Department of Agriculture – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents
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Codex Alimentarius Commission: Meeting of the Codex Committee on Fats and Oils
The U.S. Codex Office is sponsoring a public meeting on January 23, 2024. The objective of the public meeting is to provide information and receive public comments on agenda items and draft U.S. positions to be discussed at the 28th Session of the Codex Committee on Fats and Oils (CCFO28) of the Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC). CCFO28 will be held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, from February 19-23, 2024. The U.S. Manager for Codex Alimentarius and the Under Secretary for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs recognize the importance of providing interested parties the opportunity to obtain background information on the 28th Session of the CCFO and to address items on the agenda.
Notice of Request for an Extension and Revision of a Currently Approved Information Collection
In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice announces the Agricultural Marketing Service's (AMS) intention to request approval from the Office of Management and Budget for an extension of and revision to the currently approved information collection Cotton Classification and Market News Service.
Information Collection Request; County Committee Elections
In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Farm Service Agency (FSA) is requesting comments from all interested individuals and entities on an extension of a currently approved information collection associated with FSA county committee elections. The collection of information from FSA farmers and ranchers is used to receive nominations from eligible voters for the FSA county committee.
Land Management Plan Direction for Old-Growth Forest Conditions Across the National Forest System
The United States Department of Agriculture (Department) is proposing to amend all land management plans for units of the National Forest System (128 plans in total) to include consistent direction to conserve and steward existing and recruit future old-growth forest conditions and to monitor their condition across planning areas of the National Forest System. The intent is to foster the long-term resilience of old-growth forest conditions and their contributions to ecological integrity across the National Forest System. This notice initiates a scoping period on a preliminary proposed action and advises the public that the Department is preparing an environmental impact statement to evaluate the effects of amending the 128 land management plans.
Northwest Forest Plan Area Advisory Committee; Notice of Meeting
The Northwest Forest Plan Advisory Committee will hold a public meeting according to the details shown below. The Committee is authorized under the National Forest Management Act (the Act) and operates in compliance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA). The purpose of the Committee is to provide advice and pragmatic recommendations regarding potential regional scale land management planning approaches and solutions within the Northwest Forest Plan Area within the context of the 2012 planning rule.
Agency Information Collection Activities: 2024-2025 National School Foods Study
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 that combines the School Nutrition and Meal Cost Study-II (SNMCS-II), School Food Purchase Study-IV (SFPS-IV), and a second Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program Evaluation (FFVP-II) into one coordinated effort named the 2024-2025 National School Foods Study. The purpose of this combined effort is to reduce overall burden for respondents across the three studies and provide a comprehensive picture of the school- based child nutrition (CN) programs in the 2024-2025 school year.
Provisions To Improve the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program's Quality Control System
The U.S. Department of Agriculture proposed to make changes to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program's Quality Control (SNAP QC) system to strengthen and improve the integrity and accuracy of the system and to better align SNAP QC with requirements in the Payment Integrity Information Act of 2019 (PIIA). When published, the proposed rule included an incorrect email address for comments; the reopening of the comment period is intended to allow additional time for the public to submit comments in the event the original comment submission was returned as undeliverable due to the incorrect email address.
Notice of Funding Opportunity for the Community Connect Grant Program for Fiscal Year 2023
The Rural Utilities Service (RUS or the Agency), a Rural Development (RD) agency of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), published a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) in the Federal Register on March 20, 2023, to announce the acceptance of applications under the Community Connect Grant (CCG) program for Fiscal Year 2023. The NOFO also announced the availability of approximately $79 million for FY 2023 that would be made available to eligible applicants to construct broadband networks that provide service on a community-oriented connectivity basis in rural areas. This correction notice is amending the definition of an Eligible Service Area and announcing an extension of the application window until February 20, 2024. Existing and new applicants should refer to the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section of this notice for additional guidelines on being considered for funding under this opportunity and the public notice requirement that applies.
Request for Information on Agricultural Foreign Investment Disclosure Act (AFIDA) FSA-153 Form Modernization and Information Collection Request
The Farm Service Agency (FSA) is requesting information on proposed revisions to the Agricultural Foreign Investment Disclosure Act Report (FSA-153 form). The FSA-153 requires updating. Specifically, the FSA-153 form needs clarification and updating to ensure that foreign owners (or long-term lessees) who are required to file the FSA- 153 form have clear instructions and that USDA is collecting the most precise and meaningful data, so that the report to Congress is as accurate and insightful as possible. Foreign owners are investors who buy, sell, or hold a direct or indirect interest in U.S. agricultural land (or who hold long-term leases on agricultural land) and must report their holdings and transactions to USDA on the FSA-153 form. USDA uses the information on the submitted forms to generate the report that it submits to Congress. FSA is moving towards modernizing the collection of information process, clarifying and modernizing the FSA- 153 form, and if funding becomes available, creating an electronic submission system that will allow foreign owners to report by filing electronically. In addition, this document requests public input for our plan to revise not only the information request, but ultimately, the regulation (which will likely result in further modifications at a later date to the FSA-153 form).
Intent To Establish Secure Rural Schools Resource Advisory Committee and Solicitation of Nominations for Membership for Secure Rural Schools Resource Advisory Committee
In accordance with the Secure Rural Schools (SRS) and Community Self-Determination Act of 2000 as amended, codified in Agricultural Improvement Act of 2018, and the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA), as amended, the United States Department of Agriculture announces its intent to renew the charter for 80 Secure Rural Schools Resource Advisory Committees (RACs) and establish six new RACs through merger/consolidation. The Secure Rural Schools Advisory Committees will advise the Secretary of Agriculture on proposed recommendations and other such matters as the Secretary determines. The Secure Rural Schools Resource Advisory Committees will be governed by the provisions of FACA. Duration of Secure Rural Schools Resource Advisory Committees are for two years unless renewed by the Secretary, USDA. This notice also solicits nominations for membership on the Secure Rural Schools Resource Advisory Committees.
Region 5 and Region 6; California, Oregon, and Washington; Forest Plan Amendment for Planning and Management of Northwest Forests Within the Range of the Northern Spotted Owl
The Pacific Northwest and Pacific Southwest Regions of the Forest Service, USDA, are proposing to amend the 1994 Northwest Forest Plan (NWFP). The amendment would apply to those Forest Service units, or parts thereof, with land management plans amended in 1994 by the NWFP or with land management plans developed later to include provisions of the NWFP. Units in the Pacific Northwest Region (Region 6) include: Deschutes National Forest, Fremont-Winema National Forest, Gifford Pinchot National Forest, Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest, Mt. Hood National Forest, Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest, Olympic National Forest, Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest, Siuslaw National Forest, Umpqua National Forest, and Willamette National Forest. Units in the Pacific Southwest Region (Region 5) include: Klamath National Forest and Butte Valley National Grassland, Lassen National Forest, Mendocino National Forest, Modoc National Forest, Six Rivers National Forest, and Shasta-Trinity National Forest. This notice initiates a scoping period on a preliminary proposed action and advises the public that the Forest Service is preparing an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to evaluate the effects of amending the Northwest Forest Plan.
Intent To Reestablish the Black Hills National Forest Advisory Board and Solicitation of Nominations for Membership for the Black Hills National Forest Advisory Board AGENCY: Forest Service, Agriculture (USDA).
In accordance with the Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources Planning Act of 1974 (RPA), the National Forest Management Act of 1976 (NFMA), the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act (REA), and the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA), the United States Department of Agriculture announces its intent through its Secretary to reestablish the Black Hills National Forest Advisory Board. The Black Hills National Forest Advisory Board will advise the Secretary of Agriculture on programmatic forest issues and project level issues that have forest-wide implications. The Black Hills National Forest Advisory Board will be governed by the provisions of FACA. Duration of the Black Hills National Forest Advisory Board is for two years unless renewed by the Secretary, USDA. This notice also solicits nominations for membership on the Black Hills National Forest Advisory Board.
Proposed New Recreation Fee Sites
The Ouachita National Forest is proposing to establish several new recreation fee sites. Recreation fee revenues collected at the new recreation fee sites would be used for operation, maintenance, and improvement of the sites. An analysis of nearby recreation fee sites with similar amenities shows the recreation fees that would be charged at the new recreation fee sites are reasonable and typical of similar recreation fee sites in the area.
Proposed New Recreation Fee Sites
The Salmon-Challis National Forest is proposing to establish several new recreation fee sites. Recreation fee revenues collected at the new recreation fee sites would be used for operation, maintenance, and improvement of the sites. An analysis of nearby recreation fee sites with similar amenities shows the recreation fees that would be charged at the new recreation fee sites are reasonable and typical of similar recreation fee sites in the area.
Notice of Request for Extension and Revision of a Currently Approved Information Collection
In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice announces the Agricultural Marketing Service's (AMS) intention to request approval from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for an extension of and revision to the currently approved information collection 0581-0268 for the Christmas Tree Promotion, Research and Information Program.
Notice of Request for a New Information Collection: Web-Based Surveys
In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 and Office of Management and Budget (OMB) regulations, FSIS is announcing its intention to collect information using web surveys to test new labels for safe handling of raw and partially cooked meat and poultry products. This is a new information collection with 3,550 hours.
Rural Business Development Grant (RBDG) Regulation: Tribes and Tribal Business References To Provide Equitable Access
The Rural Business Development Grant (RBDG) program is intended for governmental entities and non-profits that foster economic development, job creation and business creation in rural and Tribal communities. Eligible applicants for RBDG assistance include rural towns, communities, State agencies, authorities, nonprofit corporations, institutions of higher education, Federally recognized Tribes (https://www.bia.gov/service/tribal-leaders-directory) and cooperatives (if organized as a private nonprofit corporation). United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) intends to improve Tribal Government participation in the program. This final rule seeks to increase Tribal Government participation with programmatic amendments. This final rule responds to all comments received on the proposed rule.
Guaranteed Loanmaking and Servicing Regulations
The Rural Business- Cooperative Service (RB-CS or Agency), a Rural Development (RD) agency of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), is publishing a stay of effective date for the final rule published in the Federal Register on November 24, 2023. The stay of the effective date for 60-days as provided in this notification will bring the final rule into compliance with the Congressional Review Act. This notification also corrects the reference to Executive Order 12866, Regulatory Planning and Review, which the final rule was determined to be significant.
Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC): Implementation of the Access to Baby Formula Act of 2022 and Related Provisions
This rulemaking serves to amend the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) Program regulations by incorporating provisions of the Access to Baby Formula Act of 2022 and making related amendments. ABFA establishes waiver authority for the Secretary of Agriculture to address certain emergencies, disasters, and supply chain disruptions impacting WIC, and adds requirements to State agency infant formula cost containment contracts to protect against disruptions to the Program in the event of a recall. The provisions focus on improving State agencies' ability to ensure continuity of Program operations during emergency periods (i.e., emergencies, disasters, and public health emergencies) and supply chain disruptions, while ensuring access to Program benefits among low-income pregnant and postpartum participants, infants, and children up to 5 years of age who are at nutritional risk.
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program: Revision of Civil Rights Data Collection Methods
This rule finalizes provisions of a proposed rule published on June 27, 2022. With this final rule, the Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) is revising Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) regulations that cover collecting and reporting race and ethnicity data by State agencies on persons receiving benefits from SNAP. This rule removes regulatory language that provides an example that State agencies might collect race and ethnicity data by observation (also referred to as ``visual observation'') when participants do not voluntarily provide the information on the application form. In addition, based on feedback from the commenters, this rule prohibits using visual observation as a data collection method for race and ethnicity. Through this rulemaking, FNS intends to improve the quality of data collected for purposes of Federal civil rights law and policy including title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. USDA's Food and Nutrition Service is committed to promoting equity and inclusion through its Federal nutrition assistance programs. This regulatory change is consistent with this Administration's priorities and furthers FNS' commitment to building equitable and inclusive systems for nutrition access.
Notice of Request for Extension and Revision of a Currently Approved Information Collection
In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice announces the Agricultural Marketing Service's (AMS) intention to extend its current approval from the Office of Management and Budget to collect information for eight competitive and two non-competitive AMS Grant Programs under its Grants Division. AMS TM Grant Programs is merging collection OMB 0581-0320Non-competitive Micro-Grants for Food Security Program (MGFSP). MGFSP was acquired through the enactment of the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 (Farm Bill).
National Organic Program (NOP); Organic Livestock and Poultry Standards; Delay of Effective Date and Update of Compliance Date
The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) is delaying the effective date of the Organic Livestock and Poultry Standards (OLPS) final rule, published on November 2, 2023, to meet the requirements of the Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act of 1996 (Congressional Review Act (CRA)). The CRA requires that agencies provide Congress with at least 60 days to review a major rule before it takes effect. For the OLPS final rule, AMS provided the required notice to Congress on November 13, 2023, after publication of the rule. Therefore, the published effective date did not provide 60 days for congressional review. This final rule delays the effective date of the OLPS final rule by 10 days to meet the 60-day requirement. AMS is making a technical correction to the compliance date of January 5, 2029, for indoor and outdoor stocking density requirements and soil and vegetation requirements for broiler operations to January 2, 2029. All other compliance dates of the OLPS final rule remain unchanged. Additionally, in acknowledgement of the U.S. Government Accountability Office assessment of the final rule, AMS confirms that the Administrative Pay-As-You-Go Act of 2023 does not apply to the OLPS final rule because it does not increase direct spending.
Notice of Request for an Extension and Revision to a Currently Approved Information Collection
In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice announces the Agricultural Marketing Service's (AMS) intention to request approval from the Office of Management and Budget, for an extension and revision to the currently approved information collection entitled Cotton Classing, Testing, and Standards.
Onions Grown in Certain Designated Counties in Idaho and Malheur County, Oregon; Increased Assessment Rate
This proposed rule would implement a recommendation from the Idaho-Eastern Oregon Onion Committee (Committee) to increase the assessment rate established for the 2023-2024 and subsequent fiscal periods. The proposed assessment rate would remain in effect indefinitely unless modified, suspended, or terminated.
Black Hills National Forest Advisory Board
The Black Hills National Forest Advisory Board will hold a public meeting according to the details shown below. The Board is authorized under the Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources Planning Act of 1974, the National Forest Management Act of 1976, the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act, and operates in compliance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA). The purpose of the Board is to provide advice and recommendations on a broad range of forest issues such as forest plan revisions or amendments, forest health including fire, insect and disease, travel management, forest monitoring and evaluation, recreation fees, and site-specific projects having forest- wide implications.
Request for Extension of a Currently Approved Information Collection
In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this document announces the Agricultural Marketing Service's (AMS) intention to request an extension to currently approved forms used by importers of commodities that are exempt from section 8e import regulations.
Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; Comment Request; Generic Clearance for the Collection of Qualitative Feedback on Agency Service Delivery
As part of a Federal Government-wide effort to streamline the process to seek feedback from the public on service delivery, the Department of Agriculture (USDA), Farm Service Agency (FSA) has submitted a Generic Information Collection Request (Generic ICR): ``Generic Clearance for the Collection of Qualitative Feedback on Agency Service Delivery'' to OMB for approval under the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA).
Proposed New Recreation Fee Sites
The Tahoe National Forest is proposing to establish a new recreation fee site and a new annual recreation pass. Recreation fee revenues collected at the new recreation fee site would be used for operation, maintenance, and improvement of the new site. Recreation fee revenues collected from the new annual pass would be used for operation, maintenance, and improvement of the standard amenity recreation fee sites listed in the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section of this notice. An analysis of nearby recreation fee sites with similar amenities shows the recreation fees that would be charged at the new recreation fee site and the fees collected from the annual pass are reasonable and typical of similar recreation fee sites in the area.
Raisins Produced From Grapes Grown in California; Temporary Relaxation of Substandard and Maturity Dockage Requirements
This rule temporarily changes the substandard and maturity dockage requirements for raisins covered under the Federal marketing order for raisins produced from grapes grown in California (Order). For the 2023-2024 crop year, the minimum requirements for substandard and maturity dockage in the marketing order's handling regulations will be relaxed to accommodate raisins adversely impacted by severe weather conditions.
Final Record of Decision for the Tonto National Forest
Neil Bosworth, the Forest Supervisor for the Tonto National Forest, Southwestern Region, signed the Final Record of Decision (ROD) for the revised Land Management Plan (LMP) for the Tonto National Forest. The ROD documents the rationale for approving the revised LMP and is consistent with the Reviewing Officer's responses to objections and instructions.
Sweet Cherries Grown in Designated Counties in Washington; Continuance Referendum
This document directs that a referendum be conducted among eligible Washington sweet cherry growers to determine whether they favor continuance of the marketing order regulating the handling of sweet cherries grown in designated counties in Washington.
Agency Information Collection Activities: Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Education (SNAP-Ed) Connection Resource Sharing Form
In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice invites the general public and other public agencies to comment on this proposed revision to the currently approved information collection for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) form FNS-889, ``SNAP Education (SNAP-Ed) Connection Resource Sharing Form.'' This revision to the information collection will improve the submission process by clarifying the information requested for certain fields, thus providing data that is accurate and beneficial to stakeholders using the resource. These updates will also align with the new SNAP-Ed National Program Evaluation and Reporting System (N-PEARS) (OMB Control #0584-0683, expiration 4/30/2026), to ensure consistency with SNAP-Ed specific terms. With this update to form FNS-889, FNS has determined that nutrition and physical activity interventions (i.e., educational materials, curricula, etc.), will no longer be accepted through this information collection.
Notice of Request for Extension of a Currently Approved Information Collection
In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice announces the Agricultural Marketing Service's (AMS) intention to request an extension for the form currently used by marketers to apply for exemption from market promotion assessments under Federal marketing order programs.
Citrus Canker; Designating Alabama a Commercial Citrus-Producing Area
We are revising the regulations to designate the State of Alabama as a commercial citrus-producing area in the current citrus canker regulations, and to update the scientific name for citrus canker used in the regulations. The State of Alabama has stated that it has commercial citrus production in the State, and the scientific name used in the regulations for citrus canker is obsolete and no longer used. These actions will update the regulations in order to provide Alabama protections that are afforded under the regulations to commercial citrus-producing States and be current as to the scientific name for citrus canker.
Single Family Housing Section 502 Direct Loan Program-Community Land Trust Pilot
The Rural Housing Service (RHS or the Agency), a Rural Development (RD) agency of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), is announcing a pilot for the Section 502 Direct Home Loan program to test alternative eligibility criteria related to community representation for Community Land Trust (CLT) organizations. The Agency intends to evaluate the impact of allowing eligibility criteria other than membership open to all residents of the geographic area which could meet the intent of the statutory requirements for CLTs to have specific community representation. This notification outlines the pilot parameters and provides contact information for additional details about the pilot.
Cranberries Grown in Massachusetts, et al.; Termination of Marketing Order and Data Collection Requirements for Cranberries Not Subject to the Marketing Order
This proposed action invites comments on the proposed termination of the Federal marketing order regulating the handling of cranberries grown in the States of Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New Jersey, Wisconsin, Michigan, Minnesota, Oregon, Washington, and Long Island in the State of New York and the rules and regulations issued thereunder (Marketing Order No. 929). The data collection, reporting and recordkeeping requirements applicable to cranberries not subject to the cranberry marketing order would also be terminated.
Business and Industry (B&I) Priority Scoring Notice for Fiscal Year 2024
The Rural Business-Cooperative Service (RBCS), Rural Housing Service (RHS), and the Rural Utilities Service (RUS), agencies of the Rural Development (RD) mission area within the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), hereinafter collectively referred to as the Agency, offer loan guarantees through four programs: Community Facilities (CF) administered by the RHS; Water and Waste Disposal (WWD) administered by the RUS; and Business and Industry (B&I) and Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) administered by the RBCS. This notice is establishing a minimum priority score of 20 points, not including administrative points, for B&I loan guarantees for Fiscal Year (FY) 2024, to be used when applying for guaranteed loans. This notice is being published prior to the passage of an FY 2024 appropriation.
Addition of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Kosovo to the List of Regions Affected by African Swine Fever
We are advising the public that we have added Bosnia and Herzegovina and Kosovo to the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) list maintained on the APHIS website of regions considered to be affected with African swine fever (ASF). We have taken this action because of the confirmation of ASF in those countries.
Travel Management; Administration of the Forest Transportation System; Postdecisional Administrative Review Process for Occupancy or Use of National Forest System Lands and Resources; Land Uses; Special Uses
The United States Department of Agriculture, Forest Service (Forest Service or Agency) is making purely technical, clarifying revisions to its existing regulations governing administration of the forest transportation system, administrative appeal of certain written decisions pertaining to written authorizations for occupancy or use of National Forest System (NFS) lands and resources, and issuance and administration of special use authorizations for use and occupancy of NFS lands. The purely technical, clarifying revisions update citations and enhance consistency of the existing regulations with governing statutes.
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