Commodity Credit Corporation 2009 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Farm Service Agency (FSA) and Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) are seeking comments from all interested individuals and organizations on a revision of a currently approved information collection request. This information collection is necessary to support the procurement of agricultural commodities for domestic and export food donation programs. FSA and CCC issue invitations to purchase or process commodities for food assistance programs on monthly, multiple monthly, quarterly, and yearly basis. Special invitations, however, are issued throughout the month. The revision to the information collection request is to support the implementation of a new system named Web Based Supply Chain Management (WBSCM) that will allow respondents to submit information electronically. This new system will replace some of the existing paper forms in this information collection and reduce the burden on respondents. WBSCM will eventually replace all other existing forms in this information collection.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice announces the intention of the Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) to request a revision of a currently approved information collection in support of the CCC's Dairy Export Incentive Program (DEIP) based on re-estimates. This information collection has applied to CCC's Export Enhancement Program (EEP) as well as the DEIP. However, the EEP has been repealed by the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008. The program regulations at 7 CFR 1494 will be updated to delete references to the EEP.

This notice announces that the Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS), on behalf of the Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC), is issuing a set of guidelines for the administration and implementation of Local and Regional Food Aid Procurement Pilot Project (PPP) authorized under the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008. FAS will provide CCC funds in the form of grants to qualified organizations during FY 2009 through FY 2011 for the implementation of field-based projects under the PPP to meet the food needs of targeted vulnerable groups. The ``Interim Guidelines for the Local and Regional Food Aid Procurement Project'' can be found at https://www.fas.usda.gov/food-aid.asp. The Interim Guidelines are intended to guide the application and implementation of field projects in developing countries that involve the local and regional procurement of food aid. Field projects will be funded primarily to expedite the provision of food aid to vulnerable populations affected by food crises and disasters. A secondary purpose will be to provide development assistance that will enhance the food consumption security of such populations. The Interim Guidelines inform prospective participants about the qualification criteria and application process, as well as procedures and requirements for project implementation, monitoring and reporting. This notice formally requests public review of and comments on the Interim Guidelines.

The Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) is issuing this notice to publish the 2008-crop state sugar marketing allotments and company allocations to sugarcane and sugar beet processors, and changes to allotments that have occurred since the establishment of the fiscal year 2009 (FY 2009) overall allotment quantity (OAQ). This applies to all domestic sugar marketed for human consumption in the United States from October 1, 2008 through September 30, 2009. Although CCC already has announced most of the information in this notice through United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) news releases, CCC is required to publish the determinations establishing, adjusting, or suspending sugar marketing allotments.

This notice announces that the Farm Service Agency (FSA), on behalf of the Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC), intends to complete a Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS) assessing the environmental impacts of changes to the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) required by the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 (2008 Farm Bill).

The Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) is amending the Farm Storage Facility Loan (FSFL) and Sugar Storage Facility Loan (SSFL) regulations to implement provisions of the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 (the 2008 Farm Bill). The 2008 Farm Bill adds hay and renewable biomass as eligible FSFL commodities, extends the maximum loan term to 12 years, and increases the maximum loan amount to $500,000. This rule also adds fruits and vegetables (including nuts) as eligible facility loan commodities and adds cold storage facilities as eligible facilities pursuant to discretionary authority in the 2008 Farm Bill. This rule amends the regulations to clarify requirements for loan security and to allow for a partial loan disbursement during construction if certain conditions are met. This rule amends the FSFL program regulations, which include SSFLs; however, there are no changes to the specific requirements for SSFLs.

This notice announces that the Farm Service Agency (FSA), on behalf of the Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC), has completed a Draft Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (PEIS) for the administration and implementation of the Biomass Crop Assistance Program (BCAP) enacted by the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 (2008 Farm Bill). FSA is requesting comments on the draft PEIS.

Section 2301 of the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 (the 2008 Act) amended the Food Security Act of 1985 to establish the Conservation Stewardship Program. The purpose of the Conservation

The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) published in the Federal Register of January 16, 2009, an interim final rule with request for comment amending the program regulations for the Farm and Ranch Lands Protection Program (FRPP) to incorporate programmatic changes authorized by the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 (2008 Act). The public comment period closed March 17, 2009.

The Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) amends the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) regulations to update the terms and conditions of enrolling acreage in CRP and other eligibility requirements to implement certain provisions of the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 (the 2008 Farm Bill). The purpose of CRP is to cost-effectively assist producers in conserving and improving soil, water, wildlife, and other natural resources by converting environmentally-sensitive acreage from the production of agricultural commodities to a long-term vegetative cover.

The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) published in the Federal Register of January 15, 2009, an interim final rule with request for comment amending the program regulations for the Wetlands Reserve Program (WRP) to incorporate programmatic changes authorized by the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 (2008 Act). The January 15, 2009 interim final rule changed the nature and scope of the agreement NRCS enters into with the landowner under a WRP easement in a manner which could interfere with the restoration efforts of some lands enrolled in the program. Since the change to the program was not necessitated by the 2008 Act, this amendment to the January 15, 2009 interim final rule revises these provisions to further the practical administration of the program consistent with the WRP statute. This amendment re-opens the public comment period for the interim final rule, as amended, for an additional 30 days.

The Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) intends to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Biomass Crop Assistance Program (BCAP). BCAP is a new program authorized by the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 (the 2008 Farm Bill). The EIS will assess the potential environmental impacts of alternatives for administration and implementation of BCAP. Through this notice and public meetings, CCC is requesting the public to provide comments and inputs on the preliminary proposed program alternatives and environmental concerns associated with the implementation of BCAP.

The Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) announces that it is inviting proposals for the 2010 Emerging Markets Program (EMP). The intended effect of this notice is to solicit additional applications from the private sector and from government agencies for FY 2010. The EMP is administered by personnel of the Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS).

The Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) announces that it is inviting proposals for the 2010 Market Access Program (MAP). The intended effect of this notice is to solicit applications from eligible applicants and award funds in October 2009. The MAP is administered by personnel of the Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS).

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) is seeking comments from all interested individuals and organizations on the extension of a currently approved information collection. The information collection is to allow farmers to voluntarily assign their payment to a third party and to authorize a joint payment.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Farm Service Agency (FSA), on behalf of the Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC), is seeking comments from all interested individuals and organizations on an extension, with revision, of a currently approved information collection. The survey in this information collection is designed to analyze the effect of the CCC's Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) on opportunities for recreational activities, including hunting and fishing in accordance with the Food, Conservation and Energy Act of 2008 (the 2008 Farm Bill).

The Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) is amending regulations as required by the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 (the 2008 Farm Bill) to administer the sugar loan and sugar marketing allotment program through 2012. The 2008 Farm Bill generally extends the existing sugar program with some changes, including new loan rates for raw cane sugar and beet sugar, new provisions to guarantee domestic suppliers an 85 percent market share, and revised procedures for granting new allocations for new entrants.

The Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) published in the Federal Register of January 14, 2009, a Notice of Request for Proposals to announce the availability of funds and to solicit proposals from potential partners who seek to enter into partnership agreements with the Chief, Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). The deadline for submitting proposals was March 2, 2009. The purpose of this notice is to reopen the deadline for submitting proposals and to provide NRCS State Conservationists up to 2 weeks following the proposal submission deadline to submit their letter of review. The CCC is hereby reopening the deadline for submitting proposals until April 1, 2009.

The Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) published in the Federal Register of November 20, 2008, an interim final rule with request for comment amending the program regulations for the Agricultural Management Assistance (AMA) Program to incorporate programmatic changes authorized by the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 (2008 Act). The language in the interim final rule regarding the application of the payment limitation to joint operations was incorrect and is inconsistent with payment attributions specified in the regulation which governs payment limitations and eligibility determinations for CCC-funded programs. This document corrects that language.

Section 2707 of the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 (2008 Act) establishes the Cooperative Conservation Partnership Initiative (CCPI) by amending Section 1243 of the Food Security Act of 1985 [16 U.S.C. 3843]. The Secretary of Agriculture has delegated the authority for CCPI to the Chief of the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), who is a Vice President of the Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC). NRCS is an agency of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). Congress established CCPI to assist potential partners with focusing conservation assistance in defined project areas to achieve high-priority natural resource objectives. In fiscal year (FY) 2009, NRCS will make Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) and Wildlife Habitat Incentive Program (WHIP) funds available to owners and operators of agricultural and nonindustrial private forest lands who will participate in CCPI projects. The purpose of this notice is to inform potential partners and producers that include nonindustrial private forest landowners of the availability of CCPI funds and other assistance and to solicit proposals from potential partners who seek to enter into partnership agreements with NRCS to enhance conservation outcomes on agricultural and nonindustrial private forest land. Additionally, NRCS requests public comment on how CCPI can contribute to the Nation's efforts on energy, climate change, and carbon sequestration within the framework of the Initiative.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice announces the Commodity Credit Corporation's (CCC) intention to request an extension from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for a currently approved information collection in support of the Technical Assistance for Specialty Crops (TASC) program.

The Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) published an interim rule on December 29, 2008 (73 FR 79267-79284), revising rules about payment limitation and payment eligibility for Farm Programs as required by the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 (the 2008 Farm Bill). The 2008 Farm Bill provided new eligibility requirements based on annual income, sources of income, and type of entity. The Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) is reopening and extending the comment period for the interim rule to give the public more time to provide input and recommendations on the interim rule. The original comment period closed on January 28, 2009, and CCC is reopening and extending it for 60 days from the date of this notice. While the interim rule became effective on December 23, 2008, CCC is extending the comments period by 60 days on the amendments to the regulations that will apply to 2009 and subsequent crop, program, or fiscal year benefits for programs subject to the provisions in our regulations.

The Grasslands Reserve Program (GRP) assists landowners and operators in protecting grazing uses and other related conservation values by restoring and conserving eligible grassland and certain other lands through rental contracts and easements. This interim final rule sets forth how USDA, using the funds, facilities, and authorities of the Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC), will implement GRP in response to the changes made to the program by section 2403 of the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008. In addition, this interim final rule incorporates other changes to the regulation for clarification or program administrative improvement.

The Wetlands Reserve Program (WRP) assists owners of eligible land in restoring and protecting wetlands. This interim final rule sets forth how the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), an agency of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), using the funds, facilities, and authorities of the Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC), will implement WRP in response to changes made to the program by the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008. In addition, this interim final rule incorporates other changes to the regulation for clarification or program administration improvement.