Federal Register / Vol. 63, No. 77 /Wednesday, April 22, 1998 / Notices 19889

5. Review of the Proposed Draft and

Proposed Draft Revised Standards:

Criteria for Elaboration or Revocation of

Individual Standards for Cheeses;

Cream; Dairy Spreads; Fermented Milk

Products; and Processed Cheese; at

Step 4.

6. Heat Treatment Definitions.

7. Model Export Certificate for Milk

Products.

8. Review of Proposed Standard for

‘‘Parmesan.’’

Done at Washington, DC: April 16, 1998.

F. Edward Scarbrough,

U.S. Manager for Codex.

[FR Doc. 98–10652 Filed 4–21–98; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3410–DM–P

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Food Safety and Inspection Service

[Docket No. 98–023N]

HACCP Implementation for Small

Plants

AGENCY: Food Safety and Inspection

Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice.

SUMMARY: The Food Safety and

Inspection Service (FSIS) is holding a

public meeting to discuss ways to help

owners and managers of small plants

prepare for the HACCP implementation

date of January 25, 1999. The meeting

will give all stakeholders an opportunity

to hear what is currently being done to

help small plants and to discuss

additional ways of ensuring that small

plants receive the assistance they need

to make the transition to HACCP.

DATES: The meeting will be held on May

7, 1998, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at

the Crowne Plaza Hotel, 14th and K

Streets, NW, Washington, DC; telephone

(202) 682–0111.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: To

register for the meeting, contact Ms.

Sheila Johnson of the Planning Staff,

FSIS, at (202) 501–7138 or by FAX at

(202) 501–7642. If a sign language

interpreter or another special

accommodation is required, please

contact Ms. Johnson at (202) 501–7138

by April 30, 1998.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On July

25, 1996, FSIS published a final rule,

‘‘Pathogen Reduction; Hazard Analysis

and Critical Control Point (HACCP)

Systems (61 FR 38806). The rule

established a HACCP implementation

schedule for establishments based on

their size. Large plants began

implementing HACCP on January 26,

1998. Medium to small plants have a

scheduled implementation date of

January 25, 1999, and very small plants

are required to implement HACCP by

January 25, 2000.

Since publication of the final rule,

FSIS has been holding a series of public

meetings to facilitate implementation of

HACCP plans, especially by small and

very small establishments. The Agency

also has provided extensive information

and technical assistance that would be

helpful to plant managers in

development of their HACCP systems.

The Agency also has developed and

distributed generic HACCP models and

guidance materials specifically to aid

small plant managers.

The May 7 meeting will include

presentations on what assistance the

Agency is currently providing and what

additional help will be offered. There

also will be a panel discussion on the

role of the private sector and general

discussion on what else can be done to

assist small plants with HACCP

implementation. The meeting is open to

the public on a space-available basis.

Done in Washington, DC, on April 15,

1998.

Thomas J. Billy,

Administrator.

[FR Doc. 98–10603 Filed 4–21–98; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3410–DM–P

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service

Newspapers Used for Publication of

Legal Notice of Appealable Decisions

for the Northern Region; Idaho,

Montana, North Dakota, and Portions

of South Dakota and Eastern

Washington

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice.

SUMMARY: This notice lists the

newspapers that will be used by all

Ranger Districts, Forests, and the

Regional Office of the Northern Region

to publish legal notice of all decisions

subject to appeal under 36 CFR 215 and

217 and to publish notices for public

comment and notice of decision subject

to the provisions of 36 CFR 215. The

intended effect of this action is to

inform interested members of the public

which newspapers will be used to

publish legal notices for public

comment or decisions; thereby allowing

them to receive constructive notice of a

decision, to provide clear evidence of

timely notice, and to achieve

consistency in administering the

appeals process.

DATES: Publication of legal notices in

the listed newspapers will begin with

decisions subject to appeal that are

made on or after April 23, 1998. The list

of newspapers will remain in effect

until another notice is published in the

Federal Register.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Kristine M. Lee; Regional Appeals and

Litigation Coordinator; Northern Region;

P.O. Box 7669; Missoula, Montana

59807. Phone: (406) 329–3647.

The newspapers to be used are as

follows:

Northern Regional Office

Regional Forester decisions in Montana:

The Missoulian, Great Falls Tribune,

and The Billings Gazette.

Regional Forester decisions in Northern

Idaho and Eastern Washington:

The Spokesman Review.

Regional Forester decisions in North

Dakota: Bismarck Tribune.

Regional Forester decisions in South

Dakota: Rapid City Journal.

Beaverhead/Deerlodge—Montana

Standard

Bitterroot—Ravalli Republic

Clearwater—Lewiston Morning Tribune

Custer—Billings Gazette (Montana)

Bismarck Tribune (North Dakota)

Rapid City Journal (South Dakota)

Flathead—Daily Interlake

Gallatin—Bozeman Chronicle

Helena—Independent Record

Idaho Panhandle—Spokesman Review

Kootenai—Daily Interlake

Lewis & Clark—Great Falls Tribune

Lolo—Missoulian

Nez Perce—Lewiston Morning Tribune

Supplemental notices may be placed

in any newspaper, but time frames/

deadlines will be calculated based upon

notices in newspapers of record listed

above.

Dated: April 15, 1998.

Kathleen A. McAllister,

Deputy Regional Forester.

[FR Doc. 98–10641 Filed 4–21–98; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3410–11–M

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Natural Resources Conservation

Service

Nutrient Management Technical and

Program Assistance Activities

AGENCY: Natural Resources

Conservation Service (NRCS),

Agriculture.

ACTION: Notice of proposed policy

revision.
19890 Federal Register / Vol. 63, No. 77 /Wednesday, April 22, 1998 / Notices

SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given of the

intention of NRCS to adopt a revised

policy for nutrient management related

technical and program assistance

activities. This revised policy will

impact the NRCS national conservation

practice standards for Nutrient

Management (Code 590) and Waste

Utilization (Code 633).

DATES: Comments must be received by

June 22, 1998. This revised policy will

be adopted after the close of the 60 day

comment period. It will be issued as

part 503 of the NRCS National

Agronomy Manual.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Questions or comments about this

policy should be directed to Ecological

Sciences Division, NRCS, Washington,

D.C. Submit questions or comments in

writing to Charles H. Lander, Nutrient

Management Specialist, Natural

Resources Conservation Service, P.O.

Box 2890, Room 6155–S, Washington,

D.C. 20013–2890.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section

343 of the Federal Agriculture

Improvement and Reform Act of 1996

requires the NRCS to make available for

public review and comment proposed

revisions to conservation practice

standards used to carry out the highly

erodible land and wetland provisions of

the law. For the next 60 days the NRCS

will receive comments relative to the

proposed changes. Following that

period a determination will be made by

the NRCS regarding disposition of those

comments and a final determination of

change will be made.

Signed in Washington, D.C., on April 6,

1998.

Pearlie S. Reed,

Chief, Natural Resources Conservation

Service, Washington, D.C.

NATURAL RESOURCES

CONSERVATION SERVICE

National Agronomy Manual, Subpart

B—Nutrient Management; Proposed

Policy

Policy Section

503.20 General

(A) The following definitions apply to

terms used in this policy.

(1) Nutrient Management: Managing the

amount, source, placement, form, and timing

of the application of nutrients and soil

amendments to ensure adequate soil fertility

for plant production and to minimize the

potential for environmental degradation,

particularly water quality impairment.

(2) Nutrient: Any of the elements

considered essential for plant growth,

particularly the primary nutrients; nitrogen,

phosphorus, and potassium.

(3) Conservation Management Unit (CMU):

A field, group of fields, or other land units

of the same land use and having similar

treatment needs and planned management. A

CMU is a grouping by the planner to simplify

planning activities and facilitate

development of conservation management

systems. A CMU has definite boundaries,

such as fence, drainage, vegetation,

topography, or soil lines.

(4) Nutrient Source: Any material (i.e.

commercial fertilizer, animal manure, sewage

sludge, irrigation water, etc.) that supplies

one or more of the elements essential for

plant growth.

(5) Third Party Vendor: An individual

(excluding Natural Resources Conservation

Service (NRCS) employees) who has been

certified by an approved certification

organization as being qualified to provide

specified types of conservation assistance,

and whose certifying organization

participates in the Department of Agriculture

(USDA) Approved Vendor Process outlined

in Part 504, ‘‘Conservation Assistance from

Third Party Vendors’’ of the NRCS

Conservation Programs Manual. Third Party

Vendor certification programs may include,

but are not limited to:

(a) Certified Crop Advisor (CCA) Program

of the American Society of Agronomy.

(b) Land Grant University certification

programs.

(c) National Alliance of Independent Crop

Consultants (NAICC).

(d) Professional engineering organizations.

(6) Nutrient Management Specialist: A

person who provides technical assistance for

nutrient management and has the

certification required by this policy.

(7) Nutrient Management Plan: A

documented record of how nutrients will be

used for plant production. The content of

such plans shall be developed in accordance

with the provisions of this policy. Plans

developed by NRCS employees shall be

developed as a component of the more

comprehensive conservation plan developed

for the CMU.

(B) The policy and procedures contained in

this section are applicable to all technical

assistance that involves nutrient management

and/or the utilization of organic by-products,

including animal manure, where nutrients

are applied to the land. All NRCS employees

shall follow these policies and procedures

when providing such technical assistance.

Third party vendors shall utilize these

policies and procedures when assisting with

the implementation of Federal conservation

programs for which NRCS has national

technical responsibility and that includes

nutrient management components.

(C) Nutrient management plans shall be

developed in compliance with applicable

Federal, State, and/or local regulation. This

policy takes precedence over State and/or

local regulations when such regulations are

less restrictive than NRCS policy. In

situations where State and/or local

regulations are more restrictive than NRCS

policy, they take precedence over this policy.

(D) NRCS encourages third party vendors

be a focal point for providing nutrient

management and related technical assistance

to farmers and others who apply nutrients for

plant production. To promote third party

vendor activity, NRCS will make available

lists of names of persons certified to provide

various types of technical assistance.

(E) NRCS at the State level can supplement

this policy to make it more restrictive or

inclusive.

503.21 Certification

(A) NRCS employees and third party

vendors who review and/or approve new or

revised nutrient management plans shall be

certified by a certification program

acceptable to NRCS within the pertinent

State.

(B) NRCS employees and third party

vendors who review approved new or revised

nutrient management plans may also be

required to meet additional requirements as

established by NRCS in the State in which

they are employed.

(C) The CCA program is recommended for

use in States that have or use no other

recognized certification programs in the

State.

503.22 Nutrient Management Plans

(A) All nutrient management plans are

considered elements of the overall

conservation plan for the CMU. As such, the

provisions of the nutrient management plans

shall recognize other requirements of the

conservation plan and not include provisions

that make it impossible for producers to

comply with both the nutrient management

provisions and other provisions of the

conservation plan.

(B) Nutrient management plans shall be

developed in accordance with technical

requirements of the NRCS Field Office

Technical Guide (FOTG) and procedures

contained in the National Planning

Procedures Handbook. As a minimum, the

following components shall be included in

the description of a nutrient management

plan where applicable.

(1) Aerial Site Photographs or Maps and a

Soil Map

(2) Current and/or Planned Plant

Production Sequence or Crop Rotation

(3) Soil Test and Plant Tissue Test Results

(4) A Complete Nutrient Budget for the

Plant Production System

(5) Realistic Yield Goals

(6) Quantification of all important Nutrient

Sources (this could include but not be

limited to commercial fertilizer, animal

manure and other organic by-products,

irrigation water, atmospheric deposition,

etc.).

(7) Recommended Rates, Methods, and

Timing of Nutrient Application

(8) Location of Designated Sensitive Areas

or Resources (if present on the conservation

management unit).

(9) Guidance for Implementation,

Operation, and Maintenance

(C) The format and appearance of nutrient

management plans shall be in accordance

with the NRCS National Planning Procedures

Handbook and other guidelines adopted by

NRCS in the State.

(D) Except for situations described in

Sections 503.24(c) and 503.25(A)(3), all

nutrient management plans shall be
Federal Register / Vol. 63, No. 77 /Wednesday, April 22, 1998 / Notices 19891

developed to meet the nutrient application

requirements for a Resource Management

System (RMS) level of treatment, as

described in Section 503.24.

(E) Progressive plans for nutrient

management, described in Sections 503.24(C)

and 503.25(A)(3), may be developed with

existing operations that produce and apply

animal manure or other organic by-products

to the land, when they lack the land

resources needed to meet RMS nutrient

application rate requirements.

(F) If the conservation management unit

lies within a hydrologic unit area that has

been designated as having impaired water

quality associated with nutrients, nutrient

management plans shall include an

assessment of the potential risk for nitrogen

or phosphorus to be associated with the

water quality impairment. The Nitrogen

Leaching Index and/or Phosphorus Index

(PI), or other acceptable assessment tools,

may be used to make these assessments.

When such assessments are required,

nutrient management plans shall include:

(1) A record of the site vulnerability ratings

for each field.

(2) Information about conservation

practices and management actions that can

reduce the potential for phosphorus

movement from the field.

(G) Review And Revision Of Nutrient

Management Plans

(1) The provisions of nutrient management

plans shall be reviewed annually to

determine if short term adjustments or

modifications to the plan are needed for the

next crop. The results of the review will be

documented in the plan, as will the

identification of the person who made the

review.

(a) Annual reviews may be completed by

the producer or the representative of the

producer. Persons completing the annual

review are not required to be certified

according to the provisions of Section 503.21

of this policy.

(b) When an annual status review indicates

that a revision of the plan is needed, the

revised plan shall be approved by a certified

nutrient management specialist.

(2) A thorough review of the nutrient

management plan shall be done on a regular

cycle not to exceed five years or the length

of the crop rotation. NRCS State

Conservationists may require a more frequent

review cycle. The plan shall be revised, as

needed, to reflect significant changes in the

operation that affect the overall nutrient

budget.

503.23 Soil and Plant Tissue Testing

(A) Current soil test information shall be

used in the development of all nutrient

management plans. As a minimum, tests will

include information for pH, phosphorus, and

potassium. NRCS State Conservationists may

require other tests.

(1) For the purposes of developing a new

nutrient management plan, current soil tests

are those that are no older than 1 year.

(2) For the purpose of reviewing and

revising previously developed nutrient

management plans, current soil tests are

those that are:

(a) No older than five years.

(b) Compliant with other guidance that

requires other types of soil tests or more

frequent soil test intervals as determined by

the NRCS State Conservationists.

(B) Soil Sampling

(1) In general, soil samples shall be taken

in accordance with Land Grant University

guidance or standard industry practice if

accepted by the Land Grant University

within the State.

(2) In situations where there are special

production or environmental considerations,

States may require other sampling

techniques. For example:

(a) Sub-soil sampling for residual nitrate in

irrigated crop production systems.

(b) Pre-sidedress Nitrogen Test (PSNT)

and/or Pre-Plant Soil Nitrate test.

(c) Sampling of the surface layer (0–2

inches) for elevated soil phosphorus or soil

acidity when there is permanent vegetation,

non-inversion tillage, or when animal

manure or other organic by-products are

broadcast or surface applied.

(C) Soil test analysis shall be performed by

laboratories that are accepted in one or more

of the following programs:

(1) State Certified Programs.

(2) The North American Proficiency

Testing Program (Soil Science Society of

America).

(3) Other laboratories whose tests are

accepted by the Land Grant University in the

State in which the tests are used as the basis

for nutrient application.

(D) NRCS State Conservationists may

recommend the use of tissue analysis and

other such tests when needed to insure

acceptable nutrient management.

(E) The nutrient content of animal manure

and other organic by-products shall be based

on:

(1) Laboratory analysis of the material.

(2) Accepted book values recognized by

NRCS in the absence of laboratory analysis.

503.24 Nutrient Application Rates

(A) Except for situations described in

Sections 503.24 (C) and 503.25(A)(3), the

actual rate of nutrient application of all plans

shall be for a RMS level of treatment.

(B) Actual nutrient application rates for an

RMS shall not exceed the rates recommended

based on soil test or other analysis, except for

the application of phosphorus and potassium

associated with the use of animal manure

and other organic by-products. When animal

manure or other organic by-products are land

applied, the following guidance applies:

(1) For phosphorus, one of the following

options may be used to establish acceptable

phosphorus application rates for an RMS:

(a) When soil specific phosphorus

threshold (TH) data is available that

identifies the soil phosphorus level at which

soluble losses of phosphorus in runoff

become significant, the phosphorus

application may be based upon the following

guidance: Soil Test P Level, Allowed P

Application Rates; <3⁄4TH Value, Nitrogen

Based Application; =>3⁄4TH <11⁄2TH, Crop

Removal; =>11⁄2TH <2TH, 1⁄2 Crop Removal;

=>2TH, No Application;

(b) When soil specific phosphorus

threshold (TH) data is not available, the

phosphorus application shall be based upon

the following guidance: Soil Test P Level,

Allowed P Application Rates; Low, Nitrogen

Based Application; Medium, Nitrogen Based

Application; High, 1.5 times Crop Removal;

Very High, Crop Removal; Excessive, No

Application;

(2) No limit is placed on potassium

application associated with manure or other

organic by-products.

(C) The nutrient application rates

described in progressive plans shall meet

RMS requirements, except for the application

of phosphorus. Initially, planned phosphorus

application rates in progressive plans may be

based on a nitrogen standard for the

utilization of animal manure or other organic

by-products.

503.25 Special Considerations

(A) When developing nutrient management

plans that include the use of manure or other

organic by-products:

(1) All nutrient management plans

developed in accordance with Section

503.24(A) shall identify adequate land

resources to enable eventual plan

implementation based on phosphorus, even

when initial implementation will be based on

nitrogen, unless other provisions that do not

involve land application are made for

utilizing the manure. Such plans shall

identify the year in which the producer may

need access to these additional land

resources to move to a phosphorus base for

future implementation of the plan.

(2) The nutrient management plans shall

include a field-by-field assessment of the

potential risk for phosphorus to be associated

with water quality impairment. This

assessment may be accomplished using the

Phosphorus Index or other recognized

assessment tool.

When a phosphorus assessment is

completed, the nutrient management plans

shall describe:

(a) A record of the vulnerability ratings for

each field.

(b) Information about other conservation

practices and management activities that can

reduce the potential for phosphorus

movement from the field.

(3) Progressive plans developed with

producers who do not have adequate land

resources to develop and implement a plan

based on phosphorus shall:

(a) Be developed on a ‘‘case-by-case’’ basis

with individual producers.

(b) Include conservation practices and

management activities designed to move the

producer toward a plan that meets the

requirements described in Section 503.24(A)

within 10 years. Such plans shall include

milestones (installation schedules) that

identify actual movement toward an RMS

during the progressive planning period.

(c) Be effective for a period not to exceed

10 years. The initial progressive plan shall be

for a period not to exceed five years. A

second five-year progressive plan may be

developed if it is still impossible to meet the

requirements of Section 503.24(A), but

progress has been shown during the first fiveyear period.

(B) When nutrient management plans are

developed and implemented in a way that

results in expected increases in soil

phosphorus levels, the plans shall include:
19892 Federal Register / Vol. 63, No. 77 /Wednesday, April 22, 1998 / Notices

(1) Discussion about the potential for

phosphorus accumulation in the soil and for

such accumulation to contribute to water

quality impairment, animal health, or crop

production problems.

(2) Discussion of the time interval after

which it may be desirable (or necessary) to

convert to phosphorus based manure

application rates for plan implementation.

(3) Discussion of the potential for soil

phosphorus draw-down from the production

and harvesting of crops.

(C) In areas with specially protected water

bodies, plans shall be developed

incorporating any special requirements that

are applicable within these areas.

(D) Land application of sewage sludge.

(1) When sewage sludge is applied to

agricultural land, the accumulations of

potential pollutants from such sources

(including: Arsenic, Cadmium, Copper, Lead,

Mercury, Selenium, and Zinc) in the soil

shall be monitored in accordance with the

US Code Reference 40 CFR Parts 403 and 503

or applicable State laws. States may

determine if such provisions shall also be

required for the land application of animal

manure and other organic by-products that

contain any of these metals.

(2) Sewage sludge shall be analyzed prior

to land application to determine its nutrient

value.

(3) Acceptable application rates of sewage

sludge shall be determined using guidelines

in this policy, or applicable Federal, State or

local regulations.

(E) When producing ‘‘fresh, edible crops

for the produce market, like vegetables, root,

or tuber crops’’ and using sewage sludge,

animal manure, or other organic materials as

a source of nutrients, applications shall be in

accordance with provisions of applicable

Federal, State, local laws or policies laws.

503.26 Record Keeping

(A) Records will be kept by the producer

for nutrient management and waste

utilization plans in accordance with this

policy, the NRCS General Manual, and the

FOTG. As a minimum, the following records

shall be kept by fields or management units:

(1) Soil test results and recommended

nutrient application rates.

(2) Quantities and sources of nutrients

applied; and heavy metals if applicable.

(3) Specific dates nutrients were applied.

(4) Methods by which nutrients were

applied (e.g., broadcast, incorporated after

broadcast), injected, or fertigation).

(5) Crops planted and dates of planting.

(6) Harvest dates and yields of crops.

(7) Where applicable, results of water

quality tests (including irrigation water),

plant tissue, or other organic by-products

tests.

(8) Annual reviews including the

identification of the person completing the

review and recommendations that resulted

from the review.

(B) Records shall be retained for a period

of five years, for a period equal to the

implementation period of the plan if longer

than five years, or for a period longer than

five years if specified by other Federal or

State agencies.

BILLING CODE 3410–16–M
Federal Register / Vol. 63, No. 77 /Wednesday, April 22, 1998 / Notices 19893

[FR Doc. 98–10548 Filed 4–21–98; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3410–16–C