Department of Agriculture – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Inyo National Forest is proposing to establish a recreation fee site. Proposed recreation fees collected at the proposed 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 proposed recreation fees that would be charged at the new recreation fee sites are reasonable and typical of similar recreation fee sites in the area.

The USDA Forest Service, Coronado National Forest, is preparing an environmental impact statement (EIS) to evaluate and disclose the potential environmental effects from the proposed Hermosa Critical Minerals Exploration and Mine Plan of Operations, submitted by South32 Hermosa Inc. (proponent), to occupy and use National Forest System lands for operations associated with an expansion of an underground polymetallic development. The proposed mine plan of operations (MPO) may also require an amendment to the 2018 Coronado National Forest Land and Resource Management Plan (forest plan) to include site-specific exceptions to plan direction to accommodate the proposed exploration and mining operations. The Forest Service is providing this public scoping opportunity to gather information to inform the environmental review and decision-making process.

The Farm Service Agency (FSA), on behalf of the Commodity Credit Corporation, is issuing this notice to announce the availability of cost share assistance through OCCSP for fiscal year (FY) 2024. FSA is giving the opportunity for State Agencies to apply for grant agreements to administrator the OCCSP program to establish agreements to provide cost share assistance to eligible producers and handlers and for producers and handlers to apply for OCCSP payment at FSA county office.

CCC and FSA are making a technical correction to the Dairy Margin Coverage (DMC) regulations published on February 27, 2024. The technical correction will apply to the 2024 DMC coverage election period to allow dairy operations that dissolved prior to or during the 2024 DMC coverage election period the opportunity to enroll in 2024 DMC for the days they marketed milk in the 2024 calendar year.

The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Utah State Office, in cooperation with the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation (USBR), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and Cache Water District (project sponsor), announces its intent to prepare an EIS for the Wellsville Canyon Watershed Plan located within the Little Bear River Watershed in Cache County, Utah. The proposed Wellsville Canyon Watershed Plan will examine alternative solutions to provide flood protection and conveyance infrastructure, reduce irrigation water loss, enhance recreational facilities, and reduce erosion and nutrient loading to the Little Bear River in Wellsville and Mendon cities and portions of unincorporated Cache County. NRCS is requesting comments to identify significant issues, potential alternatives, information, and analyses relevant to the proposed action from all interested individuals, Federal and State agencies, and Tribes.

We are amending the user fee regulations associated with the agricultural quarantine and inspection (AQI) program. Specifically, we are adjusting the fees for certain AQI services that are provided in connection with certain commercial vessels, commercial trucks, commercial railroad cars, commercial aircraft, and international passengers arriving at ports in the customs territory of the United States or precleared or preinspected at a site outside the customs territory of the United States; adjusting the caps on prepaid fees associated with commercial trucks and commercial railroad cars; and removing certain fee exemptions that are no longer justifiable based upon pathway analyses of risk. We are also revising requirements pertaining to remittances and statements. Specifically, we will require monthly rather than quarterly remittances for the commercial aircraft fee, international air passenger fee, and international cruise passenger fee, clarify our requirements, and provide for electronic payments and statements. We are also including in the regulations information on agents responsible for ensuring compliance with paying the user fees and the requirement for entities to notify the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service in the event they have a change in personnel responsible for fee payments. These changes are necessary to recover the costs of the current level of AQI activity, to account for actual and projected increases in the cost of doing business, to increase fee payer accountability, and to more accurately align fees with the costs associated with each fee service.

The Forest Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, is preparing an environmental impact statement to evaluate the potential environmental impacts associated with the Sweetwater Lake Recreation Management and Development Project. This project encompasses 832 acres, including 488 acres acquired by the Forest Service in 2021, located on the White River National Forest on lands surrounding Sweetwater Lake in northeastern Garfield County, Colorado. The Forest Service proposes to improve recreation access and facilities and authorize a long-term special use permit to the Colorado Parks and Wildlife to manage the area. This project may require an amendment to the White River National Forest Land and Resource Management Plan (forest plan).

NRCS is giving notice that it is proposing revisions to Section 1General Resource References of the Field Office Technical Guides in Louisiana and Wisconsin to include revised State Offsite Methods for Food Security Act Wetland Identification (SOSM). The proposed changes will replace the existing SOSMs in Louisianna and Wisconsin, which have been in use since June 2015 and October 2016. The revisions are needed to clarify procedures and improve consistency in application. SOSM are used in completing wetland determinations for USDA program eligibility purposes.

FSIS is announcing its final determination that not ready-to- eat (NRTE) breaded stuffed chicken products that contain Salmonella at levels of 1 Colony Forming Unit per gram (hereinafter, "1 CFU/g") or higher are adulterated within the meaning of the Poultry Products Inspection Act (PPIA). FSIS is also announcing that it intends to carry out verification procedures, including sampling and testing of the raw incoming chicken components used to produce NRTE breaded stuffed chicken products prior to stuffing and breading.

The Rural Business-Cooperative Service, Rural Housing Service, and Rural Utilities Service, agencies that comprise the Rural Development Mission Area within the United States Department of Agriculture, published a notice of solicitation of applications in the Federal Register on February 13, 2024, entitled "Notice of Solicitation of Applications (NOSA) for the Strategic Economic and Community Development Program for Fiscal Year (FY) 2024." The NOSA provides requirements to applicants submitting applications for Strategic Economic and Community Development (SECD) points through Secretary of Agriculture designated covered programs. Based on funding availability guidance published in the NOSA, this Correction Notice is issued to clarify that Community Facilities Grant Program funds will not be reserved for SECD in FY 2024. This Correction Notice also clarifies that approved USDA Rural Partners Network (RPN) networks are considered multi-jurisdictional entities for purposes of SECD and that community and economic development plans created in association with an RPN network will be accepted as plans under SECD.

The Rural Business-Cooperative Service, Rural Housing Service, and Rural Utilities Service (RBCS, RHS, RUS, or collectively referred to as the Agency), of the Rural Development (RD) mission area within the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), is issuing this final rule to update the data it uses to determine a State's percentage of national nonmetropolitan unemployment income. The Agency is amending two regulations to correct the source for the data and provide transparency on its process of determining state funding allocations for various Agency programs.

The Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Office of Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production (OUAIP) is seeking nominations for individuals to serve on the Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production Advisory Committee (UAIPAC). The UAIPAC advises the Secretary of Agriculture on the development of policies and outreach relating to urban, indoor, and other emerging agricultural production practices. The 12 members appointed by the Secretary of Agriculture are expected to serve a 3-year term. The nomination period includes four vacancies, including the: urban producer representative; higher education or extension program representative; business and economic development representative; and representative with related experience in urban, indoor, and other emerging agriculture production practices.

This proposed rule would amend the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) regulations to incorporate three provisions of the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023 by adding to the program purpose language assisting low-income adults in obtaining employment and increasing their earnings; updating and defining the exceptions from the able-bodied adults without dependents (ABAWD) time limit; and adjusting the number of discretionary exemptions available to State agencies each year. This proposed rule would also amend the regulations to clarify procedures for how and when State agencies must screen for exceptions to the time limit and clarify the verification requirements.

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 is seeking nominations of qualified candidates to be considered for the West Virginia Resource Advisory Committee (RAC). The West Virginia RAC will advise the Secretary of Agriculture on proposed recommendations and other such matters as the Secretary determines. The West Virginia RAC will be governed by the provisions of FACA. Duration of the West Virginia RAC is for two years unless renewed by the Secretary of Agriculture.

The National Organic Standards Board (NOSB) was established to assist in the development of standards for substances to be used in organic production and to advise the Secretary on the implementation of the Organic Foods Production Act of 1990 (OFPA). Through this Notice, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is announcing its call for nominations to fill five vacancies on the NOSB. The positions are listed below under SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION. Appointees will serve a 5-year term likely beginning January 23, 2025, and ending January 23, 2030. Additionally, USDA seeks nominations for a pool of candidates that the Secretary of Agriculture can draw upon as replacement appointees if unexpected vacancies occur.

The Forest Service (Forest Service), United States Department of Agriculture, will prepare an environmental impact statement (EIS) to inform a decision about the designation of trails and areas of the Kootenai National Forest which would be open to motorized over-snow use. The environmental impact statement will also inform a decision about the classes of vehicles and times of year for which motorized over-snow use will be allowed on designated trails and areas. Trails and areas designated for motorized over-snow vehicle use will be identified on an Over-Snow Vehicle Use Map which will specify the classes of vehicles and the time of year for which use is designated on the Kootenai National Forest.

The Forest Service ("Forest Service"), United States Department of Agriculture, is giving notice of its intent to prepare an environmental impact statement (EIS) for the End of the World Project on the Salmon River Ranger District of the Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forests in Idaho. The Forest received an unpublished order in Friends of the Clearwater v. Cheryl F. Probert. The court ordered the environmental assessment (EA), decision notice (DN), and finding of no significant impact (FONSI) for the End of the World project to be remanded to the United States Forest Service for further evaluation under the National Forest Management Act (NFMA) and National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). The EIS will further analyze old growth in the project area and evaluate the cumulative impacts with the neighboring Hungry Ridge Project to ensure old growth was retained per the 1987 Nez Perce National Forest land management plan requirements.

The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) announces the availability of the Final Programmatic Environmental Assessment (PEA) and Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) for the Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure (RFSI) Program.

This notice lists the newspapers that will be used by the Ranger Districts, Forests, and Regional Office of the Eastern Region to publish legal notices required under Forest Service regulations. The intended effect of this action is to inform interested members of the public which newspapers the Forest Service will use to publish notices of proposed actions and notices of decisions. This will provide the public with constructive notice of Forest Service proposals and decisions, provide information on the procedures to comment, object, or appeal, and establish the date that the Forest Service will use to determine if comments, appeals, or objections were timely.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act requirements, the Farm Production and Conservation (FPAC) is requesting comments from all interested individuals and organizations on a new information collection request for the FPAC Federal Award Performance Monitoring and Reporting Form in support of the implementation of Performance Measurement.