Department of Agriculture May 2, 2005 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS), prior to undertaking research and other work associated with official grade standards, is soliciting comments on the possible development of the United States Standards for Grades of Pea Pods. At a 2003 meeting with the Fruit and Vegetable Industry Advisory Committee, AMS was asked to identify commodities that may be better served if grade standards are developed. The standards would provide industry with a common language and uniform basis for trading, thus promoting the orderly and efficient marketing of pea pods.

We are advising the public that the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service will hold a meeting concerning the possibility of establishing a category of plant taxa excluded pending pest risk analysis with respect to the importation of plants for planting. In order to allow interested persons who cannot attend the meeting an opportunity to prepare and submit comments, we are also reopening the comment period for our December 2004 advance notice of proposed rulemaking regarding whether and how we should amend the regulations concerning the importation of nursery stock.

The Tuolumne County Resource Advisory Committee (RAC) will meet on May 16, 2005 at the City of Sonora Fire Department, in Sonora, California. The primary purpose of the meeting is to review new project proposals. The Committee will view a video ``Communities for Health Forests'', and receive briefings on a concept papers regarding integrated fuels reduction projects, and the national RAC meeting held in Reno, Nevada.

The Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) is seeking approval from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for a revision and extension of the collection of information used in support of motor carrier transportation services needed to meet domestic and export food assistance program needs. This information collection will allow CCC to determine the availability of motor freight carriers to meet the motor carrier needs of CCC for the movement of its freight traffic.