[Federal Register: October 24, 2007 (Volume 72, Number 205)]
[Notices]
[Page 60312]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr24oc07-36]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Farm Service Agency
Emergency Conservation Program; Supplemental Environmental Impact
Statement
AGENCY: Farm Service Agency, USDA.
ACTION: Notice of intent; request for comments.
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SUMMARY: The Farm Service Agency (FSA) announces its intention to
prepare a Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS) for the
Emergency Conservation Program (ECP). The SEIS will assess the
potential environmental impacts of alternatives for administration and
implementation of the ECP. FSA administers this program and is now
conducting a comprehensive review of its current policies,
achievements, and potential future program changes. FSA will be
analyzing a range of ECP program alternatives. The SEIS also provides a
means for the public to have opportunities to voice any opinions they
may have about the program, and any ideas for improving it in the
future. This Notice of Intent (NOI) informs the public that FSA is
requesting public comment and describes in general the description of
preliminary ECP Alternatives that will be analyzed in the Draft SEIS.
DATES: To ensure that the full range of issues and alternatives related
to the ECP are addressed, FSA invites comments. Comments should be
submitted by close of business on December 24, 2007, to ensure full
consideration. Comments submitted after this date will be considered to
the extent possible.
ADDRESSES: Written comments on the scope of the Draft SEIS and requests
for copies of should be directed to ECP SEIS, Geo-Marine Incorporated,
2713 Magruder Blvd., Suite D, Hampton, VA 23666-1572; or by logging on
to http://public.geo-marine.com to obtain state specific public scoping
meetings dates, locations, directions, and comment forms.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Matthew T. Ponish, National
Environmental Compliance Manager, USDA/FSA/CEPD/Stop 0513, 1400
Independence Ave., SW., Washington, DC 20250-0513, (202) 720-6853, or
e-mail at: Matthew.Ponish@wdc.usda.gov. More detailed information on
ECP may be obtained from FSA's Web site: http://www.fsa.usda.gov/FSA/webapp?area=home&subject=copr&topic=ecp
.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The SEIS is being prepared on the ECP to
provide FSA decision makers and the public with an analysis that
evaluates program effects in appropriate contexts, describes the
intensity of adverse as well as beneficial impacts, and addresses
cumulative impacts of ECP. Title IV of the Agricultural Credit Act of
1978, as amended (codified at 16 U.S.C. 2201-2205) authorized the ECP,
which provides emergency funding for farmers and ranchers to
rehabilitate farmland damaged by wind erosion, floods, hurricanes, or
other natural disasters, and for carrying out emergency water
conservation measures during periods of severe drought. Conservation
problems existing prior to the disaster involved are not eligible for
cost-sharing assistance. ECP is administered by FSA State and county
committees. The SEIS will help FSA to review potential environmental
impacts resulting from this program and the results will be used in
implementing and modifying ECP administration and funding. The Record
of Decision resulting from the SEIS will serve as guidance to FSA
program decision makers when considering future ECP changes.
Public Participation
The public is urged to participate in helping to define the scope
of the proposed Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement. In
addition to allowing the opportunity to comment via mail and e-mail at
the addresses listed previously, FSA plans to hold ten public scoping
meetings to provide information and opportunities for discussing the
issues and alternatives to be covered in the Draft SEIS and to receive
oral and written comments. The meetings will be held in AL, CA, GA, FL,
LA, MO, and TX. Each scoping meeting will be conducted in the evening
to allow the greatest opportunity for public input. Please check http://public.geo-marine.com
for meeting locations, times, directions, and
comment forms.
Description of Preliminary SEIS Alternatives
FSA has developed a set of preliminary alternatives to be studied
in the draft SEIS to initiate the process. The alternatives will be
amended, as appropriate, based on input by the public and agencies
during the public scoping process. The SEIS will address the following
alternatives, which include recommended changes to the program.
Action (baseline)
Under this alternative, ECP would continue as it is currently
administered with no substantive changes.
Alternative A
This alternative would consider changes to land eligibility that
would make ECP available for assistance on farmlands other than
cropland, pastureland, and hayland.
Alternative B
This alternative would make current ECP available only in those
counties where disasters designated by the President or Secretary of
Agriculture have occurred.
Alternative C
Alternative C would be a combination of Alternatives A and B. Under
this alternative, farmlands, other than cropland, pastureland and
hayland, in counties designated as disasters by the President or
Secretary of Agriculture would be eligible for participation in ECP.
Signed in Washington, DC, on October 4, 2007.
Teresa C. Lasseter,
Administrator, Farm Service Agency.
[FR Doc. E7-20961 Filed 10-23-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-05-P