Department of Agriculture May 2023 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Greater Rocky Mountain Resource Advisory Committee (RAC) will hold a public meeting according to the details shown below. 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 (FACA). 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 as well as to make recommendations on recreation fee proposals for sites on the Arapaho Roosevelt, Bighorn, Grand Mesa-Uncompahgre-Gunnison, Medicine Bow-Routt, Pike-San Isabel, Rio Grande, San Juan, Shoshone, and White River National Forests within Archuleta, Dolores, Saguache, Conejos, Hinsdale, La Plata, Mineral, Bighorn, Chaffee, Delta, Garfield, Gunnison, Huerfano, Jackson, Larimer, Mesa, Montrose, Park, Routt, Albany, Fremont, Rio Grande, Montezuma, and Carbon Counties consistent with the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act.

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. The purpose of this new collection is to collect qualitative and quantitative stakeholder feedback through meetings, focus groups, interviews, other stakeholder interactions and surveys, as well as requests for administrative data, as part of the planning process for FNS regulatory actions, the semi- annual Regulatory Agenda, research studies, outreach, training and the development of guidance.

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 is a new collection focusing on Operational Challenges in Child Nutrition Programs and will utilize survey instruments for school years (SY) 2023-2024, SY 2024-2025, and SY 2025-2026. The studies encompassed under this information collection will collect data from institutions administering and operating Child Nutrition Programs such as State agencies, School Food Authorities (SFAs) and Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) and Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) Sponsors, including information on emerging and ongoing operational challenges facing Child Nutrition Program operators.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture is amending its administrative regulations by removing the procedural regulations for the review and issuance of agency guidance documents. Those regulations were issued in accordance with Executive Order (E.O.) 13891, which was revoked January 20, 2021, by E.O. 13992. This final rule implements the direction in section 3 of E.O. 13992 to rescind any regulations that were issued to implement or enforce E.O. 13891.

The Rural Housing Service (RHS), a Rural Development agency of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), is correcting a notice of funding availability (NOFA) that was published in the Federal Register on April 21, 2023, entitled, ``Community Facilities Technical Assistance and Training Grant Program for Fiscal Year 2023.'' The Notice announced the acceptance of applications under the Community Facilities Technical Assistance and Training (TAT) Grant Program for fiscal year (FY) 2023. The document contained an incorrect date. The purpose of this notice is to correct the application deadline dates published in the Federal Register on April 21, 2023.

This final rule sets forth a process by which applicants for official grain inspection services (applicants) may request a service exception, allowing an official agency (OA) to cross boundary lines and perform services outside of its assigned geographic area. While four exception types are authorized in the United States Grain Standards Act (USGSA or Act), this final rule focuses on two: the inability to provide services in a timely manner and the nonuse of service from the OA assigned to the applicant's geographic area (assigned OA). This final rule establishes a three-tiered system under which applicants can request a one-time, 90-day, or long-term timely service exception due to untimely service issues. This rule provides that nonuse of service exception requests must be preceded by ninety days without service from the assigned OA. This final rule further amends the regulations to provide criteria the Federal Grain Inspection Service (``FGIS'' or ``the Service'') will use to review, validate, and determine whether to grant service exception requests. This final rule also establishes a process that allows an assigned OA to challenge requests for service exceptions. Finally, this rule provides for FGIS review to ensure the validity of requests.

The Risk Management Agency (RMA), on behalf of the Federal Crop Insurance Corporation (FCIC), announces the availability of funding under the Additional Payment (ADD PAY) Program. The ADD PAY Program is a one-time additional payment to Approved Insurance Providers (AIP) administering eligible crop insurance contracts for 2021 reinsurance year specialty crops. The total funding available for the ADD PAY Program is $25 million. Funding for the ADD PAY Program will be distributed to AIPs proportionally based on their respective liabilities for eligible crop insurance contracts for 2021 reinsurance year specialty crops.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act requirement, the Farm Service Agency (FSA) is requesting comments from all interested individuals and organizations on an extension and a revision of a currently approved information collection associated with the form of the Power of Attorney. This information collection is used to support the FSA, Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC), Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), Federal Crop Insurance Corporation (FCIC) and Risk Management Agency (RMA) in conducting business and accepting signatures on certain documents from individuals acting on behalf of other individuals or entities.

This notice of funding opportunity (notice) announces that the Rural Business-Cooperative Service (Agency) is accepting fiscal year (FY) 2023 applications for the Delta Health Care Services (DHCS) grant program. The purpose of this program is to provide financial assistance to address the continued unmet health needs in the Delta Region through cooperation among health care professionals, institutions of higher education, research institutions, and economic development entities in the Delta Region. There is $3 million currently available for FY 2023. All funds must support projects located in persistent poverty counties in the Delta Region and as described in the Overview section of this notice. All applicants are responsible for any expenses incurred in developing their applications.

The National Advisory Committee on Microbiological Criteria for Foods (NACMCF) will hold a public meeting of the full Committee and Subcommittees from May 16, 2023 to May 18, 2023. The Committee will provide updates on the charges related to Cyclospora cayetanensis in produce and Cronobacter spp. in Powdered Infant Formula.

We are advising the public that we have prepared a pest risk analysis that evaluates the risks associated with importation of fresh ginseng roots (Panax ginseng C.A. Mey.) from the Republic of Korea into the United States. Based on the analysis, we have determined that the application of one or more designated phytosanitary measures will be sufficient to mitigate the risks of introducing or disseminating plant pests or noxious weeds via the importation of fresh ginseng roots (Panax ginseng C.A. Mey.) from the Republic of Korea. We are making the pest risk analysis available to the public for review and comment.