Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 170 / Thursday, September 3, 2009 / Notices 45607 

• In general, the CRP purposes now 

explicitly include addressing issues 

raised by state, regional and national 

conservation initiatives (see 16 U.S.C. 

3831(a)). 

• The cropping history requirements 

are updated to 4 of 6 years from 2002 

to 2007 (see 16 U.S.C. 3831(b)). 

• The enrollment authority is set at 

39.2 million acres through 2009 and 

reduced to 32.0 million acres for fiscal 

years 2010, 2011, and 2012 (see 16 

U.S.C. 3831(d)). 

• Alfalfa and multiyear grasses and 

legumes in a rotation practice with an 

agricultural commodity may contribute 

towards meeting crop history 

requirements (see 16 U.S.C. 3831(g)). 

• The authority is granted to except 

acreage enrolled under continuous 

signup and the Conservation Reserve 

Enhancement Program provided county 

government concurs (see 16 U.S.C. 

3831(b)). 

• CCC requires management by the 

participant throughout the contract term 

to implement the conservation plan (see 

16 U.S.C 3843). 

• CCC provides exceptions to general 

prohibitions (see 16 U.S.C. 3844) on use 

including: 

Æ Managed harvesting with 

appropriate vegetation management 

during named periods and with a 

payment reduction, 

Æ Managed harvesting for biomass 

with appropriate vegetation 

management during named periods and 

with a payment reduction, 

Æ Grazing for invasive species with 

appropriate vegetation management 

during named periods and with a 

payment reduction, and 

Æ Installation of wind turbines with 

appropriate vegetation management 

during named periods and with a 

payment reduction. 

• Annual survey of dryland and cash 

rental rates by the National Agricultural 

Statistics Service (see 16 U.S.C. 

3843(c)). 

• Incentives for beginning or socially 

disadvantaged farmers or ranchers to 

facilitate a transition of land enrolled in 

CRP from a retired or retiring owner or 

operator to return some or all of the land 

to agricultural production using 

sustainable grazing or crop production 

methods (see 16 U.S.C. 3835). 

• Adds incentives for socially 

disadvantaged farmers and ranchers as 

well as limited resource farmers and 

ranchers and Indian tribes to participate 

in conservation programs (see 16 U.S.C. 

3844). 

• Development of habitat for native 

and managed pollinators and use of 

conservation practices that benefit them 

are encouraged for any conservation 

program (see 16 U.S.C. 3844). 

The SEIS will help FSA review 

potential environmental impacts 

resulting from the 2008 Farm Bill 

changes to the CRP program. The results 

of the SEIS will be used in 

implementing and modifying CRP 

administration. The record of decision 

resulting from the SEIS will also serve 

as guidance to FSA program decision 

makers when considering future CRP 

changes. 

Under the National Environmental 

Policy Act (NEPA), the SEIS process 

provides a means for the public to 

provide input on program 

implementation alternatives and on 

environmental concerns. The public is 

urged to participate in helping to define 

the scope of the proposed SEIS. In 

addition to allowing the opportunity to 

comment via mail, the internet, and email as provided in the above 

ADDRESSES section, FSA plans to hold 

nine public scoping meetings to provide 

information and opportunities for 

discussing the issues and alternatives to 

be covered in the draft SEIS, and to 

receive oral and written comments. The 

meetings will be held at the following 

locations and times: 

Date Time Location information 

September 15, 2009 ..... 5:30–7:30 p.m. local 

time.

Hilton Garden Inn Spokane Airport, 9015 West SR Highway 2, Spokane, WA 99224, (509) 

244–5866. 

September 17, 2009 ..... 5–7 p.m. local time ..... Hampton Inn Great Falls, 2301 14th St., SW., Great Falls, MT 59404, (406) 453–2675. 

September 21, 2009 ..... 5–7 p.m. local time ..... AmericInn Lodge & Suites and Event Center of Moorhead, 600 30th Ave., S., Moorhead, 

MN 56560, (218) 287–7100. 

September 23, 2009 ..... 5–7 p.m. local time ..... Clarion Hotel, 530 Richards Drive, Manhattan, KS 66502, (785) 539–5311. 

September 25, 2009 ..... 5–7 p.m. local time ..... Hilton Garden Inn, Springfield, 3100 S. Dirksen Parkway, Springfield, IL 62703, (217) 529– 

7171 ext. 507. 

September 29, 2009 ..... 5–7 p.m ....................... Oklahoma City Marriott Hotel, 3233 N.W. Expressway, Oklahoma City, OK 73112, (405) 

879–7042. 

October 1, 2009 ............ 5–7 p.m. local time ..... La Quinta Inn & Suites Clovis, 4521 N. Prince St., Clovis, NM 88101, (575) 763–8777. 

October 6, 2009 ............ 5–7 p.m. local time ..... Hilton Garden Inn Albany, 101 S. Front Street, Albany, GA 31701, (229) 888–1590. 

October 8, 2009 ............ 5–7 p.m. local time ..... Courtyard by Marriott Harrisburg/Hershey, 725 Eisenhower Blvd, Harrisburg, PA 17111, 

(717) 558–8544 ext. 6504. 

Please check http://public.geomarine.com for specific meeting 

locations, times, directions, and 

comment forms. 

Description of Preliminary Alternatives 

FSA has developed a set of 

preliminary alternatives to be studied in 

the draft SEIS to initiate the process. 

The alternatives will be amended, as 

appropriate, based on input by the 

public and agencies during the public 

scoping process. The SEIS will address 

the following alternatives, which 

include recommended changes to the 

program: 

• No Action Alternative— 

continuation of CRP as currently 

implemented. 

• Action Alternative 1—full 

implementation of the applicable 2008 

Farm Bill provisions in accordance with 

current procedures. 

• Action Alternative 2— 

implementation of CRP in accordance 

with applicable 2008 Farm Bill 

provisions exercising discretion that 

differs from current procedures. 

Signed in Washington, DC on August 28, 

2009. 

Jonathan W. Coppess, 

Executive Vice President, Commodity Credit 

Corporation, and Administrator, Farm 

Service Agency. 

[FR Doc. E9–21236 Filed 9–2–09; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3410–05–P 

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 

Farm Service Agency 

Advisory Committee on Beginning 

Farmers and Ranchers 

AGENCY: Farm Service Agency, USDA. 


pwalker on DSK8KYBLC1PROD with NOTICES
45608 Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 170 / Thursday, September 3, 2009 / Notices 

ACTION: Notice requesting nominations. 

SUMMARY: The Secretary of Agriculture 

is renewing the charter of the Advisory 

Committee on Beginning Farmers and 

Ranchers (Committee). The Committee 

provides advice to the Secretary on 

ways to encourage Federal and State 

beginning farmer programs to provide 

joint financing to beginning farmers and 

ranchers, and other methods of creating 

new farming and ranching 

opportunities. This notice invites 

nominations for persons to service on 

the Committee. 

DATES: We will consider nominations 

that we receive by October 5, 2009. 

ADDRESSES: The instructions for 

submission of nominations are provided 

in the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION

section. You may submit nominations 

to: Mark Falcone, Designated Federal 

Official (DFO) for the Advisory 

Committee on Beginning Farmers and 

Ranchers, or Ken Hill, Farm Service 

Agency, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 

1400 Independence Avenue, SW., STOP 

0522, Washington, DC 20250–0522; 

telephone (202) 720–1632; Fax (202) 

690–1117. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Mark Falcone at (202) 720–1632; or email: mark.falcone@usda.gov, or Ken 

Hill at (202) 720–5199, or e-mail: 

Kenneth.Hill@wdc.usda.gov. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: As 

required by section 5 of the Agricultural 

Credit Improvement Act of 1992 (Pub. L. 

102–554), the Secretary of Agriculture 

established the Committee to advise the 

Secretary on: 

(1) Development of a program of 

coordinated financial assistance to 

qualified beginning farmers and 

ranchers under section 309(i) of the 

Consolidated Farm and Rural 

Development Act (Federal and State 

beginning farmer programs provide joint 

financing to beginning farmers and 

ranchers); 

(2) Methods of maximizing the 

number of new farming and ranching 

opportunities created through the 

program; 

(3) Methods of encouraging States to 

participate in the program; 

(4) Administration of the program; 

and 

(5) Other methods of creating new 

farming or ranching opportunities. 

The law requires that members of the 

Committee be representatives from the 

following groups: 

(1) The Farm Service Agency (FSA); 

(2) State beginning farmer programs 

(as defined in section 309(i)(5) of the 

Consolidated Farm and Rural 

Development Act); 

(3) Commercial lenders; 

(4) Private nonprofit organizations 

with active beginning farmer or rancher 

programs; 

(5) The USDA Cooperative State 

Research, Education, and Extension 

Service (CSREES); 

(6) Community colleges or other 

educational institutions with 

demonstrated experience in training 

beginning farmers or ranchers; and 

(7) Other entities or persons providing 

lending or technical assistance to 

qualified beginning farmers or ranchers. 

The Secretary will also appoint 

farmers and ranchers to the Committee. 

USDA Departmental Regulation 1042– 

119, dated November 25, 1998, first 

established the Committee and 

designated FSA to provide support. 

Seven of the Committee members were 

replaced when the Committee charter 

was last renewed on March 28, 2008. 

Approximately one-third of the 20 

existing members will be replaced when 

the charter is renewed. 

We are now accepting nominations of 

individuals to serve for a 2-year term on 

the Committee. Reappointments are 

made to assure effectiveness and 

continuity of operations. The duration 

of the Committee is indefinite. No 

member, other than a USDA employee, 

can serve for more than 6 consecutive 

years. There will be a vacancy in at least 

four groups: State beginning farmer 

programs, commercial lenders, CSREES, 

and farmers and ranchers. 

Appointments and reappointments to 

the Committee will be made by the end 

of the calendar year and all nominees 

will be notified in writing. 

The Committee generally meets at 

least once a year and all meetings are 

open to the public. Committee meetings 

provide an opportunity for members to 

exchange ideas and provide advice on 

ways to increase opportunities for 

beginning farmers and ranchers. 

Members discuss various issues and 

draft recommendations, which are 

submitted to the Secretary in writing. 

Nominations are being sought through 

the media, this Federal Register notice, 

and other appropriate methods. Persons 

nominated for the Committee will be 

required to complete and submit an 

Advisory Committee Membership 

Background Information Questionnaire 

(Form AD–755). Submission of this form 

will constitute a nomination. The form 

is available on the Internet at http:// 

www.fsa.usda.gov/Internet/FSA_File/ 

ad755.pdf. AD–755 can be completed 

on-line. However, nominees must print 

their completed forms from the Adobe 

PDF file, sign, and mail or fax them to 

the above address or fax number. The 

form also may be requested by 

telephone, fax, or e-mail. Letters of 

recommendation may be submitted, but 

should not be solicited or obtained from 

USDA officials employed in Washington 

DC. All inquiries about the nomination 

process and submissions of the AD–755 

should go to Mark Falcone or Ken Hill, 

as provided in the ADDRESSES section for 

addresses and numbers. 

Appointments to the Committee will 

be made by the Secretary of Agriculture. 

Equal opportunity practices, consistent 

with USDA policies, will be followed in 

making all appointments to the 

Committee. To ensure that the 

recommendations of the Committee 

have taken into account the needs of the 

diverse groups served by the 

Department, membership should 

include, to the extent practicable, 

individuals with demonstrated ability to 

represent minorities, women, persons 

with disabilities, and senior citizens. 

Signed in Washington, DC on August 28, 

2009. 

Jonathan W. Coppess, 

Administrator, Farm Service Agency. 

[FR Doc. E9–21293 Filed 9–2–09; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3410–05–P 

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 

Rural Utilities Service 

Publication of Depreciation Rates 

AGENCY: Rural Utilities Service, USDA. 

ACTION: Notice. 

SUMMARY: The Rural Utilities Service 

(RUS), an agency of the United States 

Department of Agriculture (USDA), 

announces the depreciation rates for 

telecommunications plant for the period 

ending December 31, 2008. 

DATES: These rates are effective 

immediately and will remain in effect 

until rates are available for the period 

ending December 31, 2009. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Jonathan P. Claffey, Deputy Assistant 

Administrator, Telecommunications 

Program, Rural Utilities Service, STOP 

1590—Room 5151, 1400 Independence 

Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20250– 

1590. Telephone: (202) 720–9556. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In the 

Rural Utilities Service regulation, 7 CFR 

part 1737, Pre-Loan Policies and 

Procedures Common to Insured and 

Guaranteed Telecommunications Loans, 

§ 1737.70(e) explains the depreciation 

rates that are used by RUS in its 

feasibility studies. Section 1737.70(e)(2) 

refers to median depreciation rates 

published by RUS for all borrowers. The 

following chart provides those rates, 


pwalker on DSK8KYBLC1PROD with NOTICES