[PCA] USDA Seeks Public Comments on Conservation Practice Standards (public comment period closes April 25)

[De Angelis, Patricia]

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has posted to the Federal Register
<https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2019/03/11/2019-04290/review-of-usda-natural-resources-conservation-service-national-conservation-practice-standards>
 *a request for comment on the Natural Resources Conservation Service
(NRCS) conservation practice standards*.

USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) announced today it is
seeking public input on its existing national conservation practice
standards as part of implementing the 2018 Farm Bill. NRCS offers 150-plus
conservation practices to America’s farmers, ranchers and forest landowners
to help them meet their business and natural resource needs on their
working lands. NRCS is requesting public comments on how to improve
conservation practice standards that support programs as found in the National
Handbook of Conservation Practices
<https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/main/national/technical/cp/ncps/>
.

The Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 (2018 Farm Bill) amended the Food
Security Act of 1985, to require an expedited review of conservation
practice standards
<https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/detailfull/national/technical/cp/ncps/?cid=nrcs143_026849>,
including engineering design specifications, that were in effect on
December 19, 2018. In keeping with the review requirement, NRCS will:

   - Evaluate opportunities to increase flexibility in the conservation
   practice standards in a manner that ensures equivalent natural resource
   benefits;
   - Provide the optimal balance between meeting site-specific conservation
   needs and minimizes risks of design failure and associated costs of
   construction and installation; and
   - Ensure, to the maximum extent practicable, the completeness and
   relevance of the standards to local agricultural, forestry, and natural
   resource needs, including specialty crops, native and managed pollinators,
   bioenergy crop production, forestry, and such other needs as are determined
   by NRCS.

The comment period will last *45 days* from the Federal Register
publication date, ending on April 25, 2019.

More information: USDA Seeks Public Comments on Conservation Practice
Standards
<https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/detail/national/newsroom/releases/?cid=NRCSEPRD1447828>
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