Department of Agriculture April 28, 2005 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration (GIPSA) is amending regulations under the United States Grain Standards Act (USGSA) to waive the mandatory inspection and weighing requirements of the Act for high quality specialty grains exported in containers. GIPSA is establishing this waiver to facilitate the marketing of high quality specialty grains exported in containers. This action is consistent with the objectives of the USGSA. This action will facilitate the continuing development of the high quality specialty export market. This waiver will be in effect for a maximum of 5 years, and if after this time period GIPSA determines that this waiver continues to advance the objectives of the USGSA, GIPSA will consider making this waiver permanent.

The Rogue/Umpqua Resource Advisory Committee (RAC) will meet on Thursday and Friday, May 19 and 20, 2005. The purpose of the meeting is monitor RAC projects through fieldtrips. The fieldtrip is scheduled to begin at 9 a.m. and conclude at approximately 4 p.m. on May 19 and begin at 9 a.m. and conclude at approximately 4 p.m. on May 20. The May 19 fiedltrip will be held on the Cottage Grove Ranger District, 78405 Cedar Park Road, Cottage Grove, OR. On May 20, the fieldtrip will be held on the Tiller Ranger District, 27812 Tiller Trail Highway, Tiller, OR. The agenda on both days includes a short business meeting from 9 to 9:30 a.m. to discuss RAC projects and funding, followed by monitoring RAC projects on the district. Public comments are welcome between 9 to 9:30 a.m. Written public comments may be submitted prior to the May fieldtrip by sending them to Designated Federal Official Jim Caplan at the address given below.

Pursuant to the authorities in the Federal Advisory Committees Act (Pub. L. 92-463) and under the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act of 2000 (Pub. L. 106-393) the Lassen National Forest's Lassen County Resource Advisory Committee will meet Thursday, May 12, 2005, at the Lassen National Forest Supervisor's Office, 2550 Riverside Drive, Susanville, California for a business meeting. The meeting is open to the public.

The Forest Service will prepare an environmental impact statement (EIS) to analyze and disclose the environmental effects of proposed activities within the three OHV Study project areas. The three OHV Study project areas are located on National Forest System lands administered by the Potosi/Fredericktown and Poplar Bluff Ranger Districts is southeast Missouri. The legal descriptions of the three study areas are as follows: Palmer Study AreaThis study area would be located on the Potosi Unit of the Potosi/Fredericktown Ranger District in Washington County, approximately 12 miles southwest of Potosi, Missouri. This trail system would be managed for a variety of motorized vehicles, including jeeps and dune buggies. Trailheads and parking areas would also be constructed at some locations. Cherokee Pass Study AreaThis study area would be located on the Fredericktown Unit of the Potosi/Fredericktown Ranger District in Madison County, approximately seven miles south of Fredericktown, Missouri. This trail system would be managed for ATV and equestrian use. Other motorized vehicles such as motorcycles, jeeps, and dune buggies, would not be allowed. Trailheads and parking areas would also be constructed at some locations. Blackwell Ridge Study AreaThis study area would be located on the Poplar Bluff Ranger District in Wayne County, approximately 1\1/2\ mile north of Williamsville, Missouri. This trail system would be managed for ATV and motorcycles. Other motorized four-wheel drive vehicles, jeeps, and dune buggies, would not be allowed. Trailheads and parking areas would also be constructed at some locations. The primary purpose of this project is to study OHV use and users to guide future management options on OHV trail opportunities and use. This study will also evaluate equipment impacts to natural resources. Social impacts, such as customer satisfaction, demographics of trail users, and compatibility between trail users, would also be studied. The Mark Twain National Forest needs to determine if designating more motorized trails can be done in a manner that not only provides for this recreational use, but also addresses environmental concerns. It is hoped that by providing additional designated OHV trails, OHV users would avoid undesignated roads and trails and, thereby, the overall environmental damage from unauthorized use can be reduced. Observations by OHV managers locally and from other states indicate that when OHV riders have designated areas to ride, they are more likely to stay on designated routes. Therefore, the OHV customer, the resource manager, and the environment should all benefit from this study. Resource managers would be able to direct OHV customers to a designated trail system where impacts are confined, minimized, evaluated, monitored, and mitigated. With this study, OHV customers would know they are in an area where they can legally ride in a setting they enjoy. The Forest Service can promote responsible OHV use, better communicate with this forest user group, promote local partnerships for conservation education and OHV trail maintenance, and evaluate resource and social impacts. The focus of this study is to evaluate OHV use in three separate study locations and publish an evaluation of what is learned. The results of this study would be used to guide future management decisions on OHV trail management here and elsewhere in the National Forest System. At the end of the study period, unless the study is modified or terminated early, a separate decision, following the National Environmental Policy Act process, would be made as to whether or not to designate all, part, or none of the three areas as permanent OHV trails. The data collected from this study and other ongoing national studies would be used to corroborate and assist in making that decision.