Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service 2008 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104-13) and Office of Management and Budget (OMB) regulations at 5 CFR part 1320 (60 FR 44977, August 29, 1995), this notice announces the Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service's (CSREES) intention to revise a currently approved information collection entitled, ``Reporting Requirements for State Plans of Work for Agricultural Research and Extension Formula Funds.'' The only proposed change to the information collection is that the initial five year plan of work will no longer be required.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501, et seq.)and Office of Management and Budget (OMB) implementing regulations (5 CFR part 1320), this notice announces the Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service's (CSREES) intention to request approval to reinstate and revise a previously approved information collection in support of authorizations to use the 4-H Club Name and/or Emblem.

The Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service (CSREES) is requesting stakeholder input in developing regulations for identifying and certifying institutions as Hispanic- serving Agricultural Colleges and Universities (HSACUs), which comprise a new group of cooperating educational institutions established in section 7101 of the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 (FCEA) or Public Law 110-246. In addition, CSREES is requesting stakeholder input in developing regulations for the five new programs for HSACUs authorized under section 7129 of FCEA. By this notice, CSREES is designated to act on behalf of the Secretary of Agriculture in soliciting public comment from interested parties regarding the implementing regulations to be developed for identifying HSACUs and the new programs for HSACUs.

In accordance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. app), the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) announces solicitation for nominations to fill twelve vacancies on the Forestry Research Advisory Council. The Council membership is appointed with staggered terms of one, two, and three years. Nominations for a three-year appointment for all twelve positions are sought.

The Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service (CSREES) is soliciting stakeholder input on the implementation of the Veterinary Medicine Loan Repayment Program (VMLRP), which is authorized under section 1415A of the National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3151a). The purpose of this program is for the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to enter into agreements with veterinarians under which the veterinarians agree to provide, for a specific period of time as identified in the agreement, veterinary services in veterinarian shortage situations. As part of the stakeholder input process, CSREES is conducting a public meeting to solicit comments regarding the implementing regulations to be developed for this program.

The Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service (CSREES) is publishing one set of administrative requirements that contain elements common to all of the competitive and noncompetitive non-formula grant programs the Agency administers as an interim rule. Although this interim rule becomes effective on the date of publication, CSREES is requesting comments for a 60-day period as identified below. In a relatively short period of time, this will allow CSREES to apply basic rules to grant programs that are currently operating without them, including new non-formula grant programs created by the passage of the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 (FCEA) (Pub. L. 110-234) and to efficiently implement changes to programs with existing regulations as required by FCEA. The provisions in subparts A through E will serve as a single Agency resource codifying current practices simply and coherently for almost all CSREES competitive and noncompetitive non-formula grant programs except the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Program. As specific rules are developed for each CSREES grant program, CSREES will propose adding a subpart for that Federal assistance program to this regulation. This interim rule is being published with a first set of program-specific grant regulations as subpart F for the Specialty Research Crop Initiative, authorized under section 7311 of FCEA.