[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 186 (Monday, September 25, 2000)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 57537-57538]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-24525]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Natural Resources Conservation Service

7 CFR Part 657


Prime and Unique Farmlands--Important Farmlands Inventory

AGENCY: Natural Resources Conservation Service, Agriculture.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: The Natural Resources Conservation Service is amending its 
regulations regarding responsibilities for conducting important 
farmland inventories under the Federal Crop Insurance Reform and 
Department of Agriculture Reorganization Act of 1994 (the 1994 Act). 
The amendments reflect changes to individual and organizational titles 
made since the regulations were originally drafted.

EFFECTIVE DATE: September 25, 2000.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Horace Smith, Division Director, Soil 
Survey Division, Natural Resources Conservation Service, P.O. Box 2890, 
Washington, D.C. 20013; 202-720-1820.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This final rule makes corrections to 
nomenclature in the regulations for conducting important farmland 
inventories (7 CFR

[[Page 57538]]

Part 657, Subpart A.) Since the implementing legislation was passed, 
the names of the offices and titles of officials charged with 
conducting important farmland inventories have changed. This amendment 
reflects those changes. In addition, this rule amends the authority 
citation to clarify the list of statutory authorities for the 
inventories.
    These rules are not expected to have significant economic impact 
under the criteria of the Regulatory Flexibility Act. They will not 
impose information collection requirements under the provisions of the 
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1980, 44 U.S.C. Chapter 35.

List of Subjects in 7 CFR Part 657

    Farmlands.

    For the reasons set forth above, Subpart A, Part 657 of Chapter VI 
of Title 7 of the Code of Federal Regulations is amended as follows:

PART 657--PRIME AND UNIQUE FARMLAND

Subpart A--Important Farmlands Inventory

    1. The authority citation for Subpart A, Part 657 is revised to 
read as follows:

    Authority: 7 U.S.C. 1010a; 16 U.S.C. 590a-590f; 42 U.S.C. 3271-
3274.


Sec. 657.4  [Amended]

    2. Section 657.4(a)(3)(iii) is amended by revising ``NRCS Technical 
Service Centers (TSC's). (See 7 600.3, 600.6)'' to read ``National Soil 
Survey Center. (see 7 CFR 600.2(c), 600.6)''.

    3. Section 657.4(a)(4) is amended by revising the first sentence to 
read as follows: ``Coordinate soil mapping units that qualify as prime 
farmlands with adjacent States, including Major Land Resource Area 
Offices (see 7 CFR 600.4, 600.7) responsible for the soil series.''

    4. Section 657.4(a)(6) is amended by revising ``Administrator'' to 
read ``Chief''.

    5. Section 657.4(b) is amended by revising the heading and the 
first sentence to read as follows: ``National Soil Survey Center. The 
National Soil Survey Center is to provide requested technical 
assistance to State Conservationists and Major Land Resource Area 
Offices in inventorying prime and unique farmlands (see 7 CFR 
600.2(c)(1), 600.4, 600.7).''

    6. Section 657.4(c) is amended by revising ``Assistant 
Administrator for Field Services (See 7 CFR 600.2)'' to read ``Deputy 
Chief for Soil Survey and Resource Assessment (see 7 CFR 
600.2(b)(3))''.

    Signed in Washington, D.C. on September 14, 2000.
Pearlie S. Reed,
Chief.
[FR Doc. 00-24525 Filed 9-22-00; 8:45 am]
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