Department of Agriculture 2005 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The USDA, Forest Service, Bitterroot National Forest, will prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to document the analysis and disclose the environmental impacts of the proposed Trapper Land Stewardship Project. The project area is located in Ravalli County, west of Darby, Montana. The project analysis area encompasses approximately 34,300 acres between the Trapper Creek and Bunkhouse Creek drainages of the Bitterroot River watershed. The proposed project would manage vegetation to address urban interface needs, insect and disease infestations, dead and dying vegetation; travel systems will also be evaluated to reduce sedimentation, restore aquatic passage and provide managed recreation opportunities including ATV and motorcycle travel loops. Site-specific Bitterroot Forest Plan amendments are proposed for: snag standards, Forest Wide Elk Habitat Effectiveness (EHE) standards, and-Forest-wide thermal cover standards. Approximately 6000 acres between Trapper and Bunkhouse drainages of the Bitterroot River watershed are proposed for vegetation treatments. We will also be working with scientists from the Rocky Mountain Research Station and the Leopold Wilderness Institute to provide opportunities to evaluate our ability to influence fire spread with vegetation management and the effects of our management on the ecosystem. Public Involvement: The public is invited to comment on the Proposed Action or meet with Chuck Oliver at any point in time during the 30-day comment period beginning on the date of the publication of the Notice of Intent in the Federal Register. Contact Chuck Oliver at (406) 821-3913 or e-mail coliver01@fs.fed.us to schedule a meeting. To get on the mailing list contact Elizabeth Ballard (406) 777-5461, or email eballard@fs.fed.us.

This partial final decision adopts proposed amendments to the Appalachian and Southeast marketing areas as contained in a partial recommended decision published in the Federal Register on May 20, 2005. Specifically, this decision would expand the Appalachian milk marketing area, eliminate the ability to simultaneously pool the same milk on the Appalachian or Southeast order and on a State-operated milk order that has marketwide pooling, and amend the transportation credit provisions of the Southeast and Appalachian orders. The orders as amended are subject to approval by producers in the affected markets.

The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service will hold a public meeting concerning the animal movement tracking database component for the National Animal Identification System. The purpose of the meeting is to initiate dialogue about this initiative with industry stakeholders, including representatives of national organizations that represent livestock and poultry production sectors, livestock producers, and other interested individuals. This notice provides information on the discussion topics as well as the date, time, and place of the meeting.

The Forest Service will revise the Land and Resource Management Plan (hereafter referred to as the Forest Plan) for the Shoshone National Forest. This notice describes documents available for review and how to obtain them; summarizes the need to change the Forest Plan; provides information concerning public participation; and includes the names and addresses of agency officials who can provide additional information.

The National Urban and Community Forestry Advisory Council will meet in Sacramento, California, October 18-20, 2005. The purpose of the meeting is to discuss emerging issues in urban and community forestry.

We are reopening the comment period for our proposed rule that would amend the cut flowers regulations to establish specific requirements for the importation of cut flowers that are hosts of chrysanthemum white rust (CWR) from countries where the disease is known to occur. We also proposed to amend the nursery stock regulations to update lists of countries where CWR is known to occur. This action will allow interested persons additional time to prepare and submit comments.

The Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 requires the Secretary of Agriculture to establish a Peanut Standards Board (Board) for the purpose of advising the Secretary on quality and handling standards for domestically produced and imported peanuts. The initial Board was appointed by the Secretary and announced on December 5, 2002. USDA seeks nominations for individuals to be considered for selection to the Board to fill a vacant Board position for the remainder of a term of office ending June 30, 2006. The Board consists of 18 members representing producers and industry representatives.

The Ravalli County Resource Advisory Committee will be meeting to assign monitors on 2005 projects and hold a short public forum (question and answer session). The meeting is being held 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 200 (Pub. L. 106-393). The meeting is open to the public.

This notice announces that the National Advisory Committee on Microbiological Criteria for Foods (NACMCF) will hold public meetings of the full Committee and subcommittees on September 26-29, 2005. The Committee will discuss: (1) Consumer guidelines for the safe cooking of poultry products, (2) analytical utility of Campylobacter methodologies, and (3) determination of cooking parameters for safe seafood for consumers.

The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) is increasing Plant Variety Protection (PVP) Office application, search, and certificate issuance fees by 20 percent. The last general fee increase in February 2003 is no longer adequate to cover current program obligations for administrative and information technology needs. The PVP Act of 1970 requires that reasonable fees be collected from applicants seeking certificates of protection in order to maintain the program. Also, a technical amendment will allow applicants to send voucher seed samples directly to the public repository.

This proposed rule would amend the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) National List of Allowed and Prohibited Substances (National List) regulations to reflect recommendations submitted to the Secretary of Agriculture (Secretary) by the National Organic Standards Board (NOSB) from November 15, 2000, through March 3, 2005. Consistent with the recommendations from the NOSB, this proposed rule would add fifteen substances, along with any restrictive annotations, to the National List. This proposed rule would also amend the mailing address for where to file a Certification or Accreditation appeal.

This notice sets forth the schedule and proposed agenda of a forthcoming meeting of the Plant Variety Protection Board.

The USDA Forest Service will prepare an environmental impact statement to disclose the environmental effects from construction of defensible fuel profile zones (DFPZs); harvest and reforestation of timber stands; watersted rehabilitation; control of noxious weeds; construction of temporary roads and reconstruction of specified roads; decommissioning of roads; road access restrictions, and underburning forest fuels and debris in the Slapjack project area.

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 Boise and Payette National Forests' Southwest Idaho Resource Advisory Committee will conduct a business meeting, which is open to the public.

Pursuant to the authorities in the Federal Advisory Committee Act (Public Law 92-463) and under the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act of 2000 (Public Law 106-393) the Lolo and Kootenai National Forests' Sanders County Resource Advisory Committee will meet on September 15 at 7 p.m. in Thompson Falls, Montana for a business meeting. The meeting is open to the public.

This rule limits the volume of sizes 48 and 56 red seedless grapefruit entering the fresh market and changes procedures used for this purpose under the marketing order for oranges, grapefruit, tangerines, and tangelos grown in Florida (order). The order is administered locally by the Citrus Administrative Committee (Committee). The procedural changes modify the way a handler's average week is determined by providing that if crop conditions limit shipments from any of the three prior seasons, a prior season or seasons can be used for the three-season average. The average week is used by the Committee in determining the handler shipment allotments. This rule also limits the volume of small sizes entering the fresh market for the first 22 weeks of the 2005-2006 season beginning September 19, 2005. This action is intended to make the regulation more responsive to industry needs and provide adequate supplies of small red seedless grapefruit without saturating all markets. It is expected to stabilize supplies and improve grower returns.

The Ketchikan Resource Advisory Committee will meet in Ketchikan, Alaska, October 13, 2005 and December 15, 2005. The purpose of these meetings is to discuss potential projects under the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act of 2000.

Pursuant to the authorities in the Federal Advisory Committees Act (Pub. L. 92-463), the Northeast Oregon Forests Resource Advisory Committee (RAC) will meet on September 19 and 20, 2005 in La Grande, Oregon. The purpose of the meeting is to meet as a Committee to review proposed projects for fiscal year 2006 and to review projects in the field.

The United States Department of Agriculture Forest Service (USDA, FS), Region 3, Kaibab National Forest, announces the cancellation of its intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for expansion of the Bill Williams Ski Area. The Notice of Intent to prepare this EIS was published in the Federal Register Volume 62, No. 223 on November 19, 1997, page 61726. The notice of availability for the Draft EIS was published in the Federal Register Volume 64, No. 246 on December 23, 1999, pages 72078 and 72079. The environmental analysis process for this project has been terminated and a decision on the proposed action is no longer necessary.

The Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, is issuing this notice to advise the public that we are rescinding the notice of intent (NOI) to prepare an environmental impact statement (EIS) for the Fanshaw Project.

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 Beaverhead- Deerlodge National Forest's Tri-County Resource Advisory Committee will meet on Thursday, October 6, 2005, from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. in Deer Lodge, Montana, for a business meeting. The meeting is open to the public.

Pursuant to Section 102(2)(C) of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969; the Council on Environmental Quality Guidelines (40 CFR part 1500); and the Natural Resources Conservation Service (formerly the Soil Conservation Service) Guidelines (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 North Fork Cowanesque River Watershed, Potter County, Pennsylvania.

This rule modifies the pack requirements currently prescribed under the Washington potato marketing order. The marketing order regulates the handling of Irish potatoes grown in Washington, and is administered locally by the State of Washington Potato Committee (Committee). This rule relaxes the pack requirements to allow handlers to ship U.S. No. 2 grade potatoes in cartons to better meet buyer needs. Currently, only potatoes grading U.S. No. 1 or better, or potatoes failing to grade U.S. No. 1 only because of internal defects, may be shipped in cartons. The relaxation in pack requirements will help maximize producer returns.

The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) of the Department of Agriculture (USDA) is soliciting comments on its proposal to revise the United States Standards for Grades of Globe Artichokes. AMS is proposing to include a U.S. No. 1 Long Stem grade along with an undersize tolerance of 5 percent in the standards. The new grade will have the same requirements as the U.S. No. 1 except that the stems must be smoothly cut to a minimum length of at least 8 inches, unless specified to a longer length in connection with the grade. AMS is proposing to further define ``fairly compact'' to include a definition for ``slightly spread'' to mean, ``the outer scales may be slightly open, but the inner scales at the tip of the artichoke must be closely folded into the bud.'' The proposed revisions would bring the standards for globe artichokes in line with current marketing practices, thereby improving their usefulness in serving the industry.