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

The Rural Housing Service (RHS) is correcting a notice published March 14, 2005 (70 FR 12569-12575). This action is taken to correct language that purports that Notice responses that score less than 25 points or score 25 points or more but have a development cost ratio of equal to or more than 70 percent may not be selected for further processing and obligation after June 13, 2005. These corrections are intended to ensure that all Notice responses received prior to June 13, 2005, and that meet program criteria, but score less than 25 points or score 25 points or more but have a development cost ratio of equal to or more than 70 percent may be selected for obligation after June 13, 2005, with the highest scoring responses receiving priority as long as funds remain available. These corrections are also intended to ensure that the Agency will continue to select the highest scoring Notice responses received after June 13, 2005, notwithstanding the score, as long as the response meets program criteria and funds remain available. Accordingly, the Notice published on March 14, 2005 (70 FR 12569- 12575), is corrected as follows: On page 12569, in the first column, fourth paragraph, under the heading DATES, the fourth sentence is corrected to read as follows: ``Each month after June 13, 2005, the Agency will select the highest scoring proposals, in light of the remaining funding, until all funds are expended.'' On page 12569, in the second column, under the heading DATES, the fifth sentence, ``Priority for the selection of proposals that meet the threshold score of 25 will be given to the highest scoring proposals,'' is removed. On page 12574, in the first column, first paragraph, under the heading ``Scoring of Priority Criteria for Selection of Projects,'' the fifth sentence is corrected to read as follows: ``Each month after June 13, 2005, the Agency will select the highest scoring proposals, in light of the remaining funding, until all funds are expended.'' On page 12574, in the first column, first paragraph, under the heading ``Scoring of Priority Criteria for Selection of Projects,'' the sixth sentence, ``Priority for the selection of proposals that meet the threshold score of 25 will be given to the highest scoring proposals,'' is removed.

It is the intention of NRCS in Indiana to issue five revised conservation practice standards in Section IV of the FOTG. The revised standards are: Clearing and Snagging (326), Fence (382), Field Border (386), Riparian Herbaceous Cover (390) and Roof Runoff Structure (558). These practices may be used in conservation systems that treat highly erodible land and/or wetlands.

This document amends the delegations of authority from the Secretary of Agriculture in order to reflect the Secretary's designation of the General Counsel as the Department official responsible for delegating the authority to other Department heads for considering, ascertaining, adjusting, determining, compromising, and settling, pursuant to the Federal Tort Claims Act (FTCA) and regulations of the Attorney General, claims less than $2500 that allege the negligence or wrongful act of an employee of a certain agency.

This rule would relax the minimum grade requirements for potatoes handled under the Colorado potato marketing order, Area No. 2. This rule was recommended by the Colorado Potato Administrative Committee for Area No. 2 (Committee), the agency responsible for the local administration of the marketing order. For all potato varieties produced in Area No. 2 measuring from 1\1/2\-inch minimum diameter to 2\1/4\-inch maximum diameter (size B), and from 1-inch minimum diameter to 1\3/4\-inch maximum diameter, this rule changes the minimum grade from U.S. No. 1 to U.S. Commercial. This rule also would relax the minimum grade requirements between October 1 through June 30 of each year for imported red-skinned round type potatoes of the same size categories under the import regulations as required by section 8e of the Agricultural Marketing Agreement Act of 1937. The changes are intended to provide potato handlers and importers with more marketing flexibility, growers with increased returns, and consumers with a greater supply of small potatoes, and to bring the section 8e potato import regulation into conformity with the marketing order.

The Okanogan and Wenatchee National Forests Resource Advisory Committee will meet on Wednesday, May 18, 2005, at the Okanogan and Wenatchee National Forests Headquarters office, 215 Melody Lane, Wenatchee, Washington. The meeting will begin a 9 a.m. and continue until 3 p.m. Committee members will review Kittitas County and Yakima County projects proposed for Resource Advisory Committee consideration under Title II of the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self- Determination Act of 2000. All Okanogan and Wenatchee National Forests Resource Advisory Committee meetings are open to the public. Interested citizens are welcome to attend.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Forest Service is seeking comments from all interested individuals and organizations on extending the information collection, Long-Term Fire Retardants.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) is seeking comments from all interested individuals and organizations on the extension with revision of an approved information collection associated with the intermodal transportation services. The information collection supports the domestic and export food assistance program needs. Also, this information collection allows CCC to determine the availability of intermodal marketing companies to meet the intermodal transportation needs of CCC for the movement of its freight.

Notice is hereby given that the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service (ARS), intends to grant to CoBatCo Inc. of Peoria, Illinois, an exclusive license to U.S. Patent No. 5,676,994, ``Non-Separable Starch-Oil Compositions,'' issued on October 14, 1997 and to U.S. Patent No. 5,882,713, ``Non-Separable Compositions of Starch and Water-Immiscible Organic Materials,'' issued on March 16, 1999, for all animal food and feed applications, including but not limited to livestock feed and pet food. ARS also intends to grant to CoBatCo Inc. a license for all human food ingredient and food product applications. This is the third license granted by ARS for these inventions in this field of use. ARS intends to grant no additional licenses in this field of use. U.S. Patent No. 5,676,994 is a continuation of U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 08/233,173, and U.S. Patent No. 5,882,713 is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 08/233,173. Notice of Availability for U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 08/233,173 was published in the Federal Register on October 24, 1994.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104-13) and Office of Management and Budget regulations at 5 CFR part 1320 (60 FR 44978, August 29, 1995), this notice announces the intention of the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) to seek approval to revise and extend a currently approved information collection, the Agricultural Resources Management Survey and Chemical Use Surveys.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104-13) and Office of Management and Budget regulations at 5 CFR part 1320 (60 FR 44978, August 29, 1995), this notice announces the intent of the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) to request revision and extension of a currently approved information collection, the Mink Survey.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104-13) and Office of Management and Budget regulations at 5 CFR part 1320 (60 FR 44978, August 29, 1995), this notice announces the intention of the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) to seek approval to revise and extend a currently approved information collection, the Field Crops Objective Yield Surveys.

We are advising the public that a risk analysis has been prepared by the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service concerning the exotic Newcastle disease status of Denmark, and the related disease risks associated with importing poultry carcasses, parts or products of poultry carcasses, and eggs (other than hatching eggs) of poultry, game, or other birds from Denmark. This evaluation will be used as a basis for determining whether to relieve certain restrictions on the importation of those articles into the United States from Denmark. We are making this evaluation available to the public for review and comment.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice announces the Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) intention to request Office of Management and Budget (OMB) review of the information collection related to the Child and Adult Care Food Program, including adjustments to be made as a result of the final rule entitled Child and Adult Care Food Program: Permanent Agreements for Day Care Home Providers.

This proposed rule would terminate language in Table 3, ``Maximum Defect and Minimum Size Levels,'' of the marketing order regulating pistachios produced in the State of California. This language was erroneously included in Table 3 at the time of promulgation of the order. Correction of the table was unanimously recommended by the Administrative Committee for Pistachios, the committee responsible for local administration of the order.

The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) is announcing that lamb producers, feeders, seedstock producers, and first handlers of lamb and lamb products voting in a national referendum from January 31, 2005, through February 28, 2005, have approved the continuation of the Lamb Promotion, Research, and Information Order (Order).

Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration (GIPSA) announces designation of California Agri Inspection Co., Ltd. (California Agri); and Farwell Commodity and Grain Services, Inc. (Farwell Southwest), to provide official services under the United States Grain Standards Act, as amended (Act).

On April 1, 2005 the Notice of Availability of the Draft EIS for the Caribou Travel Plan Revision was published in the Federal Register (70 FR 16815). Some interested parties have requested that the comment period be extended so they can provide more substantive comments. The Forest Supervisor has agreed to extend the comment period on the Draft EIS for an additional 11 days.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice announces the Food and Nutrition Service's (Agency) intention to request Office of Management and Budget's approval of a new information collection for States and schools that participate in the Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program. The Agency will collect reports from the states during fiscal years 2005 through 2008.

We are amending the brucellosis regulations concerning the interstate movement of swine by adding Florida to the list of validated brucellosis-free States. We have determined that Florida meets the criteria for classification as a validated brucellosis-free State. This action relieves certain restrictions on the interstate movement of breeding swine from Florida.