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

The Yakutat Resource Advisory Committee will meet in Yakutat, Alaska. The purpose of the meeting is continue business of the Yakutat Resource Advisory Committee. The committee was formed to carry out the requirements of the Secure Rural Schools and Self-Determination Act of 2000. The agenda for this meeting is to review submitted project proposals and consider recommending projects for funding. Project proposals are due by January 13, 2006 to be considered at this meeting.

The Kootenai National Forest proposes to begin charging a $25 day use fee for rental of the Bull River Pavilion (10 a.m.-10 p.m.). An additional $15 fee will be charged for use past 10 p.m. to be paid at the district. Rentals of other day use sites on the Kootenai National Forest show that the public appreciate and enjoy the availability of reserving and using group site facilities. Funds from the rental will be used for the continued operation and maintenance of the Bull River Pavilion.

We are proposing to amend the fruits and vegetables regulations to allow the importation into the continental United States of peppers from the Republic of Korea under certain conditions. As a condition of entry, the peppers would have to be grown in approved insect-proof, pest-free greenhouses and packed in pest-exclusionary packinghouses. In addition, the peppers would have to be safeguarded against pest infestation during their movement from the production site to the packinghouse and from the packinghouse to the continental United States. This action would allow for the importation of peppers from the Republic of Korea into the continental United States while continuing to provide protection against the introduction of quarantine pests.

The Eastern Washington Cascades Provincial Advisory Committee and the Yakima Provincial Advisory Committee will meet on Wednesday, January 25, 2006 at the Okanogan and Wenatchee National Forests headquarters office, 215 Melody Lane, Wenatchee, Washington. The meeting will begin at 9 a.m. and continue until 3 p.m. During this meeting we will share information on Roadless area considerations in the Okanogan and Wenatchee National Forests Forest Plan process, approaches for future monitoring of Northwest Forest Plan projects, and the Forest Service Centennial anniversary. All Eastern Washington Cascades and Yakima Province Advisory Committee meetings are open to the public.

The USDA, Forest Service, DOI, Bureau of Land Management and Idaho Department of Environmental Quality are preparing an Environmental Impact Statement to document the analysis and disclose the environmental impacts of the proposed Smoky Canyon Mine, Panels F and G Project, a phosphate mine expansion. This revised Notice of Intent is to document some changes in the schedule. In the original NOI, the tentative date for filing the Draft EIS was March of 2005 and the Final EIS was scheduled for September, 2005. Due to scheduling changes, the Draft EIS is now expected to be available for review in December, 2005. The final EIS is scheduled to be completed in July, 2006. Plans have been developed and submitted for agency review for an extension of open pit mining operations at the J.R. Simplot Company (Simplot) Smoky Canyon Phosphate Mine in Canyon County, Idaho, located approximately 20 miles west of Afton, Wyoming. Simplot has operated existing Smoky Canyon Mine since 1983 and within a few years will complete mining of currently permitted reserves. Agency Decisions: The BLM Idaho State Director or delegated official will make a decision regarding approval of the proposed mine and reclamation plan and appropriate land use authorizations (including a proposed 520 acre modification to I-27512 and up to a 100 acre modification to I-01441) on leased lands. Decisions will be based on the EIS and any recommendations the FS may have regarding surface management of leased National Forest System lands. The Caribou-Targhee National Forest Supervisor makes recommendations to the BLM concerning surface management and mitigation on leased lands within the Caribou- Targhee National Forest and makes decisions on mine-related activities which occur off-lease. The Army Corps of Engineers may also make decisions related to permits under section 404 of the Clean Water Act.

The Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) announces the availability of $2.5 million in funding for the 2006 Quality Samples Program (QSP). The intended effect of this notice is to solicit applications by March 2006 and award funds in June 2006. The QSP is administered by personnel of the Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS). This notice supercedes any prior notices concerning the QSP.

The Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) announces the availability of approximately $9 million in funding for the Emerging Markets Program (EMP) for fiscal year (FY) 2006. The intended effect of this notice is to solicit applications from the private sector and from government agencies for FY 2006 and awards funds in early July 2006. The EMP is administered by personnel of the Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS).

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Forest Service is seeking comments from all interested individuals and organizations on the extension with revision of information collection 0596-0082 for the administration of special uses on National Forest System lands. The information helps the Forest Service ensure that the authorized use of Federal land is in the public interest and compatible with the mission of the agency. Respondents will include individuals, groups, organizations, businesses, corporations, and Federal, State, and local governments.

A public hearing is being held to consider proposals for the Appalachian and Southeast Federal milk orders to amend the current inter-market transportation credit provisions and to establish new intra-market transportation credit provisions. Evidence will be taken at the hearing to determine whether emergency marketing conditions exist that would warrant omission of a recommended decision under the rules of practice and procedure (7 CFR 900.12(d)).

On October 23, 2003, a Notice of Intent (NOI) to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Chloride Bush Project on the Idaho Panhandle National Forests was published in the Federal Register (68 FR 60637-60638). The NOI is canceled because the Idaho Panhandle National Forests no longer intend to proceed with this project.

The Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forests will begin charging a $5.00 daily special recreation permit trail fee per tow vehicle at the newly constructed Dry Creek Equestrian Trailhead. This new trailhead will facilitate equestrian use of the Chattahoochee National Forest and is located on the Armuchee/Cohutta Ranger District. Fee revenue will support operations and maintenance of the trailhead, trail system, and future site improvements.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Forest Service is seeking comments from all interested individuals and organizations on the new information collection, role of local communities in development of agreement or contract plans under stewardship contracting.

The Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forests' Oconee Ranger District will begin charging a $5.00 daily special recreation permit trail fee at the Town CreekRoberts Bike Camp Off Highway Vehicle (OHV) trail system. Construction of the site was completed in 2005. This new OHV trailhead replaces an existing trailhead that was moved a quarter mile to protect environmental and archaeological sites. The new trailhead will facilitate continued OHV use on the existing 16 mile loop designated trail system. Funds collected will be used for the continued safe operation and maintenance of the OHV trail system and trailhead.

The Department of Agriculture, Forest Service is issuing this notice to advise the public that we are canceling the Notice of Intent (NOI) to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to assess and disclose the environmental effects of issuing a road easement to allow motorized access to private property surrounding Matheson Reservoir.

The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) is publishing procedures to administer the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farmers Market at 12th Street & Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC. These procedures allow AMS the means to demonstrate and experiment with direct marketing techniques (operate a farmers market), while at the same time educating consumers on the significance of small farms, the nutritional benefits of fresh fruits and vegetables, and the merits of food recovery. This final rule includes guidelines for the establishment of vendor criteria, selection procedures, and guidelines for governing the operation of the USDA Farmers Market. Also established is a one-time yearly submission information collection in a required application form.

We are amending the fruits and vegetables regulations to allow the importation of fragrant pears from China under certain conditions. As a condition of entry, fragrant pears from China must be grown in the Korla region of Xinjiang Province in a production site that is registered with the national plant protection organization of China. The fragrant pears will be subject to inspection. In addition, the pears must be packed in cartons that are labeled in accordance with the regulations, shipped in insect-proof containers, and safeguarded from pest infestation during transport to the United States. This action will allow fragrant pears to be imported from China while continuing to provide protection against the introduction of plant pests into the United States.

This notice lists the newspapers that Ranger Districts, Forests, and the Regional Office of the Alaska Region will use to publish legal notice of all decisions subject to appeal under 36 CFR 215 and to publish legal notices for public comment on actions subject to the notice and comment provisions of 36 CFR 215, as updated on June 4, 2003. The intended effect of this action is to inform interested members of the public which newspapers will be used to publish legal notice of actions subject to public comment and decisions subject to appeal under 36 CFR 215, thereby allowing them to receive constructive notice of a decision or proposed action, to provide clear evidence of timely notice, and to achieve consistency in administering the appeals process.

We propose to amend the fruits and vegetables regulations to list a number of fruits and vegetables from certain parts of the world as eligible, under specified conditions, for importation into the United States. Some of the fruits and vegetables are already eligible for importation under permit, but are not specifically listed in the regulations. All of the fruits and vegetables, as a condition of entry, would be inspected and subject to treatment at the port of first arrival as may be required by an inspector. In addition, some of the fruits and vegetables would be required to meet other special conditions. In one case, we propose to add a systems approach that would provide an alternative to methyl bromide fumigation. These actions would provide the United States with additional types and sources of fruits and vegetables while continuing to protect against the introduction of quarantine pests through imported fruits and vegetables.

This rule invites comments on a relaxation of the minimum grade requirement for certain potatoes handled under the Colorado potato marketing order, Area No. 2. The Colorado Potato Administrative Committee, Area No. 2 (Committee), the agency responsible for local administration of the marketing order, recommended this rule as a replacement for a previously issued proposed rule. This rule would change the minimum grade from U.S. No. 1 to U.S. Commercial for varieties of long, red-skinned, yellow fleshed potatoes 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. The proposed change is intended to provide potato handlers with more marketing flexibility, growers with increased returns, and consumers with a greater supply of small specialty potatoes.

This rule proposes to terminate the Federal marketing order for melons grown in South Texas (order) and the rules and regulations issued thereunder. The order contains authority to regulate the handling of melons grown in South Texas and is administered locally by the South Texas Melon Committee (Committee). The Committee recommended terminating the order at a meeting on September 7, 2005. The Department of Agriculture (USDA) suspended regulations under the order while it considered the Committee's recommendation. This rule invites comments on proposed termination of the order.

The Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests proposes to begin charging a fee for the overnight rental of Caldwell Cabin. Rentals of other cabins in the Arizona National Forests have shown that publics appreciate and enjoy the availability of historic rental cabins. Funds from the rental will be used for the continued operation and maintenance of Caldwell Cabin. Caldwell Cabin is located in T4N, R28E Sec. 14.

The Rural Utilities Service (RUS) hereby announces the recipients selected to receive grant awards during fiscal year (FY) 2005 under the Distance Learning and Telemedicine Grant Program.

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 Modoc National Forest's Modoc Resource Advisory Committee will meet Monday, January 9th, 2006 and February 6th, 2006 and March 6th in Alturas, California for business meetings. The meetings are open to the public.