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

The Rural Business-Cooperative Service (RBCS or Agency), an agency of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), published a Notice of Solicitation of Applications in the Federal Register (FR) on September 14, 2023, entitled Notice of Solicitation of Applications for Inviting Applications for the Rural Economic Development Loan and Grant Programs for Fiscal Year 2024, to announce that it was accepting applications for Fiscal Year (FY) 24 and the availability of an estimated $90,000,000 in available funding. In addition, the Notice described requirements that are determined at the time a funding announcement is published as outlined in the program regulation. This notice will amend Section E.2.(c) of the notice to add a third option to request Priority Points under the Addressing Climate Change and Environmental Justice category. RD will work with any applicants that have previously submitted an application for FY 2024 funding to ensure they have the opportunity to utilize this option.

The United States Department of Agriculture, Forest Service (Forest Service or Agency), is proposing to amend its special use regulations, which prohibit authorizing exclusive and perpetual use and occupancy of National Forest System lands, to provide an exemption for carbon capture and storage. The Forest Service is also proposing to add a definition for ``Carbon capture and storage.''

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice announces the Agricultural Marketing Service's intent to request approval for a new information collection from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) under OMB control No. 0581-NEW. This notice is based on a recommendation from the California Walnut Board (Board) to establish voluntary reporting for walnuts exempt from assessments under Federal marketing order no. 984, walnuts grown in California. This action would create a new form supplied by the Board to California walnut handlers to voluntarily report deliveries of walnuts exempt from assessments. The new form will be merged with the forms currently approved under OMB No. 0581-0178 Vegetable and Specialty Crops.

The Community Facilities Loan and Grant program (Community Facilities) of the Rural Housing Service (RHS or the Agency), a Rural Development agency of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), is consolidating the existing regulations that govern Community Facility direct loans and grants, fire and rescue and other small community facilities projects; as well as codifying the Tribal College Initiative, and Economic Impact Initiative grant programs that will incorporate all the necessary loan and grant making information into one streamlined final rule. The result will be an up-to-date comprehensive regulation that will be used to administer the programs. Community Facilities is hosting a virtual listening session to obtain stakeholder input on key proposed areas for changes and/or updates to the proposed consolidated Community Facilities Direct Loan and Grant regulation. This session is open to the public.