Department of Agriculture January 2006 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

Notice is hereby given that the Rural Utilities Service (RUS) has made a finding of no significant impact (FONSI) in connection with potential impacts related to the construction and operation of a natural gas-fired simple cycle, combustion turbine power generation facility in Cambridge Township in Isanti County, Minnesota. The electrical output from the facility is expected to range from 170 megawatts (MW) to 190 MW depending upon operating conditions. RUS may provide financial assistance for this project.

We are advising the public that an environmental assessment and finding of no significant impact have been prepared by the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service relative to the issuance of a permit for the environmental release of the nonindigenous fly Fergusonina turneri Taylor and its obligate nematode Fergusobia quinquenerviae Davies and Giblin-Davis, which are potential biological control agents of Melaleuca quinquenervia. The environmental assessment documents our review and analysis of environmental impacts associated with, and alternatives to, issuing a permit for the environmental release of the fly and its obligate nematode in the continental United States. Based on its finding of no significant impact, the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service has determined that an environmental impact statement need not be prepared.

We are advising the public that the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service's Animal Care program will host a meeting to present current information on the enforcement of the Horse Protection Act (HPA) and provide a forum for horse industry members and other interested persons to comment on the Horse Protection Program, development of the HPA Operating Plan for 2007 and beyond, and other Horse Protection matters. This notice provides the meeting's agenda, location, and date.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104-13) and Office of Management and Budget (OMB) regulations at 5 CFR part 1320 (60 FR 44978, August 29, 1995), this notice announces the National Agricultural Library's intent to request approval for a new electronic mailing list subscription form from those working with water quality and water resources.

The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is proposing to revise, edit, and consolidate provisions of the standards and procedures for the accreditation of non-Federal analytical chemistry laboratories. Laboratories in the Accredited Laboratory Program (ALP) are accredited to analyze official meat and poultry samples for specific chemical residues or classes of chemical residues, and moisture, protein, fat, and salt. In particular, FSIS is proposing to amend its current regulations regarding the accreditation of non- Federal analytical chemistry laboratories to accommodate the adoption of newer methods for analyzing chemical residues and to correct some data. In addition, FSIS is proposing to make editorial changes to its accredited laboratory regulations to reflect Agency reorganizations and program changes and to improve the clarity and consistency of application for all laboratories participating in the ALP. Finally, FSIS is proposing to consolidate the accredited laboratory regulations from 9 CFR Part 318.21 of the meat inspection regulations and 9 CFR Part 381.153 of the poultry products inspection regulations into a single new part, 9 CFR Part 439, that is applicable to both meat and poultry establishments. Along with the consolidation, redundancies within the regulations have been reduced, with the net result being a more succinct set of regulations.

The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) proposes to amend administrative requirements in the regulations governing the voluntary shell egg, poultry, and rabbit grading programs. The amendments would update the administrative requirements and make minor, nonsubstantive changes for clarity and uniformity of style. This would improve operational efficiency of the grading programs by making the administrative requirements more accurate, clear, consistent, and easier to use.

The Del Norte County Resource Advisory Committee (RAC) will meet on February 7, 2006 in Crescent City, California. The purpose of the meeting is to discuss the selection of Title II projects under Public Law 106-393, H.R. 2389, the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act of 2000, also called the ``Payments to States'' Act.

In an interim rule published in the Federal Register on December 21, 1998, the Federal Crop Insurance Corporation (FCIC) amended the General Administrative Regulations by adding a new subpart X to implement the statutory mandates of section 533 of the Agricultural Research, Extension, and Education Reform Act of 1998 (1998 Research Act). The rule provided procedures for responding to requests for final agency determinations regarding any provision of the Federal Crop Insurance Act (Act) or any regulation promulgated thereunder. The interim rule was made final on September 16, 1999. This correction is needed to correct the facsimile number and electronic mail address provided for requester submissions for final agency determinations.

The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) of the Department of Agriculture (USDA) is establishing a voluntary United States Standards for Grades of Muscadine (Vitis Rotundifolia) Grapes. AMS received a request from an industry group representing muscadine grape growers to develop a standard that will provide a common language for trade and a means of measuring value in the marketing of muscadine grapes, thus promoting orderly and efficient marketing of muscadine grapes.

The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is proposing to adopt regulations governing the submission to FSIS of petitions for rulemaking. The Agency is proposing this action to supplement existing non-regulatory guidance on the submission of petitions to FSIS to consider requests to issue, amend, or repeal regulations administered by the Agency. FSIS expects that this proposed rule, if adopted, will help to ensure the filing of well-supported petitions that contain the information necessary to proceed with consideration of the requested rulemaking in a timely manner.

The Department of Agriculture (USDA) is adopting, as a final rule, without change, an interim final rule that modified the pack requirements 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 continues in effect the action that modified the pack requirements to allow handlers to ship U.S. No. 2 grade potatoes in cartons to better meet buyer needs. Prior to this action, only potatoes grading U.S. No. 1 or better, or potatoes failing to grade U.S. No. 1 only because of internal defects, were allowed to be shipped in cartons. The relaxation in pack requirements will help maximize producer returns.

This rule establishes final free and restricted percentages for domestic inshell hazelnuts for the 2005-2006 marketing year under the Federal marketing order for hazelnuts grown in Oregon and Washington. The final free and restricted percentages are 11.4388 and 88.5612 percent, respectively. The percentages allocate the quantity of domestically produced hazelnuts which may be marketed in the domestic inshell market (free) and the quantity of domestically produced hazelnuts that must be disposed of in outlets approved by the Board (restricted). Volume regulation is intended to stabilize the supply of domestic inshell hazelnuts to meet the limited domestic demand for such hazelnuts with the goal of providing producers with reasonable returns. This rule was recommended unanimously by the Hazelnut Marketing Board (Board), which is the agency responsible for local administration of the marketing order.

We are proposing to amend the fruits and vegetables regulations to allow the importation into the continental United States of fresh, dehusked immature (baby) sweet corn and fresh baby carrots from Zambia. As a condition of entry, both commodities would be subject to inspection at the port of first arrival and would have to be accompanied by a phytosanitary certificate with an additional declaration stating that the commodity has been inspected and found free of the quarantine pest listed on the certificate. This action would allow for the importation of Zambian baby corn and baby carrots into the United States while continuing to provide protection against the introduction of quarantine pests.

The Forest Service has received notification from Plains Exploration & Production Company (PXP) that the company proposes to drill three exploratory oil and gas wells on National Forest System (NFS) lands in the Noble Basin area, about seven miles southeast of Bondurant in Sublette County, Wyoming. The proposed wells would evaluate production potential within the Eagle Prospect. The proposed project would include improvements to existing roads and new road construction to provide access to the drill location, construction of a single drill pad from which three wells would be drilled, and road decommissioning and rehabilitation of an existing low standard road into the area. Design of the proposed project, including final access route selection and well facilities would be required for production testing, will also be considered in the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS).

The Lolo National Forest will begin charging a $60 fee for the overnight rental of Monture Cabin. Rentals of other cabins on the Lolo National Forest 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 Monture Cabin.

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) and Black Hills National Forests' Crook County Resource Advisory Committee will meet Tuesday, January 17, 2006 in Sundance, Wyoming for a business meeting. The meeting is open to the public.

The Tongass National Forest proposes to begin charging a $5/ day, $10/three-day, $20/week, and $75/season fee for entering the Fish Creek Wildlife Observation Site (Fish Creek) near Hyder, Alaska. There is strong public support and appreciation for the experience provided at Fish Creek. Funds from the fees will be used for providing safety improvements for the public and protection for the wildlife as well as interpretive and visitor comfort services.

The Glenn/Colusa County Resource Advisory Committee (RAC) will meet in Willows, California. Agenda items to be covered include: (1) Introductions, (2) Approval of Minutes, (3) Public Comment, (4) Web site Update, (5) How to Solicit Projects, (6) General Discussion, (7) Next Agenda.

On July 9, 2003, a Notice of Intent (NOI) to prepare an environmental impact statement (EIS) for the Lower Tucannon Ecosystem Management Project on the Pomeroy Ranger District of the Umatilla National Forest, was published in the Federal Register (68 FR 40900). The Forest Service has decided to cancel the preparation of this EIS. The NOI is herby rescinded.

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. This notice announces the Food and Nutrition Service's (FNS) intent to request approval from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for new information collection in the state of Florida. The Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) plans to systematically examine Florida's modernization model in order to understand better the relationship between Food Stamp Program structure, operations, costs, and performance. This review will consist of both a quantitative study using extant data and a qualitative study relying on the responses of state and local food stamp staff, community partners, food stamp applicants and participants and eligible non-participants. Project results will inform FNS policy discussion, provide technical information to States, and offer Florida's Department of Children and Family Services a tool for responding efficiently to the variety of stakeholder queries received.

We are advising the public of our determination that the Monsanto corn line designated as transformation event MON 88017, which has been genetically engineered for resistance to a corn rootworm complex and for tolerance to the herbicide glyphosate, is no longer considered a regulated article under our regulations governing the introduction of certain genetically engineered organisms. Our determination is based on our evaluation of data submitted by Monsanto in their petition for a determination of nonregulated status, our analysis of other scientific data, and comments received from the public in response to a previous notice announcing the availability of the petition for nonregulated status and an environmental assessment. This notice also announces the availability of our written determination and our finding of no significant impact.

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 Thursday, February 9, 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.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice announces the Agency's intention to request an extension for a currently approved information collection in support of the program for 7 CFR part 4284, subpart K, Agriculture Innovation Demonstration Centers.