Department of Agriculture 2005 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The USDA Forest Service will prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to document and disclose the potential environmental effects of proposed invasive plant treatments. The Proposed Action is to apply a combination of herbicide, manual and mechanical methods to control known invasive plants within approximately 2,687 acres over 114 treatment areas on the Gifford Pinchot National Forest and Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area in Washington. The Proposed Action would also establish criteria for responding to infestations that cannot be predicted. This notice revises the Notice to Intent to prepare an EIS announced in the Federal Register on February 23, 2004. Four national forests were combined for analysis in the 2004 NOI; currently, the Forest Service intends to prepare the three separate site-specific statements: One for the Olympic National Forest, one for the Gifford-Pinchot National Forest and the northern portion of the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area in Washington, and one for the Mount Hood National Forest and the southern portion of the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area in Oregon. The project has been refined partly in response to comments received during the initial scoping period.

The USDA Forest Service will prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to document and disclose the potential environmental effects of proposed invasive plant treatments. The Proposed Action is to apply a combination of herbicide, mechanical and manual treatments to control known invasive plants within approximately 3,830 acres in 99 treatment areas on the Olympic National Forest in Washington. The Proposed Action would also establish criteria for responding to infestations that cannot be predicted. This notice revises the Notice of Intent to prepare an EIS announced in the Federal Register on February 23, 2004. Four national forests were combined for analysis in the 2004 NOI. Currently, the Forest Service intends to prepare three separate site-specific statements: one for the Olympic National Forest, one for the Gifford- Pinchot National Forest and the northern portion of the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area in Washington, and one for the Mount Hood National Forest and the southern portion of the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area in Oregon. The project has been refined partly in response to comments received during the initial scoping period.

The Willamette National Forest is seeking nominees for five positions on the Opal Creek Advisory Council. The Council was originally established in June 2000 with 13 members. About half of the current members will remain on the Council to provide continuity for new members. The Advisory Council makes recommendations to the Detroit District Ranger on matters relating to the management of the Opal Creek Scenic Recreation Area (SRA). The Advisory Council is composed of a diverse group of citizens, which allows for sharing of technical knowledge and personal experience. Members represent interests including, but not limited to: timber industry; environmental organizations; mining industry; land inholders within the Opal Creek Wilderness and SRA; economic development interests; and Indian tribes. Other members serving on the Council as required by the Act represent Marion County, communities within a 25 mile radius of the SRA, State of Oregon, and City of Salem. Positions to be filled are from timber industry, in-holders, environmental organizations, mining industry and one at-large member. Examples of ``at-large'' members who may be interested in serving on this Council include recreation interests, adjacent landowner, educators and researchers. Nominees must be United States citizens, at least 18 years old. Willamette officials will recommend nominees' appointments to the Secretary of Agriculture based on criteria which includes long-time familiarity with the Opal Creek SRA, knowledge and understanding of other cultures, ability to actively participate in diverse team settings, and respect and credibility in local communities. Nominations are due September 19, 2005. People interested in more information or a nomination packet should contact the Detroit Ranger District at 503-854-3366. The nomination packet can also be downloaded from the Opal Creek Advisory Council section of the Willamette National Forest Web site: https://www.fs.fed.us/r6/willamette/manage/opalcreek/ index.html.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice announces the Foreign Agricultural Service's (FAS) intention to request an extension for a currently approved information collection. This information collection is required in petitions filed with the Foreign Agricultural Service for emergency relief from duty-free imports of perishable products under section 204(d) of the Andean Trade Promotion and Drug Eradication Act.

The Agricultural Air Quality Task Force (AAQTF) meeting originally scheduled for Thursday, September 22-23, 2005, in Ithaca, New York, has been cancelled. The original meeting notice can be found in the Federal Register, Volume 70, Number 151, pages 45649-45650, published on Monday, August 8, 2005.

This rule would increase the assessment rates established for the Nectarine Administrative Committee and the Peach Commodity Committee (committees) for the 2005-06 and subsequent fiscal periods from $0.195 and $0.19, respectively, to $0.20 per 25-pound container or container equivalent of nectarines and peaches handled. The committees locally administer the marketing orders that regulate the handling of nectarines and peaches grown in California. Authorization to assess nectarine and peach handlers enables the committees to incur expenses that are reasonable and necessary to administer the programs. The fiscal period runs from March 1 through the last day of February. The assessment rates would remain in effect indefinitely unless modified, suspended, or terminated.

Notice is hereby given that the comment period on the proposed relaxation of minimum grade requirements for Colorado Area No. 2 potatoes under Marketing Order No. 948 (order), and for imported red- skinned round type potatoes under the potato import regulation is reopened until September 12, 2005.

This is to notify cooperatives and cooperative associations, university personnel, public and private researchers with interests in agricultural and other rural cooperative policy, and other interested persons that Rural Business-Cooperative Service (RBS) is holding a public meeting for interested persons to express their views on the research needs of rural cooperatives with an emphasis on their business and organizational challenges and appropriate policies for strengthening agricultural and rural cooperatives in the United States.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice announces the Rural Housing Service's intention to request an extension for a currently approved information collection in support of the program for 7 CFR Part 3550, Direct Single Family Housing Loans and Grants and its accompanying Handbooks.

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 request revision and extension of a currently approved information collection, the Stocks Reports.

We are proposing to amend the regulations governing the importation of meat and other edible animal products by allowing, under certain conditions, the importation of whole cuts of boneless beef from Japan. We are proposing this action in response to a request from the Government of Japan and after conducting an analysis of the risk that indicates that such beef can be safely imported from Japan under the conditions described in this proposal.

This document proposes to adopt as a final notice add to the recommended manufacturing milk requirements (Recommended Requirements) by providing provisions for sheep milk, adding follow-up procedures used when plant-commingled milk in storage tanks exceeds the maximum allowable bacterial estimate, and providing a definition for heat- treated cream. The notice to add to the recommended manufacturing milk requirements (Recommended Requirements) was initiated at the request of the Dairy Division of the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture (NASDA) and developed in cooperation with NASDA, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), dairy trade associations, and producer groups. This document also proposes certain other changes to the Recommended Requirements for clarity and consistency.

In a meeting held August 4, 2005, the Board of Directors (Board) of the Rural Telephone Bank (Bank) approved resolutions to liquidate and dissolve the Bank, subject to lifting of the current statutory restriction limiting the amount of Government-owned Class A stock that the Bank can redeem. This notice is being published to ensure that all interested parties are informed of the details of the resolutions approved by the Board.

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 Alpine County Resource Advisory Committee (RAC) will meet on Tuesday, September 06, 2005 at 18:00 at the Diamond Valley School for business meetings. The purpose of the meeting is to discuss issues relating to implementing the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act of 2000 (Payment to States) and expenditure of Title II funds. The meetings are open to the public.

The United States Grain Standards Act, as amended (Act), provides that official agency designations will be cancelled upon request by the official agency with a 90 day written notice to Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration (GIPSA). The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (Minnesota), designated to provide official inspection and weighing services until September 30, 2006, has requested GIPSA to cancel the designation, covering official domestic services, effective November 9, 2005. Minnesota will continue to provide export services under a delegation agreement with GIPSA. Accordingly, GIPSA is announcing that Minnesota's designation will be canceled, on or about November 9, 2005. GIPSA is asking for applicants for domestic service in the Minnesota area.

This rule would increase the assessment rate and change the assessable unit established for the Kiwifruit Administrative Committee (Committee) for the 2005-06 and subsequent fiscal periods from $0.002 per pound of kiwifruit to $0.045 per 9-kilo volume-fill container or equivalent of kiwifruit. The Committee locally administers the marketing order which regulates the handling of kiwifruit grown in California. Authorization to assess kiwifruit handlers enables the Committee to incur expenses that are reasonable and necessary to administer the program. The fiscal period begins August 1 and ends July 31. The assessment rate would remain in effect indefinitely unless modified, suspended, or terminated.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. Chapter 35, as amended), the Rural Utilities Service (RUS) invites comments on this information collection for which RUS intends to request approval from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB).

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. Chapter 35, as amended), the Rural Utilities Service (RUS) invites comments on this information collection for which RUS intends to request approval from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB).

The USDA Forest Service is proposing to conduct timber harvest, noncommercial thinning, and fuels reduction activities in the eastern half of the Maury Mountains. The proposal includes the connected action of constructing 20.9 miles of road. The project area covers approximately 24,250 acres.

Pursuant to the authorities in the Federal Advisory Committee Act (Pub. L. 92-463) and under the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act of 2000 (Pub. L. 106-393) the Kootenai National Forest's Lincoln County Resource Advisory Committee will meet on Tuesday, September 6, 2005 at 6 p.m. at the Forest Supervisor's Office in Libby, Montana for a business meeting. The meeting is open to the public.

We are advising the public that the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service has prepared an environmental assessment for a field trial of genetically engineered strains of a bacterium, Erwinia carotovora, the causal agent of tuber soft rot disease in potato. The bacteria have been genetically engineered to disrupt the disease causing pathway. This field trial will allow researchers to better understand the function of each mutated gene under field conditions. This environmental assessment is available for public review and comment.

The FSIS is conducting a review of the regulations established by the Pathogen Reduction/Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) final rule under Section 610 of the Regulatory Flexibility Act, as amended. These provisions require that all Federal agencies review existing regulations that have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities to determine whether the associated impact can be minimized. FSIS is seeking comment from the public, especially from small meat and poultry establishments, on the regulations established by the Pathogen Reduction; Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point Systems (HACCP) final rule.

We are adopting as a final rule, without change, an interim rule that amended the brucellosis regulations concerning the interstate movement of swine by adding Florida to the list of validated brucellosis-free States. The interim rule was based on our determination that Florida meets the criteria for classification as a validated brucellosis-free State. That action relieved certain restrictions on the interstate movement of breeding swine from Florida.

The USDA, Forest Service, will prepare an environmental impact statement (EIS) in accordance with Section 102(2)(C) of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (Pub. L. 91-190) to document the analysis and disclose the environmental effects of the proposed action to reestablish road access provided by Forest Service Road (FSR) 2610 and Park Service Dosewallips Road to National Forest and National Park recreational facilities. The proposed action is to rebuild FSR 2610 through a washout area using a low-water crossing design and to repair damage to the Park's Dosewallips Road, including the portion of road in the vicinity of the Dosewallips River Falls.

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 Chiwapa Creek Watershed, Pontotoc, Lee, and Monroe Counties, Mississippi.