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

This final rule implements a portion of the Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act for Defense, the Global War on Terror, and Hurricane Recovery of 2006 to provide assistance to producers and first-handlers of the 2005 crop of cottonseed in counties which were declared a natural disaster area by the President of the United States, and contiguous counties, due to Hurricanes Katrina, Ophelia, Rita, Wilma or a related condition in 2005.

We are proposing to establish domestic boll weevil regulations that would restrict the interstate movement of regulated articles within regulated areas and from regulated areas into or through nonregulated areas in commercial cotton-producing States. The proposed regulations would help prevent the artificial spread of boll weevil into noninfested areas of the United States and the reinfestation of areas from which the boll weevil has been eradicated.

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

This final rule amends regulations pertaining to the Central Federal milk order. More than the required number of producers for the Central marketing area approved the issuance of the final order amendments.

This final rule amends regulations pertaining to the Upper Midwest Federal milk order. More than the required number of producers for the Upper Midwest marketing area approved the issuance of the final order amendments.

The Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 requires the Secretary of Agriculture to establish a Peanut Standards Board (Board) for the purpose of advising the Secretary on quality and handling standards for domestically produced and imported peanuts. The initial Board was appointed by the Secretary and announced on December 5, 2002. USDA seeks nominations for individuals to be considered for selection to the Board to fill a vacant Board position for the remainder of a term of office ending June 30, 2009. The Board consists of 18 members representing producers and industry representatives.

The USDA Forest Service proposes a new fee site that will involve a special recreation permit for each operator using the Ocala National Forest designated off-highway vehicle trail system. There would be a choice between a three-consecutive day permits ($15) or an annual permit (proposed to be between $60 and up to $120 pending final financial and marketing analysis, public input, and agency review). The Forest Service will use funds generated to sustain the trail system, facilities, patrols, and monitoring. The Ocala National Forest is committed to providing quality motorized recreation in balance with what the land can support. The Ocala National Forest recently designated approximately 150 miles of off-highway vehicle trails for motorcycles and unlicensed all-terrain vehicles that consist of mixed-use roads, ATV/motorcycle trails, and motorcycle-only trails. Analysis has begun to consider additional designated trails on the Ocala National Forest which would be included in the fee permit system.

In accordance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act, the United States Department of Agriculture announces a meeting of the National Agricultural Research, Extension, Education, and Economics Advisory Board.

The Department of Agriculture (USDA), Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) seeks comments on the proposed revision of the ``Natural Resources Conservation Service Conservation Programs ManualPart 513: Resource Conservation and Development (RC&D) Program.'' USDA asks for comments from RC&D Council members and individuals from tribal, State, and local governments and organizations involved in either natural resource conservation or community development groups. These comments will assist USDA in policy development and implementation of the RC&D Program. This manual is used by NRCS and other USDA staff members, RC&D Council members, and others that either develop RC&D applications or participate in the RC&D Program. This revision of the manual reflects changes in the NRCS organizational structure, incorporates new area planning requirements, provides guidelines for the RC&D Program Operations Information Tracking System, and incorporates additional exhibits to increase clarity. It is available for download at https://policy.nrcs.usda.gov/ scripts/lpsiis.dll/NB/NB39062.htm.

In accordance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act, 5 U.S.C. App 2, the United States Department of Agriculture announces the appointments made by the Secretary of Agriculture to the 12 vacancies on the National Agricultural Research, Extension, Education, and Economics Advisory Board.

We are amending the regulations to add Namibia, except the portion of the country north of the Veterinary Cordon Fence (VCF), to the list of regions that are considered free of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD), and to add the entire country to the list of regions that are considered free of rinderpest. We are taking this action because we have determined that the region in Namibia south of the VCF is now free of FMD and the entire country is free of rinderpest. We are also adding Namibia, except the region north of the VCF, to the list of FMD- and rinderpest-free regions that are subject to certain import restrictions on meat and other animal products because of their proximity to or trading relationships with rinderpest- or FMD-affected regions. This action relieves certain restrictions due to FMD and rinderpest on the importation into the United States of certain live animals and animal products from all regions of Namibia except the region north of the VCF. However, because we consider Namibia to be affected with African swine fever, classical swine fever, and swine vesicular disease, the importation of live swine and pork and pork products will continue to be restricted. In addition, because we consider Namibia to be affected with other animal diseases that are exotic to the United States, the importation of live ruminants and germplasm will also continue to be restricted. These actions will update the disease status of Namibia with regard to FMD and rinderpest while continuing to protect the United States from an introduction of those diseases by providing additional requirements for any meat and meat products imported into the United States from Namibia.

We are amending the fruits and vegetables regulations to allow the importation of shelled garden peas from Kenya into the continental United States. In order to be eligible for importation, the peas will have to be shelled, washed, and inspected and accompanied by a phytosanitary certificate issued by the Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service. This action will allow for the importation of shelled peas from Kenya into the continental United States while continuing to protect against the introduction of quarantine pests.

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 the importation of fruits and vegetables.

The Medicine BowRoutt National Forests, Laramie Ranger District, will begin charging $5.00/vehicle day use fees (Standard Amenity Recreation Fee) at five newly constructed trailhead/picnic areas along the Medicine Bow Rail-Trail (Pelton Creek, Vienna, Woods Creek, Lincoln Gulch, and Lake Owen), and at three existing developed trailheads (Albany, Ticks, and Mountain Home). Funds generated through these fees will be used for the continued operation and maintenance of these sites including, but not limited to: Restroom cleaning, trash pickup, waste removal, sign maintenance, law enforcement presence, and snow removal.

The Lake Tahoe Basin Federal Advisory Committee will hold a meeting on November 9, 2006 at The Chateau, 955 Fairway Boulevard, Incline Village, NV 89451. This Committee, established by the Secretary of Agriculture on December 15, 1998 (64 FR 2876), is chartered to provide advice to the Secretary on implementing the terms of the Federal Interagency Partnership on the Lake Tahoe Region and other matters raised by the Secretary.

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 a currently approved information collection for Operating Plans.

In a final rule published in the Federal Register on November 30, 2004, we amended the fruits and vegetables regulations to expand the number of States in which fresh Hass avocado fruit grown in approved orchards in approved municipalities in Michoacan, Mexico, may be distributed and to allow the distribution of the avocados during all months of the year. The final rule contained an error in the rule portion. This document corrects that error.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is adopting, as a final rule, without change, an interim final rule suspending the handling regulations prescribed under the Washington-Oregon fresh prune marketing order for the 2006 and future seasons. The marketing order regulates the handling of fresh prunes grown in designated counties in Washington and in Umatilla County, Oregon, and is administered locally by the Washington-Oregon Prune Marketing Committee (Committee). This rule continues in effect the action that suspended the minimum grade, size, quality, maturity, and inspection requirements for fresh prune handlers under the marketing order. During the suspension of the handling regulations, reports from handlers will continue to be required to obtain information necessary to administer the marketing order. In addition, this rule continues in effect the suspension of fresh prune import inspection and minimum quality, grade, size, and maturity requirements.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. Chapter 35), this notice announces the Agricultural Marketing Service's intention to request approval from the Office of Management and Budget, for an extension of and revision to the currently approved information collection National Organic Program (NOP) Record Keeping Requirements.

The Rural Utilities Service, an agency which administers the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Rural Development Utilities Programs (hereinafter ``USDA Rural Development'' or the ``Agency,'') is amending its regulations to update the seismic safety requirements of the Agency. These amendments will provide Agency borrowers (including Rural Telephone Bank borrowers), grant recipients, and the public with updated rules for compliance with seismic safety requirements for new building construction using loan, grant, or guaranteed funds of the Agency, or funds provided through lien accommodations or subordinations approved by the Agency.