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

The Ravalli County Resource Advisory Committee will be meeting to discuss and vote on 2006 projects and hold a short public forum (question and answer session). The meeting is being held 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 meeting is open to the public.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is proposing to amend 7 CFR part 2902, Guidelines for Designating Biobased Products for Federal Procurement, to add 10 sections to designate the following 10 items within which biobased products would be afforded Federal procurement preference, as provided for under section 9002 of the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002: Adhesive and mastic removers; insulating foam for wall construction; hand cleaners and sanitizers; composite panels; fluid-filled transformers; biodegradable containers; fertilizers; metalworking fluids; sorbents; and graffiti and grease removers. USDA also is proposing minimum biobased content for each of these items. Once USDA designates an item, procuring agencies are required generally to purchase biobased products within these designated items where the purchase price of the procurement item exceeds $10,000 or where the quantity of such items or the functionally equivalent items purchased over the preceding fiscal year equaled $10,000 or more.

This notice announces the Agricultural Marketing Service's (AMS), Cotton Program, Market News Branch changes to the American Pima Spot Quotations. The changes include combining the San Joaquin Valley and Desert Southwest Pima cotton markets into one unified American Pima Market; changing the quotation terms to Uniform-Density free (UD-free), Freight-on-Board (FOB) warehouse; and, quoting discounts for cotton fiber strength that is 37.4 grams per Tex (gpt) and lower. The changes will be reflected in both the Daily Spot Cotton Quotations and the Monthly and Annual Cotton Price Statistics that are currently published by the AMS, Cotton Program, Market News Branch. This action is necessary to more accurately reflect the overall American Pima cotton market.

The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) will maintain user fees for cotton producers for 2006 crop cotton classification services under the Cotton Statistics and Estimates Act at the same level as in 2005. This is in accordance with the formula provided in the Uniform Cotton Classing Fees Act of 1987. The 2005 user fee for this classification service was $1.85 per bale. This rule would maintain the fee for the 2006 crop at $1.85 per bale. The fee and the existing reserve are sufficient to cover the costs of providing classification services, including costs for administration and supervision.

The Rural Housing Service programs are administered through USDA Rural Development. This Notice is intended to announce the availability of supplemental hurricane disaster assistance to be administered through the Community Facilities (CF) Direct Loan and Grant program. USDA Rural Development will provide CF Grant funds in the amount of $20,000,000 and CF Direct Loan funds in the amount of $149,253,000 for essential community facilities in rural areas affected by Hurricane Katrina and other hurricanes of the 2005 season.

The United States Department of Agriculture announces a meeting of the Scientific Review Panel at the National Animal Disease Center, Ames, Iowa.

This rule invites comments on changing the incoming quality control requirements under the administrative rules and regulations of the California almond marketing order (order). The order regulates the handling of almonds grown in California and is administered locally by the Almond Board of California (Board). These changes would help minimize the risk of aflatoxin in almonds by removing inedible kernels from human consumption. Inedible almonds are poor quality kernels or pieces of defective kernels that may be contaminated with aflatoxin. This action is intended to improve the overall quality of almonds placed into consumer channels.

The Office of the Under Secretary for Food Safety, U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, are sponsoring a public meeting on September 6, 2006. The objective of the public meeting is to provide information and receive public comments on agenda items and draft United States positions that will be discussed at the 28th Session of the Codex Committee on Fish and Fishery Products (CCFFP) of the Codex Alimentarius Commission (Codex), which will be held in Beijing, China from September 18-22, 2006. The Under Secretary for Food Safety and FDA recognize the importance of providing interested parties with the opportunity to obtain background information on the 28th Session of the CCFFP and to address items on the agenda.

USDA Rural Development administers rural utilities programs through the Rural Utilities Service (Agency). In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. chapter 35, as amended), the Agency invites comments on the following information collections for which Agency intends to request approval from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB).

We, the U.S. Forest Service and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, are proposing to amend the regulations governing subsistence use of fish and wildlife in Alaska by creating an additional subsistence resource region for the Kenai Peninsula. This addition of a separate subsistence resource region will allow for the creation of a separate Federal subsistence regional advisory council for that region. A new regional council responsible for only the Kenai Peninsula area will better ensure that residents with personal knowledge of the Kenai Peninsula area will have a meaningful role in the complex issues and management challenges of subsistence management on the Federal lands of the Kenai Peninsula.

This proposed rule would establish regulations for hunting and trapping seasons, harvest limits, methods, and means related to taking of wildlife for subsistence uses during the 2007-2008 regulatory year. The rulemaking is necessary because Subpart D is subject to an annual public review cycle. When final, this rulemaking would replace the wildlife taking regulations included in the ``Subsistence Management Regulations for Public Lands in Alaska, Subpart D2006-2007 Subsistence Taking of Fish and Wildlife Regulations,'' which expire on June 30, 2007. This rule would also amend the Customary and Traditional Use Determinations of the Federal Subsistence Board and the General Regulations on taking of wildlife. In addition, at the request of the Southcentral Subsistence Regional Advisory Council, the Federal Subsistence Board is accepting proposals to revise the regulations for fishing seasons, harvest limits, and methods related to taking of fish on the Kenai Peninsula for subsistence uses during the 2007-2008 regulatory year.

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.

This notice advises warehouse operators operating under a Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) Peanut Storage Agreement of the storage and handling rates applicable to the 2006 crop of peanuts.

This rule makes changes to the regulations governing State Administrative Expense funds for the Child Nutrition Programs to reflect amendments made by the Child Nutrition and WIC Reauthorization Act of 2004 to the Child Nutrition Act of 1966. This rule implements a provision of the Act that increases the minimum State Administrative Expense grant for each State administering the National School Lunch Program (NSLP), the School Breakfast Program (SBP) and/or the Special Milk Program (SMP) from $100,000 to $200,000 a year, adjusted by an index beginning in fiscal year 2009. The rule also implements a requirement that for fiscal years 2005 through 2007 no State shall receive less than its fiscal year 2004 allocation for administrative costs. This final rule will increase the available funds to certain States to expand supervision and technical assistance of Child Nutrition Programs.

The Montpelier Ranger District, Caribou-Targhee National Forest will be preparing an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to analyze the effects of adding aerial herbicide applications to the existing integrated noxious weed management activities within the Cache Valley Front on 31,000 acres of the Caribou-Targhee National Forest. The project area is in the Idaho tract of the Cache National Forest. It includes a portion of the west slope of the Bear River Range that extends from Highway 36 to Soda Point. The project area is south of Soda Springs, and east of Grace, ID, and is within the Montpelier Ranger District, Caribou-Targhee National Forest, Idaho. The scope of this analysis is limited to the addition of aerial herbicide application to existing integrated weed management activities within the Caribou-Targhee National Forest boundary. The project impact zone includes Caribou and Franklin Counties, Idaho, and Idaho Fish and Game Hunting Unit (75). Implementation of this project is scheduled to begin in fiscal year 2007. The decision would authorize aerial application of herbicide within the Cache Valley Front on 31,000 acres of the Caribou- Targhee National Forest.

The Plumas National Forest, in cooperation with Butte, Plumas and Sierra Counties, will prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to treat noxious weeds on National Forest system lands under an integrated weed management approach. Actions proposed through this project focus on eradication or control of invasive species along roads over the next 10 years. The potentially affected areas includes 706 known sites that cover 310 acres and additional roadside sites (within 100 feet of roads) within the next ten years not previously identified. Treatment acres for new infestations would not exceed a total of 2,000 acres over the 10-year period. The range of acres treated under the proposed action over the ten-year period would be 310 to 2,310. Up to five different control tactics would be prescribed for each infested area depending on phenology of a particular species, proximity to water and other sensitive resources, and size of infestation. Of the 310 acres of current infestations: 4 Acres are being proposed to be treated by mechanical/hand control tactics, 34.5 acres with herbicides, 191.5 acres with a combination of mechanical and herbicide tactics, and 80 acres with a combination of mechanical, biocontrol and herbicide tactics. A variety of noxious weeds would be treated, including but not limited to Canada Thistle, Medusa head, Yellow star thistle, Scotch broom, Hariy whitetop, Dyer's Woad, Perennial Pepperweed, French broom, Spanish broom, and Spotted Knapweed.

The Forest Service published a document in the Federal Register of August 1, 2006, concerning request for comments on Small Business Timber Sale Set-Aside Program Share Recomputation. The document contained a typographical error in the Supplementary Information caption. The Dates caption has been revised to reflect that comments must be received in writing 60 days from the date of publication of this correction notice in the Federal Register.

We are notifying the public that the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service has received a petition from In Defense of Animals requesting that we issue an interpretive rule or policy to clarify the space and living conditions required for captive elephants, and that we enforce the Animal Welfare Act and its implementing regulations by requiring that exhibitors fully comply with the regulations. We are soliciting comments from the public regarding the petition, and whether we should continue to regulate the handling, care, treatment, and transport of elephants covered by the Animal Welfare Act under the general standards in the regulations or promulgate specific standards for elephants. We are also requesting comments regarding what should be included in any such standards.

The Del Norte County Resource Advisory Committee (RAC) will meet on August 14 and 15, 2006, in Crescent City, California.The purpose of the meeting is to review and vote on FY 2007 proposed title II projects under Public Law 106-393, H.R. 2389, the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act of 2000, also called the ``Payments to States'' Act.

This notice is published in accordance with section 10(a)(2) of the Federal Advisory Committee Act. Meeting notice is hereby given for the Quachita-Ozark Resource Advisory Committee pursuant to Section 205 of the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self Determination Act of 2000, Public Law 106-393. Topics to be discussed include: general information, including status of the proposed reauthorization of the Act, proposed new Title II projects, updates on current or completed Title II projects, renewal of committee member terms and committee member recruitment needs and, if appropriate, next meeting date and agenda.

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 Beaverhead- Deerlodge National Forest's Tri-County Resource Advisory Committee will meet on Thursday, September 7, 2006, from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m., in Deer Lodge, Montana, for a business meeting. The meeting is open to the public.

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 Lolo and Kootenai National Forests' Sanders County Resource Advisory Committee will meet on August 10 at 7 p.m. in Thompson Falls, Montana for a business meeting. The meeting is open to the public.

This final rule changes the title of the U.S.A. Cultivated Blueberry Council to the ``U.S. Highbush Blueberry Council'' (Council). The purpose of this change is to avoid any confusion in the industry regarding the specific type of blueberry and industry segment represented by the Council. Additionally, this change makes the name of the Council consistent with industry nomenclature, and adds one member and alternate to the Council to represent the state of Washingtonthe sixth largest highbush blueberry producing state.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. Chapter 35), this notice announces the Agricultural Marketing Service's (AMS) intention to request approval from the Office of Management and Budget, for an extension for and revision to a currently approved information collection for Federal Seed Act Labeling and Enforcement.