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

We are reopening the comment period for our proposed rule that would amend the regulations pertaining to certain garbage to provide for the interstate movement of garbage from Hawaii subject to measures designed to protect against the dissemination of plant pests into noninfested areas of the continental United States. This action will allow interested persons additional time to prepare and submit comments.

The Tehama County Resource Advisory Committee (RAC) will meet in Red Bluff, California. Agenda items to be covered include: (1) Introductions, (2) Approval of Minutes, (3) Public Comment, (4) Discussion of Funding Projects for next year, (5) Chairman's Perspective, (6) General Discussion, (7) Next Agenda.

We are establishing regulations governing the submission of requests for changes in our regulations that restrict the importation of plants, plant parts, and plant products. We are taking this action because, despite existing non-regulatory guidance on the submission of requests, few applicants provide the basic information we require to properly consider their requests. The new regulations will help ensure that we are provided with the information we need to prepare a risk analysis and/or other analyses that evaluate the risks and other effects associated with a proposed change to the regulations. This information is needed for us to effectively consider the request, and submission of the information at the time the request is made allows us to proceed with our consideration of the request in a timely manner.

Notice is hereby given of a public hearing to receive evidence on proposed amendments to Marketing Agreement No. 143 and Order No. 959 (order), which regulate the handling of onions grown in South Texas. Four amendments are proposed by the South Texas Onion Committee (committee), which is responsible for local administration of the order. These proposed amendments would: Add authority to the order to establish supplemental assessment rates on specified containers; authorize interest and late payment charges on assessments not paid within a prescribed time period; add authority for the committee to engage in marketing promotion and paid advertising activities; and authorize container marking requirements on containers of onions prior to shipment. Three additional amendments are proposed by the Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS). These amendments would: (1) Require that a continuance referendum be conducted every six years to determine grower support for the order; (2) limit the number of consecutive terms of office a member can serve on the committee; and (3) make such changes as may be necessary to the order to conform with any amendment thereto that may result from the hearing. The proposals are intended to provide the industry with additional tools to aid in the marketing of onions and to improve the operation and administration of the order.

Notice is hereby given of the intention of NRCS to issue a series of new or revised conservation practice standards in its National Handbook of Conservation Practices. These standards include: ``Above Ground, Multi-Outlet Pipeline (Code 431),'' ``Irrigation System, Microirrigation (Code 441),'' ``Pond Sealing or Lining Flexible Membrane (Code 521A),'' ``Land Reclamation, Abandoned Mine Land (Code 543),'' ``Land Reclamation, Currently Mined Land (Code 544),'' and ``Watering Facility (Code 614).'' NRCS State Conservationists who choose to adopt these practices for use within their States will incorporate them into Section IV of their respective electronic Field Office Technical Guides (eFOTG). These practices may be used in conservation systems that treat highly erodible land, or on land determined to be wetland.

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 Wednesday June 7, 2006 at 6 p.m. at the Forest Supervisor's Office in Libby, Montana for a business meeting. The meeting is open to the public.

This rule proposes amending regulations governing the cotton Marketing Assistance Loan Program of the Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) that is authorized by the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 (2002 Act). The major proposed regulatory changes would impact the administration of the program by amending regulations governing: The outside storage of upland cotton pledged as collateral for CCC loans; the certification provided by approved ginners to produce bales that are compliant with CCC loan eligibility requirements; the reconcentration and transfer of upland cotton pledged as collateral for CCC loans; and the storage credit provided to producers when an upland cotton marketing assistance loan is repaid.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice announces the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service's intention to request an extension of approval of an information collection associated with regulations for importation of breeding swine, pork and pork products, and swine semen from a specified region of the European Union.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice announces the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service's intention to initiate a new information collection activity, titled Beetle Busters Survey, associated with the Asian longhorned beetle cooperative eradication program.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice announces the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service's intention to request an extension of approval of an information collection associated with regulations for tuberculosis testing of imported cattle.

This rule revises the quantity of Class 3 (Native) spearmint oil that handlers may purchase from, or handle for, producers during the 2006-2007 marketing year. This rule increases the Native spearmint oil salable quantity from 1,007,886 pounds to 1,161,260 pounds, and the allotment percentage from 46 percent to 53 percent. The marketing order regulates the handling of spearmint oil produced in the Far West and is administered locally by the Spearmint Oil Administrative Committee (Committee). The Committee recommended this rule for the purpose of avoiding extreme fluctuations in supplies and prices and to help maintain stability in the Far West spearmint oil market.

The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS), of the Department of Agriculture (USDA) is soliciting comments on the proposed voluntary United States Standards for Grades of Tomatoes on the Vine. The proposed standards would provide industry with a common language and uniform basis for trading, thus promoting the orderly and efficient marketing of tomatoes on the vine (TOV).

This notice directs that a referendum be conducted among the eligible producers and importers of blueberries to determine whether they favor continuance of the Blueberry Promotion, Research, and Information Order (Order).

The Eastern Washington Cascades Provincial Advisory Committee and the Yakima Provincial Advisory Committee will meet on Wednesday, June 7, 2006 and Wednesday, June 21, 2006 at the Okanogan and Wenatchee National Forests Headquarters Office, 215 Melody Lane, Wenatchee, WA. These meetings will begin at 9 a.m. and continue until 3 p.m. During these meetings Provincial Advisory Committee members will continue the collaboration process on forest plan issues relating to the preparation of a revised forest plan for the Okanogan and Wenatchee National Forests. All Eastern Washington Cascades and Yakima Province Advisory Committee meetings are open to the public.

We are advising the public that a draft pest risk assessment has been prepared by the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service relative to a proposed rule currently under consideration that would allow the importation into the continental United States of fresh Hass avocados from Peru. We are making this draft pest risk assessment available to the public for review and comment.

The Hood/Willamette Resource Advisory Committee (RAC) will meet on Friday, June 29, 2006. The meeting is scheduled to begin at 9 a.m. and will conclude at approximately 12 p.m. The meeting will be held at the Holiday Inn Express; 105 Opal Street, NE., Albany, Oregon; (541) 928-8820. The tentative agenda includes: (1) Recommendations on 2007 Projects; and (2) Public Forum. The Public Forum is tentatively scheduled to begin at 9:15 a.m. Time allotted for individual presentations will be limited to 3-4 minutes. Written comments are encouraged, particularly if the material cannot be presented within the time limits for the Public Forum. Written comments may be submitted prior to the June 29th meeting by sending them to Designated Federal Official Donna Short at the address given below.

The Rural Housing Service, an agency within the USDA Rural Development mission area, provides housing loan guarantees to rural residents through its Section 502 Guaranteed Loan Program. The Department of Defense, Emergency Supplemental Appropriations to Address Hurricanes in the Gulf of Mexico and Pandemic Influenza Act, 2006 (Act), Pub. L. 109-148 (12/30/05) provides USDA Rural Development with additional authorities and resources to address the damage caused by hurricanes that occurred during the 2005 calendar year. The intent of this NOFA is to introduce a temporary Mortgage Recovery Advance Program for existing Section 502 Guaranteed Loan Program borrowers impacted by certain 2005 hurricanes.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. chapter 35, as amended), the Rural Utilities Service an agency delivering the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development Utilities Programs, invites comments on this information collection for which approval from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) will be requested.

We are amending the emerald ash borer regulations by adding areas in Indiana, Michigan, and Ohio to the list of areas quarantined because of emerald ash borer. As a result of this action, the interstate movement of regulated articles from those areas is restricted. This action is necessary to prevent the artificial spread of the emerald ash borer from infested areas in the States of Indiana, Michigan, and Ohio into noninfested areas of the United States.

We are amending the pine shoot beetle regulations by designating the State of Wisconsin, in its entirety, as a quarantined area based on the detection of new pine shoot beetle infested areas in the State, as well as its decision to no longer enforce intrastate movement restrictions. This action is necessary to prevent the spread of pine shoot beetle, a pest of pine trees, into noninfested areas of the United States.

Cherokee National Forest will begin charging a fee for overnight use at three campgrounds presently under construction at dispersed campsites 6, 7 and 8 in the Tellico River Corridor. Birch Branch Campground and Holder Cove Campground will be $10.00 per campsite per day. Rough Ridge Campground, which will accommodate small groups, will be $20.00 campsite per day. These developed campgrounds will facilitate overnight use along the Tellico River on the Tellico Ranger District of Cherokee National Forest. Fee revenue will support maintenance and operation of the campgrounds and future site improvements.