Department of Agriculture 2006 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

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 importation of breeding swine, pork and pork products, and swine semen from a specified region of the European Union.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice announces the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service's intention to initiate a new information collection activity, titled Beetle Busters Survey, associated with the Asian longhorned beetle cooperative eradication program.

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 tuberculosis testing of imported cattle.

This rule revises the quantity of Class 3 (Native) spearmint oil that handlers may purchase from, or handle for, producers during the 2006-2007 marketing year. This rule increases the Native spearmint oil salable quantity from 1,007,886 pounds to 1,161,260 pounds, and the allotment percentage from 46 percent to 53 percent. The marketing order regulates the handling of spearmint oil produced in the Far West and is administered locally by the Spearmint Oil Administrative Committee (Committee). The Committee recommended this rule for the purpose of avoiding extreme fluctuations in supplies and prices and to help maintain stability in the Far West spearmint oil market.

The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS), of the Department of Agriculture (USDA) is soliciting comments on the proposed voluntary United States Standards for Grades of Tomatoes on the Vine. The proposed standards would provide industry with a common language and uniform basis for trading, thus promoting the orderly and efficient marketing of tomatoes on the vine (TOV).

This notice directs that a referendum be conducted among the eligible producers and importers of blueberries to determine whether they favor continuance of the Blueberry Promotion, Research, and Information Order (Order).

The Eastern Washington Cascades Provincial Advisory Committee and the Yakima Provincial Advisory Committee will meet on Wednesday, June 7, 2006 and Wednesday, June 21, 2006 at the Okanogan and Wenatchee National Forests Headquarters Office, 215 Melody Lane, Wenatchee, WA. These meetings will begin at 9 a.m. and continue until 3 p.m. During these meetings Provincial Advisory Committee members will continue the collaboration process on forest plan issues relating to the preparation of a revised forest plan for the Okanogan and Wenatchee National Forests. All Eastern Washington Cascades and Yakima Province Advisory Committee meetings are open to the public.

We are advising the public that a draft pest risk assessment has been prepared by the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service relative to a proposed rule currently under consideration that would allow the importation into the continental United States of fresh Hass avocados from Peru. We are making this draft pest risk assessment available to the public for review and comment.

The Hood/Willamette Resource Advisory Committee (RAC) will meet on Friday, June 29, 2006. The meeting is scheduled to begin at 9 a.m. and will conclude at approximately 12 p.m. The meeting will be held at the Holiday Inn Express; 105 Opal Street, NE., Albany, Oregon; (541) 928-8820. The tentative agenda includes: (1) Recommendations on 2007 Projects; and (2) Public Forum. The Public Forum is tentatively scheduled to begin at 9:15 a.m. Time allotted for individual presentations will be limited to 3-4 minutes. Written comments are encouraged, particularly if the material cannot be presented within the time limits for the Public Forum. Written comments may be submitted prior to the June 29th meeting by sending them to Designated Federal Official Donna Short at the address given below.

The Rural Housing Service, an agency within the USDA Rural Development mission area, provides housing loan guarantees to rural residents through its Section 502 Guaranteed Loan Program. The Department of Defense, Emergency Supplemental Appropriations to Address Hurricanes in the Gulf of Mexico and Pandemic Influenza Act, 2006 (Act), Pub. L. 109-148 (12/30/05) provides USDA Rural Development with additional authorities and resources to address the damage caused by hurricanes that occurred during the 2005 calendar year. The intent of this NOFA is to introduce a temporary Mortgage Recovery Advance Program for existing Section 502 Guaranteed Loan Program borrowers impacted by certain 2005 hurricanes.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. chapter 35, as amended), the Rural Utilities Service an agency delivering the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development Utilities Programs, invites comments on this information collection for which approval from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) will be requested.

We are amending the emerald ash borer regulations by adding areas in Indiana, Michigan, and Ohio to the list of areas quarantined because of emerald ash borer. As a result of this action, the interstate movement of regulated articles from those areas is restricted. This action is necessary to prevent the artificial spread of the emerald ash borer from infested areas in the States of Indiana, Michigan, and Ohio into noninfested areas of the United States.

We are amending the pine shoot beetle regulations by designating the State of Wisconsin, in its entirety, as a quarantined area based on the detection of new pine shoot beetle infested areas in the State, as well as its decision to no longer enforce intrastate movement restrictions. This action is necessary to prevent the spread of pine shoot beetle, a pest of pine trees, into noninfested areas of the United States.

Cherokee National Forest will begin charging a fee for overnight use at three campgrounds presently under construction at dispersed campsites 6, 7 and 8 in the Tellico River Corridor. Birch Branch Campground and Holder Cove Campground will be $10.00 per campsite per day. Rough Ridge Campground, which will accommodate small groups, will be $20.00 campsite per day. These developed campgrounds will facilitate overnight use along the Tellico River on the Tellico Ranger District of Cherokee National Forest. Fee revenue will support maintenance and operation of the campgrounds and future site improvements.

We are advising the public that an environmental assessment has been prepared for a proposed field trial using two transgenic grass lines. The trial consists of Argentine bahiagrass plants that are genetically engineered to express resistance to the herbicide glufosinate and resistance to the antibiotic kanamycin. Each of 4 sets of 12 genetically engineered bahiagrass plants will be encircled with a ring of several untransformed cultivars of bahiagrass. The purpose of the field trial is to study the likelihood of hybrid formation as a result of pollen movement from the transgenic plants to the nontransgenic plants. Data gained from this field experiment also will be used to evaluate current confinement practices for this species of transgenic grass. After assessment of the application and review of the relevant scientific information, we have concluded that this field test will not present a risk of introducing or disseminating a plant pest. We have completed an environmental assessment and have 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, the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service has determined that an environmental impact statement need not be prepared for this field test.

The Forest Service proposes to develop a network of defensible fuel profile zones (DFPZ's), establish group selection harvest units, conduct area thinnings, make improvements in riparian habitat conservation areas (RHCA's), and recover aspen stands on the Almanor Ranger District in the Lassen National Forest. Treatments total an estimated 4,523, 730, 5,653, 409, and 403 acres, respectively, and are spread over a 42,340 acre project area. Included in this proposal are the use of National Forest system roads, the use of temporary roads, and the decommissioning of roads. The project would be implemented through a combination of commercial timber sales, service contracts, and force account crews. These management activities were developed to implement and be consistent with the 1993 Lassen National Forest (LNF) Land and Resource Management Plan (LRMP), as amended by the Herger- Feinstein Quincy Library Group Forest Recovery Act FEIS, FSEIS, and ROD's (1999, 2003), and the Sierra Nevada Forest Plan Amendment 2001 FEIS, 2004 FSEIS, and ROD. Decision to be Made: The decision to be made is whether to implement the proposed action as described above, to meet the purpose and need for action through some other combination of activities, or to take no action at this time.

The USDA, Forest Service, will prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to disclose the environmental effects of timber harvest and watershed restoration activities in the Long Ridge project area on the Lochsa Ranger District of the Clearwater National Forest. The Long Ridge project area is located in the Musselshell Creek drainage, a tributary to Lolo Creek, approximately 8 air-miles southeast of the town of Pierce, Idaho.

This rule establishes final volume regulation percentages for 2005-06 crop Natural (sun-dried) Seedless (NS) raisins covered under the Federal marketing order for California raisins (order). The order regulates the handling of raisins produced from grapes grown in California and is locally administered by the Raisin Administrative Committee (Committee). The volume regulation percentages are 82.50 percent free and 17.50 percent reserve. The percentages are intended to help stabilize raisin supplies and prices, and strengthen market conditions.

The Deschutes and Ochoco National Forests Resource Advisory Committee will meet in Redmond, Oregon. The purpose of the meeting is to receive natural resource projects that will be reviewed and recommended, discuss the Committee's project guidelines and decision- making priorities, review bylaws, elect a Chair, and discuss reports related to the work of the Committee under Title II of the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act of 2000.

The Forest Service is issuing a final directive as an amendment to Forest Service Manual 2350, Trail, River, and Similar Recreation Opportunities to ensure that new or altered trails designed for hiker/pedestrian use on National Forest System lands are developed to maximize accessibility for all people, including people with disabilities, while recognizing and protecting the unique characteristics of the natural setting of each trail. The amendment guides Forest Service employees regarding compliance with the Forest Service Trail Accessibility Guidelines (FSTAG) and directs that these trails comply with the FSTAG and applicable Federal laws, regulations, and guidelines. In addition, the amendment clarifies agency procedures and policies related to the accessibility of trails. The FSTAG is linked to and referenced in this amendment. The Architectural and Transportation Barriers Compliance Board (Access Board) is preparing to publish for public notice and comment proposed accessibility guidelines for outdoor developed areas that would apply to Federal agencies subject to the Architectural Barriers Act. When the Access Board finalizes its accessibility guidelines for outdoor developed areas, the Forest Service will revise the FSTAG to incorporate the Access Board's standards where those provisions are a higher standard, as supplemented by the Forest Service. The supplementation will ensure the agency's application of equivalent or higher guidelines and universal design, as well as consistent use of agency terminology and processes.

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) Web Site Update, (5) Project Proposals/Possible Action, (6) General Discussion, (7) Next Agenda.

The Del Norte County Resource Advisory Committee (RAC) will meet on June 12 and 13, 2006, in Crescent City, California. The purpose of the meeting is for public presentation of Title II project proposal submitted under Public Law 106-393, H.R. 2389, the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act of 2000, also called the ``Payment to States'' Act.

An Opal Creek Scenic Recreation Area Advisory council meeting will convene in Stayton, Oregon on Wednesday June 7, 2006. The meeting is scheduled to begin at 6:30 p.m., and will conclude at approximately 8:30 p.m. The meeting will be held in the South Room of the Stayton Community Center located on 400 West Virginia Street in Stayton, Oregon. The Opal Creek Wilderness and Opal Creek Scenic Recreation Area Act of 1996 (Opal Creek Act) (Pub. L. 104-208) directed the Secretary of Agriculture to establish the Opal Creek Scenic Recreation Area Advisory Council. The Advisory Council is comprised of thirteen members representing state, county and city governments, and representatives of various organizations, which include mining industry, environmental organizations, inholders in Opal Creek Scenic Recreation Area, economic development, Indian tribes, adjacent landowners and recreation interests. The council provides advice to the Secretary of Agriculture on preparation of a comprehensive Opal Creek Management Plan for the SRA, and consults on a periodic and regular basis ont he management of the area. Tentative agenda items include advisory council focus session and subcommittee reports. A direct public comment period is tentatively scheduled to begin at 8 p.m. Time allotted for individual presentations will be limited to 3 minutes. Written comments are encouraged, particularly if the material cannot be presented within the time limits of the comment period. Written comments may be submitted prior to the June 7th by sending them to Designated Federal Official Paul Matter at the address given below. For Further Information Contact: For more information regarding this meeting, contact Designated Federal Official Paul Matter; Willamette National Forest, Detroit Ranger District, HC 73 Box 320, Mill City, OR 97360; (503) 854-3366.