[Federal Register: March 17, 2004 (Volume 69, Number 52)]
[Notices]
[Page 12632-12637]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr17mr04-33]
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Notices
Federal Register
________________________________________________________________________
This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains documents other than rules
or proposed rules that are applicable to the public. Notices of hearings
and investigations, committee meetings, agency decisions and rulings,
delegations of authority, filing of petitions and applications and agency
statements of organization and functions are examples of documents
appearing in this section.
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[[Page 12632]]
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Commodity Credit Corporation
Farm and Ranch Lands Protection Program
AGENCY: Commodity Credit Corporation, Department of Agriculture (USDA).
ACTION: Notice of request for proposals.
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SUMMARY: Section 2503 of the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of
2002 (Pub. L. 107-171) amended the Food Security Act of 1985 to include
the Farm and Ranch Lands Protection Program (FRPP), formerly called the
Farmland Protection Program (FPP). Congress delegated authority to
administer FRPP to the Chief of the Natural Resources Conservation
Service (NRCS). NRCS, on behalf of the Commodity Credit Corporation
(CCC) and using its authorities, requests proposals from Federally-
recognized Indian tribes, States, units of local government, and
nongovernmental organizations to cooperate in the acquisition of
conservation easements on farms and ranches. Eligible land includes
farm and ranch land that has prime, unique, or other productive soil,
or that contains historical or archaeological resources. These lands
must also be subject to a pending offer from eligible entities for the
purpose of protecting topsoil by limiting conversion of that land to
nonagricultural uses. Over $84 million in FRPP funds is available to
purchase conservation easements in fiscal year 2004.
DATES: Proposals must be received in the NRCS State Office by May 3,
2004.
ADDRESSES: Written proposals should be sent to the appropriate NRCS
State Conservationist, Natural Resources Conservation Service, USDA, in
the State where the parcel is located. The telephone numbers and
addresses of the NRCS State Conservationists are in the appendix of
this notice.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Denise Coleman, NRCS; phone: (202)
720-9476; fax: (202) 720-0745; or e-mail: denise.coleman@usda.gov;
Subject: FRPP, or consult the NRCS Web site at http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/farmbill/2002/PubNotc.html.
This
announcement will also be posted at the following Web site: http://www.fedgrants.gov
.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
Urban sprawl continues to threaten the Nation's farm and ranch land
as social and economic changes over the past three decades have
influenced the rate at which land is converted to non-agricultural
uses. Population growth, demographic changes, the housing market,
expansion of transportation systems, and economic prosperity have
contributed to increases in agricultural land conversion rates. The
amount of farm and ranch land lost to development and the quality of
farmland being converted are significant concerns. In most States,
prime farmland is being converted at two to four times the rate of
other, less-productive agricultural land.
There continues to be an important national interest in the
protection of farmland. Land use devoted to agriculture provides an
important contribution to environmental quality, protection of the
Nation's historical and archaeological resources, and scenic beauty.
Availability of Funding
Effective on the publication date of this notice, NRCS announces
the availability of up to $84 million for FRPP, until September 30,
2004. The NRCS State Conservationist must receive proposals for
participation within 45 days of the date of this notice. State, Tribal,
and local government entities and nongovernmental organizations, as
defined herein, may apply. Selection will be based on the criteria
established in this notice, and additional criteria developed by the
applicable State Conservationist. Pending offers by an eligible entity
must be for acquiring an easement for perpetuity, except where State
law prohibits a permanent easement.
Under the FRPP, NRCS may provide up to 50 percent of the appraised
fair market value of the conservation easement. Landowner donations up
to 25 percent of the appraised fair market value of the conservation
easement may be considered part of the entity's matching offer. For the
entity, two cost-share options are available when providing its
matching offer. One option is for the entity to provide in cash at
least 25 percent of the appraised fair market value of the conservation
easement. The second option is for the entity to provide at least 50
percent of the purchase price, in cash, of the conservation easement.
The second option may be preferable to an entity in the case of a large
bargain sale by the landowner. If the second option is selected, the
NRCS share cannot exceed the entity's contribution.
The following two examples illustrate how these two cost-share
options may function. Under Option 1 where 25 percent of the appraised
fair market value is selected by the entity, the total appraised fair
market value of the conservation easement is $1 million. The landowner
chooses to donate 40 percent of the appraised fair market value,
resulting in the actual easement purchase price being $600,000. In this
case, the cooperating entity contributes $250,000 and NRCS contributes
$350,000. Option 2, where 50 percent of the purchase price is selected,
occurs when a landowner makes a large charitable donation, and 25% of
the appraised fair market value exceeds 50 percent of the purchase
price. For example, the total appraised fair market value of the
conservation easement is $1 million. The landowner chooses to donate 60
percent of the appraised fair market value, resulting in the actual
easement purchase price being $400,000. In this case, NRCS and the
cooperating entity both contribute $200,000.
Definitions
For the purposes of this notice, the following definitions apply:
Chief means the Chief of NRCS, USDA.
Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) is a Government-owned and
operated entity that was created to stabilize, support, and protect
farm income and prices. CCC is managed by a Board of Directors, subject
to the general supervision and direction of the Secretary of
Agriculture, who is an ex-officio director and chairperson of the
Board. CCC provides the funding for
[[Page 12633]]
FRPP, and NRCS administers FRPP on its behalf.
Conservation Easement means a voluntary, legally recorded
restriction, in the form of a deed, on the use of property, in order to
protect resources such as agricultural lands, historic structures, open
space, and wildlife habitat.
Conservation Plan is the document that--
(1) Applies to highly erodible cropland;
(2) Describes the conservation system applicable to the highly
erodible cropland and describes the decisions of the person with
respect to location, land use, tillage systems, and conservation
treatment measures and schedules;
(3) Is approved by the local soil conservation district in
consultation with the local committees established under Section
8(b)(5) of the Soil Conservation and Domestic Allotment Act (16 U.S.C.
590h(b)(5)) and the Secretary, or by the Secretary.
Eligible entities means Federally recognized Indian Tribes, States,
units of local government, and certain non-governmental organizations,
which have a farmland protection program that purchases agricultural
conservation easements for the purpose of protecting topsoil by
limiting conversion to non-agricultural uses of the land. Additionally,
to be eligible for FRPP, the entity must have pending offers, for
acquiring conservation easements for the purpose of protecting
agricultural land from conversion to non-agricultural uses.
Eligible land is privately owned land on a farm or ranch that has
prime, unique, Statewide, or locally important soil, or contains
historical or archaeological resources, and is subject to a pending
offer by an eligible entity. Eligible land includes cropland,
rangeland, grassland, and pasture land, as well as forest land that is
an incidental part of an agricultural operation. Other incidental land
that would not otherwise be eligible, but when considered as part of a
pending offer, may be considered eligible, if inclusion of such land
would significantly augment protection of the associated farm or ranch
land.
Fair market value is ascertained through standard real property
appraisal methods. Fair market value is the amount in cash, for which
in all probability the property would have sold on the effective date
of the appraisal, after a reasonable exposure of time on the open
competitive market, from a willing and reasonably knowledgeable seller
to a willing and reasonably knowledgeable buyer. Neither the seller nor
the buyer act under any compulsion to buy or sell, giving due
consideration to all available economic uses of the property at the
time of the appraisal. In valuing conservation easements, the appraiser
estimates both the fair market value of the whole property before the
easement acquisition and the fair market value of the remainder
property after the conservation easement has been imposed. The
difference between these two values is deemed the value of the
conservation easement.
Field Office Technical Guide (FOTG) is the official document for
NRCS guidelines, criteria, and standards for planning and applying
conservation treatments and conservation management systems. The FOTG
contains detailed information on the conservation of soil, water, air,
plant, and animal resources applicable to the local area for which it
is prepared.
Historical and archaeological resources must be:
(1) Listed in the National Register of Historic Places (established
under the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA), 16 U.S.C. 470, et
seq.), or
(2) Formally determined eligible for listing in the National
Register of Historic Places (by the State Historic Preservation Officer
(SHPO) or Tribal Historic Preservation Officer (THPO) and the Keeper of
the National Register in accordance with section 106 of the NHPA), or
(3) Formally listed in the State or Tribal Register of Historic
Places of the SHPO (designated under section 101 (b)(1)(B) of the NHPA)
or the THPO (designated under section 101(d)(1)(C) of the NHPA).
Impervious Surface--Impervious surface is the area on the easement
parcel covered by non-seasonal, permanent roof tops, concrete and
asphalt.
Land Evaluation and Site Assessment System (LESA) is the land
evaluation system approved by the NRCS State Conservationist used to
rank land for farm and ranch land protection purposes, based on soil
potential for agriculture, as well as social and economic factors, such
as location, access to markets, and adjacent land use. (For additional
information see the Farmland Protection Policy Act rule at 7 CFR part
658.)
Landowner means a person, persons, estate, corporation, or other
business or nonprofit entity having fee title ownership of farm or
ranch land.
Natural Resources Conservation Service is an agency of the U.S.
Department of Agriculture.
Non-governmental organization is defined as any organization that:
(1) Is organized for, and at all times since the formation of the
organization, has been operated principally for one or more of the
conservation purposes specified in clause (i), (ii), (iii), or (iv) of
section 170(h)(4)(A) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986;
(2) Is an organization described in section 501(c)(3) of that Code
that is exempt from taxation under 501(a) of that Code;
(3) Is described in section 509(a)(2) of that Code; or is described
in section 509(a)(3) of that Code; and is controlled by an organization
described in section 509(a)(2) of that Code.
Other productive soils are soils that are contained on farm or
ranch land and that are identified as farmland of Statewide or local
importance and is used for the production of food, feed, fiber, forage,
or oilseed crops. The appropriate State or local government agency
determines Statewide or locally important farmland with concurrence
from the State Conservationist. Generally, these farmlands produce high
yields of crops when treated and managed according to acceptable
farming methods. In some States and localities, farmlands of Statewide
and local importance may include tracts of land that have been
designated for agriculture by State law or local ordinance. 7 CFR part
657, sets forth the process for designating soils as Statewide or
locally important.
Pending offer is a written bid, contract, or option extended to a
landowner by an eligible entity to acquire a conservation easement
before the legal title to these rights has been conveyed for the
purpose of limiting non-agricultural uses of the land.
Prime and unique farmland are defined separately, as follows:
(1) Prime farmland is land that has the best combination of
physical and chemical characteristics for producing food, feed, fiber,
forage, oilseed, and other agricultural crops with minimum inputs of
fuel, fertilizer, pesticides, and labor, without intolerable soil
erosion, as determined by the Secretary.
(2) Unique farmland is land other than prime farmland that is used
for the production of specific high-value food and fiber crops, as
determined by the Secretary. It has the special combination of soil
quality, location, growing season, and moisture supply needed to
economically produce sustained high quality or high yields of specific
crops when treated and managed according to acceptable farming methods.
Examples of such crops include citrus, tree nuts, olives, cranberries,
fruits, and
[[Page 12634]]
vegetables. Additional information on the definition of prime, unique,
or other productive soil can be found in 7 CFR part 657 and 7 CFR part
658.
State Technical Committee means a committee established by the
Secretary of the U.S. Department of Agriculture in a State pursuant to
16 U.S.C. 3861 and 7 CFR part 610, subpart C.
State Conservationist means the NRCS employee authorized to direct
and supervise NRCS activities in a State, the Caribbean Area (Puerto
Rico and the Virgin Islands), or the Pacific Basin Area (Guam, American
Samoa, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Marianna Islands).
Overview of the Farm and Ranch Lands Protection Program
The CCC, acting through NRCS, will accept proposals submitted to
the NRCS State Offices from eligible entities, including Federally
recognized Indian tribes, States, units of local government, and
nongovernmental organizations that have pending offers for acquiring
conservation easements for the purposes of protecting topsoil by
limiting nonagricultural use of the land and/or protecting historical
and archaeological sites on farm and ranch lands. Reference information
regarding the FRPP can be found in the ``Catalog of Federal Domestic
Assistance 10.913.''
All proposals must be submitted to the appropriate NRCS State
Conservationist within 45 days from the date of this notice. The NRCS
State Conservationist may consult with the State Technical Committee to
evaluate the merits of the proposals.
The NRCS State Conservationist will review and evaluate the
proposals based on State, Tribal or local government or nongovernmental
organization eligibility, land eligibility, and the extent to which the
proposal adheres to the objectives outlined in the NRCS State FRPP
plan. Proposals must provide adequate proof of a pending offer for the
subject land. Adequate proof includes a copy of a written bid,
contract, commitment, or option extended to a landowner. Pending offers
based upon appraisals completed and signed by State-certified or
licensed appraisers will receive higher priority for FRPP funding.
Proposals submitted directly to the NRCS National Office will not be
accepted, and will be returned to the submitting entity.
Development of the State Farm and Ranch Lands Protection Program Plan
Funding awards to participants will be based on National and State
criteria. FRPP will be available in those States for which an NRCS
State Office submits a State FRPP Plan to the NRCS National Office.
Prior to submitting an application, interested entities should contact
the appropriate State Conservationist, and ensure a State FRPP Plan has
been submitted. At a minimum, the State FRPP Plan contains the
following:
Acreage of prime and important farm and ranch
land estimated to be protected;
Acreage of prime and important farm and ranch
land converted to nonagricultural uses;
Number or acreage of historic and archaeological
sites estimated to be protected on farm or ranch lands;
Total acres needing protection;
FRPP cost per acre;
Rate of land conversion;
Percentage of funding guaranteed to be provided
by cooperating entities;
History of cooperating entities' commitments to
conservation planning and implementing conservation practices;
Participating entities' histories of acquiring,
managing, holding, and enforcing easements (including average annual
farmland protection expenditures over the past five years,
accomplishments, and staff);
Amount of FRPP funding requested; and
Participating entities' estimated unfunded
backlog of conservation easements on acres eligible for FRPP
assistance.
At the State level, each State Conservationist will develop a State
FRPP Plan to submit to NRCS National Office. This State FRPP Plan may
be completed in consultation with the State Technical Committee, and it
will include ranking considerations used by the State, including the
above-mentioned criteria and other NRCS State ranking criteria. The
following examples of NRCS State ranking criteria may be used to
evaluate and rank specific parcels, including but not limited to
proximity to protected clusters, viability of the agricultural
operations, parcel size, type of land use, maximum cost expended per
acre, an entity's commitment to assuring farm and ranch succession and
transfer to viable farming operations, and percentage of funding
guaranteed to be provided by cooperating entities. State ranking
criteria will be developed on a State-by-State basis and will be
available to interested participating entities before proposal
submission. Interested entities should contact their State
Conservationist for a complete listing of applicable National and State
ranking criteria.
The National Office will allocate funds to States based on the
information provided in the State FRPP Plan. Within 30 days after the
Request for Proposal deadline has closed, the NRCS State
Conservationist may make awards to eligible entities based on the funds
provided. Once selected, eligible entities must work with the
appropriate NRCS State Conservationist to finalize and sign cooperative
agreements, incorporating all FRPP requirements.
The conveyance document (i.e., conservation easement deed or
conservation easement deed template) used by the eligible entity must
be reviewed and approved by the USDA Office of General Counsel before
being recorded. Since title to the easement is held by an entity other
than the United States, the conveyance document must contain a clause
that all rights conveyed by the landowner under the document will
become vested in the United States should the Federally recognized
Indian tribe, State, local unit of government, or nongovernmental
organization (i.e., the participant(s)) abandons, fails to enforce, or
attempts to terminate the conservation easement.
As a condition of participation, all highly erodible land in the
easement shall be included in a conservation plan. The conservation
plan will be developed using the standards and specifications of the
NRCS Field Office Technical Guide and 7 CFR part 12, unless otherwise
determined by the State Conservationist, in partnership with the
eligible entity. The conservation plan will be implemented in a timely
manner, as determined by the State Conservationist, following FRPP
enrollment.
Organization and Land Eligibility Selection Criteria
To be eligible, a Federally recognized Indian tribe, State, unit of
local government, or nongovernmental organization must have a farmland
protection program that purchases conservation easements for the
purpose of protecting prime, unique, or other productive soil or
historical and archaeological resources by limiting conversion of farm
or ranch land to nonagricultural uses. FRPP funds may not be used to
place an easement on a property in which an employee, board member, or
immediate family member of an employee or board member of the FRPP
applicant and any other organizations partnering with the applicant in
the acquisition of the easement has a property interest.
[[Page 12635]]
Criteria for Proposal Evaluation
Proposals must contain the information set forth below in order to
receive consideration for assistance:
1. Organization and programs: Eligible entities must describe their
farmland protection program and their record of acquiring and holding
permanent agricultural land protection easements or other interests.
Information provided in the proposal should:
(a) Demonstrate a commitment to long-term conservation of
agricultural lands through the use of voluntary easements that protect
farmland from conversion to nonagricultural uses;
(b) Demonstrate the capability to acquire, manage, and enforce
easements;
(c) Demonstrate the number and ability of staff that will be
dedicated to monitoring easement stewardship;
(d) Demonstrate the availability of funds. The purchase price may
not exceed the appraised fair market value of the conservation
easement. If a landowner donation is included in the entity's match,
the entity must demonstrate in cash, the availability of 25 percent of
the appraised fair market value or 50 percent of the purchase price;
and
(e) Include pending offer(s). A pending offer is a written bid,
contract, commitment, or option extended to a landowner by an eligible
entity to acquire a conservation easement that limits nonagricultural
uses of the land before the legal title to these rights has been
conveyed. The primary purpose of the pending offers must be for
protecting topsoil by limiting conversion to nonagricultural uses.
Pending offers having appraisals completed and signed by State-
certified general appraisers will receive higher funding priority by
the NRCS State Conservationist. Appraisals completed and signed by a
State-certified or licensed general appraiser must contain a disclosure
statement by the appraiser. The disclosure statement should include at
a minimum the following: the appraiser accepts full responsibility for
the appraisal, the enclosed statements are true and unbiased, the value
of the land is limited by stated assumptions only, the appraiser has no
interest in the land, and the appraisal conforms to the Uniform
Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice or the Uniform Appraisal
Standards for Federal Land Acquisitions.
2. Lands to be acquired: The proposal must describe the lands to be
acquired with assistance from FRPP. Specifically, the proposal must
include the following:
(a) A map showing the proposed protected area(s);
(b) The amount and source of funds currently available for each
easement to be acquired;
(c) The criteria used to set the acquisition priorities; and
(d) A detailed description of the land parcels, including:
(i) The priority of the offers;
(ii) The names of the landowners;
(iii) The address and location maps of the parcels;
(iv) The size of the parcels, in acres;
(v) The acres of the prime, unique, or State-wide and locally
important soil in the parcels;
(vi) The acreage of permanent, non-seasonal impervious surface;
(vii) The number or acreage of historical or archaeological sites,
if any, proposed to be protected, and a brief description of the sites'
significance;
(viii) A map showing the location of other protected parcels in
relation to the land parcels proposed to be protected;
(ix) Estimated cost of the easement(s): The consideration to be
paid to any landowners for the conveyance of any lands or interests in
lands cannot be more than the fair market value of the land or
interests conveyed, as determined by an appraiser licensed in the
State;
(x) An example of the cooperating entity's proposed easement deed
used to prevent agricultural land conversion;
(xi) Indication of the accessibility to markets;
(xii) Indication of an existing agricultural infrastructure, on-
and off-farm, and other support system(s);
(xiii) Statement regarding the level of threat from urban
development;
(xiv) A description of the eligible entity's farmland protection
strategy and how the FRPP proposal submitted by the entity corresponds
to the entity's strategic plan;
(xv) Other factors from an evaluation and assessment system used by
the applicant for selecting parcels. For example, the eligible entity
may use the LESA system or a similar land evaluation system as its tool
and include the scores for the land parcels slated for acquisition;
(xvi) Other partners involved in acquisition of the easement and
their estimated financial contribution; and
(xvii) Other information that may be relevant as determined by the
NRCS State Conservationist.
Ranking Considerations
When the NRCS State Office has assessed organization eligibility
and the merits of each proposal, the NRCS State Conservationist will
determine whether the farm or ranch land is eligible for financial
assistance from FRPP. NRCS will use the National, as well as State
criteria, which may include a LESA system or other comprehensive
system, to evaluate the land and rank the parcels.
NRCS will only consider enrolling eligible land in the program that
is of sufficient size and has boundaries that allow for efficient
management of the area. The land must have access to markets for its
products and an infrastructure appropriate for agricultural production.
NRCS will not enroll land in FRPP that is owned in fee title by an
agency of the United States, is publicly-owned land, or land that is
already subject to an easement or deed restriction that limits
agricultural viability.
NRCS will not enroll otherwise eligible lands if NRCS determines
that the protection provided by the FRPP would not be effective because
of onsite or offsite conditions. For example, as it relates to on-site
conditions, a proposal may nominate a parcel that contains hazardous
material, or it may nominate a parcel that contains or may allow over
two percent impervious surface coverage on the land under easement. The
presence of hazardous waste or the extensive impervious surface
coverage will likely cause NRCS to determine that the use of FRPP funds
is not appropriate. As it relates to offsite conditions, NRCS may avoid
acquiring land that is surrounded by a developed area or slated to be
zoned for development by a local government.
NRCS will place a priority on acquiring easements that provide
permanent protection from conversion to nonagricultural use. NRCS will
place a higher priority on easements acquired by entities that have
extensive experience in managing and enforcing easements. NRCS may
place a higher priority on lands and locations that help create a large
tract of protected area for viable agricultural production and that are
under increasing urban development pressure. NRCS may place a higher
priority on lands and locations that correlate with the efforts of
Federal, State, Tribal, local, or nongovernmental organizations'
efforts that have complementary farmland protection objectives (e.g.,
open space or watershed and wildlife habitat protection). NRCS may
place a higher priority on lands that provide special social, economic,
and environmental benefits to the region. A higher priority may be
given to certain geographic regions where the enrollment of particular
lands may help achieve National, State, and regional goals and
objectives, or enhance existing
[[Page 12636]]
government or private conservation projects.
Cooperative Agreements
The CCC, through NRCS, enters into a cooperative agreement with a
selected eligible entity to document participation in FRPP. The
cooperative agreement will address, among other subjects--
(1) The easement type, terms, and conditions;
(2) The management and enforcement of the rights acquired;
(3) The role and responsibilities of NRCS and the cooperating
entity;
(4) The responsibilities of the easement manager on lands acquired
with FRPP assistance; and
(5) Other requirements deemed necessary by the CCC, acting through
NRCS, to protect the interests of the United States. The cooperative
agreement will also include an attachment listing the pending offers
accepted in FRPP, landowners' names, addresses, location map(s), and
other relevant information. Interested entities should contact their
State Conservationist for a copy of a draft cooperative agreement
before submitting an application.
Signed in Washington, DC, on March 11, 2004.
Bruce I. Knight,
Vice President, Commodity Credit Corporation, and Chief, Natural
Resources Conservation Service.
NRCS State Conservationists
Alabama: Robert N. Jones, 3381 Skyway Drive, Post Office Box 311,
Auburn, AL 36830; phone: (334) 887-4500; fax: (334) 887-4552;
robert.jones@al.usda.gov.
Alaska: Shirley Gammon, Atrium Building, Suite 100, 800 West Evergreen,
Atrium Building, Suite 100, Palmer, AK 99645-6539; phone: (907) 761-
7760; fax: (907) 761-7790; sgammon@ak.nrcs.usda.gov.
Arizona: Michael Somerville, Suite 800, 3003 North Central Avenue,
Phoenix, AZ 85012-2945; phone: (602) 280-8808; fax: (602) 280-8809 or
8805; msomervi@az.nrcs.usda.gov.
Arkansas: Kalven L. Trice, Federal Building, Room 3416, 700 West
Capitol Avenue, Little Rock, AR 72201-3228; phone: (501) 301-3100; fax:
(501) 301-3194; kalven.trice@ar.usda.gov.
California: Charles W. Bell, Suite 4164, 430 G Street, Davis,
California 95616-4164; phone: (530) 792-5600; fax: (530) 792-5790;
charles.bell@ca.usda.gov.
Colorado: James Allen Green, Room E200C, 655 Parfet Street, Lakewood,
CO 80215-5521; phone: (720) 544-2810; fax: (720) 544-2965;
allen.green@co.usda.gov.
Connecticut: Margo L. Wallace, 344 Merrow Road, Tolland, Connecticut
06084; phone: (860) 871-4011; fax: (860) 871-4054;
margo.wallace@ct.usda.gov.
Delaware: Ginger Murphy, Suite 101, 1203 College Park Drive, Suite 101,
Dover, DE 19904-8713; phone: (302) 678-4160; fax: (302) 678-0843;
ginger.murphy@de.usda.gov.
Florida: T. Niles Glasgow, 2614 NW. 43rd Street, Gainesville, FL 32606-
6611, or Post Office Box 141510, Gainesville, FL 32606-6611; phone:
(352) 338-9500; fax: (352) 338-9574; niles.glasgow@fl.usda.gov.
Georgia: Leonard Jordan, Federal Building, Stop 200, 355 East Hancock
Avenue, Athens, GA 30601-2769; phone: (706) 546-2272; fax: (706) 546-
2120; leonard.jordan@ga.usda.gov.
Guam: Joan B. Perry, Director, Pacific Basin Area, Suite 301, FHB
Building, Suite 301 400 Route 8, Mongmong, GU 96910; phone: (671) 472-
7490; fax: (671) 472-7288; joan.perry@pb.usda.gov.
Hawaii: Lawrence Yamamoto, Acting, Room 4-118, 300 Ala Moana Boulevard,
Post Office Box 50004, Honolulu, HI 96850-0002; phone: (808) 541-2600;
fax: (808) 541-1335; lyamamoto@hi.nrcs.usda.gov.
Idaho: Richard W. Sims, Suite C, 9173 West Barnes Drive, Boise, ID
83709; phone: (208) 378-5700; fax: (208) 378-5735;
richard.sims@id.usda.gov.
Illinois: William J. Gradle, 2118 W. Park Court, Champaign, IL 61821;
phone: (217) 353-6600; fax: (217) 353-6676; bill.gradle@il.usda.gov.
Indiana: Jane E. Hardisty, 6013 Lakeside Boulevard, Indianapolis, IN
46278-2933; phone: (317) 290-3200; fax: (317) 290-3225;
jane.hardisty@in.usda.gov.
Iowa: Leroy Brown, 693 Federal Building, Suite 693, 210 Walnut Street,
Des Moines, IA 50309-2180; phone: (515) 284-6655; fax: (515) 284-4394;
leroy.brown@ia.usda.gov.
Kansas: Harold Klaege, 760 South Broadway, Salina, KS 67401-4642;
phone: (785) 823-4565; fax: (785) 823-4540; harold.klaege@ks.usda.gov.
Kentucky: David G. Sawyer, Suite 110, 771 Corporate Drive, Lexington,
KY 40503-5479; phone: (859) 224-7350; fax: (859) 224-7399;
dsawyer@ky.usda.gov.
Louisiana: Donald W. Gohmert, 3737 Government Street, Alexandria, LA
71302; phone: (318) 473-7751; fax: (318) 473-7626;
don.gohmert@la.usda.gov.
Maine: Joyce Swartzendruber, Suite 3, 967 Illinois Avenue, Bangor, ME
04401; phone: (207) 990-9100, ext. 3; fax: (207) 990-9599;
joyce.swartzendruber@me.usda.gov.
Maryland: David P. Doss, John Hanson Business Center, Suite 301, 339
Busch's Frontage Road, Annapolis, MD 21401-5534; phone: (410) 757-0861;
fax: (410) 757-0687; david.doss@md.usda.gov.
Massachusetts: Cecil B. Currin, 451 West Street, Amherst, MA 01002-
2995; phone: (413) 253-4351; fax: (413) 253-4375;
cecil.currin@ma.usda.gov.
Michigan: Ronald C. Williams, Suite 250, 3001 Coolidge Road, East
Lansing, MI 48823-6350; phone: (517) 324-5270; fax: (517) 324-5171;
ron.williams@mi.usda.gov.
Minnesota: William Hunt, Suite 600, 375 Jackson Street, St. Paul, MN
55101-1854; phone: (651) 602-7900; fax: (651) 602-7913 or 7914;
william.hunt@mn.usda.gov.
Mississippi: Homer L. Wilkes, Suite 1321, Federal Building, 100 West
Capitol Street, Jackson, MS 39269-1399; phone: (601) 965-5205; fax:
(601) 965-4940; hwilkes@ms.nrcs.usda.gov.
Missouri: Roger A. Hansen, Parkade Center, Suite 250, 601 Business Loop
70, West Columbia, MO 65203-2546; phone: (573) 876-0901; fax: (573)
876-0913; roger.hansen@mo.usda.gov.
Montana: David White, Federal Building, Room 443, 10 East Babcock
Street, Bozeman, MT 59715-4704; phone: (406) 587-6811; fax: (406) 587-
6761, dwhite@mt.nrcs.usda.gov.
Nebraska: Stephen K. Chick, Federal Building, Room 152, 100 Centennial
Mall, North Lincoln, NE 68508-3866 phone: (402) 437-5300; fax: (402)
437-5327; steve.chick@ne.usda.gov.
Nevada: Livia Marques, Building F, Suite 201, 5301 Longley Lane, Reno,
NV 89511-1805; phone: (775) 784-5863; fax: (775) 784-5939;
livia.marques@nv.usda.gov.
New Hampshire: Richard D. Babcock, Federal Building, 2 Madbury Road,
Durham, NH 03824-2043; phone: (603) 868-7581; fax: (603) 868-5301;
richard.babcock@nh.nrcs.usda.gov.
New Jersey: Anthony J. Kramer, 220 Davidson Avenue, 4th Floor,
Somerset, NJ 08873-3157; phone: (732) 537-6040; fax: (732) 537-6095;
tkramer@nj.nrcs.usda.gov.
New Mexico: Rosendo Trevino III, Suite 305, 6200 Jefferson Street, NE.,
Albuquerque, NM 87109-3734; phone: (505) 761-4400; fax: (505) 761-4462;
rosendo.trevino@nm.usda.gov.
[[Page 12637]]
New York: Joseph R. DelVecchio, Suite 354, 441 South Salina Street,
Syracuse, NY 13202-2450; phone: (315) 477-6504; fax: (315) 477-6550;
joseph.delvecchio@ny.usda.gov.
North Carolina: Mary K. Combs, Suite 205, 4405 Bland Road, Raleigh, NC
27609-6293; phone: (919) 873-2101; fax: (919) 873-2156;
mary.combs@nc.usda.gov.
North Dakota: Serapio Flores, Jr., Room 278, 220 E. Rosser Avenue, Post
Office Box 1458, Bismarck, ND 58502-1458; phone: (701) 530-2000; fax:
(701) 530-2110; serapio.flores@nd.usda.gov.
Ohio: J. Kevin Brown, Room 522, 200 North High Street, Columbus, OH
43215-2478; phone: (614) 255-2500; fax: (614) 255-2548;
kevin.brown@oh.usda.gov.
Oklahoma: M. Darrel Dominick, USDA Agri-Center Building, Suite 206, 100
USDA, Stillwater, Oklahoma 74074-2655; phone: (405) 742-1204; fax:
(405) 742-1126; darrel.dominick@ok.usda.gov.
Oregon: Robert Graham, Suite 1300, 101 SW. Main Street, Portland, OR
97204-3221; phone: (503) 414-3200; fax: (503) 414-3103;
bob.graham@or.usda.gov.
Pennsylvania: Robin E. Heard, Suite 340, 1 Credit Union Place,
Harrisburg, PA 17110-2993; phone: (717) 237-2202; fax: (717) 237-2238;
robin.heard@pa.usda.gov.
Puerto Rico: Juan A. Martinez, Director, Caribbean Area, IBM Building,
Suite 604, 654 Munoz Rivera Avenue, Hato Rey, PR 00918-4123; phone:
(787) 766-5206; fax: (787) 766-5987; juan.martinez@pr.usda.gov.
Rhode Island: Judith Doerner, Suite 46, 60 Quaker Lane, Warwick, RI
02886-0111; phone: (401) 828-1300; fax: (401) 828-0433;
judith.doerner@ri.usda.gov.
South Carolina: Walter W. Douglas, Strom Thurmond Federal Building,
Room 950, 1835 Assembly Street, Columbia, SC 29201-2489; phone: (803)
253-3935; fax: (803) 253-3670; walt.douglas@sc.usda.gov.
South Dakota: Janet L. Oertly, Federal Building, Room 203, 200 Fourth
Street, SW., Huron, SD 57350-2475; phone: (605) 352-1200; fax: (605)
352-1288; janet.oertly@sd.nrcs.usda.gov.
Tennessee: James W. Ford, 675 U.S. Courthouse, 801 Broadway, Nashville,
TN 37203-3878; phone: (615) 277-2531; fax: (615) 277-2578;
jford@tn.nrcs.usda.gov.
Texas: Lawrence Butler, W.R. Poage Building, 10l South Main Street,
Temple, TX 76501-7602; phone: (254) 742-9800; fax: (254) 742-9819;
larry.butler@tx.usda.gov.
Utah: Harry Slawter, Acting, W.F. Bennett Federal Building, Room 4402,
125 South State Street, Salt Lake City, UT 84138, Post Office Box
11350, Salt Lake City, UT 84147-0350, phone: (801) 524-4550, fax: (801)
524-4403; harry.slawter@ut.usda.gov.
Vermont: Francis M. Keeler,356 Mountain View Drive, Suite 105,
Colchester, VT 05446; phone: (802) 951-6795; fax: (802) 951-6327;
fran.keeler@vt.usda.gov.
Virginia: M. Denise Doetzer, Culpeper Building, Suite 209, 1606 Santa
Rosa Road, Richmond, VA 23229-5014; phone: (804) 287-1691; fax: (804)
287-1737; denise.doetzer@va.usda.gov.
Washington: Raymond L. ``Gus'' Hughbanks, Rock Pointe Tower II, Suite
450, W. 316 Boone Avenue, Spokane, WA 99201-2348; phone: (509) 323-
2900; fax: (509) 323-2909; raymond.hughbanks@wa.usda.gov.
West Virginia: Lillian V. Woods, Room 301, 75 High Street, Morgantown,
WV 26505; phone: (304) 284-7540; fax: (304) 284-4839;
lillian.woods@wv.usda.gov.
Wisconsin: Patricia S. Leavenworth, 8030 Excelsior Drive, Suite 200,
Madison, WI 53717; phone: (608) 662-4422; fax: (608) 662-4430;
pat.leavenworth@wi.usda.gov.
Wyoming: Lincoln E. Burton, Federal Building, Room 3124, 100 East B
Street, Casper, WY 82601-1911; phone: (307) 261-6453; fax: (307) 261-
6490; ed.burton@wy.usda.gov.
[FR Doc. 04-6109 Filed 3-16-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-16-P