Agricultural Research Service – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Agricultural Research Service proposes to amend its regulations on the fee schedule for interlibrary loan from the collections of the National Agricultural Library. The revised fee schedule is based on the method of payment used (traditional invoicing through the National Technical Information Service (NTIS) or payment through the Online Computer Library Center (OCLC) network's Interlibrary Fee Management program, a debit/credit program for interlibrary loan) rather than type of material requested (loan, photocopy, microform) and eliminates the current billing surcharge which is instead incorporated into the revised flat fee. The revision brings these fees up to date in order to support the current cost of providing the service and will enable customers to estimate charges more easily and distribute them more effectively within their own institutions.

Notice is hereby given that the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, intends to grant to Western Seed Multiplication, Inc. of Wadmalaw Island, South Carolina, an exclusive license to the cowpea variety described in Plant Variety Protection Certificate Number 200500007, ``Whippersnapper,'' issued on September 20, 2007.

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Agricultural Research Service (ARS) seeks comments on the intent of the United States National Arboretum (USNA) to renew an information collection that expires December 31, 2011. The information collection serves as a means to collect fees for certain uses of the facilities and grounds, and for programs and services. This includes fees for use of the grounds and facilities, as well as for commercial photography and cinematography. Fees generated will be used to defray USNA expenses or to promote the missions of the USNA.

Notice is hereby given that the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, intends to grant to P & M Plastics, Inc. of Mountainair, New Mexico, an exclusive license to the Federal Government's rights in U.S. Patent No. 6,632,387, ``METHOD FOR MAKING WOOD AND PLASTIC COMPOSITE MATERIAL'', issued on October 14, 2003.

Notice is hereby given that the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, intends to grant to P & M Signs, Inc. of Mountainair, New Mexico, an exclusive license to the Federal Government's rights in U.S. Patent No. 6,586,504, ``Wood And Plastic Composite Material And Methods For Making Same'', issued on July 1, 2003.

The notice announced USD intent to reestablish the National Genetic Resources Advisory Council. The notice was published in the Federal Register on May 16, 2011.

Notice is hereby given that the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, intends to grant to Light Light Solutions, LLC of Athens, Georgia, an exclusive license to U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 12/617,245, ``Fluorescence Spectroscopy for Rapid Detection and Classification of Bacterial Pathogens,'' filed on November 12, 2009.

Notice is hereby given that the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, intends to grant to Landmark Earth Solutions, Inc., a subsidiary of Leggett & Platt, Inc. of Carthage, Missouri, an exclusive license to U.S. Patent No. 6,383,548, ``COBY PRODUCTS AND A PROCESS FOR THEIR MANUFACTURE,'' issued on May 7, 2002.

This document amends a number of regulations of the Department of Agriculture (USDA) principally to reflect the establishment of the National Institute of Food and Agriculture and the abolishment of the Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service, as mandated by section 251(f)(2) of the Department of Agriculture Reorganization Act of 1994 (7 U.S.C. 6971(f)(2)) (as added by section 7511 of the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 (FCEA), Pub. L. 110-246). This rule also makes a number of miscellaneous amendments to the delegations of authority in 7 CFR part 2, as summarized below.

The Agricultural Research Service, U.S. Sheep Experiment Station (USSES), Dubois, Idaho is proposing sheep grazing and associated activities to achieve its research goals and objectives (to develop integrated methods for increasing production efficiency of sheep and to simultaneously improve the sustainability of rangeland ecosystems).

Notice is hereby given that the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, intends to grant to KamTec, LLC of Lincoln, Nebraska, an exclusive license to U.S. Patent No. 5,710,099, ``Bioactive Compounds,'' issued on January 20, 1998 and U.S. Patent No. 5,854,178, ``Bioactive Compounds,'' issued on December 29, 1998.

Notice is hereby given that the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, intends to grant to PlantHaven, Inc. of Santa Barbara, California, an exclusive license to the variety of hibiscus described in U.S. Plant Patent Application Serial No. 12/454,676, ``Sahara Sunset,'' filed on May 21, 2009.

Notice is hereby given that the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, intends to grant to Microsemi Corporation of Irvine, California, an exclusive license to U.S. Patent No. 7,135,871, ``Soil Moisture Sensor,'' issued on November 14, 2006.

Notice is hereby given that the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, intends to grant to KGK Synergize Inc. of London, Ontario, Canada, a partially exclusive license to U.S. Patent No. 6,987,125, ``Compositions and Methods of Treating, Reducing and Preventing Cardiovascular Diseases and Disorders with Polymethoxyflavones,'' issued on January 17, 2006. This will be the second license granted for this invention. The Agricultural Research Service intends to grant no additional licenses.

Notice is hereby given that the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, intends to grant to Renewable Organics, LLC of Pinehurst, North Carolina, an exclusive license to U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 12/026,346, ``Process for Removing and Recovering Phosphorus from Animal Waste,'' filed on February 5, 2008.

Notice is hereby given that the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, intends to grant to Innovative, LLC of Cumming, Georgia, an exclusive license to U.S. Patent No. 6,928,941, ``Diamond Row Pattern Planter'', issued on August 16, 2005.

Notice is hereby given that the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, intends to grant to GENETICS & IVF INSTITUTE of FAIRFAX, VIRGINIA, an exclusive license to U.S. Patent No. 5,985,216; ``FLOW CYTOMETRY NOZZLE FOR HIGH EFFICIENCY CELL SORTING'', issued on NOVEMBER 16, 1999.

Notice is hereby given that the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, intends to grant to California Seed & Plant Lab, Inc. of Elverta, California, an exclusive license to U.S. Patent No. 6,410,223, ``Direct Polymerase Chain Reaction Assay, or Bio-PCR'', issued on June 25, 2002.

Notice is hereby given that the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, intends to grant to Barron & Brothers International of Cornelia, Georgia, an exclusive license to U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 12/494,490, ``System For Delivering Poultry Litter Below Soil Surface'', filed on June 30, 2009.

The notice to seek comment on the Agricultural Research Services (ARS) intent to seek approval from OMB to reinstatement the ARS Animal Health National Program Assessment Survey was published in the Federal Register on August 6, 2009. The document contained the wrong date for public comment.

Notice is hereby given that the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, intends to grant to Plant Biofuels, Inc. of Gaithersburg, Maryland, an exclusive license to the soybean varieties described in Plant Variety Protection Certificate Number 9800027, ``Derry,'' issued on June 30, 1999, and in Plant Variety Protection Certificate Number 9800028, ``Donegal,'' issued on June 30, 1999.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. Chapter 3) and the office of Management and Budget (OMB) regulations at 5 CFR part 1320, this notice announces the Agricultural Research Service's (ARS) intent to seek reinstatement of the ARS Animal Health National Program Assessment Survey, which seeks input on the impact of the Animal Health National Research Program through the completion of an electronic evaluation form. This voluntary information collection will give the beneficiaries of ARS research the opportunity to provide input on the impact of the research conducted by ARS in the last national program cycle. This input will be used for planning the research agenda for the next 5-year program cycle.

Notice is hereby given that the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, intends to grant to Circle One Global, Inc. of Cuthbert, Georgia, an exclusive license to U.S. Patent No. 7,361,499, ``Non-Aflatoxigenic Aspergillus Flavus Isolates'', issued on April 22, 2008, and to U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 11/848,866, ``Water Dispersible Formulation for Delivery of Biocontrol Fungi to Reduce Aflatoxin'', filed on August 31, 2007.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 04-13) and Office of Management and Budget (OMB) regulations at 5 CFR part 1320 (60 FR 44978, August 29, 1995), this notice announces the Agricultural Research Service's (ARS) intention to seek approval to collect information in support of research and related activities.

Notice is hereby given that the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, intends to grant to Danisco A/S of Copenhagen, Denmark, an exclusive license to U.S. Patent No. 6,989,370, ``Bacteriocins and Novel Bacterial Strains'', issued on January 24, 2006; U.S. Patent No. 7,132,102, ``Bacteriocins and Novel Bacterial Strains'', issued on November 7, 2006; U.S. Patent No. 7,321,024, ``Bacteriocins and Novel Bacterial Strains'', issued on January 22, 2008; U.S. Patent No. 7,354,904, ``Bacteriocin Inducer Peptides'', issued on April 8, 2008; U.S. Patent No. 7,452,544, ``Bacteriocins and Novel Bacterial Strains'', issued on November 18, 2008; U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 11/099,456, ``Novel Enterococcus and Streptococcus Strains and Bacteriocins'', filed on April 5, 2005; U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 11/782,223, ``Bacteriocin Inducer Peptides'', filed on July 24, 2007; and U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 11/859,166, ``Bacteriocins and Novel Bacterial Strains'', filed on September 9, 2007.