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

The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is reviewing the organization, operations, and services provided by its Technical Service Center (TSC) in Omaha, Nebraska, with the intent of improving TSC programs that provide technical advice, guidance, and information to FSIS personnel, the regulated industry, and the general public. FSIS is particularly interested in improving TSC programs that assist small businesses. FSIS seeks comment from the public as part of this effort to improve TSC operations.

Rural Business-Cooperative Service programs are administered through USDA Rural Development. USDA Rural Development announces the availability of approximately $495,000 in competitive cooperative agreement funds for fiscal year (FY) 2006 to conduct research on the national economic impact of all types of cooperatives. USDA Rural Development hereby requests proposals from institutions of higher education interested in applying for a competitively awarded cooperative research agreement. The intent of the funding is to encourage research on the critical issue of the economic value of cooperatives.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice invites the general public and other public agencies to comment on the Agency's proposed information collection of taxpayer identifying numbers.

In accordance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act, 5 U.S.C. App. II, the United States Department of Agriculture announces a meeting of the Advisory Committee on Biotechnology and 21st Century Agriculture (AC21).

This final rule amends the regulations for the Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) governing Cooperative Marketing Associations (CMA's). This rule provides that a CMA is no longer required to distribute Marketing Assistance Loan (MAL) and Loan Deficiency Payment (LDP) proceeds directly to members of the CMA within 15 days of receipt of such proceeds from CCC, and makes additional policy clarifications on CMA distributions to members. The intent of this rule is to remove regulatory requirements that are outdated and unnecessary.

The USDA Forest Service, Hoosier National Forest intends to prepare a supplement to an environmental impact statement (EIS) that discloses the environmental consequences of a vegetation restoration project. In the supplement to the EIS, the USDA Forest Service will bring the document and the project into compliance with the Forest Plan that has come into effect since the previous documents were prepared and will make improvements to the cumulative effects sections. The EIS addresses potential environmental impacts of replacing pine plantations in the German Ridge area of Perry County, Indiana with native hardwood communities.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act, this notice announces the Department's intention to request an extension for a currently approved information collection in support of the Dairy Tariff-Rate Import Quota Licensing program.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is amending 7 CFR part 2902, Guidelines for Designating Biobased Products for Federal Procurement, to be consistent with the statutory changes to section 9002 of the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act (FSRIA) that were effected when the Energy Policy Act of 2005 was signed into law on August 8, 2005. In addition, USDA amends part 2902 in order to clarify that biobased products from certain designated countries must be treated by procuring agencies as eligible for the procurement preference under FSRIA. Finally, this rule amends part 2902 to clarify the USDA intent to exclude from the preferred procurement program biobased products that are merely incidental to Federal funding. The amendment is issued as an immediately effective interim rule, with opportunity for public comment.

On behalf of the Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC), the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), hereafter referred to as the Agency, is amending the Interim Final Rule implementing the Farm and Ranch Lands Protection Program (FRPP) at 7 CFR part 1491 to clarify certain program policies and legal requirements. Specifically, the Agency is addressing policy and legal requirements in eight areas: Fair market value definition; program eligibility as to forest lands; the nature of the real property rights the United States is acquiring and how it will exercise those rights; compliance with Department of Justice (DOJ) Title Standards; exercising United States' rights; the implementation of Federal appraisal requirements required by the Uniform Relocation Assistance and Real Property Acquisitions Policies Act of 1970; impervious surface limitations on the easement area; and indemnification requirements. NRCS requests comments on this amendment. Cooperative agreements signed on or after the publication of this Interim Final Rule will be administered. This rule is being published as an Interim Final Rule, with request for comments under the authority of section 2702 of the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002, Pub. L. 107-17, which allows the promulgation of an Interim Final Rule effective upon publication. The Agency made a determination that publishing this Interim Final Rule is appropriate and necessary given the fact that this rule is making program changes to address and clarify existing Federal law and policy requirements.

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 August 2, 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.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice announces the Rural Housing Service's (RHS) intention to request clearance for continuation of information collection to measure the quality of loan servicing provided by the RHS, Centralized Servicing Center (CSC) in St. Louis, MO.

We are advising the public that we have supplemented with an addendum the environmental assessment for a proposed field trial of pink bollworm genetically engineered to express green fluorescence as a marker. The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) proposes to use this marked strain to assess the effectiveness of lower doses of radiation to create sterile insects for its pink bollworm sterile insect program. This program, using sterile insect technique, has been conducted by APHIS, with State and grower cooperation, since 1968. Data gained from this field experiment will be used to improve the current program. APHIS has supplemented its environmental assessment in order to evaluate a new location and new conditions for the field test and has concluded that this field test will not have a significant impact on the quality of the human environment. Based on its finding of no significant impact, APHIS has determined that an environmental impact statement need not be prepared for this field test.

Notice is hereby given that the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) proposed to create a new Privacy Act system of records, entitled ``USDA eAuthentication Service.'' The system is owned, administered, and secured by the Office of the Chief Information Officer (OCIO), a USDA staff office. The primary purpose of the eAuthentication Service is to provide verification of customer identity, authorization, and electronic signatures for USDA application and service transactions.

The Forest Service is extending the public comment period an additional 30 days for the Proposed Native Plant Material Policy (FSM 2070). The Forest Service is proposing to establish a new directive to Forest Service Manual (FSM) 2070 for native plant materials, which will provide direction for the use, growth, development, and storage of native plant materials. Public comment is invited and will be considered in development of the final directive. A copy of the proposed directive is available at https://www.fs.fed.us/rangelands/ whoweare/documents/FSM2070Final2062905.pdf

This document corrects the final rule published on June 22, 2006, amending the regulations covering the storage of commodities owned by the Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC). A correction is needed because the amended rule contains an incorrect reference to a regulatory provision.

The Eastern Arizona Counties Resource Advisory Committee will meet in Payson, Arizona. The purpose of the meeting is to review and approve projects for funding.

Notice is hereby given of a public hearing to receive evidence on proposed amendments to Marketing Order No. 915 (order), which regulates the handling of avocados grown in south Florida. The amendments are proposed by the Florida Avocado Administrative Committee (Committee), which is responsible for local administration of the order. The proposed amendments would: Provide the Committee authority to borrow funds, revise the voting requirements for changing the assessment rate, allow District I nominations to be conducted by mail, and provide the Committee authority to accept voluntary contributions. The proposed amendments are intended to improve the operation and functioning of marketing order program.

This proposed rule would adjust the number of members for certain States on the United Soybean Board (Board) to reflect changes in production levels that have occurred since the Board was reapportioned in 2003, which became effective with 2004 nominations. These adjustments are required by the Soybean Promotion and Research Order (Order) and would result in an increase in Board membership from 64 to 68 effective with the Secretary's 2007 nominations and appointments.

The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS), prior to undertaking research and other work associated with revising official grade standards, is soliciting comments on the possible revisions to the United States Standards for Grades of Parsley. At a meeting with the Fruit and Vegetable Industry Advisory Committee, AMS was asked to review the fresh fruit and vegetable grade standards for usefulness in serving the industry. As a result, AMS has identified the United States Standards for Grades of Parsley for possible revision. AMS is considering proposed revisions that would allow that percentages be determined by count and not weight and eliminate the unclassified category. AMS is seeking comments regarding these changes as well as any other revisions to the parsley standards that may be necessary to better serve the industry.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Forest Service is seeking comments from all interested individuals and organizations on the extension of information collection 0596-0019 (Visitor Permit and Visitor Registration Card). This information will help the Forest Service ensure that visitors' use of National Forest System lands is in the public interest and compatible with the mission of the agency.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Forest Service is seeking comments from all interested individuals and organizations on the new information collectionPublic Attitudes, Beliefs, and Values About National Forest System Land Management.

This notice lists updated quantity trigger levels for products, which may be subject to additional import duties under the safeguard provisions of the WTO Agreement on Agriculture. This notice also includes the relevant period applicable for the trigger levels on each of the listed products.

This rule amends Marketing Orders Nos. 916 and 917 (orders), which regulate the handling of nectarines and peaches grown in California. The amendments are based on those proposed by the Nectarine Administrative Committee (NAC), the Peach Commodity Committee (PCC), and the Control Committee (part of M.O. No. 917) (Committees), which are responsible for local administration of orders 916 and 917. The amendments to order 917 only apply to peaches. The amendments would: update definitions for ``handle'', ``grower'', and add a definition for ``pure grower'' to both orders; increase committee membership of the NAC from eight to thirteen members and modify sections of order 916 to conform to the increased membership; eliminate the Shippers Advisory Committee in order 916; allow the Control Committee under order 917 to be suspended if the provisions of one commodity are suspended and transfer applicable duties and responsibilities to the remaining Commodity Committee; authorize interest and late payment charges on assessments paid late in both orders; and other related amendments. With the exception of the proposal to allow the Peach Commodity Committee to borrow funds, all of the proposals were favored by nectarine and peach growers in a mail referendum, held March 6 through 24, 2006. The amendments are intended to streamline and improve the administration, operation, and functioning of the orders.

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) Project Proposals/Possible Action, (5) General Discussion, (6) Next Agenda.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. chap. 35) and the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) regulations at 5 CFR part 1320 (60 FR 44978, August 29, 1995), this notice announces the Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service's (CSREES) intention to request approval to establish a new information collection in support of the 4-H Youth Enrollment Report.