Department of Agriculture – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

Neil Bosworth, the Forest Supervisor for the Tonto National Forest, Southwestern Region, signed the Final Record of Decision (ROD) for the revised Land Management Plan (LMP) for the Tonto National Forest. The ROD documents the rationale for approving the revised LMP and is consistent with the Reviewing Officer's responses to objections and instructions.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice invites the general public and other public agencies to comment on this proposed revision to the currently approved information collection for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) form FNS-889, ``SNAP Education (SNAP-Ed) Connection Resource Sharing Form.'' This revision to the information collection will improve the submission process by clarifying the information requested for certain fields, thus providing data that is accurate and beneficial to stakeholders using the resource. These updates will also align with the new SNAP-Ed National Program Evaluation and Reporting System (N-PEARS) (OMB Control #0584-0683, expiration 4/30/2026), to ensure consistency with SNAP-Ed specific terms. With this update to form FNS-889, FNS has determined that nutrition and physical activity interventions (i.e., educational materials, curricula, etc.), will no longer be accepted through this information collection.

We are revising the regulations to designate the State of Alabama as a commercial citrus-producing area in the current citrus canker regulations, and to update the scientific name for citrus canker used in the regulations. The State of Alabama has stated that it has commercial citrus production in the State, and the scientific name used in the regulations for citrus canker is obsolete and no longer used. These actions will update the regulations in order to provide Alabama protections that are afforded under the regulations to commercial citrus-producing States and be current as to the scientific name for citrus canker.

The Rural Housing Service (RHS or the Agency), a Rural Development (RD) agency of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), is announcing a pilot for the Section 502 Direct Home Loan program to test alternative eligibility criteria related to community representation for Community Land Trust (CLT) organizations. The Agency intends to evaluate the impact of allowing eligibility criteria other than membership open to all residents of the geographic area which could meet the intent of the statutory requirements for CLTs to have specific community representation. This notification outlines the pilot parameters and provides contact information for additional details about the pilot.

The Rural Business-Cooperative Service (RBCS), Rural Housing Service (RHS), and the Rural Utilities Service (RUS), agencies of the Rural Development (RD) mission area within the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), hereinafter collectively referred to as the Agency, offer loan guarantees through four programs: Community Facilities (CF) administered by the RHS; Water and Waste Disposal (WWD) administered by the RUS; and Business and Industry (B&I) and Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) administered by the RBCS. This notice is establishing a minimum priority score of 20 points, not including administrative points, for B&I loan guarantees for Fiscal Year (FY) 2024, to be used when applying for guaranteed loans. This notice is being published prior to the passage of an FY 2024 appropriation.

We are advising the public that we have added Bosnia and Herzegovina and Kosovo to the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) list maintained on the APHIS website of regions considered to be affected with African swine fever (ASF). We have taken this action because of the confirmation of ASF in those countries.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), this notice invites the general public and other public agencies to comment on this proposed information collection. This collection is a revision of a currently approved collection for the reporting and recordkeeping burden associated with the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) Farmers' Market Nutrition Program (FMNP) regulations.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice announces the intention of the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) to request approval to revise and extend a currently approved information collection, the Milk and Milk Products Surveys. Revision to burden hours will be needed due to changes in the size of the target population, sample design, and/or questionnaire length.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice invites the general public and other public agencies to comment on this proposed information collection. This collection is an extension of a currently approved collection. This information collection addresses the recordkeeping burden associated with forms FNS-292A (Report of Commodity Distribution for Disaster Relief) and FNS-292B (Report of Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Benefit Issuance).

The Forest Service (Forest Service or Agency) published a notice in the Federal Register on November 28, 2023, initiating a 30- day comment period on the proposed directive contained in Forest Service manual 2000, National Forest Resource Management, chapter 2040, National Forest System Monitoring. The closing date of the original notice is scheduled for December 27, 2023. The Forest Service is extending the comment period for an additional 15 days from the previous closing date.

We are advising the public of our determination that DP23211 maize (corn), which has been developed using genetic engineering for insect resistance to western corn rootworm and contains the gene that codes for the phosphinothricin acetyltransferase protein responsible for tolerance to glufosinate-ammonium herbicides, and also the gene that encodes for the phosphomannose isomerase protein as a selectable marker, is no longer considered regulated. Our determination is based on our evaluation of information Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc. submitted in its petition for a determination of nonregulated status, our analyses, and public comments received in response to previous notices announcing the availability of the petition for nonregulated status and our associated environmental assessment and plant pest risk assessment. This notice also announces the availability of our written determination and finding of no significant impact.

This proposed rule would implement a recommendation from the Processed Pear Committee (Committee) to increase the assessment rate established for the 2023-2024 fiscal period and subsequent fiscal periods. The proposed assessment rate would remain in effect indefinitely unless modified, suspended, or terminated.

We are advising the public that we added Bolivia to the list of regions that the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service considers to be affected with highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI). This action follows our imposition of HPAI-related restrictions on the importation of avian commodities originating from or transiting Bolivia as a result of the confirmation of HPAI in that country.

We are advising the public that we have added Singapore to the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) list maintained on the APHIS website of regions considered to be affected with African swine fever (ASF). We have taken this action because of the confirmation of ASF in Singapore.

The Forest Service is revising the Nez Perce and Clearwater National Forests' 1987 Land and Resource Management Plans. The Forest Service has prepared a final environmental impact statement (EIS) for the revised land management plan and a draft record of decision (ROD). This notice is to inform the public that the Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forests are initiating a 60-day period where individuals or entities with specific concerns about the revised land management plan and the associated final EIS may file objections for Forest Service review prior to the approval of the revised land management plan. This is also an opportunity to object to the Regional Forester's list of species of conservation concern on the Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forests.

The Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forests are proposing to establish several new recreation fee sites. Recreation fee revenues collected at the new 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 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 Willamette National Forest is proposing to establish several new recreation fee sites. Recreation fee revenues collected at the new 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 recreation fees that would be charged at the new recreation fee sites are reasonable and typical of similar recreation fee sites in the area.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice announces the Agricultural Marketing Service's (AMS) intention to request an extension and revision to the approved forms and information collection for marketing orders covering various vegetables and specialty crops.

The Rural Business-Cooperative Service (RB-CS) (Agency), a Rural Development (RD) agency of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), is issuing a final rule to amend the interim rule published on May 22, 2020. The interim rule amended the Business and Industry (B&I) Guaranteed Loan Program to allow flexibility to obligate Federal funds for guaranteed loans pursuant to the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) in response to the national COVID-19 Public Health Emergency. This final rule addresses public comments received on the interim rule and makes clarifying modifications identified by commenters and the Agency.

This rule revises the general regulations for Federal marketing orders covering fruits, vegetables, and specialty crops by updating the section regarding information collections. Further, this rule updates nomenclature in the general regulations, numerous Federal marketing orders, the import regulations, the domestic hemp program regulations, and the peanut handling regulations administered by the Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS). Finally, this rule corrects typographical errors found in the AMS marketing order and import regulations and removes regulations no longer in effect. These changes are necessary to provide more accurate information in the regulations moving forward.

The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) published a notice in the Federal Register of November 20, 2023, concerning the availability of the Draft Programmatic Environmental Assessment (PEA) for the Organic Market Development Grant Program (OMDG) for public review and comments. The notice contained an incorrect link to the Draft PEA.

The Rural Housing Service (RHS or the Agency), an agency in the Rural Development (RD) mission area of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), proposes to amend the current regulation for the following Single Family Housing (SFH) Direct Programs: Section 502 Direct Loan Program and the Section 504 Loan and Grant Program. The Agency also intends to update the Section 306C Loan and Grant Programs which is a program administered under the Rural Utilities Service (RUS), and where RHS is designated to make grants to eligible individuals. The intent of this proposed rule is to reduce the regulatory burdens on applicants, borrowers, and partners by enhancing program delivery, expanding customer service, promoting consistency between the direct and guaranteed SFH loan programs where feasible and aligning the programs with current housing market conditions and mortgage loan practices.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice announces the Agricultural Marketing Service's (AMS) intent to request approval from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), for an extension of and revision to the currently approved information collection used in support of Audit Verification Programs.