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

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice announces the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service's intention to request an extension of approval of an information collection associated with regulations to prevent the interstate spread of plant diseases within the United States.

The Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, is preparing an environmental impact statement (EIS) to re-establish conifers and hardwoods in key areas that burned during the McNally and Manter fires on the Sequoia National Forest.

On March 1, 2004, the Forest Service published a Notice of Intent to prepare an environmental impact statement for the Growden Dam and Sherman Creek Restoration Project in the Federal Register (69 FR 9569). The Forest Service is revising the project title, the proposed action, the date the EIS is expected to be available for public review and comment, the expected date of release of the final EIS, and the name of the Responsible Official. The project title will be changed to Growden Dam, Sherman Creek Restoration Project and Forest Plan Amendment 28. The proposed action is modified to include Forest Plan Amendment 28, which would change the visual quality objective for the Growden Dam area from ``Retention'' to ``Restoration'' until such time as the vegetation recovers. The immediate foreground area around Growden Dam, a significant dispersed recreation site, would be a construction zone visible from Washington State Highway 20 under each of the three action alternatives. Depending on the alternative selected, there would be up to eight acres of unvegetated landscape next to the highway in the first year of construction. A change in visual quality objective to ``Restoration'' would be in effect until vegetation is reestablished. Within one season grass is expected to cover most of the site and trees and shrubs will have been planted. It is expected that trees and shrubs would be established within five years and the area will appear more natural.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. Chapter 35), this notice announces the Agricultural Marketing Service's (AMS) intention to request approval from the Office of Management and Budget, for an extension of the currently approved information collection used to compile and generate the Federally Inspected Estimated Daily Slaughter Report for the Livestock and Grain Market News Branch.

The Organic Foods Production Act (OFPA) of 1990, as amended, requires the establishment of a National Organic Standards Board (NOSB). The NOSB is a 15-member board that is responsible for developing and recommending to the Secretary a proposed National List of Approved and Prohibited Substances. The NOSB also advises the Secretary on other aspects of the National Organic Program. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is requesting nominations to fill six (6) upcoming vacancies on the NOSB. The positions to be filled are: organic producer (2 positions), consumer/public interest (3 positions), and USDA accredited certifying agent (1 position). The Secretary of Agriculture will appoint a person to each position to serve a 5-year term of office that will commence on January 24, 2006, and run until January 24, 2011. USDA encourages eligible minorities, women, and persons with disabilities to apply for membership on the NOSB.