Department of Agriculture 2005 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) is proposing to establish a separate user-fee schedule for the Quality Systems Verification Programs (QSVP) and expand the scope of the QSVP to include all agricultural products and services within the responsibility of the Livestock and Seed (LS) Program. A new Part 62 would be established for QSVP services. QVSP are a collection of voluntary, audit-based, user-fee programs authorized under the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946. QSVP facilitate the global marketing and trade of agricultural products; provide consumers the opportunity to distinguish specific characteristics involved in the production and processing of agricultural products; and ensure that product consistently meets program requirements.

The Rural Business-Cooperative Service (RBS) proposes to amend its regulation for the Business and Industry (B&I) Guaranteed Loans by modifying the regulations regarding personal and corporate guarantors. This action will standardize the guarantor process. The Agency will create a guarantor form which will be used to obtain the personal or corporate guarantee of anyone owning greater than 20 percent interest in the borrower. The effect of this rule is to allow the Agency to use all remedies available to pursue collection from guarantors, including offset under the Debt Collection Improvement Act.

This is a revision of a Notice of Intent originally published in the Federal Register on August 4, 2004. This revision also hereby withdraws another Notice of Intent, originally published in the Federal Register on August 31, 2004, and incorporates that project into this one. The original Notice of August 4, 2004 for the ``Forest-Wide Integrated Weed Management'' project stated the Forest Service would prepare an environmental impact statement to address noxious weeds on a maximum of 15,000 acres per year on the Lolo National Forest, using aerial and ground application of herbicides, biological and manual control methods. The Notice of August 31, 2004 for the ``Pattee Canyon Weed Management Project'' stated the Forest Service would prepare an environmental impact statement to control invasive weeds on approximately 2,500 acres of land near Missoula, Montana, using aerial and ground applications of herbicides, biological control agents, and revegetation. This revision withdraws the ``Pattee Canyon Weed Management Project'' as a separate project, and combines it into the ``Forest-Wide Integrated Weed Management'' project. The reason for the change is to make the analysis more efficient, because the ``Pattee Canyon Weed Management Project'' area is wholly within the ``Forest-Wide Integrated Weed Management'' project area, because the proposed weed management methods and aims are the same for both projects, and because undertaking two analyses would be less efficient. The issues identified in the August 31, 2004 Federal Register Notice for the ``Pattee Canyon Weed Management Project'' included the effectiveness of the proposed treatments, potential risks to human health and safety associated with herbicides, and the potential adverse effects of herbicides on native vegetation. The August 4, 2004 Federal Register Notice for the ``Forest-Wide Integrated Weed Management'' project did not list any specific issues. However, based on public scoping, the issues identified for the ``Pattee Canyon Weed Management Project'' apply to the ``Forest-Wide Integrated Weed Management'' project as well. The public comments received for the ``Pattee Canyon Weed Management Project'' will be incorporated into the ``Forest-Wide Integrated Weed Management'' project. The August 4, 2004 Federal Register Notice is hereby amended to include them. The August 4, 2004 Notice is further amended to also include the following additional issues: 1. Recognizing that invasive weeds are spreading rapidly in Western Montana, what effect will invasive weeds have on wildlife and native plant communities? 2. What potential adverse effects might herbicides have on wildlife, fish and water quality?

The Shasta County Resource Advisory Committee (RAC) will meet at the USDA Service Center in Redding, California, May 4-5, June 1 and July 5 of 2005. The purpose of this meeting is to discuss proposed projects under Title II of the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self- Determination Act of 2000.

The Intergovernmental Advisory Committee (IAC), Northwest Forest Plan (NWFP), has scheduled a meeting on April 21, 2005 from 8 a.m. to 12 noon at the Washington Conference Room, Jantzen Beach DoubleTree Hotel, 909 N Hayden Island Drive, Portland, OR 97217, 503- 283-4466. The purpose of the meeting is to review key findings and trends from the April 19-20, 2005 Science and the Northwest Forest Plan, Knowledge Gained Over a Decade conference (see https:// outreach.cof.orst.edu/nwforestplan/index.php) and collect advice regarding the findings and how they may be used to improve NWFP implementation. The meeting is open to the public and fully accessible for people with disabilities. A 15-minute time slot is reserved for public comments at 8:30 a.m. Interpreters are available upon request at least 10 days prior to the meeting. Written comments may be submitted for the meeting record. Interested persons are encouraged to attend.

The Rural Utilities Service (RUS) hereby gives notice that no adverse comments were received regarding the direct final rule on Assistance to High Energy Cost Rural Communities, and confirms the effective date of the direct final rule.

On July 19, 2004, USDA Inspector General Phyllis K. Fong, pursuant to authority vested in her by the Federal Vacancies Reform Act (5 U.S.C. 3345-3349d) and the Inspector General Act of 1978 (5 U.S.C. App. 3), issued IG-1313, Change 6, Succession and Delegations of Authority. This directive is a revised Succession and Delegations of Authority for the Office of Inspector General. This directive has been revised to show the lines of succession and delegation and clarifies procedures to be followed in the event the Office of Inspector General (OIG) headquarters must be relocated. This directive provides guidance on the transfer of functions and duties of the Inspector General (IG), as well as other OIG central management functions, regardless of what events necessitate such transfer.

Pursuant to the Watershed Protection and Flood Prevention Act, Pub. L. 83-566, and the Natural Resources Conservation Service Guidelines (7 CFR 622), the Natural Resources Conservation Service gives notice of the deauthorization of Federal funding for the White Tank Mountains Watershed, Maricopa County, Arizona effective on March 9, 2005.

It has been determined by the NRCS State Conservationist for Tennessee that changes must be made in the NRCS Field Office Technical Guide, specifically in practice standard Critical Area Planting (342) to account for improved technology. This practice standard can be used in conservation systems designed to treat highly erodible cropland.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice announces the intent of the Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) to request revision of the information collection currently approved in support of the Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) for Farmers Program. FAS invites public comments on this notice.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice announces the intent of the Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) and the Farm Service Agency (FSA) to request extension of the information collection currently used in support of the CCC and FSA Farm Loan Programs (FLP).

The Rural Utilities Service (RUS), an agency delivering the U. S. Department of Agriculture's Rural Development Utilities Programs, is amending its regulations to revise the definition for ``eligible rural community'' as it relates to the rural access broadband loans and loan guarantees program. In the final rule section of this Federal Register, RUS is publishing this action as a direct final rule without prior proposal because RUS views this as a non-controversial action and anticipates no adverse comments. If no adverse comments are received in response to the direct final rule, no further action will be taken on this proposed rule and the action will become effective at the time specified in the direct final rule. If RUS receives adverse comments, a timely document will be published withdrawing the direct final rule and all public comments received will be addressed in a subsequent final rule based on this action.

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is issuing a final rule for the Emergency Watershed Protection (EWP) Program to improve the effectiveness of its response to natural disasters. This final rule establishes the process by which NRCS will administer the EWP Program, responds to comments on the proposed rule received from the public during the 60-day comment period, and incorporates modifications and clarifications to improve implementation of the program.

Pursuant to the Federal Advisory Committee Act, we are giving notice of a meeting of the National Wildlife Services Advisory Committee.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice invites the general public and other public agencies to comment on the proposed extension of this collection. The information collection involves the use of a web-based pre-screening tool for the general public to use to determine potential eligibility for Food Stamp Program benefits. A new component of this tool collects survey data about the usability of the tool. Some data provided by the users will be captured and retained for analytical purposes. No personal identifiers such as last names, social security numbers, birthdates, etc. will be collected or retained.

The USDA, Forest Service, will prepare an environmental impact statement (EIS) on a proposed action to maintain and restore forest health conditions within the 160,000-acre planning area known as Five Buttes Interface. The planning area is located approximately 50 miles south of Bend, Oregon, south of Wickiup Reservoir, east of the Cascade Crest, and west of State Highway 97. The area is a combination of public lands (90%), managed by the Deschutes National Forest, and private lands (10%). The alternatives will include the proposed action, no action, and additional alternatives that respond to issues generated through the scoping process. The agency will give notice of the full environmental analysis and decision making process so interested and affected people may participate and contribute to the final decision.

This rule would increase the assessment rate established for the State of Washington Potato Committee (Committee) for the 2005-2006 and subsequent fiscal periods from $0.002 to $0.0035 per hundredweight of potatoes handled. The Committee locally administers the marketing order which regulates the handling of Irish potatoes grown in Washington. Authorization to assess potato 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 would remain in effect indefinitely unless modified, suspended, or terminated.

This rule revises the handling requirements for California nectarines and peaches by modifying the grade, size, maturity, and pack requirements for fresh shipments of these fruits, beginning with 2005 season shipments. This rule also authorizes continued shipments of ``CA Utility'' quality nectarines and peaches, and revises weight-count standards for fruit in volume-filled containers. The marketing orders regulate the handling of nectarines and peaches grown in California and are administered locally by the Nectarine Administrative and Peach Commodity Committees (committees). This rule will enable handlers to continue to ship fresh nectarines and peaches in a manner that meets consumer needs, increases returns to producers and handlers, and reflects current industry practices.

This document announces assistance under the Farm Service Agency's Tree Assistance Program (TAP) regulations in 7 CFR part 783 as authorized by the Military Construction and Appropriations Act, 2005. The first part of this notice announces the availability of assistance for claims under TAP related to Orchardists and Forest Land Owners. The second part proposes funding for special Tree Assistance Program benefits with respect to Pecan Tree Producers. The provisions in this notice for orchard and forest timber assistance are final. For pecan tree assistance, a period is allowed for comments since it is proposed that ``other appropriate activities'' allowed for assistance would only include those related to pruning and tree rehabilitation. This notice is intended to provide notice to those producers who may qualify for this assistance, and provide conditions for eligibility required by the Act under which it is funded.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice announces the intention of the Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) to request a revision and extension of a currently approved information collection. This collection is necessary to support the procurement of agricultural commodities for CCC's domestic and export food donation programs. CCC issues invitations to purchase or process commodities for food donation programs on a monthly, multi-month, quarterly, and yearly basis. Special invitations, however, are issued throughout the month.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) and the Farm Service Agency (FSA) are seeking comments from all interested individuals and organizations on the extension of an approved information collection associated with the acreage report for the Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP). This information collection is needed to administer the program.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice invites the general public and other public agencies to comment on proposed information collections. The FNS-674 Form is a standard form used by the Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) to collect information necessary to grant access to FNS computer systems. The collected data will be used to identify all users granted access to FNS internal systems as required by USDA and FNS Security Policy.

This document confirms the effective date of the direct final rule that makes miscellaneous amendments to the Agriculture Acquisition Regulation (AGAR), 48 CFR ch 4.