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Notices Federal Register

73027 

Vol. 75, No. 228 

Monday, November 29, 2010 

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 

Commodity Credit Corporation 

Cooperative Conservation Partnership 

Initiative and Wetlands Reserve 

Enhancement Program 

AGENCY: Commodity Credit Corporation 

and Natural Resources Conservation 

Service, United States Department of 

Agriculture. 

ACTION: Notice of request for proposals 

through the Mississippi River Basin 

Healthy Watersheds Initiative. 

SUMMARY: The Natural Resources 

Conservation Service (NRCS) announces 

the availability of financial assistance 

funds in fiscal year (FY) 2011 for up to 

$15 million in the Cooperative 

Conservation Partnership Initiative 

(CCPI) and up to $25 million in the 

Wetlands Reserve Enhancement 

Program (WREP) through the 

Mississippi River Basin Healthy 

Watersheds Initiative (MRBI). These 

funding levels are available for new 

MRBI proposals only. However, CCPI 

and WREP will not be the only funding 

mechanisms for MRBI in FY 2011. The 

Chief of NRCS reserves discretion in 

utilizing other NRCS conservation 

program funds and mechanisms in 

support of the objectives of MRBI. 

Through agreements, partners and 

NRCS will provide assistance to eligible 

participants in the 43 designated focus 

areas (8-digit HUCs) in the following 13 

States: Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, 

Kentucky, Louisiana, Minnesota, 

Mississippi, Missouri, Ohio, Tennessee, 

South Dakota, and Wisconsin. The 

purpose of this notice is to solicit 

proposals from potential partners to 

enter into agreements with NRCS and to 

inform agricultural producers and 

landowners of the future availability of 

program funds through approved 

partnership projects. Proposals must be 

based on one or more 12-digit HUCs 

within the 43 designated focus areas. 

Partners who are currently involved in 

approved MRBI agreements through 

CCPI or WREP and want to work in 

other 12-digit watersheds must submit 

new proposals for a new project. 

DATES: Eligible partners may submit 

proposals for MRBI–CCPI and/or MRBI– 

WREP via email or U.S. Postal Service; 

however, all proposals must be received 

on or before January 28, 2011. 

ADDRESSES: Applicants are encouraged 

to submit proposals electronically to 

MRBI–CCPI@wdc.usda.gov for CCPI and 

MRBI–WREP@wdc.usda.gov for WREP. 

If submitting a paper proposal, the 

proposal may be mailed to: Troy 

Daniell, Initiatives Coordinator, 

Conservation Initiatives Team, Natural 

Resources Conservation Service, P.O. 

Box 2890, Washington, DC 20013. 

Do not send submissions via 

registered or certified mail. Do not send 

the same proposal both electronically 

and to the P.O. Box address; use only 

one method to submit a proposal. If 

submitting more than one project 

proposal, please submit each separately. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Troy 

Daniell, Initiatives Coordinator, 

Conservation Initiatives Team, Natural 

Resources Conservation Service; 

Telephone: (202) 690–2825; e-mail: 

Troy.Daniell@wdc.usda.gov. 

Persons with disabilities who require 

alternative means for communication 

(Braille, large print, audio tape, etc.) 

should contact the USDA TARGET 

Center at: (202) 720–2600 (voice and 

TDD). 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Part A—General WREP and CCPI 

Proposal Information 

Focus Area Watersheds 

Forty-three focus area (8-digit 

hydrologic unit code (HUC)) watersheds 

have been selected by NRCS State 

Conservationists, with input from the 

State Technical Committees and State 

water quality agencies, to help improve 

water quality by reducing nitrogen and 

sediment levels in the watersheds of the 

Mississippi River Basin, as well as 

improve wildlife habitat and restore 

wetlands. The designated 

8-digit HUC focus areas are listed below. 

A complete list of the smaller-scale, 12- 

digit HUC sub-watersheds within the 

designated 8-digit HUC focus areas can 

be found at: http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/ 

programs/mrbi/unit_code_lists.html. 

DESIGNATED FOCUS AREAS FOR THE MRBI FY 2011 (8-DIGIT HUCS) 

State(s) Watershed Hydrologic 

Unit Code 

Arkansas/Missouri ...................................................................... Cache ......................................................................................... 08020302 

Arkansas ..................................................................................... Lake Conway-Point Remove ...................................................... 11110203 

Arkansas ..................................................................................... L’Anguille .................................................................................... 08020205 

Arkansas/Missouri ...................................................................... Lower St. Francis ....................................................................... 08020203 

Illinois .......................................................................................... Lower Illinois-Senachwine Lake ................................................. 07130001 

Illinois .......................................................................................... Upper Illinois ............................................................................... 07130005 

Illinois .......................................................................................... Vermillion (Upper Mississippi River sub-basin) .......................... 07130002 

Illinois/Indiana ............................................................................. Vermillion (Upper Ohio River sub-basin) ................................... 05120109 

Indiana ........................................................................................ Eel .............................................................................................. 05120104 

Indiana ........................................................................................ Upper East Fork White ............................................................... 05120206 

Indiana ........................................................................................ Wildcat ........................................................................................ 05120107 

Indiana/Ohio ............................................................................... Upper Wabash ............................................................................ 05120101 

Iowa ............................................................................................ Boone ......................................................................................... 07100005 

Iowa ............................................................................................ Maquoketa .................................................................................. 07060006 

Iowa ............................................................................................ North Raccoon ........................................................................... 07100006 

Iowa/Minnesota ........................................................................... Upper Cedar ............................................................................... 07080201 

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73028 Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 228 / Monday, November 29, 2010 / Notices 

DESIGNATED FOCUS AREAS FOR THE MRBI FY 2011 (8-DIGIT HUCS)—Continued 

State(s) Watershed Hydrologic 

Unit Code 

Kentucky/Tennessee .................................................................. Bayou De Chien-Mayfield ........................................................... 08010201 

Kentucky ..................................................................................... Licking ........................................................................................ 05100101 

Kentucky ..................................................................................... Lower Green ............................................................................... 05110005 

Louisiana .................................................................................... Mermentau ................................................................................. 08080202 

Louisiana/Arkansas .................................................................... Bayou Macon ............................................................................. 08050002 

Louisiana/Arkansas .................................................................... Boeuf River ................................................................................. 08050001 

Minnesota ................................................................................... Middle Minnesota ....................................................................... 07020007 

Minnesota ................................................................................... Root ............................................................................................ 07040008 

Minnesota ................................................................................... Sauk ........................................................................................... 07010202 

Mississippi .................................................................................. Big Sunflower ............................................................................. 08030207 

Mississippi/Louisiana/Arkansas .................................................. Deer-Steele ................................................................................ 08030209 

Mississippi .................................................................................. Upper Yazoo .............................................................................. 08030206 

Missouri/Iowa .............................................................................. Lower Grand ............................................................................... 10280103 

Mississippi .................................................................................. Coldwater Creek ......................................................................... 08030204 

Missouri ...................................................................................... North Fork Salt ........................................................................... 07110005 

Missouri ...................................................................................... South Fork Salt .......................................................................... 07110006 

Missouri/Arkansas ...................................................................... Little River Ditches ..................................................................... 08020204 

Ohio/Indiana ............................................................................... Upper Great Miami ..................................................................... 05080001 

Ohio ............................................................................................ Upper Scioto ............................................................................... 05060001 

Tennessee .................................................................................. Forked Deer ............................................................................... 08010206 

Tennessee/Kentucky .................................................................. Obion .......................................................................................... 08010202 

Tennessee .................................................................................. South Fork Obion ....................................................................... 08010203 

Tennessee/Kentucky .................................................................. Red River ................................................................................... 05130206 

South Dakota/Minnesota ............................................................ Upper Minnesota ........................................................................ 07020001 

Wisconsin/Illinois ........................................................................ Sugar .......................................................................................... 07090004 

Wisconsin/Illinois ........................................................................ Upper Rock ................................................................................ 07090001 

Wisconsin/Illinois ........................................................................ Pecatonica .................................................................................. 07090003 

Under MRBI, NRCS works with 

partners through CCPI and WREP to 

help address conservation concerns and 

opportunities within the watershed of 

the Mississippi River Basin. In approved 

MRBI–CCPI project areas, NRCS will 

make Environmental Quality Incentives 

Program (EQIP), Conservation 

Stewardship Program (CSP), and 

Wildlife Habitat Incentive Program 

(WHIP) funds available to eligible 

producers consistent with the proposal 

design as much as possible. In approved 

MRBI–WREP project areas, funds are 

available through the Wetlands Reserve 

Program (WRP). 

Proposal Submission, Review, and 

Notification 

Potential partners are highly 

encouraged to submit proposals to the 

email address provided in the 

‘‘Addresses’’ section of this notice. If the 

proposal is submitted in hard copy, the 

potential partner must submit two 

copies of the proposal, typewritten or 

printed on 81⁄2′′ x 11′′ white paper. The 

entire project proposal, not including 

letters of support, cannot exceed 12 

pages in length including a summary, 

responses to the information requested 

in this RFP, maps, and other supporting 

documents. The proposal must address, 

in sufficient detail, all the criteria 

outlined in the ‘‘Proposal Requirements’’ 

section of this notice in order to be 

considered. 

MRBI–CCPI and MRBI–WREP 

proposals submitted to NRCS become 

the property of the agency for use in the 

administration of the program, may be 

filed or disposed of by the agency, and 

will not be returned to the potential 

partner. Once proposals have been 

submitted for review and ranking, there 

will be no further opportunity for the 

potential partner to change or re-submit 

the proposal; however, NRCS may 

request certain changes before finalizing 

the selection and approval of a project. 

Incomplete proposals or those that do 

not meet the requirements set forth in 

this notice will not be considered, and 

notification of elimination will be 

mailed to the applicant. Partner 

proposals may be withdrawn by written 

notice to Troy Daniell, Initiatives 

Coordinator, Conservation Initiatives 

Team, at any time prior to selection (see 

‘‘Addresses’’ section in this notice). 

NRCS will review, evaluate, and rank 

proposals based on the criteria set forth 

in the respective ‘‘Proposal 

Requirements’’ sections of this notice for 

both MRBI–CCPI and MRBI–WREP. 

Potential partners should recognize that 

the proposal is the only document 

NRCS will use in the evaluation 

process. The proposal must request 

NRCS program funds for obligation 

beginning in FY 2011 (October 1, 2010– 

September 30, 2011). Proposals which 

request funding with obligation starting 

after FY 2011 will not be evaluated or 

considered under this request for 

proposals. 

Partners whose proposals have been 

selected will receive an official letter of 

notification. Upon notification of 

selection, the partner should contact the 

appropriate State Conservationist(s) to 

develop the required partnership 

agreement and other project 

implementation requirements. Potential 

partners should note that, depending 

upon available funding and agency 

priorities, NRCS may offer a reduced 

amount of program financial assistance 

from what was requested in the 

proposal and may require adjustments 

to the proposal as a condition of 

approval to meet program or other 

requirements. Partner submissions of 

proposals that are not selected will also 

be notified by mail. 

State Conservationist(s) Proposal 

Review 

Once a project proposal is received, 

the agency will provide a copy of it to 

the appropriate State Conservationist(s). 

State Conservationist(s) will review the 

proposals to: 

(a) Document potential duplication 

with other projects or existing programs; 

(b) Ensure adherence to and 

consistency with program regulation, 

including requirements related to land 

and landowner eligibility and other 

program requirements; 

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(c) Address expected benefits for 

project implementation in their State(s); 

(d) For multi-State proposals, 

coordinate with all State 

Conservationists involved in the 

proposal to verify there is concurrence 

and support for the project; 

(e) Identify other issues or concerns 

that should be considered; and 

(f) Provide a recommendation to the 

NRCS Chief for approval or disapproval 

of the project. 

Waiver Authority 

To assist in the implementation of 

approved WREP and CCPI projects, the 

Chief may waive the applicability of the 

Adjusted Gross Income Limitation, on a 

case-by-case basis, in accordance with 7 

CFR part 1400. Such waiver requests 

must be submitted in writing from the 

program applicant, not the sponsoring 

partner, addressed to the Chief, and 

submitted through the local NRCS 

designated conservationist. 

Part B—The Cooperative Conservation 

Partnership Initiative (CCPI) 

Component of MRBI 

To improve the health of the 

watersheds within the Mississippi River 

Basin, NRCS and its partners will help 

producers to voluntarily implement 

conservation practices that avoid, 

control, and trap nutrient runoff; 

improve wildlife habitat; restore 

wetlands; and maintain agricultural 

productivity. These improvements will 

be accomplished through a conservation 

systems approach to address water 

quality, wetland, and wildlife related 

resource concerns. NRCS will provide 

producers assistance in implementing a 

suite of practices that will reduce the 

impacts of nutrients and sediment 

leaving agricultural fields. 

Overview of the CCPI 

The CCPI is a voluntary conservation 

initiative that enables the use of certain 

conservation programs, combined with 

resources from eligible partners, to 

provide financial and technical 

assistance to owners and operators of 

agricultural and nonindustrial private 

forest lands in order to enhance 

conservation outcomes and achieve 

resource conservation objectives. The 

functions of CCPI can best be described 

in two parts: CCPI partnerships and 

CCPI program participation. 

CCPI Partnerships 

Under CCPI, eligible potential 

partners may submit proposals 

addressing the criteria that are outlined 

in this request for proposals. Partners 

who may enter into partnership 

agreements with NRCS include federally 

recognized Indian tribes, State and local 

units of government, producer 

associations, farmer cooperatives, 

institutions of higher education, and 

nongovernmental organizations with a 

history of working cooperatively with 

producers to effectively address 

conservation priorities related to 

agricultural production and 

nonindustrial private forest land. 

Individual agricultural producers are 

not an eligible partner entity and may 

not submit CCPI proposals. However, 

individual agricultural producers can 

participate by applying for program 

assistance in the approved proposal 

areas, through their local NRCS office. 

Proposals will be evaluated through a 

competitive review process. After 

selection, the partners will enter into a 

partnership agreement with NRCS. The 

partnership agreement will not obligate 

funds, but will address the: 

(a) Role of the partner; 

(b) Role of NRCS; 

(c) Responsibilities of the partner as it 

relates to the monitoring and evaluation; 

(d) Frequency and duration of 

monitoring and evaluation to be 

completed by the partner; 

(e) Format and frequency of reports 

that are required as a condition of the 

partnership agreement; 

(f) Budget which includes other 

funding sources (if applicable) for 

financial and technical assistance; 

(g) Specified project schedule and 

timeframe; and 

(h) Other requirements deemed 

necessary by NRCS to further the 

purposes of MRBI. 

Where flexibility is needed to meet 

project objectives, the partner may 

request that program adjustments be 

allowed, provided such adjustments are 

within the scope of the applicable 

programs’ statutory and regulatory 

program authorities. An example of an 

adjustment may be to expedite the 

applicable program ranking process in a 

situation where a partner has identified 

the producers approved to participate in 

the project. Other examples of 

flexibilities are payments rates, or use of 

a single area-wide conservation plan of 

operations rather than individual 

conservation plans of operation. An 

example of an ineligible flexibility 

would be to request funds for activities 

that do not meet NRCS conservation 

practice standards. 

CCPI is not a grant program, and all 

Federal funds made available through 

this request for proposals will be paid 

directly to producers through program 

contract agreements. If desired, 

producers may elect to have their 

payments assigned to another party. No 

technical assistance funding may be 

provided to a partner through the CCPI 

partner agreement. However, if 

requested by a partner, the State 

Conservationist may consider 

development of a separate contribution 

agreement with a qualified partner to 

provide funding for delivery of 

technical services to producers 

participating in an approved CCPI 

project. 

CCPI Program Participation 

Once the agency approves and 

announces the selected partner projects, 

eligible agricultural producers located 

within the approved project areas may 

apply directly to NRCS for funding 

through one or more of the following 

programs: EQIP, CSP, or WHIP. CCPI 

uses the funds, policies, and processes 

of these programs to deliver assistance 

to eligible producers to implement 

approved core and supporting 

conservation practices, enhancements, 

and activities under MRBI. Producers 

interested in applying must meet the 

eligibility requirements of the program 

for which they are applying. Individual 

applications from eligible producers 

will be evaluated and ranked to ensure 

that producer applications selected for 

funding are most likely to achieve 

project objectives. Once applications are 

selected, the producers may enter into 

one or more contracts or cost-share 

agreements with NRCS within one or 

more of the programs offered under 

CCPI. During FY 2011, an objective of 

MRBI–CCPI is to deliver EQIP, CSP, and 

WHIP assistance to producers to achieve 

MRBI priority conservation objectives in 

geographic areas defined by the partner. 

Depending upon the program available 

in the project area, the assistance 

provided enables eligible producers to 

implement conservation practices and 

enhancements, including the 

development and adoption of 

innovative conservation practices and 

management approaches. 

Availability of Funding 

Effective on the publication date of 

this notice, the CCC announces the 

availability of up to $9 million in EQIP 

and $500,000 in WHIP financial 

assistance; and 278,000 acres in CSP for 

MRBI–CCPI during FY 2011. 

Proposal Requirements 

The proposal must include the 

following: 

(1) Proposal Cover and Summary: 

(a) Project Title. 

(b) Project director/manager name, 

telephone number, and mailing and 

email addresses. 

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(c) Name and contact information for 

lead partner entity submitting proposal 

and other collaborating partners. 

(d) Short summary of project 

including: 

i. Project start and end dates (not to 

exceed a period of 4 years), 

ii. Designated 12-digit HUC, or 

contiguous multiple 12-digit HUCs subwatersheds where the project is located, 

including the State(s) and county(s), 

iii. General project objectives and 

resource concerns to be addressed as 

they relate to MRBI priorities and 

objectives, 

iv. Total amount of CCPI financial 

assistance being requested by program, 

and 

v. Whether the MRBI–CCPI proposal 

will be used in conjunction with a 

MRBI–WREP, MRBI–CIG, or other 

Federal programs to meet MRBI 

objectives. Include the name of that 

project and the associated Federal 

agency. (Note: Federal funds cannot be 

used as a match to the funds provided 

by NRCS.) 

(2) Project Natural Resource 

Objectives and Concerns: 

(a) Identify and provide detail about 

the project objectives. Objectives should 

be specific, measureable, achievable, 

and results-oriented. 

(b) Identify and provide detail about 

the natural resource concern(s) to be 

addressed in this project. Include in this 

description how the proposal objectives 

will address the priority MRBI resource 

concerns of water quality, wetland 

restoration, and improved wildlife 

habitat. Potential partners will work 

with the State Conservationist(s) to 

ensure the priority resource concerns 

are addressed by utilizing approved 

conservation practices, enhancements 

and activities, and conservation 

program requirements. A list of NRCS 

approved natural resource concerns for 

MRBI may be found on the MRBI Web 

site at http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/ 

programs/mrbi/mrbi_overview.html. 

(3) Detailed Project Description: 

(a) A detailed description of the 

geographic area covered by the 

proposal, including: 

i. Types of land uses to be treated, and 

ii. The location and size of the 

proposed project area and what 12-digit 

HUC sub-watershed(s) the project will 

be within. 

(b) A detailed map showing the 

project area. Include on the map: 

i. Outlined areas that need 

conservation treatments, 

ii. Location where conservation 

treatments are needed, and 

iii. Priority order for the different 

areas to be treated. 

(c) A description of the project 

timeline. Include: 

i. Duration of the project, not to 

exceed 4 consecutive years in length 

beginning in FY 2011, 

ii. Project implementation schedule 

that details when different objectives 

and conservation practices and 

enhancements will be completed, 

iii. When partner and Federal 

resources will be used within the 

timeframe of the project. Include the 

total amount of financial assistance 

funds requested for each fiscal year of 

the project to be made available for 

producer contracts and cost-share 

agreements (for multi-State projects, 

provide the funds or acres by State as 

appropriate), and 

iv. When the final project report will 

be submitted. 

(d) A description of the plan for 

evaluating and reporting on progress 

made toward achieving the objectives of 

the agreement. 

(e) Identify potential criteria to be 

used by NRCS to prioritize and rank 

agricultural producers’ applications for 

EQIP, CSP, and WHIP in the project 

area. Potential partners should 

collaborate with NRCS to develop 

meaningful criteria that NRCS can use 

to evaluate and rank producer program 

applications. This will ensure that 

producer applications which will best 

accomplish MRBI objectives will be 

selected. 

(f) An estimate of the percentage of 

producers, including nonindustrial 

private forest landowners, in the project 

area that may participate in the project 

along with an estimate of the total 

number of producers located in the 

project area. Provide details about 

additional information such as how the 

partner will encourage producer 

participation; does the project include 

any tribal producers, beginning farmers 

or ranchers, socially disadvantaged 

farmers or ranchers, or limited resource 

farmers or ranchers; and are there 

groups of producers who may submit 

joint applications to address resource 

issues of common interest and need. 

(g) A listing and description of the 

approved MRBI–CCPI core conservation 

practices, conservation activity plans, 

enhancements, and partner activities to 

be implemented during the project 

timeframe and the general sequence of 

implementation of the project. 

Information about approved MRBI–CCPI 

EQIP, WHIP, and CSP practices, 

enhancements, and activities can be 

accessed at http://nrcs.usda.gov/ 

programs/mrbi/mrbi.html. Only the 

conservation practices listed, which are 

available in the applicable State’s Field 

Office Technical Guide, are eligible for 

use in MRBI. For each conservation 

practice, estimate the amount of practice 

extent (feet, acres, number, etc.) the 

partner expects producers to implement 

and the amount of financial assistance 

requested to support implementation of 

each practice through producer 

contracts. 

(h) Also address technical assistance 

efforts that will be made by the partner. 

Describe any activities that are 

innovative and include outcome-based 

performance measures, such as water 

quality monitoring, to be implemented 

by the partner. 

(i) Indicate whether the project will 

address specific regulatory compliance 

and any other outcomes the partner 

expects to complete during the project 

period. 

(j) A detailed description of any 

requested adjustments, by program, 

with an explanation of why the 

adjustment is needed in order to achieve 

the objectives of the project. Requested 

adjustments or flexibilities must comply 

with statutory and regulatory 

requirements. 

(k) A science-based description of 

how the proposal’s objectives also may 

provide additional benefits by 

addressing energy conservation or 

mitigating the effects of climate change, 

if applicable. 

(l) A description of a plan to conduct 

water quality monitoring and evaluation 

and the reporting of progress made 

toward achieving MRBI objectives and 

desired outcomes. NRCS is especially 

interested in proposals that adopt a 

three-tiered monitoring and evaluation 

approach designed to assess 

environmental outcomes at the edge-offield, in-stream, and at the 12-digit HUC 

level. Higher priority will be given to 

projects that adopt this three-tiered 

approach where the partner provides 

resources or technical services to carry 

it out. Higher priority will also be given 

to projects that utilize environmental 

indicators to assess water quality and 

evaluate effects of conservation systems 

and activities implemented through the 

project at the edge-of-field level in 

conjunction with in-stream and 12-digit 

HUC monitoring. Information 

concerning water quality monitoring 

and evaluation can be found at http:// 

www.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/pdf_files/

water_quality_monitoring_reference_

material.pdf. 

(4) Partner Description: 

(a) A description of the partner(s) 

history of working with agricultural 

producers to address conservation 

priorities. 

(b) A description of how the partner(s) 

will collaborate to achieve the objectives 

of the agreement. Include: 

i. The roles, responsibilities, and 

capabilities of the partner(s), and 

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ii. The financial or technical 

commitments of each of the partner(s) 

and how they will be leveraged by the 

Federal contribution through EQIP, 

WHIP, CSP, or a combination of the 

three. Include specifically what 

commitments will be used toward water 

quality monitoring needs. If partners 

who do not submit the proposal intend 

to commit resources, a letter or other 

documentation from these partners 

confirming a commitment of specified 

resources is required. 

(c) A description of the resources 

(financial and technical assistance) 

requested from each of the applicable 

NRCS programs (EQIP, WHIP, and CSP) 

and the non-Federal resources provided 

by the partner that will be leveraged by 

the Federal contribution. Partners need 

to clearly state, by project objective, 

how they intend to leverage Federal 

funds along with partner resources. The 

funding and time contribution by 

agricultural producers to implement 

agreed-to conservation practices and 

enhancements in program contracts will 

not be considered any part of a match 

from the potential partner for purposes 

of CCPI. 

(d) A description of how the partner 

will facilitate the submission of 

landowner applications. 

(e) A description of how the partner 

will provide for outreach to beginning 

farmers or ranchers, limited resource 

farmers or ranchers, socially 

disadvantaged farmers or ranchers, and 

Indian tribes. 

National Ranking Considerations 

The agency will evaluate proposals 

using a national competitive process. A 

higher priority may be given to 

proposals that: 

(a) Have a high percentage of 

producers actively farming or managing 

working agricultural or nonindustrial 

private forest lands included in the 

proposed project area; 

(b) Significantly leverage non-Federal 

financial and technical resources and 

coordinate with other local, State, or 

Federal efforts. This includes resources 

committed to provide for water quality 

monitoring and evaluation of 

conservation practices; 

(c) Integrate both WREP and CCPI 

within a project area; 

(d) Deliver high percentages of 

applied conservation practices to 

address water quality, wildlife habitat, 

and wetland restoration; 

(e) Provide innovation in approved 

conservation practices, conservation 

methods, and delivery, including 

outcome-based performance measures 

and methods such as adaptive 

management strategies; 

(f) Complete the application of the 

conservation practices and activities on 

all of the covered program contracts or 

cost-share agreements in 4 years or less; 

(g) Assist the participants in meeting 

local, State, and Federal regulatory 

requirements; 

(h) Provide for environmental 

monitoring and evaluation of 

conservation practices, enhancements, 

and activities; 

(i) Provide for outreach to, and 

participation of, beginning farmers or 

ranchers, socially disadvantaged farmers 

or ranchers, limited resource farmers or 

ranchers, and Indian tribes within the 

proposed project area; 

(j) Have a high potential to achieve 

MRBI water quality objectives of 

nitrogen and sediment reductions 

leaving the field; and 

(k) Identify other factors and criteria 

which best achieve the purposes of 

MRBI–CCPI. 

Part C—The Wetlands Reserve 

Enhancement Program Component of 

MRBI 

Availability of Funding 

Effective upon publication of this 

notice, NRCS on behalf of CCC, 

announces that within the designated 

focus areas in the Mississippi River 

Basin Watersheds, up to $25 million in 

financial assistance funds are available 

in FY 2011 for the WREP to eligible 

participants through approved 

partnership projects within the 43 

designated 8-digit HUC focus area 

watersheds in the following states: 

Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, 

Kentucky, Louisiana, Minnesota, 

Mississippi, Missouri, Ohio, Tennessee, 

South Dakota, and Wisconsin. 

Under WREP, NRCS enters into multiyear agreements with eligible State and 

local governments, nongovernmental 

organizations, and Indian tribes to target 

and leverage resources to carry out high 

priority wetland protection, restoration, 

and enhancement activities; and 

improve water quality and wildlife 

habitat. Eligible partners should submit 

complete proposals to the addresses 

listed in this notice addressing the 

MRBI conservation objectives to be 

achieved in one or more 12-digit HUC 

watersheds within the 43 eligible 8-digit 

HUC focus area watersheds. Proposals 

that integrate a MRBI–WREP proposal 

with a MRBI–CCPI project in one or 

more 12-digit HUC watersheds will be 

given additional consideration in the 

selection process. 

Overview 

WREP is a voluntary conservation 

program which is a component of WRP. 

WREP leverages resources of eligible 

partners to provide financial assistance 

to eligible landowners to protect, 

restore, and enhance high priority 

wetlands; improve wildlife habitat; and 

improve water quality. WREP partners 

are required to contribute a match as 

detailed in the proposal requirement 

section at 3(e). Proposals which include 

additional partner resources will be 

given higher priority consideration in 

the selection process. 

WREP financial assistance is 

delivered to eligible landowners and 

partners in approved project areas 

through easement acquisition, 

conservation program contracts, 

cooperative agreements, contribution 

agreements, or Federal contracts. 

Restoration may be achieved through 

payments to other parties who conduct 

the restoration activities. 

Only States and local units of 

government, Indian tribes, and 

nongovernmental organizations are 

eligible to submit a proposal and enter 

into agreements with NRCS. A 

nongovernmental organization is an 

organization described in section 

501(c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code 

of 1986. Individual landowners may not 

submit WREP proposals through this 

submission process. However, once a 

WREP project has been approved and 

announced, eligible landowners may 

apply for WREP through their local 

NRCS office. As part of the agreement, 

approved partners may also help 

facilitate the submission of landowner 

applications, provide additional 

technical or financial assistance to 

landowners, and provide other 

resources as defined in the agreement. 

Written proposals are to be submitted 

by eligible partners, and project 

evaluation will be based upon a 

competitive process and the criteria 

established in this notice. Once NRCS 

selects a partner’s proposal, landowners 

within the selected project area may 

submit an application directly to NRCS 

for participation in WRP. Individual 

landowner applications will be 

evaluated and ranked along with other 

applications in the watershed or 

geographic project area, when 

applicable, to ensure that the properties 

selected for funding will achieve project 

objectives. 

Wetland restoration and enhancement 

actions will be designed to improve 

water quality, and maximize wildlife 

habitat benefits and wetland functions 

and values according to the WRP 

regulation, 7 CFR part 1467, and NRCS 

conservation practice standards. 

Additionally, the successful restoration 

of land and the resultant wetland values 

must take into consideration the cost of 

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73032 Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 228 / Monday, November 29, 2010 / Notices 

such restoration, as required by the 

WRP statute and reflected in the WRP 

regulation at 7 CFR part 1467.4. 

Proposals must conform to the WRP 

guidelines for restoration and 

management of lands subject to a WRP 

easement. 

Benefits to the partners in WREP 

agreements include: 

• Involvement in wetland restorations 

in high priority MRBI focus areas; 

• Ability to cost-share restoration or 

enhancement components beyond those 

required by NRCS; 

• Ability to participate in 

management or monitoring of selected 

project locations; and 

• Opportunity to utilize innovative 

restoration methods and practices. 

Land Eligibility 

The land eligibility criteria for WREP 

are the same as for WRP and are listed 

in 7 CFR § 1467.4. 

Proposal Requirements 

For consideration, the proposal must 

be in the following format and contain 

the information set forth below. 

(1) Proposal Cover and Summary. The 

first few pages of the proposal must 

include— 

(a) Project Title. 

(b) Project Director/Manager name, 

telephone, and mailing and email 

address. 

(c) Name and contact information for 

lead partner submitting proposal and 

other collaborating partners. 

(d) Short general summary of project, 

including: 

(i) Potential acres to be enrolled in the 

project area, 

(ii) Designated 12-digit watershed(s) 

where the project is located, including 

the State(s), and county(s). Include a 

general location map, 

(iii) Proposed project start and end 

dates that do not exceed 4 consecutive 

years including FY 2011, 

(iv) The project objectives and 

resource concerns to be addressed, and 

(v) Total amount of financial 

assistance being requested. 

(2) Project Natural Resource 

Objectives and Actions. The proposal 

must— 

(a) Identify and provide detail about 

the wildlife and water quality concerns 

to be addressed and how the proposal’s 

objectives will address those concerns. 

Objectives should be specific, 

measurable, achievable, resultsoriented, and include a timeline for 

completion. 

(b) For each objective, identify the 

actions to be completed to achieve that 

objective and address the identified 

natural resource concern. Specify which 

actions are to be addressed through this 

project using WREP assistance, and 

which are being addressed through 

alternate non-Federal funding sources or 

other resources provided. 

(c) Identify the total acres that require 

wetland protection, restoration, and 

enhancement. 

(3) Detailed Project Description. 

Information provided in the proposal 

must include— 

(a) A description of the partner(s) 

history of working cooperatively with 

landowners on conservation easements. 

(b) A description of the watershed 

characteristics within the designated 

focus area covered by the proposal 

including a detailed watershed map that 

indicates the project location. The 

description should include information 

related to land use types, vegetation, 

soils, hydrology, potential sources of 

water quality impairments, occurrences 

of at-risk species, proximity to other 

protected areas, and a summary of 

resource concerns. Proposals should 

state whether a MRBI–WREP proposal is 

integrated with a MRBI–CCPI proposed 

project and include the name of the 

proposed project. 

(c) A description of the partner(s) and 

the roles, responsibilities, and 

capabilities of the partner(s). Proposals 

which include resources from partners 

other than the lead partner must include 

a letter or other documentation 

confirming the commitment of 

resources. 

(d) A description of the project 

duration, plan of action, and project 

implementation schedule. Project 

proposals cannot exceed 4 years. 

(e) A description of the financial 

assistance resources that are requested 

through WREP, and the non-Federal 

resources provided by the partner(s) that 

will be leveraged by the Federal 

contribution. WREP requires partners to 

contribute a match of: 

(i) In-kind only contributions of at 

least 20 percent of the restoration costs, 

(ii) Cash only contributions of at least 

5 percent of the restoration costs, or 

(iii) A combination of in-kind and 

cash contributions of at least 20 percent 

of the restoration costs. 

Proposals which include additional 

partner resources will be given 

additional consideration in the selection 

process. Contributions provided by the 

partners to achieve additional ranking 

points can be in the form of technical or 

financial assistance for the protection, 

restoration, and enhancement of the 

wetland. Contributions can also be in 

the form of assistance with management 

and monitoring activities. Contributions 

above the match requirement can be 

cash or in-kind equipment or services. 

Partners may provide incentives to 

landowners to participate in WREP; 

however, incentive payments will not 

be considered part of the match 

requirement. Incentives include sign-up 

bonuses, practice incentive payments, 

or similar activities not funded through 

WRP. 

(f) Total budget for the project 

including all partner resources which 

will be leveraged for the project and the 

amount of WREP financial assistance 

being requested for project broken out 

by fiscal year with totals. Include a 

description of the amount of funds 

needed annually for easement 

acquisition and wetland restoration and 

enhancement activities. 

(g) A description of non-Federal 

resources that will be available for 

implementation of the proposal. 

Proposals which include additional 

non-Federal resources will be given 

higher consideration in the selection 

process. The partner needs to state 

clearly how they intend to leverage 

Federal funds along with partner 

resources. Landowner contributions in 

the implementation of agreed-to 

wetland restoration and enhancement 

practices may not be considered any 

part of a match from the potential 

partner for purposes of WREP. Partners 

will also be required to submit a plan 

for monitoring, evaluating, and 

reporting progress made toward 

achieving the objectives of the 

agreement. 

(h) An estimate of the percentage of 

potential landowners, or estimate of the 

percentage of acres likely to be enrolled 

within the project area, compared to the 

total number of potential landowners or 

acres located in the project area. A 

statement on how the partner will 

encourage participation to guarantee 

success of the project. It is not necessary 

for a target area to involve multiple 

landowners to be selected. Projects will 

be evaluated based on the ecological 

merits of the proposal and contributions 

by the partners. 

(i) A statement describing how the 

partner will provide outreach, 

especially to encourage participation by 

Indian tribes, beginning farmers or 

ranchers, socially disadvantaged farmers 

or ranchers, and limited resource 

farmers or ranchers. 

(j) A description of the wetland 

protection, restoration, and 

enhancement activities to be 

implemented during the project 

timeframe, and the general sequence of 

implementation of the project. Activities 

may include those efforts undertaken by 

the partner and those that the partner 

requests NRCS to address through 

financial support. 

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Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 228 / Monday, November 29, 2010 / Notices 73033 

National Ranking Considerations 

The appropriate State Conservationist 

will evaluate proposals using a 

competitive process and forward 

recommended proposals to the Chief for 

review and selection. The Chief will 

give a higher priority to proposals that: 

(a) Have a high potential to achieve 

wetland restoration; 

(b) Have a high potential to 

significantly improve water quality; 

(c) Have a high potential to 

significantly improve wildlife habitat; 

(d) Significantly leverage non-Federal 

financial and technical resources and 

coordinate with other local, State, tribal, 

or Federal efforts; 

(e) Demonstrate the partner’s history 

of working cooperatively with 

landowners on conservation easements; 

(f) Provide innovation in wetland 

protection, restoration, and 

enhancement methods and outcomebased performance measures and 

methods; 

(g) Provide evidence that wetland 

restoration and enhancement activities 

will be completed within 2 years of 

easement closing; 

(h) Provide for monitoring and 

evaluation of the effectiveness of the 

restoration activities on water quality; 

(i) Provide for matching financial or 

technical assistance funds to assist 

landowners with the implementation of 

the Wetlands Reserve Plan of 

Operations and associated contracts; 

(j) Facilitate the submission of 

landowner applications; 

(k) Provide for outreach to, and 

participation of, Indian tribes, beginning 

farmers or ranchers, socially 

disadvantaged farmers or ranchers, and 

limited resource farmers or ranchers 

within the area covered by the 

agreement; and 

(l) Integrate a MRBI–WREP proposal 

with a MRBI–CCPI proposed or 

approved project. 

Partnership Agreements 

Upon proposal selection, NRCS will 

enter an agreement with a partner as the 

mechanism for partner participation in 

WREP. At a minimum, the agreement 

will address: 

(a) The role of the partner; 

(b) The role of NRCS; 

(c) The format and frequency of 

reports that is required as a condition of 

the agreement; 

(d) The Plan of Work and budget to 

identify other funding sources (if 

applicable) for financial or technical 

assistance; 

(e) The specified project schedule and 

timeframe; 

(f) Whether the agreement will serve 

as an obligating document or whether 

funds will be obligated under a separate 

agreement with the partner or with a 

third party; and 

(g) Other requirements deemed 

necessary by NRCS to achieve purposes 

of the WRP. 

Landowner Application 

Landowners must meet the eligibility 

requirements of WRP, as published in 7 

CFR part 1467. Landowners interested 

in participating may apply for 

designated WREP funds at their local 

service center after WREP proposals are 

selected. In FY 2011, NRCS will make 

WREP funds available to eligible 

landowners to enroll land under a 

permanent easement, a 30-year 

easement, a 30-year contract on acreage 

owned by Indian tribes, or through a 

Restoration Agreement. 

NRCS and the partner may assist 

landowners in determining whether the 

application is appropriate for WREP 

depending on the wetland protection, 

restoration, and enhancement activities 

that the applicant seeks to install or 

perform. 

Signed the 20th day of November, 2010, in 

Washington, DC. 

Dave White, 

Vice President, Commodity Credit 

Corporation and Chief, Natural Resources 

Conservation Service. 

[FR Doc. 2010–29958 Filed 11–26–10; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3410–16–P 

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE 

International Trade Administration 

[A–549–502] 

Circular Welded Carbon Steel Pipes 

and Tubes from Thailand: Amended 

Final Results of Antidumping Duty 

Administrative Review 

AGENCY: Import Administration, 

International Trade Administration, 

Department of Commerce. 

DATES: Effective Date: November 29, 

2010. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Myrna Lobo, AD/CVD Operations, 

Office 6, Import Administration, 

International Trade Administration, 

U.S. Department of Commerce, 14th 

Street and Constitution Avenue, NW., 

Washington, DC 20230; telephone: (202) 

482–2371. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On 

October 13, 2010, the Department of 

Commerce (the Department) completed 

the final results of administrative review 

of the antidumping duty order on 

circular welded carbon steel pipes and 

tubes (pipes and tubes) from Thailand, 

covering the period March 1, 2008 

through February 28, 2009. The final 

results were subsequently released to all 

parties in the proceeding, and published 

in the Federal Register on October 20, 

2010. See Circular Welded Carbon Steel 

Pipes and Tubes From Thailand: Final 

Results of Antidumping Duty 

Administrative Review, 75 FR 64696 

(October 20, 2010). 

The Department disclosed the 

calculations in connection with the final 

results as required under 19 CFR 

351.224(b). On October 20, 2010, 

pursuant to 19 CFR 351.224(c)(2), we 

received a timely filed allegation from 

the respondent in this administrative 

review, Saha Thai Steel Pipe (Public) 

Company, Limited (Saha Thai), that the 

Department made a ministerial error 

with respect to the calculation of Saha 

Thai’s dumping margin. See Letter from 

Saha Thai to the Department of 

Commerce, regarding ‘‘Ministerial Error 

in Final Results,’’ dated October 20, 

2010. For further details, see 

Memorandum from Myrna Lobo, Case 

Analyst, and Heidi Schriefer, Senior 

Accountant, to Barbara E. Tillman, 

Director, titled, ‘‘Ministerial Error 

Allegation—Final Results of the 

Antidumping Duty Administrative 

Review of Circular Welded Carbon Steel 

Pipes and Tubes from Thailand: Saha 

Thai Steel Pipe (Public) Company Ltd.,’’ 

dated November 19, 2010 (Ministerial 

Error Allegation Memorandum). We did 

not receive comments on this allegation 

from any other interested parties. 

A ministerial error, as defined at 

section 751(h) of the Tariff Act of 1930, 

as amended (the Act), includes ‘‘errors 

in addition, subtraction, or other 

arithmetic function, clerical errors 

resulting from inaccurate copying, 

duplication, or the like, and any other 

type of unintentional error which the 

Department considers ministerial.’’ See 

also 19 CFR 351.224(f). In its letter, Saha 

Thai alleges that the Department made 

a ministerial error by using Saha Thai’s 

2008 selling and administrative 

expenses to calculate Saha Thai’s 2007 

general and administrative (G&A) 

expense ratio. As stated in the final cost 

calculation memorandum 

accompanying the Final Results, we 

calculated the fiscal year 2007 G&A 

expense rate to use in the calculation of 

cost of production and constructed 

value for products with dates of sale 

prior to the POR (i.e., the pre-POR 

quarters). See Memorandum from Heidi 

K. Schriefer, Senior Accountant to Neal 

M. Halper, Director, Office of 

Accounting ‘‘Cost of Production and 

Constructed Value Calculation 

Adjustments for the Final Results—Saha 

Thai Steel Pipe (Public) Company, Ltd. 

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