Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 212 / Friday, November 1, 2013 / Notices 65607 

• Athens-Clarke County Public 

Library, 2025 Baxter Street, Athens, 

Georgia 30606. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In 

accordance with the National 

Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 

1969, as amended, and the Federal Land 

Policy and Management Act of 1976 

(FLPMA), as amended, the USDA has 

prepared an EA for the proposed 

transfer of approximately 1,055 acres of 

land at the JPC–NRCC from the USDA 

ARS in Watkinsville, Georgia to the 

Board of Regents of the University 

System of Georgia for the benefit of 

UGA. The USDA ARS signed a FONSI 

on August 30, 2013 based on the Final 

EA. 

The Final EA evaluated USDA’s 

proposal to transfer approximately 1,055 

acres of land and facilities at the JPC– 

NRCC from USDA ARS in Watkinsville, 

GA to the Board of Regents of the 

University System of Georgia for the 

benefit of UGA. As a condition of the 

transfer, UGA would commit to using 

the property for agricultural and natural 

resources research for a period of 25 

years, supporting the strategic goals of 

USDA and establishing a Beginning 

Farmers and Ranchers Program at the 

Property. UGA would assume 

responsibility for management and 

maintenance of the constructed facilities 

and land to be conveyed from USDA. 

The JPC–NRCC has been in operation 

as a USDA ARS research station since 

1937, with the mission, ‘‘to develop and 

transfer environmentally sustainable 

and profitable agricultural systems to 

landowners and managers in order to 

protect the natural resource base, build 

accord with non-agricultural sectors, 

and support healthy rural economies.’’ 

The facility was closed under Public 

Law (Pub. L.) 112–55, Consolidated and 

Further Continuing Appropriations Act, 

2012. In August 2012, a 5-year revocable 

permit was issued between USDA and 

the Board of Regents of the University 

System of Georgia that allows the 

College of Agricultural and 

Environmental Sciences (CAES) to 

utilize the Property as a Research and 

Education Center (REC) and conduct a 

wide range of research, teaching, 

extension and demonstration activities. 

Since August 2012, it has been operated 

by the CAES as the JPC–REC under this 

permit. A Memorandum of 

Understanding was executed on March 

25, 2013 that would allow the formal 

transfer of the Property from USDA to 

the Board of Regents of the University 

System of Georgia. 

The property transfer will be done 

with no monetary cost to UGA and a 

Quit Claim Deed will be prepared by the 

USDA to convey the title/property rights 

to the Board of Regents of the University 

System of Georgia. The Quit Claim Deed 

will incorporate any use restrictions 

identified by the NEPA process as well 

as the 25-year use restriction for 

agricultural and natural resources 

research as required by Section 732 of 

the Public Law. 

Two alternatives are analyzed in the 

Final EA, the No Action Alternative and 

the Proposed Action. The Final EA 

addresses potential impacts of these 

alternatives on the natural and human 

environment. 

• Alternative 1—No Action. The 

USDA would retain possession of the 

approximately 1,055 acres of land and 

facilities at the JPC–NRCC. USDA would 

no longer operate and/or maintain the 

property and current research at the 

property would cease. 

• Alternative 2—Proposed Action. 

The USDA would formally transfer 

approximately 1,055 acres of land at the 

JPC–NRCC to the Board of Regents of 

the University System of Georgia. As a 

condition of the transfer, UGA would 

commit to using the Property for 

agricultural and natural resources 

research for a period of 25 years, 

supporting the strategic goals of USDA 

and establishing a Beginning Farmers 

and Ranchers Program at the Property. 

UGA would assume responsibility for 

management and maintenance of the 

constructed facilities and land to be 

conveyed from USDA. This land 

transfer alternative meets the purpose 

and need of the action. 

In addition, one alternative was 

considered in the Final EA but 

eliminated from detailed study. In this 

alternative, USDA would retain 

possession of the land and it would be 

transferred to the General Services 

Administration for disposal. Since it 

cannot reasonably be determined who 

would ultimately take possession of the 

property and how it would be utilized, 

it was not analyzed in detail in the EA. 

A Notice of Availability of the Draft 

EA was issued in the Federal Register 

on July 5, 2013. This notice announced 

the opening of a 30-day public comment 

period. The USDA used and 

coordinated the NEPA commenting 

process to satisfy the public 

involvement process for Section 106 of 

the National Historic Preservation Act 

(16 U.S.C. 470(f) as provided for in 36 

CFR 800.2(d)(3)). No comments were 

received during the public comment 

period. Based on its analysis of the Final 

EA for the property transfer, ARS has 

found that transferring the land and 

buildings to the Board of Regents of the 

University System of Georgia for the 

benefit of UGA would have no 

significant impact on the quality of the 

human environment. Therefore, ARS 

will not prepare an Environmental 

Impact Statement for this proposed 

action. 

Dated: October 21, 2013. 

Caird E. Rexroad, Jr., 

Associate Administrator, Agricultural 

Research Service. 

[FR Doc. 2013–26023 Filed 10–31–13; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3410–03–P 

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 

Agricultural Research Service 

Availability of the Final Environmental 

Assessment (EA) and Finding of No 

Significant Impact (FONSI) of the Kika 

de la Garza Subtropical Research 

Center (KSARC) 

AGENCY: Agricultural Research Service, 

USDA. 

ACTION: Notice. 

SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that 

the U.S. Department of Agriculture 

(USDA) Agricultural Research Service 

(ARS) has made a FONSI for transferring 

the land and real estate at the KSARC 

in Weslaco, Texas to the Texas A&M 

University System (TAMUS). The 

FONSI document is based on impact 

analysis documented in the draft EA 

that was issued for a 30-day public 

comment period beginning on August 2, 

2013 and that was finalized on 

September 4, 2013. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Phil 

Smith, Acting Property Team Lead, 

USDA–ARS–WBSC, 1001 Holleman 

Drive East, College Station, Texas 

77840; Telephone: 979–260–9449; 

email: phil.smith@ars.usda.gov. You 

may contact Mr. Smith for a copy of the 

FONSI document. Copies of the Final 

EA and FONSI are available for public 

inspection during normal business 

hours at the following locations: 

• Weslaco Public Library, 525 South 

Kansas Avenue, Weslaco, Texas 78596. 

• Larry Ringer Library, 1818 Harvey 

Mitchell Parkway South, College 

Station, Texas 77845. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In 

accordance with the National 

Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 

1969, as amended, and the Federal Land 

Policy and Management Act of 1976 

(FLPMA), as amended, USDA ARS has 

prepared a Final EA for the proposed 

transfer of approximately 70-acres of 

land and associated buildings at the 

KSARC in Weslaco, Texas from the 

USDA ARS to TAMUS. The KSARC is 

divided into two separate properties, 

with the main research station located at 


emcdonald on DSK67QTVN1PROD with NOTICES
65608 Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 212 / Friday, November 1, 2013 / Notices 

2413 East Highway 83, Weslaco, Texas 

77840 and a research farm located at 

2301 South International Boulevard, 

Weslaco, Texas 77840. As a condition of 

the transfer, TAMUS would commit to 

using the property for agricultural and 

natural resources research for a period 

of 25 years, supporting the strategic 

goals of USDA and establishing a 

Beginning Farmers and Ranchers 

Program at the Property. TAMUS would 

assume responsibility and maintenance 

of the constructed facilities and land to 

be conveyed from USDA. The KSARC 

has been in operation as a USDA ARS 

research facility since 1960, with the 

mission ‘‘to increase food and fiber 

productivity by developing new 

technology for safe and efficient 

agricultural production methods and by 

conserving natural resources and 

protecting the environment.’’ The 

facility was closed under Public Law 

(Pub. L.)112–55, Consolidated and 

Further Continuing Appropriations Act, 

2012 and is currently being utilized in 

a very limited capacity by researchers 

from other ARS locations. Under the 

terms of the PL, the Secretary of 

Agriculture has the authority to transfer 

the Property from USDA to TAMUS. If 

the Property is tranferred, it will be 

done with no monetary cost to TAMUS 

and a Deed Without Warranty will be 

prepared by the USDA to convey the 

title/property rights to TAMUS. The 

Deed Without Warranty would 

incorporate any use restrictions 

identified by the NEPA process, as well 

as the 25-year use restriction for 

agricultural and natural resources 

research as required by Section 732 of 

the PL. 

Two alternatives are analyzed in the 

Final EA, the No Action Alternative and 

the Proposed Action. The Final EA 

addresses potential impacts of these 

alternatives on the natural and human 

environment. 

• Alternative 1—No Action. The 

USDA would retain possession of the 

approximate 70 acres of land and 

facilities at the KSARC. The USDA 

would no longer operate and/or 

maintain approximately 85–90% of the 

property and it would likely fall into a 

state of disrepair. The USDA will 

continue ongoing research funded by 

other Locations on the remaining 10– 

15% of the property. 

• Alternative 2—Proposed Action. 

The USDA would formally transfer 

approximately 70 acres of land at the 

KSARC to TAMUS. As a condition of 

the transfer, TAMUS would commit to 

using the Property for agricultural and 

natural resources research for a period 

of 25 years, supporting the strategic 

goals of USDA and establishing a 

Beginning Farmers and Ranchers 

Program at the Property. TAMUS would 

assume responsibility and maintenance 

of the constructed facilities and land to 

be conveyed from USDA. 

In addition, one alternative was 

considered in the Draft EA but 

eliminated from detailed study. In this 

alternative, USDA would retain 

possession of the land and it would be 

transferred to the General Services 

Administration for disposal. Since it 

cannot reasonably be determined who 

would ultimately take possession of the 

property and how it would be utilized, 

it was not analyzed in detail in the EA. 

The USDA used and coordinated the 

NEPA commenting process to satisfy the 

public involvement process for Section 

106 of the National Historic 

Preservation Act (16 U.S.C. 470(f) as 

provided for in 36 CFR 800.2(d)(3)). No 

comments were received during the 

public comment period. Based on its 

analysis of the Final EA for the poperty 

transfer, ARS has found that transferring 

the land and buildings to TAMUS 

would have no significant impact on the 

quality of the human environment. 

Therefore, ARS will not prepare an 

Environmental Impact Statement for 

this proposed action. 

Dated: October 22, 2013. 

Caid E. Rexroad, Jr., 

Associate Administrator, Agricultural 

Research Service. 

[FR Doc. 2013–26015 Filed 10–31–13; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3410–03–P 

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 

Forest Service 

Information Collection; Outreach 

Opportunity Questionnaire 

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA. 

ACTION: Notice; request for comment. 

SUMMARY: In accordance with the 

Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the 

Forest Service is seeking comments 

from all interested individuals and 

organizations on the extension with 

revision of a currently approved 

information collection, Outreach 

Opportunity Questionnaire. 

DATES: Comments must be received in 

writing on or before December 31, 2013 

to be assured of consideration. 

Comments received after that date will 

be considered to the extent practicable. 

ADDRESSES: Comments concerning this 

notice should be addressed to the 

Northern Research Station, Attention: 

Judy Terrell, USDA, Forest Service, 11 

Campus Boulevard, Suite 200, Newtown 

Square, PA 19073. Comments also may 

be submitted via email to: jterrell@

fs.fed.us. 

The public may inspect comments 

received at USDA Forest Service, 11 

Campus Boulevard, Suite 200, Newtown 

Square, PA 19073 during normal 

business hours. Visitors are encouraged 

to call ahead to 610–557–4257 to 

facilitate entry to the building. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Judy 

Terrell, 610–557–4257. Individuals who 

use TDD may call the Federal Relay 

Service (FRS) at 1–800–877–8339, 

between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m., Eastern 

Standard Time, Monday through Friday. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Title: Outreach Opportunity 

Questionnaire. 

OMB Number: 0596–0207. 

Expiration Date of Approval: January 

31, 2014. 

Type of Request: Extension with 

revision. 

Abstract: 

This information collection collects 

information from students attending 

local college and university career fairs 

regarding the effectiveness of the 

information provided by the Forest 

Service personnel on career 

opportunities in the Forest Service. The 

collection is necessary to evaluate and 

determine the effectiveness of the Forest 

Service Northern Research Station’s 

(NRS) Civil Rights Outreach Program. 

Forest Service Civil Rights personnel 

utilize the Outreach Opportunity 

Questionnaire to collect evaluation 

information from students regarding 

presentations at career day events as 

well as at colleges and universities. Data 

received has appeared in reports 

provided to the U.S. Department of 

Agriculture, senior Forest Service 

officials, the NRS Director, and the NRS 

Civil Rights Diversity Committee. This 

information is a vital component in the 

analysis of Agency outreach efforts. 

Type of Respondents: Individuals. 

Estimated Annual Number of 

Respondents: 520. 

Estimated Annual Number of 

Responses per Respondent: 1. 

Estimate of Burden per Response: 2 

minutes. 

Estimated Total Annual Burden on 

Respondents: 17.33 hours. 

Comment is invited on: (1) Whether 

this collection of information is 

necessary for the stated purposes and 

the proper performance of the functions 

of the Agency, including whether the 

information will have practical or 

scientific utility; (2) the accuracy of the 

Agency’s estimate of the burden of the 

collection of information, including the 

validity of the methodology and 

assumptions used; (3) ways to enhance 


emcdonald on DSK67QTVN1PROD with NOTICES