01-9670. Notice of Proposed Change to Section IV of the Virginia Field Office Technical Guide

AGENCY:

Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), U.S. Department of Agriculture.

ACTION:

Notice of availability of proposed changes in the Virginia NRCS Field Office Technical Guide for review and comment.

SUMMARY:

It has been determined by the NRCS State Conservationist for Virginia that changes must be made in the NRCS Field Office Technical Guide specifically in practice standards: #393, Filter Strip; #655, Forest Trails and Landings; #561, Heavy Use Area Protection; #521A, Pond Sealing or Lining, Flexible Membrane; 643, Restoration and Management of Declining Habitats; and #657, Wetland Restoration to account for improved technology. These practices will be used to plan and install conservation practices on cropland, pastureland, woodland, and wildlife land.

DATES:

Comments will be received until May 21, 2001.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Inquire in writing to M. Denise Doetzer, State Conservationist, Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), 1606 Santa Rosa Road, Suite 209, Richmond, Virginia 23229-5014; Telephone number [phone]; Fax number [phone]. Copies of the practice standards will be made available upon written request to the address shown above or on the Virginia NRCS web site http://www.va.nrcs.gov/​DataTechRefs/​Standards&​Specs/​EDITStds/​EditStandards.htm.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Section 343 of the Federal Agriculture Improvement and Reform Act of 1996 states that revisions made after enactment of the law to NRCS State technical guides used to carry out highly erodible land and wetland provisions of the law shall be made available for public review and comment. For the next 30 days, the NRCS in Virginia will receive comments relative to the proposed changes. Following that period, a determination will be made by the NRCS in Virginia regarding disposition of those comments and a final determination of change will be made to the subject standards.

Dated: April 12, 2001.

Dwight A. Towler,

Assistant State Conservationist/Field Operations, Natural Resources Conservation Service, Richmond, Virginia.