28884 Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 97 / Tuesday, May 20, 2014 / Notices 

Relay Service (FIRS) at 1–800–877–8339 

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

Time, Monday through Friday. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Purpose and Need for Action 

Treatments in the Pine Mountain area 

are being proposed for several reasons: 

To reduce the risk to late-successional 

habitat loss from wildfire through 

vegetative treatments designed to 

modify and restore characteristic fire 

regimes and forest structure; improve 

forest health, vigor, and resilience to 

fire, insects and disease as well as 

enhance the diversity of plant and 

animal habitat found within the project 

area while restoring and enhancing late 

successional habitat; and to manage 

National Forest lands (including roads 

and trails) to meet the Aquatic 

Conservation Strategy Objectives and 

direction set forth in the Mendocino 

National Forest Land and Resource 

Management Plan (LRMP). 

Proposed Action 

The Proposed Action includes the 

following treatments to achieve the 

desired conditions: 

• Fuel treatments may be applied as 

prescribed fire only or as a combination 

of prescribed fire with mechanical 

treatments, piling and pile burning. 

• Mechanical treatments will include 

mastication or thinning of trees. 

Thinning of trees less than 10 inches in 

diameter at breast height (dbh) will be 

implemented by Forest Service 

personnel or through service contracts. 

Thinning of trees greater than 10 inches 

dbh will be implemented through a 

commercial contract. These treatments 

are intended to achieve ecological 

objectives such as restoring a fireresilient stand structure, managing for 

open habitat (that includes shrubs and 

hardwoods), hastening the development 

of desired late successional stand 

characteristics in plantations as well as 

accelerating the development and vigor 

of larger trees outside plantations. 

Treatments would reduce competition 

between trees for onsite resources such 

as moisture, light, nutrients and growing 

space; and would reduce overly dense 

stand conditions which have led to 

declining stand health and 

uncharacteristic fire regimes. 

• Prescribed fire treatments will be 

applied in chaparral areas, following 

direction provided by the LRMP, to 

create a mosaic of age classes which 

provides for the development of 

heterogeneous chaparral habitat and 

interruption of fuel continuity. 

• Prescribed fire treatment will be 

applied in forested areas with excessive 

accumulations of natural fuels, 

following direction provided by the 

LRMP. 

• Shaded fuel breaks will be 

constructed following direction 

provided by LSR Assessment to provide 

a buffer against fires originating from 

the west and moving eastward with the 

prevailing winds. The fuel breaks will 

also assist in prescribed fire activities. 

Other proposed activities include road 

management such as road maintenance, 

drainage improvement, road 

decommissioning, temporary road 

construction and rehabilitation, and 

non-system trail closures. The 

Interdisciplinary Team is developing 

design features and Best Management 

Practices to protect water, wildlife, 

aquatic, archaeological, cultural, and 

botanical resources. 

Responsible Official 

The Responsible Official for this 

project is Sherry Tune, Forest 

Supervisor, 825 N. Humboldt Avenue, 

Willows, CA 95988. 

Nature of Decision To Be Made 

The Forest Supervisor will decide 

whether to implement the proposed 

action, take an alternative action that 

meets the purpose and need, or take no 

action. 

Scoping Process 

This notice of intent initiates the 

scoping process, which guides the 

development of the environmental 

impact statement. A public meeting will 

be held on May 30, 2014, to enable 

those with interest in the project to 

obtain more information, ask questions, 

and make comments for the 

development of the EIS and the 

alternatives. A field trip the following 

day may be held if enough interest is 

shown. 

It is important that reviewers provide 

their comments at such times and in 

such manner that they are useful to the 

agency’s preparation of the 

environmental impact statement. 

Therefore, comments should be 

provided prior to the close of the 

comment period and should clearly 

articulate the reviewer’s concerns and 

contentions. 

Comments received in response to 

this solicitation, including names and 

addresses of those who comment, will 

be part of the public record for this 

project. Comments submitted 

anonymously will be accepted and 

considered, however. 

Dated: May 7, 2014. 

Sherry A. Tune, 

Forest Supervisor. 

[FR Doc. 2014–11609 Filed 5–19–14; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3410–11–P 

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 

Natural Resources Conservation 

Service 

Commodity Credit Corporation 

[Docket No. NRCS–2014–0004] 

Notice of Request for Revision of a 

Currently Approved Information 

Collection 

AGENCY: Natural Resources 

Conservation Service (NRCS) and the 

Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC), 

United States Department of Agriculture 

(USDA). 

ACTION: Notice and request for 

comments. 

SUMMARY: In accordance with the 

Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 

U.S.C. Chapter 35), this notice 

announces NRCS’ intention to request 

an extension for, and a revision to, a 

currently approved information 

collection for Long-Term Contracting. 

DATES: Effective Date: This is effective 

May 20, 2014. 

Comment Date: Submit comments on 

or before July 21, 2014. 

ADDRESSES: Comments should be 

submitted, identified by Docket Number 

NRCS–2014–0004, using any of the 

following methods: 

• Federal eRulemaking Portal: http:// 

www.regulations.gov. Follow the 

instructions for submitting comments. 

• Mail: Public Comments Processing, 

Attention: Docket No. NRCS–2014– 

0004, Regulatory and Agency Policy 

Team, Strategic Planning and 

Accountability, Department of 

Agriculture, Natural Resources 

Conservation Service, 5601 Sunnyside 

Avenue, Building 1–1112D, Beltsville, 

Maryland 20705. 

NRCS will post comments on http:// 

www.regulations.gov. In general, 

personal information provided with 

comments will be posted. If your 

comment includes your address, phone 

number, email, or other personal 

identifying information, your entire 

comments, including personal 

information, may be available to the 

public. You may ask in your comment 

that your personal identifying 

information be withheld from public 

view, but this cannot be guaranteed. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Decunda Duke-Bozeman, Room 6817 


emcdonald on DSK67QTVN1PROD with NOTICES
Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 97 / Tuesday, May 20, 2014 / Notices 28885 

South Building, Easement Program 

Division, U.S. Department of 

Agriculture, Natural Resources 

Conservation Service, 1400 

Independence Avenue SW., 

Washington, DC 20250; telephone: (202) 

260–9099. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Title: Long-Term Contracting. 

OMB Number: 0578–0013. 

Expiration Date of Approval: 3 years 

from date of approval. 

Type of Request: To revise a currently 

approved information collection to 

update and clarify information in the 

information collection. 

Abstract: The primary objective of 

NRCS is to work in partnership with the 

American people and the farming and 

ranching community to conserve and 

sustain our natural resources on 

privately owned land. The purpose of 

the Long-Term Contracting information 

collection is to allow for programs to 

provide Federal technical and financial 

cost-sharing assistance through longterm contracts to eligible producers, 

landowners, and entities. These 

contracts provide for making land use 

changes and installing conservation 

measures and practices to conserve, 

develop, and use the soil, water, and 

related natural resources on private 

lands. Under the terms of the agreement, 

the participant agrees to apply, or 

arrange to apply, the conservation 

treatment specified in the conservation 

plan. In return for this agreement, 

Federal financial assistance payments 

are made to the land user, or third party, 

upon successful application of the 

conservation treatment. Additionally, 

NRCS purchases easements for the longterm protection of the property and 

provides for the protection and 

management of the property for the life 

of the easement. 

The information collected through 

this package is used by NRCS to ensure 

the proper use of program funds. 

The programs in this information 

collection that continue to be subject to 

the requirements of the Paperwork 

Reduction Act are listed in Table A. 

This request will clarify the programs in 

this information collection. Table B 

shows only the burden for those 

programs that are subject to the 

requirements of the Paperwork 

Reduction Act. The two new forms 

added to this information collection are 

the Agreements for the Purchase of 

Conservation Easements NRCS–LTP–70 

for the Healthy Forests Reserve Program 

and the NRCS–LTP–80 for the 

Emergency Watershed Program 

Floodplain Easement. 

TABLE A—CONSERVATION PROGRAMS SUBJECT TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE PAPERWORK REDUCTION ACT

Program Description 

Emergency Conservation Program (ECP) (7 CFR part 

701).

USDA Farm Service Agency’s ECP provides emergency funding and technical assistance for farmers and ranchers to rehabilitate farmland damaged by natural disasters and for carrying out emergency water conservation measures in periods of 

severe drought. Funding for ECP is appropriated by Congress. 

Emergency Watershed Program (EWP) (7 CFR part 624) The EWP was initiated in 1950 and is administered by NRCS. It provides technical 

and financial assistance to local institutions for the removal of storm and flood debris from stream channels and for the restoration of stream channels and levees to 

reduce the threat to life and property. The program also provides for establishing 

permanent easements in floodplains with private landowners. 

Healthy Forests Reserve Program (HFRP) (7 CFR part 

625).

HFRP is a voluntary program established for the purpose of restoring and enhancing 

forest ecosystems to: 1) Promote the recovery of threatened and endangered species; 2) improve biodiversity; and 3) enhance carbon sequestration. The HFRP 

was signed into law as part of the Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2003 and 

amended by the 2008 Act. The Agricultural Act of 2014 made minor changes to 

HFRP land eligibility and funding. 

Resource Conservation and Development Program 

(RC&D).

The RC&D was initiated in 1962 and is administered by NRCS. Through this program, NRCS assists multi-county areas in enhancing conservation, water quality, 

wildlife habitat, recreation, and rural development. The program provides technical 

and limited financial assistance for the planning and installation of approved 

projects. 

Watershed Protection and Flood Prevention Program 

(WRFPP) (7 CFR part 622).

The WPFPP, otherwise known as P.L. 566, was initiated in 1954 and is administered 

by NRCS. It assists State and local units of government in flood prevention, watershed protection, and water management. Part of this effort involves the establishment of conservation practices on private lands to reduce erosion, sedimentation, 

and runoff. 

TABLE B—BURDEN FOR REQUIRED PROGRAMS UNDER THE PAPERWORK REDUCTION ACT

Form Purpose Program(s) * Number submitted annually 

AD–1153, NRCS–CPA–1200 .......... Application .................................... EWP, WPFPP, HFRP .................. 750; Estimated time per participant is .69 per response. 

AD–1154, NRCS–CPA–1202 .......... Contract or Agreement ................. EWP, HFRP ................................. 150; Estimated time per participant is .69 per response. 

AD–1155, NRCS–CPA–1155 .......... Schedule of Practices/Costs and 

signature sheet.

EWP, WPFPP, HFRP .................. 300; Estimated time per participant is .75 per response. 

AD–1156, NRCS–CPA–1156 .......... Schedule Modification .................. EWP, WPFPP, HFRP .................. 25; Estimated time per participant 

is .60 per response. 

AD–1157 ......................................... Option Agreement to Purchase ... EWP, HFRP ................................. 165; Estimated time per participant is .69 per response. 

AD–1157A ....................................... Option Agreement to Purchase 

Amendment.

EWP, HFRP ................................. 120; Estimated time per participant is .69 per response. 

AD–1158 ......................................... Subordination Agreement and 

Limited Lien Waiver.

EWP, HFRP ................................. 100; Estimated time per participant is .69 per response. 


emcdonald on DSK67QTVN1PROD with NOTICES
28886 Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 97 / Tuesday, May 20, 2014 / Notices 

TABLE B—BURDEN FOR REQUIRED PROGRAMS UNDER THE PAPERWORK REDUCTION ACT—Continued 

Form Purpose Program(s) * Number submitted annually 

AD–1159 ......................................... Notice of Intent to Continue ......... Not used by any non-exempt programs 

AD–1160 ......................................... Compatible Use Authorization ..... EWP, HFRP ................................. 200; Estimated time per participant is .66 per response. 

AD–1161 ......................................... Application for Payment ............... EWP, HFRP ................................. 200; Estimated time per participant is .58 per response. 

NRCS–CPA–68 ............................... Conservation Plan ........................ CTA, EWP, HFRP ........................ 2,700; Estimated time per participant is .69 per response. 

NRCS–LTP–13, NRCS–CPA–013 .. Status/Contract Review ................ EWP, WPFPP, HFRP .................. 250; Estimated time per participant is .69 per response. 

NRCS–LTP–20, NRCS–CPA–260 .. Warranty Easement Deed, Conservation Easement Deed.EWP, HFRP ................................. 150; Estimated time per participant is .69 per response. 

NRCS–LTP–70 ................................ Agreement for the Purchase of 

Conservation Easement.

HFRP ............................................ 50; Estimated time per participant 

is .69 per response. 

NRCS–LTP–80 ................................ Agreement for the Purchase of 

Conservation Easement.

EWP ............................................. 120; Estimated time per participant is .69 per response. 

NRCS–LTP–151 .............................. Contract Violation Notification ...... EWP, HFRP ................................. 20; Estimated time per participant 

is .69 per response. 

NRCS–LTP–152 .............................. Transfer Agreement ..................... EWP, HFRP ................................. 5; Estimated time per participant 

is 1.0 per response. 

NRCS–LTP–153 .............................. Agreement Covering Non-Compliance With Provisions of the 

Contract.

EWP, HFRP ................................. 10; Estimated time per participant 

is .69 per response. 

* The number submitted annually provides the number of forms completed by respondents and the approximate number of hours to complete 

each form. The response time is taken from the forms themselves as identified in the OMB Disclosure Statement where available. 

Estimate of Burden: Public reporting 

burden for this collection of information 

is as identified by Form in Table B and 

ranges from .58 hour to 1 hour per 

respondent. 

Respondents: Program Participants. 

Estimated Number of Respondents: 

5,315. 

Estimated Number of Responses per 

Respondent: 1. 

Estimated Total Annual Burden on 

Respondents: 3,656.65 hours. 

Comments are invited on: (1) Whether 

the proposed collection of information 

is necessary for the proper performance 

of the functions of the agency, including 

whether the information will have 

practical utility; (2) the accuracy of the 

agency’s estimate of the burden of the 

proposed collection of information 

including the validity of the 

methodology and assumptions used; (3) 

ways to enhance the quality, utility, and 

clarity of the information to be 

collected; and (4) ways to minimize the 

burden of the collection of information 

on those who are to respond, including 

the use of appropriate automated, 

electronic, mechanical, or other 

technological collection techniques or 

other forms of information technology. 

All responses to this notice will be 

summarized and included in the request 

for OMB approval. All comments will 

become a matter of public record. 

Signed this May 2, 2014, in Washington, 

DC. 

Jason A. Weller, 

Chief, Natural Resources Conservation 

Service and Vice President, Commodity Credit 

Corporation. 

[FR Doc. 2014–11680 Filed 5–19–14; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3410–16–P 

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 

Rural Business-Cooperative Service 

Notice of Funding Availability for the 

Intermediary Relending Program 

AGENCY: Rural Business-Cooperative 

Service, USDA. 

ACTION: Notice. 

SUMMARY: This Notice announces $18.9 

million in program funding available for 

Fiscal Year 2014 for the Intermediary 

Relending Program (IRP). The IRP 

provides direct loans to intermediaries 

that establish programs for the purpose 

of providing loans to ultimate recipients 

for business facilities and community 

developments in a rural area. The 

Agency will make awards each of the 

remaining Federal fiscal quarters. In the 

event all program funds are not 

obligated in a quarter, the remaining 

unobligated funds will be carried over 

to the subsequent quarter. 

This Notice is being issued in 

accordance with the new requirements 

set forth by the Agricultural Act of 2014 

(Farm Bill). The 2014 Farm Bill 

consolidates IRP’s authority under the 

Consolidated Farm and Rural 

Development Act (Con Act). 

Consequently, the Agency must comply 

with the standard ‘rural’ and ‘rural area’ 

definition in the Con Act under 7 U.S.C. 

1991(a)(13). 

DATES: For Fiscal Year 2014, 

applications for regular IRP funding 

must be received by June 30, 2014, for 

consideration for Fiscal Year 2014 

funds. Requests for set-aside funding 

must be received by June 19, 2014. 

Other than the Rural Economic Area 

Partnership (REAP) set-aside, unused 

set-aside funding described below will 

be pooled and revert to the national 

reserve on July 1, 2014. The REAP setaside will terminate after August 15, 

2014. Any unused REAP set-aside will 

revert to the national reserve thereafter. 

Applications received after June 30, 

2014, may be considered for funding in 

Fiscal Year 2014, subject to availability 

of funds or will be considered for award 

of funds available in the first quarter of 

Fiscal Year 2015, if the Agency 

determines that program requirements 

remain substantially unchanged. 

ADDRESSES: See the SUPPLEMENTARY

INFORMATION for addresses concerning 

IRP applications for Fiscal Year 2014 

funds. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For 

further information on this Notice, 

please contact the U.S. Department of 

Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development 

State Office for your respective State, as 

provided in the SUPPLEMENTARY

INFORMATION section of this Notice. 


emcdonald on DSK67QTVN1PROD with NOTICES