Department of Agriculture May 30, 2006 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

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.