Department of Agriculture November 20, 2006 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is amending 7 CFR part 2902, Guidelines for Designating Biobased Products for Federal Procurement, to establish the effective date by which procuring agencies must give a procurement preference for qualifying biobased water tank coatings and bedding, bed linens, and towels. These two items were designated for procurement preference in a final rule published by USDA on March 16, 2006 (71 FR 13686). At that time, however, the effective date by which procuring agencies were required to give these two designated items procurement preference was deferred until such time that additional manufacturers of products within these designated items were identified. This final rule announces that additional manufacturers have been identified for each item and establishes the effective date by which procuring agencies must give these two designated items procurement preference.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice announces the Rural Development's intention to request clearance for a new information collection to measure Rural Development implementation of and compliance with the Equal Treatment Rule (7 CFR part 16) and Executive Order (EO) 13279 Equal Protection of the Laws for Faith-Based and Community Organizations.

The Rural Business-Cooperative Service (RBS), an Agency within the Rural Development mission area, announces the availability of grants up to $50,000 per application from the Rural Business Enterprise Grant (RBEG) Program for fiscal year (FY) 2007 for feasibility studies or feasibility and marketing studies, to be competitively awarded. The amount available for these competitive grants is $250,000. Funding under this announcement is targeted to the Rural Economic Area Partnerships (REAP) Zones. A list of current REAP Zones is available at https://www.ezec.gov/communit/reap.html. This notice is being issued prior to passage of a final appropriations bill to allow applicants sufficient time to leverage financing, submit applications, and give the Agency time to process applications.

Okhissa Lake is a recreational complex currently under development on the Homochitto National Forest, located near Bude, Mississippi. The lake will open for use by the public for boating and fishing between July and November 2007. The exact opening date will depend on completing work on infrastructure needed to support fishing (restrooms, boat launch, parking lots, etc.). Other recreational day- use activities (swimming, picnicking) will be available later as amenities to accommodate them are added. The Forest Service proposes to charge $5 per vehicle for access to all day-use activities (boat launching, swimming, and picnicking). Fees will not be charged until infrastructure needed to support an activity is available for use by the public. A $50 annual pass will also be available for purchase by the public. The annual pass would allow 12-month access to all day-use activities (boat launching, swimming, and picnicking). Opportunities for developed and primitive camping will be available in the future as work needed to accommodate these activities is complete. When available, the Forest Service will charge $13 for developed camping and $7 for primitive camping. Funds received from these fees will be used for continued operation and maintenance of the recreational complex and allow additional amenities to be added in the future. Funds will also be used to enhance or restore fisheries habitat of the lake.