[Federal Register: December 6, 2007 (Volume 72, Number 234)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 68743-68744]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr06de07-1]
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Rules and Regulations
Federal Register
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[[Page 68743]]
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Natural Resources Conservation Service
7 CFR Part 613
Plant Materials Centers
AGENCY: Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), USDA.
ACTION: Final rule.
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SUMMARY: Minor editorial changes are being made to clarify and update
the existing regulation on plant materials centers. Although the
changes are minor, the entire part is published in this final rule for
the convenience of the reader.
DATES: Effective December 6, 2007.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Questions and comments should be
directed at Diane E. Gelburd, Director, Ecological Sciences Division.
Ms. Gelburd may be contacted at USDA, Natural Resources Conservation
Service, Post Office Box 2890, Room 6160--South, Washington, DC 20013;
telephone: (202) 720-2587; e-mail: Diane.Gelburd@wdc.usda.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Since Part 613 became effective (49 FR
12188, March 29, 1989), several changes have occurred--requiring the
need to update it. These changes include an expanded mission for the
Plant Materials Program, such as working with threatened and endangered
and pollinator species; selecting plants that will mitigate odor, PM-
10, and PM-2.5; testing plants for biofuels and other energy-related
activities; and evaluating plants and technologies to combat invasive
plant species. Three additional plant materials centers have been
added. These plant materials centers are located in Booneville,
Arkansas; Alderson, West Virginia; and Fallon, Nevada. These changes
are minor and do not significantly affect Part 613.
This rule sets forth general statements of Agency policy and
internal Agency organization and management. Therefore, pursuant to 5
U.S.C. 553, it is found that notice and public comment is not required.
Further, in light of the minor changes, good cause is found for making
this rule effective on publication in the Federal Register. Since this
rule relates to internal Agency management, it is exempt from Executive
Order 12291. Finally, this action is not a rule as defined by Public
Law 96-354, the Regulatory Flexibility Act, and thus is exempt from the
provisions of that Act.
List of Subjects in 7 CFR Part 613
Plants (agriculture), Soil conservation.
0
Accordingly, 7 CFR part 613 is revised to read as follows:
PART 613--PLANT MATERIALS CENTERS
Sec.
613.1 Purpose.
613.2 Policy and objectives.
613.3 NRCS responsibilities in plant materials.
613.4 Special production of plant materials.
613.5 Plant materials centers.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 590a-f 590f, 5908; 7 U.S.C. 1010-1011.
Sec. 613.1 Purpose.
This part provides NRCS policy on the operation of plant materials
centers. The centers have responsibilities for assembling, testing,
releasing, and providing for the commercial production and use of plant
materials and plant materials technology for programs of soil, water,
and related resource conservation and development.
Sec. 613.2 Policy and objectives.
(a) It is NRCS policy to assemble, comparatively evaluate, release,
and distribute for commercial increase new or improved plant materials
and plant materials technology needed for broad programs of resource
conservation and development for agriculture, wildlife, urban,
recreation, and other land uses and environmental needs. Also, it is
NRCS policy to conduct plant materials work in cooperation with other
agencies of the Department of Agriculture, such as the Agricultural
Research Service, and with other Federal and State research agencies
including State agricultural experiment stations. The emphasis of the
NRCS plant materials work is to find suitable plants to address
conservation needs. In contrast, the emphasis of research agencies and
organizations in plant development is to improve economically important
crops. The NRCS program of testing and releasing new seed-propagated
plant materials follows the guidelines in ``Statement of
Responsibilities and Policies Relating to the Development, Release, and
Multiplication of Publicly Developed Varieties of Seed-Propagated
Crops,'' which was adopted in June 1972 by land grant colleges and
interested Federal agencies. NRCS releases improved conservation plant
materials requiring vegetative multiplication in ways appropriate for
particular States and particular species by working with experiment
stations, crop improvement associations, and other State and Federal
agencies.
(b) The objective of the plant materials activity is to select or
develop special and improved plants, and techniques for their
successful establishment and maintenance to solve conservation problems
and needs related to:
(1) Controlling soil erosion on all lands;
(2) Conserving water;
(3) Protecting upstream watersheds;
(4) Reducing sediment movement into waterways and reservoirs
through the stabilization of critical sediment sources such as surface
mined lands, highway slopes, recreation sites, and urban and industrial
development areas;
(5) Stabilizing disposal areas for liquid and solid wastes;
(6) Improving plant diversity and lengthening the grazing season on
dryland pastures and rangelands;
(7) Managing brush on mountain slopes with fire-retarding plant
cover to reduce the possibility of fires that threaten life and
property or result in serious sediment sources;
(8) Improving the effectiveness of windbreaks and shelterbelts for
reducing airborne sediment, controlling snow drifting, and preventing
crop damage from wind erosion;
(9) Protecting streambank, pond, and lake waterlines from erosion
by scouring and wave action;
(10) Improving wildlife food and cover, including threatened and
endangered and pollinator species;
(11) Selecting special purpose plants to meet specific needs for
environment protection and enhancement;
[[Page 68744]]
(12) Selecting plants that tolerate air pollution agents and toxic
soil chemicals;
(13) Selecting plants that mitigate odor, PM-10, and PM-2.5;
(14) Testing plants for biofuels and other energy-related
activities; and
(15) Evaluating plants and techniques to combat invasive plant
species and for reestablishment of desirable species after eradication.
Sec. 613.3 NRCS responsibilities in plant materials.
NRCS operates or enters into agreements with State universities or
other State organizations to operate plant materials centers. Also,
NRCS cooperates, both formally and informally, with other Federal,
State, county, and nonprofit agencies or organizations on the selection
of plants and evaluation of plant technology to increase the
capabilities of plant materials centers. NRCS employs specialists for
testing and selecting plant materials for conservation uses and the
development of plant materials technology. NRCS responsibilities are
to:
(a) Identify the resource conservation needs and cultural
management methods for environmental protection and enhancement.
(b) Assemble and comparatively evaluate plant materials at plant
materials centers and on sites where soil, climate, or other conditions
differ significantly from those at the centers.
(c) Make comparative field plantings for final testing of promising
plants and techniques in cooperation with conservation districts and
other interested cooperators.
(d) Release cooperatively improved conservation plants and maintain
the breeder or foundation stocks in ways appropriate for particular
State and plant species by working with experiment stations, crop
improvement associations, and other State and Federal agencies.
(e) Produce limited amounts of foundation or foundation-quality
seed and plants available by grant to or by exchange with conservation
districts, experiment stations, other Federal and State research
agencies, and State seed certifying organizations that will use the
material to establish seed fields, seed orchards, or plantings for
vegetative increase.
(f) Encourage and assist conservation districts, commercial seed
producers, and commercial and State nurseries to produce needed plant
materials for conservation uses.
(g) Encourage the use of improved plant materials and plant
materials technology in resource conservation and environmental
improvement programs.
Sec. 613.4 Special production of plant materials.
NRCS can produce plant materials in the quantity required to do a
specific conservation job if this production will serve the public
welfare and only if the plant materials are not available commercially.
This function will be performed only until the plant materials are
available commercially. Specific production of plant materials by NRCS
requires the approval of the Chief.
Sec. 613.5 Plant materials centers.
(a) The National Plant Materials Center. The National Plant
Materials Center at Beltsville, Maryland focuses on national
initiatives and provides coordination for plant materials work across
all 50 States. In addition, the center provides plants and plant
technology to address resource concerns in the mid-Atlantic region.
(b) Other Plant Materials Centers. There are 26 other plant
materials centers; each serves several major land resource areas.
Twenty-four of these centers are operated by NRCS and two by
cooperating agencies as follows:
(1) Operated by NRCS: Tucson, Arizona; Booneville, Arkansas;
Lockeford, California; Brooksville, Florida; Americus, Georgia;
Molokai, Hawaii; Aberdeen, Idaho; Manhattan, Kansas; Golden Meadows,
Louisiana; East Lansing, Michigan; Coffeeville, Mississippi; Elsberry,
Missouri; Bridger, Montana; Fallon, Nevada; Cape May Courthouse, New
Jersey; Los Lunas, New Mexico; Big Flats, New York; Bismarck, North
Dakota; Corvallis, Oregon; Kingsville, Texas; Knox City, Texas;
Nacogdoches, Texas; Pullman, Washington; and Alderson, West Virginia.
(2) Operated by cooperating agencies with financial and technical
assistance from NRCS: Meeker, Colorado--White River and Douglas Creek
Soil Conservation Districts with partial funding from NRCS.
(3) Operated by cooperating agencies with technical assistance from
NRCS: Palmer, Alaska--State of Alaska, Department of Natural Resources.
Signed in Washington, DC, on November 20, 2007.
Arlen L. Lancaster,
Chief.
[FR Doc. E7-23525 Filed 12-5-07; 8:45 am]
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