Department of Agriculture August 25, 2006 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents
Results 1 - 7 of 7
Agricultural Inspection and AQI User Fees Along the U.S./Canada Border
We are amending the foreign quarantine and user fee regulations by removing the exemptions from inspection for imported fruits and vegetables grown in Canada and the exemptions from user fees for commercial vessels, commercial trucks, commercial railroad cars, commercial aircraft, and international air passengers entering the United States from Canada. As a result of this action, all agricultural products imported from Canada will be subject to inspection, and commercial conveyances, as well as airline passengers arriving on flights from Canada, will be subject to inspection and user fees. We are taking this action in part because we are not recovering the costs of our current inspection activities at the U.S./Canada border. In addition, our data show an increasing number of interceptions on the U.S./Canada border of prohibited material that originated in regions other than Canada that presents a high risk of introducing plant pests or animal diseases into the United States. These findings, combined with additional Canadian airport preclearance data on interceptions of ineligible agricultural products approaching the U.S. border from Canada, strongly indicate that we need to expand and strengthen our pest exclusion and smuggling interdiction efforts at that border. In order to do this and to recover the costs of our existing inspection activity, we need to collect user fees for inspection of commercial conveyances and international air passengers entering the United States from Canada.
Pistachios Grown in California; Decreased Assessment Rate
This rule would decrease the assessment rate established for the Administrative Committee for Pistachios (committee) for the 2006-07 and subsequent production years from $0.0014 per pound of assessed- weight pistachios to $0.0007 per pound of assessed-weight pistachios. The committee, which locally administers the marketing order regulating the handling of pistachios grown in California, made this recommendation for the purpose of lowering the monetary reserve to ensure that the reserve is maintained at a level consistent with order requirements. Assessments upon commodity handlers are used by the committee to fund reasonable and necessary expenses of the program. The production year begins September 1 and ends August 31. The assessment rate would remain in effect indefinitely unless modified, suspended, or terminated.
United States Standards for Grades of Oranges (California and Arizona) and/or United States Standards for Grades of Grapefruit (California and Arizona)
The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS), prior to undertaking research and other work associated with revising official grade standards, is soliciting comments on the need for possible revisions to the United States Standards for Grades of Oranges (California and Arizona) and/or United States Standards for Grades of Grapefruit (California and Arizona). AMS is seeking comments regarding any revisions to the United States Standards for Grades of Oranges (California and Arizona) and/or United States Standards for Grades of Grapefruit (California and Arizona) that may be necessary to better serve the industry.
Amendments to the Potato Research and Promotion Plan
The Department of Agriculture (USDA) is adopting, as a final rule, with correcting changes, an interim final rule to increase the assessment rate on handlers and importers of potatoes from 2 cents to 2.5 cents per hundredweight. The increase is authorized under the Potato Research and Promotion Plan (Plan). The Plan is authorized by the Potato Research and Promotion Act (Act). In order to sustain the three major programs currently conducted by the National Potato Promotion Board (Board), International Marketing, Domestic Marketing (which includes retail marketing), and a nutrition campaign at their present levels beyond June 2006, additional revenue is required.
Earth Resources, Inc.; Notice of Intent To Hold a Public Scoping Meeting and Prepare an Environmental Assessment
Rural Utilities Service (RUS), an agency which administers the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Rural Development Utilities Programs. RUS intends to hold a public scoping meeting and prepare an Environmental Assessment (EA) in connection with possible impacts related to a project proposed by Earth Resources Inc. (ERI), with headquarters in Carnesville, Georgia. The proposal consists of the construction of 20-megawatt power generating station utilizing chicken litter and woody biomass as fuel. The proposed generating station would be located in Franklin County, Georgia. No new transmission lines are proposed in connection with the proposed generating station. ERI is requesting RUS provide financing for the proposal.
Notice of Madison-Beaverhead Advisory Committee Meeting
Pursuant to the authorities in the Federal Advisory Committee Act (Pub. L. 92-463) and the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self- Determination Act of 2000 (Pub. L. 106-393), the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest's Madison-Beaverhead Resource Advisory Committee will meet on Wednesday, September 20, 2006, from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. in Ennis, Montana, for a business meeting and a field trip. The meeting is open to the public.
Notice of Settlement Pursuant to CERCLA; Gibson Mine Site, Gila County, AZ
In accordance with section 122(i) of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act, as amended (CERCLA), 42 U.S.C. 9622(i), notice is hereby given of an administrative settlement for recovery of response costs with The Franciscan Friars of California, Inc. (the Settling Party) concerning the Gibson Mine Site, Gila County, Arizona. The settlement requires the Settling Party to pay up to a total of $11,000 in oversight costs to the USDA Forest Service, Southwestern Region, pursuant to section 122(h)(1) of CERCLA, 42 U.S.C. 9622(h)(1). The settlement includes a covenant not to sue the Settling Party pursuant to sections 106 and 107(a) of CERCLA, 42 U.S.C. 9606 and 9607(a), with regard to the Site. For thirty (30) days following the date of publication of this notice, the United States will receive written comments relating to the settlement. The United States will consider all comments received and may modify or withdraw its consent to the settlement if comments received disclose facts or considerations which indicate that the settlement is inappropriate, improper, or inadequate. The United States response to any comments received will be available for public inspection at the Globe Ranger District, 7680 South Six Shooter Canyon Road, Globe, AZ, 85501, and at the offices of the USDA Forest Service, Southwestern Region, 333 Broadway, SE., Albuquerque, NM 87102.
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