Search Results for keywords:"Natural Resources Conservation Service"

The final rule, published by the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and the Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) within the Department of Agriculture, solidifies the interim rule from February 13, 2020, which was brought about by the 2018 Farm Bill. This rule involves changes to the Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP), making the provisions of the interim rule permanent and addressing public comments received. It involves various amendments concerning partnerships, funding, land eligibility, and program expectations aimed at enhancing conservation efforts across agricultural and forest lands. The rule also aims to ensure effective participation and support for historically underserved producers and guarantees that conservation projects are efficiently implemented and monitored.

The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), in partnership with the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, plans to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the modernization of the Owyhee Irrigation District (OID) in Eastern Oregon. The project aims to improve the reliability and efficiency of water delivery to local farms by updating the outdated irrigation infrastructure, which has been in use for about 90 years. This modernization will involve activities like canal lining and installation of new control systems. Public input is being sought, with comments accepted until February 18, 2025, and further public meetings scheduled for early 2025.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced the availability of its comments on Environmental Impact Statements (EISs) issued by other federal agencies. These comments, required by Section 309(a) of the Clean Air Act, can be accessed online. The notice lists two EIS documents filed recently: one regarding a watershed plan in Georgia and another about a site-specific environmental impact for the renewal of the Oconee Nuclear Station in South Carolina. The review period for these documents ends on March 10, 2025.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), part of the Department of Agriculture (USDA), plans to request an extension for a currently approved information collection concerning Long-Term Contracting forms. This extension will support programs that provide financial and technical assistance for conservation practices on private lands through long-term contracts. The public is invited to submit comments on the necessity, accuracy, and methods of this information collection until February 10, 2025. These comments will be considered in the request for approval from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB).

The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), part of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, plans to prepare a Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS) for the Odessa Subarea Special Study Project in Washington State. This project aims to evaluate changes to a proposed irrigation system, which will involve installing a buried pipeline not previously considered and requiring blasting. The goal is to replace declining groundwater used for irrigation with surface water from the Columbia Basin Project to maintain the economic viability of local agriculture. NRCS seeks public comments on the proposed actions and potential alternatives by February 21, 2025.

The Department of Agriculture has submitted an information collection request to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review under the Paperwork Reduction Act. They are gathering public comments on whether this data collection is necessary, how accurate the burden estimates are, and how to improve the quality and ease of information collection. The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is specifically looking to collect data related to their long-term contracting programs, which support conservation efforts by providing financial and technical assistance to landowners. Comments should be submitted by March 31, 2025, and should be submitted via the website www.reginfo.gov.