Department of Agriculture 2016 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 and Office of Management and Budget (OMB) regulations, the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is announcing its intention to renew the approved information collection regarding the accredited laboratory contact update form. The approval for this information collection will expire on December 31, 2016.

The Siskiyou County Resource Advisory Committee (RAC) will meet in Yreka, California. The committee is authorized under the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act (the Act) and operates in compliance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act. The purpose of the committee is to improve collaborative relationships and to provide advice and recommendations to the Forest Service concerning projects and funding consistent with Title II of the Act. RAC information can be found at the following Web site: https://cloudapps- usda-gov.force.com/FSSRS/RAC_Meeting_Page?id=a2zt00000004CyPA AU.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act, this notice announces the Foreign Agricultural Service's intention to request an extension for a currently approved information collection in support of the regulation providing for the issuance of certificates of quota eligibility (CQEs) required to enter sugar and sugar-containing products under the tariff-rate quotas (TRQs) into the United States.

The Rural Housing Service (RHS) is amending regulations on Community Facility Direct Loans to enable the Agency to make loans to eligible lenders who would then in turn re-loan those funds to applicants for projects that are eligible under the Community Facilities Direct Loan program.

In accordance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act, 5 U.S.C. App., the United States Department of Agriculture announces the solicitation for nominations to fill vacancies on the National Agricultural Research, Extension, Education, and Economics Advisory Board and its subcommittees. There are 7 vacancies on the NAREE Advisory Board, 3 vacancies on the Specialty Crop Committee, 4 vacancies on the National Genetics Advisory Council, and 6 vacancies on the Citrus Disease Committee.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice announces the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service's intention to request a revision to and extension of approval of an information collection associated with the regulations for the importation of fruit from Thailand.

This document establishes rules to govern the award of funds by the Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) to recipients under the USDA Local and Regional Food Aid Procurement Program (USDA LRP Program). Section 3206 of the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008, as amended by the Agricultural Act of 2014, provides that the Secretary of Agriculture will provide grants to, or enter into cooperative agreements with, eligible organizations to implement field-based projects that consist of local or regional procurements of eligible commodities in developing countries to provide development assistance and respond to food crises and disasters. The intended effects of the USDA LRP Program are to support development activities aimed at strengthening the trade capacity of food-insecure developing countries and to address the cause of chronic food insecurity. The regulation also addresses how emergency programming will be addressed.

This notice informs the public of the sanitary and phytosanitary standard-setting activities of the Codex Alimentarius Commission (Codex), in accordance with section 491 of the Trade Agreements Act of 1979, as amended, and the Uruguay Round Agreements Act. This notice also provides a list of other standard-setting activities of Codex, including commodity standards, guidelines, codes of practice, and revised texts. This notice, which covers Codex activities during the time periods from June 1, 2015, to May 31, 2016, and June 1, 2016, to May 31, 2017, seeks comments on standards under consideration and recommendations for new standards.

We are proposing to amend the phytosanitary treatment regulations to establish generic criteria that would allow for the approval of new cold treatment facilities in the Southern and Western States of the United States. These criteria, if met, would allow us to approve new cold treatment facilities without rulemaking and facilitate the importation of fruit requiring cold treatment while continuing to provide protection against the introduction of pests of concern into the United States. We are also proposing to amend the fruit cutting and inspection requirements in the cold treatment regulations in order to expand cutting and inspection to commodities that have been treated for a wider variety of pests of concern. This action would provide for a greater degree of phytosanitary protection. We are also proposing to add requirements concerning the establishment of compliance agreements for all entities that operate fumigation facilities. Finally, we are proposing to harmonize language concerning State compliance with facility establishment and parameters for the movement of consignments from the port of entry or points of origin in the United States to the treatment facility in the irradiation treatment regulations with proposed language in the cold treatment regulations. These actions would serve to codify and make enforceable existing procedures concerning compliance agreements for these facilities.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture intends to renew the National Advisory Committee on Meat and Poultry Inspection (NACMPI). The purpose of the Committee is to provide advice to the Secretary of Agriculture concerning State and Federal programs with respect to meat, poultry and processed egg products inspection, food safety, and other matters that fall within the scope of the Federal Meat Inspection Act (FMIA), the Poultry Products Inspection Act (PPIA), and the Egg Products Inspection Act (EPIA). For Further Information about the NACMPI Contact: Ms. Natasha Williams, Program Specialist, Designated Federal Officer, Outreach and Partnership Division, Office of Outreach, Employee Education and Training, Food Safety and Inspection Service, Patriot Plaza III Building, 355 E Street SW., Washington, DC 20024; Telephone: (202) 690- 6531; Fax: (202) 690-6519; Email: Natasha.Williams@fsis.usda.gov

The Deschutes Provincial Advisory Committee (PAC) will meet in Bend, Oregon. The committee is authorized pursuant to the implementation of E-19 of the Record of Decision and operates in compliance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act. The purpose of the committee is to provide advice and make recommendations to promote a better integration of forest management activities between Federal and non-Federal entities to ensure that such activities are complementary. PAC information can be found at the following Web site: https:// www.fs.usda.gov/detail/deschutes/workingtogether/advisorycomm ittees.

The Federal Crop Insurance Corporation (FCIC) finalizes the General Administrative RegulationsIneligibility for Programs under the Federal Crop Insurance Act, the Catastrophic Risk Protection Endorsement, the Area Risk Protection Insurance Regulations, and the Common Crop Insurance Regulations, Basic Provisions to revise those provisions affected by changes mandated by the Agricultural Act of 2014 (commonly referred to as the 2014 Farm Bill), enacted on February 7, 2014.

The Shoshone National Forest (SNF) is extending the public scoping period for the SNF Travel Management environmental impact statement (EIS). The SNF previously published a notice of intent to prepare an EIS as well as notice of public scoping in the Federal Register on May 27, 2016 [81 FR 33655]. The previous notice provided for public scoping through June 27, 2016.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Forest Service is seeking comments from all interested individuals and organizations on the extension of a currently approved information collection; Annual Wildfire Summary Report.

The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is amending the meat and poultry inspection regulations to provide for an electronic export application and certification system. The electronic export application and certification system will be a component of the Agency's Public Health Information System (PHIS). The PHIS Export Component will be available as an alternative to the paper-based export application and certification process. FSIS will charge an application fee to exporters that use the PHIS Export Component. FSIS is establishing a formula for calculating the fee. On an annual basis, the Agency will use the formula to update the fee and publish the new fee in the Federal Register. The updated fee will apply at the start of each calendar year. FSIS is also amending the meat and poultry export regulations to provide flexibility in the requirements for official export inspection marks, devices, and certificates. In addition, FSIS is amending the egg product export regulations to parallel the meat and poultry product export regulations.

The Department of Agriculture (USDA), Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration (GIPSA) is suspending the assessment of fees for supervision of official inspection and weighing services performed by delegated States and/or designated agencies under the United States Grain Standards Act (USGSA).

The U. S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), intends to re- establish the Black Hills National Forest Advisory Board (Board). In accordance with the provisions of the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA), the Board is being re-established to continue obtaining advice and recommendations on a broad range of forest issues such as forest plan revisions or amendments, forest health including fire management and mountain pine beetle infestations, travel management, forest monitoring and evaluation, recreation fees, and site-specific projects having forest wide implications.

The Apache-Sitgreaves, Coconino, and Tonto National Forests are proposing to conduct restoration activities within 1.24 million acres of ponderosa pine ecosystem over approximately 10 years. Treatment areas are located on the Black Mesa, and Lakeside Ranger Districts of the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest, the Mogollon and Red Rock Ranger Districts of the Coconino National Forest, and the Payson and Pleasant Valley Ranger Districts of the Tonto National Forest. Project treatments would occur in the vicinity of Happy Jack, Payson, Young, Heber-Overgaard, Show Low, and Pinetop-Lakeside, Arizona. The objective of this project is to re-establish forest structure, pattern, and composition, which will lead to increased forest resilience and function. Resiliency increases the ability of ponderosa pine forests to survive natural disturbances such as insects and disease, fire, and climate change.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice announces the intention of the above-named Agencies to request an extension for a currently approved information collection in support of debt settlement of Community Facilities and Direct Business Program Loans and Grants.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice invites the general public and other public agencies to comment on this proposed information collection. This collection is a new collection for SNAP, SLEB Fraud Investigations.

This rule implements a recommendation from the California Desert Grape Administrative Committee (Committee) for an increase of the assessment rate established for the 2016 and subsequent fiscal periods from $0.0250 to $0.0300 per 18-pound lug of grapes handled under the marketing order (order). The Committee locally administers the order, and is comprised of producers and handlers of grapes grown and handled in a designated area of southeastern California. Assessments upon grape handlers are used by the Committee to fund reasonable and necessary expenses of the program. The fiscal period began on January 1 and ends December 31. The assessment rate will remain in effect indefinitely unless modified, suspended, or terminated.

The Federal Crop Insurance Corporation (FCIC) amends the Common Crop Insurance Regulations, Basic Provisions. The intended effect of this action is to provide policy changes and to clarify existing policy provisions to better meet the needs of policyholders. Issues have arisen regarding: The qualifications for double cropping; and when it is practical to replant. This rule addresses those issues.

We are amending our regulations regarding the importation or exportation of animals and animal products and plants and plant products to address instances where the current regulations require the use of a hard-copy form or specify that a particular document must be submitted in writing. This final rule amends the regulations to provide the flexibility needed for persons to take advantage of electronic systems when a regulation has a limiting requirement. The amendments we are making in this final rule are not to mandate the use of electronic systems or preclude the use of paper documents; rather, they address those instances where our regulations specify a submission method to the exclusion of other methods.

The Wallowa-Whitman National Forest is proposing to implement a Special Recreation Permit Fee on the Wild and Scenic Snake River which flows between Oregon and Idaho. Implementing a Special Recreation Permit Fee would allow the Forest Service to manage the specialized recreation use associated with float and power boating on the Wild and Scenic Snake River, and result in improved services and experiences. Fees are assessed based on the level of amenities and services provided, cost of operation and maintenance of river-related facilities, market assessment, and public comments received. Boaters using the Wild and Scenic Snake River would be subject to a Special Recreation Permit Fee (boater-use permit fee) of $5.00 to $10.00 per person that would be collected from all private and commercial boaters and their occupants. The implementation of the fee on the Wild and Scenic Snake River is comparable to other federal day- use fees within the current Four Rivers reservation system for the Selway, Middle Fork Salmon, Main Salmon and other sections of the Snake Rivers. The area subject to the fee is the Snake River beginning at Hells Canyon Dam to Cache Creek Ranch (approximately 70 miles). The exceptions to this boater-use permit fee are: Travel by private, noncommercial boat to any land in which the person has property rights. Any person who has right of access for hunting or fishing privileges under specific provisions of treaty or law. Individual outfitter/guides and their associated employees, while acting in an official capacity under the terms of their permit. At this time there is no boater-use permit fee on the Wild and Scenic Snake River for float or power boats. Boater-use for private float and power boats is currently managed though a national reservation system, which limits the amount of boats during the primary use season to meet management plan direction. A $6.00 transaction cost is associated with this reservation permit and is completely retained by the reservation contractor. In the future the reservation permit fee will be continued in conjunction with the application of this proposed boater-use permit fee for private boaters. At this time the listed boater-use permit fee is only a proposal and further analysis and public comment will occur before a decision is made. Funds from the proposed fee would be used for administrative and operational needs in the recreation area to enhance user experience and safety, sustain natural and cultural resources, and facility maintenance and improvements.