Law 103-354 a risk assessment was not required.

Background and Purpose

Section 1261 of the Food Security Act of 1985, as amended, sets out

the membership and roles of the State Technical Committees. The

Department of Agriculture Reorganization Act of 1994 (7 U.S.C. 6901 et

seq.) exempts State Technical Committees from provisions of the Federal

Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.2).

NRCS proposes that State Technical Committee membership be expanded

to consist of individuals who represent a variety of natural resource

sciences and occupations, including those related to soil, water,

wetlands, plants, and wildlife. USDA believes the membership expansion

of State Technical Committees, which creates new sources of local

conservation expertise, is a positive step. However, NRCS believes that

the ultimate responsibility of the State Conservationist is to ensure

that all interests are adequately represented on the Committee.

As a result of the passage of the 1996 Act, eligibility for State

Technical Committee membership was expanded to include the private

sector. In addition to these members, NRCS proposes to add additional

agencies and groups based on their historical relationship with USDA

and State Technical Committees. These member agencies

[[Page 64175]]

and groups included the following: Environmental Protection Agency,

Bureau of Indian Affairs, U.S. Geological Survey, U.S. Army Corps of

Engineers, State Farm Service Agency Committee, and Federally

recognized American Indian Tribal Governments and Alaskan Native

Corporations, encompassing 100,000 acres or more in the State.

The State Technical Committees shall include one representative

from each of the following agencies or groups, unless the agency or

group declines membership:

NRCS, as Chairperson;

Farm Service Agency;

State Farm Service Agency Committee;

Forest Service;

Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension

Service;

Rural Development;

Fish and Wildlife Service;

Bureau of Land Management;

Bureau of Indian Affairs;

U.S. Geological Survey;

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers;

Each of the Federally recognized American Indian Tribal

Governments and Alaskan Native Corporations, encompassing 100,000 acres

or more in the State;

State departments and agencies which the NRCS State

Conservationist deems appropriate, including a member from each of the

following:

--State fish and wildlife agency;

--State forester or equivalent official;

--State water resources agency;

--State department of agriculture;

--State association of soil and water conservation districts;

--State coastal zone management agency; State soil and water

conservation agency; and

--Other Federal, State, tribal and local agency representatives with

expertise in soil, water, wetlands, plant, and wildlife management, as

the NRCS State Conservationist considers appropriate.

In addition to other Federal, State, tribal, and local agency and

group membership, the State Technical Committees will include members

from the following private interests, including:

Agricultural producers with demonstrable conservation

expertise;

Nonprofit organizations with demonstrable conservation

expertise;

Persons knowledgeable about conservation techniques and

programs; and

Agribusiness.

To ensure that recommendations of the State Technical Committees

take into account the needs of the diverse groups served by the USDA,

membership shall include, to the extent practicable, individuals with

demonstrated ability to represent minorities, women, and persons with

disabilities.

In accordance with the preceding paragraphs, the NRCS State

Conservationist determines the membership on the State Technical

Committee. Individuals or groups wanting to participate on a State

Technical Committee may submit to the NRCS State Conservationist for

that State a request which explains their interest and outlines their

credentials which they believe are relevant to becoming a member of the

State Technical Committee. Decisions of the NRCS State Conservationist

concerning membership on the committee are final and not appealable to

any other individual or group.

State Technical Committee meetings are open to the public. This

rule proposes that the State Conservationist provide public notice of

meetings that consider issues relating to particular conservation

programs. The State Conservationist will publish a meeting notice no

later than 7 calendar days prior to the meeting. Notification may

exceed this 7 day minimum where State open meeting laws exist and

require a longer notification period. NRCS proposes that this notice be

published in one or more newspaper(s), including Tribally-recommended

publications, to achieve statewide notification. The State

Conservationist will schedule and conduct the meetings, although

meetings may be requested by any USDA agency as needed.

In some situations, specialized subcommittees, made up of State

Technical Committee members, may be needed to analyze and refine

specific issues. The State Conservationist, may assemble certain

members to discuss, examine, and focus on a particular technical or

programmatic topic. In such situations, where subcommittee meetings

occur, public notification and participation are not necessary.

Nevertheless, decisions resulting from these subcommittee sessions

shall be made only in a general session of the State Technical

Committee, where the public is notified and invited to attend.

The State Technical Committees have no implementation or

enforcement authority. However, the Committees' advisory capacity

extends to many of the USDA conservation programs. As set forth in

Section 1262 of the 1985 Act (16 U.S.C. 3862(c)), the responsibilities

of the State Technical Committee include recommendations on matters

such as:

The technical aspects of wetland protection, restoration,

and mitigation requirements;

Guidelines for haying or grazing and the control of weeds

to protect nesting wildlife on set-aside acreage;

Highly erodible land exemptions and appeals;

Wetland and highly erodible land conservation compliance

exemptions and appeals;

Methods to address common weed and pest problems and

programs to control weeds and pests found on acreage enrolled in the

Conservation Reserve Program (16 U.S.C. 3831-3836);

Guidelines for planting perennial cover for water quality

and wildlife habitat improvement on set-aside lands;

Criteria and priorities for state initiatives under the

Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) under chapter 4 of

subtitle D; and

Section 1262 of the 1985 Act (16 U.S.C. 3862(c)(8)) also provides that

State Technical Committees may offer recommendations on other matters

determined appropriate by the NRCS State Conservationist. USDA will

seek State Technical Committee recommendations including, but not

limited to, the following:

The establishment of the Wildlife Habitat Incentives

Program (WHIP), as set forth in Section 387 of the 1996 Act (16 U.S.C

3836a);

The development of a Wetland Reserve Program (WRP) (16

U.S.C. 3837) wetland restoration plan;

Program assistance to Environmental Quality Incentive

Program (EQIP) participants with significant statewide resource

concerns outside a priority area, 7 CFR part 1466;

Eligible conservation practices for an EQIP priority area

or for significant statewide resource concerns outside a priority area,

7 CFR part 1466;

Criteria to be used in defining a large confined livestock

operation under EQIP, 7 CFR part 1466;

Suggestions on how often producers' EQIP applications are

ranked and selected, 7 CFR part 1466;

Criteria to prioritize applications from applicants with

significant statewide resource concerns outside a priority area, 7 CFR

part 1466;

Statewide program guidelines applicable to WRP easement

compensation, restoration planning, priority ranking, and related

policy matters, 7 CFR part 1467;

Determination of cost share and incentive payment limits

for participants subject to environmental requirements or with

significant statewide resource concerns outside a

[[Page 64176]]

priority area, under the EQIP provision, 7 CFR part 1466;

Identification of any categories of conversion activities

and conditions which are routinely determined by NRCS to have minimal

effect on wetland functions and values as described in 7 CFR part 12;

and

Types or classes of wetland that are not eligible for

mitigation exemption, under the Wetland Conservation provisions, 7 CFR

part 12.

Technical Assistance

The NRCS delivers the majority of the technical assistance provided

to private landowners pursuant to 7 CFR 610.2. Section 610.2 has not

yet been revised to provide for the responsibilities assigned to the

NRCS beyond that of soil conservation (16 U.S.C 2005). To reflect the

broader mission of NRCS, particularly as it relates to technical

assistance provided to private grazing land (16 U.S.C. 2005b), NRCS is

amending Sec. 610.2 to acknowledge that one of NRCS' missions is to

improve the quality of all agricultural lands, including grazing land,

pastureland, rangeland, forestland, and cropland so that the long-term

sustainability of the resource base is achieved.

List of Subjects in 7 CFR Part 610

Soil conservation, Technical assistance, Water resources.

Accordingly part 610 of Title 7 of the Code of Federal Regulations

is amended as follows:

PART 610--[AMENDED]

1. The authority for part 610 is revised to read as follows:

Authority: 16 U.S.C. 590a-f, 590q, 2005, 2005b.

2. Section 610.2 is revised to read as follows:

Sec. 610.2 Scope.

(a) Conservation operations, including technical assistance, is the

basic soil and water conservation program of NRCS. This program is

designed to provide assistance to:

(1) Reduce soil losses from erosion;

(2) Help solve soil, water, and agricultural waste management

problems;

(3) Bring about adjustments in land use as needed;

(4) Reduce damage caused by excess water and sedimentation; and

(5) Improve the quality of all agricultural lands, including

grazing land, pastureland, rangeland, forestland, and cropland so that

the long-term sustainability of the resource base is achieved.

(b) The Natural Resources Conservation Service is the technical

agency of the U.S. Department of Agriculture for providing assistance

to conservation districts and other organizations in planning and

carrying out their conservation programs. NRCS works with individuals,

groups, and units of government to help them plan and carry out

conservation decisions to meet their objectives.

3. A new Subpart C is added to read as follows:

Subpart C--State Technical Committees

Sec.

610.21 Purpose and scope.

610.22 State Technical Committee membership.

610.23 State Technical Committee meetings.

610.24 Responsibilities of State Technical Committees.

Sec. 610.21 Purpose and scope.

This subpart sets forth the procedures for establishing and

utilizing the advice of State Technical Committees. USDA will use State

Technical Committees in an advisory capacity in the administration of

certain conservation programs and initiatives. These State Technical

Committees are exempt from the provisions of the Federal Advisory

Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App. 2). The NRCS shall establish in each State

a technical committee to assist in making technical recommendations

relating to the implementation of conservation provisions. This subpart

sets forth the membership guidelines and responsibilities of the State

Technical Committees.

Sec. 610.22 State Technical Committee membership.

(a) State Technical Committees shall include members who represent

a variety of natural resource sciences and occupations, including those

related to soil, water, wetlands, plants, and wildlife. The State

Conservationist is to ensure that all interests are equally

represented. Committee membership includes one representative from the

following agencies or groups, if willing to serve:

(1) NRCS, as Chairperson;

(2) Farm Service Agency;

(3) State Farm Service Agency Committee;

(4) Forest Service;

(5) Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service;

(6) Rural Development;

(7) Fish and Wildlife Service;

(8) Environmental Protection Agency;

(9) Bureau of Land Management;

(10) Bureau of Indian Affairs;

(11) U.S. Geological Survey;

(12) U.S. Army Corps of Engineers;

(13) Each of the Federally recognized American Indian Tribal

Governments and Alaskan Native Corporations encompassing 100,000 acres

or more in the State;

(14) State departments and agencies which the NRCS State

Conservationist deems appropriate, including a member from each of the

following:

(i) State fish and wildlife agency;

(ii) State forester or equivalent official;

(iii) State water resources agency;

(iv) State department of agriculture;

(v) State association of soil and water conservation districts;

(vi) State soil and water conservation agency;

(vii) State coastal zone management agency; and

(15) Other Federal, State, tribal, and local agency personnel with

expertise in soil, water, wetlands, plant, and wildlife management, as

the NRCS State Conservationist considers appropriate.

(b) In addition to agency membership, State Technical Committees

shall contain members from the following private interests, including:

(1) Agricultural producers with demonstrable conservation

expertise;

(2) Nonprofit organizations with demonstrable expertise;

(3) Persons knowledgeable about economic and environmental impacts

of conservation techniques and programs; and

(4) Agribusiness.

(c) To ensure that recommendations of the State Technical

Committees take into account the needs of the diverse groups served by

the USDA, membership shall include, to the extent practicable,

individuals with demonstrated ability to represent minorities, women,

and persons with disabilities.

(d) In accordance with the guidelines in paragraphs (a), (b), and

(c) of this section, the State Conservationist determines membership on

the State Technical Committee. Individuals or groups wanting to

participate on a State Technical Committee within a specific State may

submit to the State Conservationist of that particular State a request

which explains their interest and outlines their credentials which they

believe are relevant to becoming a member of the State Technical

Committee. Decisions of the State Conservationist concerning membership

on the committee are final and not appealable to any other individual

or group within USDA.

[[Page 64177]]

Sec. 610.23 State Technical Committee meetings.

(a) The State Conservationist of each State chairs the State

Technical Committee. State Technical Committees shall provide public

notice of meetings that consider issues related to conservation

programs. The State Conservationist shall publish a meeting notice no

later than 7 calendar days prior to the meeting. Notification may

exceed this 7-day minimum where State open meeting laws exist and

require a longer notification period. The State Conservationist shall

publish this notice in at least one or more newspaper(s), including

Tribally-recommended publications, to attain statewide circulation.

(b) The State Conservationist, as Chairperson, schedules and

conducts the meetings, although a meeting may be requested by any USDA

agency as needed.

Sec. 610.24 Responsibilities of State Technical Committees.

(a) Each State Technical Committee established under this subpart

shall meet on a regular basis, as determined by the State

Conservationist, to provide information, analysis, and recommendations.

(b) The State Technical Committee shall provide, in writing to the

implementing USDA program agency, recommendations, data, and technical

analyses, which reflect the professional information and judgment of

the State Technical Committee. Such information, analyses, and

recommendations shall be provided in a manner that will assist in

determining matters of fact, technical merit, or scientific question.

(c) The implementing agency reserves the authority to accept or

reject the Committee's recommendations; however, the implementing

agency shall give strong consideration to the Committee's suggestions.

Signed in Washington, D.C. on November 28, 1997.

Thomas A. Weber,

Acting Chief, Natural Resources Conservation Service.

[FR Doc. 97-31727 Filed 12-3-97; 8:45 am]

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