Department of Agriculture April 27, 2005 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

We are holding a public meeting to solicit comments on the development of a national strategy concerning the use of vaccines in State/Federal/industry programs for the control of brucellosis, pseudorabies, and other program diseases.

The Chugach National Forest will prepare an environmental impact statement (EIS) for developing the Kenai winter access management plan on the Seward Ranger District. The objective of the Kenai winter access management plan is to respond to the public's need for high quality winter recreation opportunities and access in the planning area that best meets the needs of past, present and future users of the area and surrounding areas.

We are proposing to amend the regulations governing the importation of plants and plant products to add Christmas cactus, Schlumbergera spp., and Easter cactus, Rhipsalidopsis spp., from the Netherlands and Denmark to the list of plants that may be imported in an approved growing medium subject to specified growing, inspection, and certification requirements. We are taking this action in response to requests from the Netherlands and Denmark and after determining that Christmas cactus and Easter cactus established in growing media can be imported without resulting in the introduction into the United States or the dissemination within the United States of a plant pest or noxious weed. The proposed change would allow Christmas cactus and Easter cactus established in growing media to be imported into the United States from the Netherlands and Denmark under certain conditions.

This rule would increase the assessment rate established for the Avocado Administrative Committee (Committee) for the 2005-06 and subsequent fiscal years from $0.20 to $0.27 per 55-pound bushel container or equivalent of avocados handled. The Committee locally administers the marketing order which regulates the handling of avocados grown in South Florida. Authorization to assess avocado handlers enables the Committee to incur expenses that are reasonable and necessary to administer the program. The fiscal year began April 1 and ends March 31. The assessment rate would remain in effect indefinitely unless modified, suspended, or terminated.