Department of Agriculture March 21, 2006 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Rural Housing Service, (RHS), an Agency under USDA Rural Development, announces the availability of funds and the timeframe to submit applications for loans to private non-profit organizations, or such non-profit organizations' loan affiliate funds and State and local housing finance agencies, to carry out a housing demonstration program to provide loans for the construction and rehabilitation of housing for the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians. Housing that is assisted by this demonstration program must be financed by USDA Rural Development in accordance with its current housing loan programs as authorized by the Housing Act of 1949. This demonstration program will be achieved through loans made to intermediaries who will then make loans to ultimate recipients for the construction and rehabilitation of housing for the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians (as determined by the Native American Housing and Self Determination (NAHASDA) Act.)

The Southwest Washington Province Advisory Committee will meet on Thursday, April 13, 2006, at the Gifford Pinchot National Forest Headquarters, 10600 NE., 51st Circle, Vancouver, WA 98682. The meeting will begin at 9:30 a.m. and continue until 4 p.m. The purpose of the meeting is to share information and receive feedback on: Efforts to quantify and monitor biodiversity under the Northwest Forest Plan; the Yakama Nation's timber program; the Gifford Pinchot National Forest's monitoring program, and to share information among Committee members. All Southwest Washington Province Advisory Committee meetings are open to the public. Interested citizens are encouraged to attend. The ``open forum'' provides an opportunity for the public to bring issues, concerns, and discussion topics to the Advisory Committee. The ``open forum'' is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. Interested speakers will need to register prior to the open forum period. The committee welcomes the public's written comments to Committee business at any time.

The Federal Crop Insurance Corporation (FCIC) proposes to amend the Common Crop Insurance Regulations, Walnut Crop Insurance Provisions and Almond Crop Insurance Provisions. The intended effect of this action is to reduce the insurable age requirements for almonds and walnuts because of the new varieties available. These changes will be applicable for the 2007 and succeeding crop years.