Department of Agriculture January 19, 2005 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

In 2002, the USDA Forest Service, Intermountain Region, gave notice that the agency would prepare an environmental impact statement (EIS) for the relocation of the existing Grouse Creek Road (Forest Service Road 50325). The road is located on the Payette National Forest, McCall Ranger district, Near the Secesh River and within the Crystal Mountain Inventoried Roadless Area. Because the new road would have been located in an inventoried roadless area, the Regional Forester was the Responsible Official. The Notice of Intent (NOI) to prepare an EIS was published in the June 21, 2002 Federal Register (67 FR 42230). Since that time, review of the proposed project by research scientists and other Forest Service specialists has determined that improvements to the existing road would cause fewer impacts to critical fish resources than relocating the road. The identified improvements can be accomplished using normal road maintenance practices, which do not require preparation of an EIS. Therefore, the planned EIS is not needed, and the NOI is hereby rescinded.

The Office of the Under Secretary for Food Safety, United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), is sponsoring a public meeting on January 21, 2005, to provide information and receive public comments on agenda items that will be discussed at the Eleventh Session of the Codex Committee on Meat Hygiene (CCMH). The 11th Session of the CCMH will be held in Christchurch, New Zealand, February 14-18, 2005. The Acting Under Secretary recognizes the importance of providing interested parties the opportunity to obtain background information on the agenda items that will be discussed at this forthcoming session of the CCMH.