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

Pursuant to Section 102(2)(c) of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, the Council on Environmental Quality Regulations (40 CFR part 1500); and the Natural Resources Conservation Service Regulations (7 CFR part 650); the Natural Resources Conservation Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, gives notice that an environmental impact statement is not being prepared for the, Haynes CreekBrushy Fork Creek Watershed Structure No. 3: Gwinnett County, Georgia.

The USDA Forest Service, Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest, Eagle River-Florence Ranger District intends to prepare an environmental impact statement (EIS) to disclose the environmental consequences of a vegetation and transportation management project. In the EIS the USDA Forest Service will address the potential environmental impacts associated with the proposed land management activities and corresponding alternatives. The Long Rail Project Area is approximately 74,800 acres in size and is located in Forest and Florence Counties, 17 miles west of Florence, Wisconsin. National Forest System lands comprise about 54,300 acres within the project area boundary. The approximate legal description for the area is as follows: T38N R13E Sections 1, 12, 13; T38N R14E Sections 1-11, 18; T38N R15E Sections 1-12, 14-17, 20-22; T39N R13E Sections 1, 12-13, 24-25, 36; T39N R14E Sections 1-36; T39N R15E Sections 4-7, 18-22, 25-36; T40N R13E Sections 25, 36; T40N R14E Sections 29-32, 24-26, 35-36; T40N R15E Sections 2-4, 7-11, 14-23, 25- 33; T41N R15E Sections 22-23, 26-27, 34-35 see the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section for the purpose and need for the action.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice announces the Rural Business-Cooperative Service's intention to request an extension for a currently approved information collection in support of the Rural Economic Development Loan and Grant Program.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C Chapter 35) this notice announces the Risk Management Agency's intention to request an extension for and revision to a currently approved information collection for Request for Applications for Research Partnerships.

This final rule amends the plant health regulations by adding to 7 CFR part 305 treatment schedules and related requirements that now appear in the Plant Protection and Quarantine Treatment Manual and by removing the Plant Protection and Quarantine Treatment Manual from the list of material that is incorporated by reference into the regulations. We are taking this action to simplify the process for amending treatment schedules and related requirements and to more clearly distinguish between treatment-related requirements and nonbinding administrative information, which the Plant Protection and Quarantine Treatment Manual also contains.

The Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service (CSREES) is requesting public comment on the proposed revised Guidelines for State Plans of Work for the Agricultural Research and Extension Formula Funds [64 FR 19242-19248]. These guidelines prescribe the procedures to be followed by the eligible institutions receiving Federal agricultural research and extension formula funds under the Hatch Act of 1887, as amended (7 U.S.C. 361a et seq.); sections 3(b)(1) and (c) of the Smith-Lever Act of 1914, as amended (7 U.S.C. 343 (b)(1) and (c)); and sections 1444 and 1445 of the National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977, as amended (7 U.S.C. 3221 and 3222). The recipients of these funds are commonly referred to as the 1862 land-grant institutions and 1890 land-grant institutions, including Tuskegee University and West Virginia State University. CSREES also is requesting public comment on the revision of a previously approved information collection (OMB No. 0524-0036) associated with these guidelines.

This proposed rule, if adopted, would provide that the Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) will deduct from marketing assistance loan proceeds an amount equal to any assessment required under State or Federal law to be paid by a producer who markets the commodity, or by the first purchaser of the commodity. This discretionary action is authorized by Public Law 108-470.

This final rule amends the regulations governing the use of National Forest System lands in connection with operations authorized by the United States mining laws. The final rule clarifies the regulations at 36 CFR 228.4(a) concerning the requirements for mining operators to submit a ``notice of intent'' to operate and requirements to submit and obtain an approved ``plan of operations.'' Clarification of the requirements in Sec. 228.4(a) are necessary to minimize adverse environmental impacts to National Forest System lands and resources.

The National Agricultural Statistics Service published a notice in the Federal Register of May 5, 2005, concerning request for comments on the revision and extension of the Mink Survey. The document contained an incorrect date.

USDA's Farm Service Agency (FSA) is hosting a public meeting on re-enrollment and extension of certain Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) contracts. The CRP is the Nation's largest conservation program.

It is the intention of NRCS in Michigan to issue revised conservation practice standards in Section IV of the FOTG. The revised standards include:

This rule decreases the assessment rate established for the Idaho-Eastern Oregon Onion Committee (Committee) for the 2005-2006 and subsequent fiscal periods from $0.105 to $0.10 per hundredweight of onions handled. The Committee locally administers the marketing order which regulates the handling of onions grown in designated counties in Idaho, and Malheur County, Oregon. Authorization to assess onion handlers enables the Committee to incur expenses that are reasonable and necessary to administer the program. The fiscal period begins July 1 and ends June 30. The assessment rate will remain in effect indefinitely unless modified, suspended, or terminated.

This document sets forth the revised appendices to the Dairy Tariff-Rate Import Quota Licensing Regulation for the 2005 quota year reflecting the cumulative annual transfers from Appendix 1 to Appendix 2 for certain dairy product import licenses permanently surrendered by licenses or revoked by the Licensing Authority.

We are giving notice that the Secretary of Agriculture has renewed the Secretary's Advisory Committee on Foreign Animal and Poultry Diseases for a 2-year period. The Secretary has determined that the Committee is necessary and in the public interest.

The Forest Counties Payments Committee has scheduled a business meeting to discuss how it will provide Congress with the information specified in Section 320 of the Fiscal Year 2001 Interior and Related Agencies Appropriations Act. The meeting is open to the public.

The Tehama County Resource Advisory Committee (RAC) will meet in Red Bluff, California. Agenda items to be covered include: (1) Introductions, (2) Approval of minutes, (3) Public Comment, (4) Project Proposals/Possible Action, (6) Vegetation Opportunities on the Lassen, (7) General Discussion, (8) County Update, (9) Next Agenda.

Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration (GIPSA) announces designation of the following organizations to provide official services under the United States Grain Standards Act, as amended (Act): Georgia Department of Agriculture (Georgia); Mid-Iowa Grain Inspection, Inc. (Mid-Iowa); Montana Department of Agriculture (Montana); and Schneider Inspection Service, Inc. (Schneider).