November 18, 2005 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

This is a request by the Farm Service Agency (FSA) for proposals for applications for cooperative agreements for FY 2006 to help underserved and limited resource farmers and ranchers become more efficient operators and more economically viable. FY 2005 funding for similar cooperative agreements was $2 million. This notice is being issued prior to passage of a final Department of Agriculture Appropriations Bill to allow applicants sufficient time to prepare and submit proposals and give FSA sufficient time to process applications within FY 2006. An additional Notice of Funding Availability will be published announcing the funding level for FY 2006 once an appropriations act has been enacted. FSA requests proposals from eligible 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations, land grant institutions, including Tuskegee University, State governments, and Federally- Recognized Indian Tribal Governments, interested in competitively awarded cooperative agreements, to demonstrate innovative and unique approaches to equip underserved and limited-resource farmers and ranchers, including beginning farmers and ranchers, to become more efficient and economically viable. Proposals should demonstrate innovative and unique ways to help underserved and limited-resource farmers and ranchers improve their economic viability through training, technical assistance, improved farming practices, and more effective marketing approaches. Underserved and limited-resource farmers and ranchers have different challenges to economic viability due to location, educational assets, age, and landownership. The need to properly address these challenges through education, training, technical assistance and the most creative ways of outreach is critical to the continued existence of the small farm. People in, or entering into, farming have an array of backgrounds and varied levels of current farm and farm business experience and knowledge. More and more qualified alien immigrants are entering American farming. Often, they are unfamiliar with productive marketing practices, acquisition of land, government assistance, and crop and animal production diversity. While there are no significant legal obstacles to becoming a farmer in the United States, many barriers to successful farming exist. Among those barriers are (1) increasing capital expenses, (2) progressive managerial requirements, and (3) competition with large-scale producers. Among limited-resource farmers, a subgroup, the underserved farmer, faces even more barriers to achieving success. In recognition of the dynamic needs of limited-resource and underserved farmers, FSA solicits proposals for innovative approaches to assisting the diverse limited- resource and underserved farm community.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) Omaha District is preparing a Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to analyze the direct, indirect and cumulative effects of enlarging the Rueter-Hess Reservoir, currently under construction in Parker, CO. The current project was authorized in February 2004 with Corps Permit 199980472. The basic purpose of the proposed action is the same as defined in the original EIS, which is to provide a safe, adequate and sustainable municipal water supply to Parker Water and Sanitation District (PWSD), Parker, CO that is capable of meeting the peak demands for the District's service area for the next 50 years. In addition, the purpose for enlarging the reservoir is to provide peaking storage of Denver Basin groundwater for selected South Metro Denver area water providers and to assist in sustaining the Denver Basin Aquifer. The construction of the proposed project would result in additional temporary and permanent impacts to wetlands and other Waters of the United States, requiring a new section 404 permit. To familiarize the public and interested organizations with the project and potential environmental issues that may be involved; the Corps has prepared a Scoping Document for the project. This document includes a project description, preliminary list of alternatives and various environmental/resource issues that will be addressed in the Supplemental EIS. Copies of the Scoping Document will be available at the public scoping meetings or can be requested by mail. The Supplemental EIS will be prepared according to the Corps' procedures for implementing the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969, as amended, 42 U.S.C. 4332(2)(C), and consistent with the Corps' policy to facilitate public understanding and review of agency proposals.

The proposed regulations provide rules for testing the substantiality of an allocation under section 704(b) where the partners are look-through entities or members of a consolidated group, provide additional guidance on the effect of other provisions, such as section 482, upon the tax treatment of a partner with respect to the partner's distributive share under section 704(b), and revise the existing rules for determining the partners' interests in a partnership. The proposed regulations affect partnerships and their partners. This document also provides notice of a public hearing on these proposed regulations.