03-4450. Notice of Proposed Changes to Section IV of the Tennessee Field Office Technical Guide (FOTG)

AGENCY:

Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Tennessee, Department of Agriculture.

ACTION:

Notice of availability of proposed changes in the Tennessee NRCS Field Office Technical Guide, section IV, for review and comment.

SUMMARY:

It has been determined by the NRCS State Conservationist for Tennessee that changes must be made in the NRCS Field Office Technical Guide, specifically in practice standards Contour Buffer Strip (Code 332); Residue Management, No Till/Strip Till (Code 329A); and Residue Management, Mulch Till (Code 329B) to account for improved technology. These practice standards can be used in systems that treat highly erodible cropland.

DATES:

Comments will be received for a 30-day period commencing with the date of this publication.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Inquire in writing to James W. Ford, State Conservationist, Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), 675 U.S. Courthouse, 801 Broadway, Nashville, Tennessee, 37203, telephone number [phone]. Copies of the practice standards will be made available upon written request.

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 perform 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 Tennessee will receive comments relative to the proposed changes. Following that period, a determination will be made by the NRCS in Tennessee regarding disposition of those comments and a final determination of change will be made to the subject practice standards.

Dated: February 13, 2003.

James W. Ford,

State Conservationist.