Notice of Proposed Changes in the NRCS National Handbook of Conservation Practices for Review and Comment

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Natural Resources Conservation Service

Notice of Proposed Changes in the NRCS National Handbook of

Conservation Practices for Review and Comment

AGENCY: Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS).

ACTION: Notice of proposed changes in the NRCS National Handbook of

Conservation Practices for review and comment.

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

SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given of the intention of NRCS to issue a

series of new or revised conservation practice standards in its

National Handbook of Conservation Practices. These standards include

Conservation Crop Rotation, Pond Sealing or Lining--Flexible Membrane,

Streambank and Shoreline Protection, Waste Storage Facility, Waste

Treatment Lagoon, and Water Well. NRCS State Conservationists who

choose to adopt these practices for use within their States will

incorporate them into Section IV of their Field Office Technical Guide.

These practices may be used in conservation systems that treat highly

erodible land or on land determined to be wetland.

EFFECTIVE DATES: Comments will be received on or before June 8, 1999.

This series of new or revised conservation practice standards will be

adopted after the close of the 60-day period.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Single copies of these standards are

available from NRCS-CED in Washington, DC. Submit individual inquiries

in writing to William Hughey, National Agricultural Engineer, Natural

Resources Conservation Service, Post Office Box 2890, Room 6139-S,

Washington, DC 20013-2890.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section 343 of the Federal Agriculture

Improvement and Reform Act of 1996 requires NRCS to make available for

public review and comment proposed revisions to conservation practice

standards used to carry out the highly erodible land and wetland

provisions of the law. For the next 60 days, NRCS will receive comments

relative to the proposed changes. Following that period, a

determination will be made by NRCS regarding disposition of those

comments, and a final determination of change will be made.

[[Page 17312]]

Signed at Washington DC on April 2, 1999.

Pearlie S. Reed,

Chief, Natural Resources Conservation Service, Washington, DC.

[FR Doc. 99-8836 Filed 4-8-99; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3410-16-P