Department of Agriculture 2006 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Forest Service will prepare an environmental impact statement on a proposal to harvest timber from the Little Doe and Low Gulch project area, which is located on National Forest System lands administered by the Six Rivers National Forest in Northern California. If approved, the project would harvest approximately 7.9 million board feet (MMBF) of timber from approximately 923 acres of conifer stands through intermediate and regeneration cutting methods. Logging systems employed would include ground-based skidding, skyline cable yarding, and helicopter logging. Post-harvest treatments within the proposed treatment units include fuel reduction, site preparation, and reforestation treatments. Connected actions associated with the project proposal include landing construction and reconstruction, temporary road construction with subsequent decommissioning, and road maintenance. There is a need to provide timber volume that would contribute to the economic base of the local communities. Within the context of meeting this need, an opportunity exists to maintain oaks as an important component within Douglas-fir/black oak conifer stands and oak woodlands within the project area.

We are adopting as a final rule, without change, an interim rule that amended the regulations concerning the importation of animals and animal products by adding Kazakhstan, Romania, Russia, Turkey, and Ukraine to the list of regions in which highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) subtype H5N1 is considered to exist. We took that action because there have been outbreaks of HPAI subtype H5N1 in those countries. The interim rule was necessary to prevent the introduction of HPAI subtype H5N1 into the United States.

The Ravalli County Resource Advisory Committee will be meeting to discuss 2006 projects, several guest speakers, 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.

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 requiring permits for the interstate movement of certain animals.

The Siuslaw Resource Advisory Committee will meet in Florence, OR. The purpose of the meeting is to Review RAC FY07 Business, Information Share, Public Forum and 2007 Project Review/ Recommendations.

Title V of the Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2003 (Act) (Pub. L. 108-148) authorizes the establishment of the Healthy Forests Reserve Program (HFRP). The purpose of this program is to assist landowners in restoring and enhancing forest ecosystems to: Promote the recovery of threatened and endangered species; improve biodiversity; and enhance carbon sequestration. This interim final rule sets forth how NRCS will implement HFRP to meet the statutory objectives of the program.

We are advising the public that the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service has received a petition from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Agricultural Research Service seeking a determination of nonregulated status for plum designated as transformation event C5, which has been genetically engineered to resist infection by plum pox virus (PPV). The petition has been submitted in accordance with our regulations concerning the introduction of certain genetically engineered organisms and products. In accordance with those regulations, we are soliciting public comments on whether this plum presents a plant pest risk. We are also making available for public comment an environmental assessment for the proposed determination of nonregulated status.

The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) issues this interim final rule amending NRCS's informal appeals procedures as required by Title II of the Federal Crop Insurance Reform and Department of Agriculture Reorganization Act of 1994, 7 U.S.C. 6991 et seq. (the 1994 Act). This interim final rule amends regulations promulgated by the interim final regulations published by the Secretary of Agriculture for NRCS on December 29, 1995 (60 FR 67313), and also includes new language to address statutory changes and make procedural and structural changes. Because of the substantive changes the agency is making to its informal appeal process under the current regulation, NRCS is publishing this rule as an interim final rule with request for comments. NRCS has determined that issuing an interim final rule with request for comments rather than a proposed rule was justified in order to implement the changes required by statute as well as to institute procedural improvements. This interim final rule with request for comments puts the public on notice of the changes being made while affording an opportunity to comment. At the same time, much needed changes and improvements to the current regulation may be implemented immediately thereby better serving the public and the USDA.

In accordance with the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self Determination Act of 2000 (Pub. L. 106-393) and the Federal Advisory Committee Act of 1972 (FACA), the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Davy Crockett National Forest Resource Advisory Committee (RAC) meeting will meet on June 22, 2006.

The Farm Service Agency (FSA) proposes to amend the regulations for guaranteed loans to change the amount charged and collected in order for the FSA to provide a guarantee. Except in certain limited cases, FSA currently charges a fee of one percent (1%) of the guaranteed amount on all guaranteed Farm Ownership (FO) loans, and guaranteed Operating Loans (OL). The rule change is necessary for the Agency to be able to offset the cost of the guaranteed loan program so as to maintain program funding at levels that will best service farmers and ranchers.

Revise Rangeland Allotment Management Plans (RAMP) for all allotments within the McKelvie Geographic Area and analyze continuation of grazing within the constraints of the Revised Nebraska Land and Resource Management Plan (NLRMP).

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Forest Service is seeking comments from all interested individuals and organizations on the revision with changes of the currently approved information collection for Advertised Timber for Sale.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Food and Nutrition Service is submitting for comment from the general public and other public agencies the proposed information collection burden that would result from the Pennsylvania Rural Area Eligibility Pilot Evaluation.

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 the animal identification number management system, a component of the National Animal Identification System.

We plan to establish U.S. standards for feed peas under the authority of the U.S. Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946, as amended (AMA). Current U.S. standards for Whole Dry Peas and Split Peas reflect the needs of the edible dry pea market. The quality and standards established for the edible dry pea market greatly differ from the feed pea market. Consequently, the current standards for edible dry peas do not reflect the current needs of the feed pea market. This action will provide uniform standards and will facilitate the marketing of feed peas.

In accordance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act, the United States Department of Agriculture announces solicitation for nominations to fill 12 vacancies on the National Agricultural Research, Extension, Education, and Economics Advisory Board.

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

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. Chapter 35), this notice announces the U.S. Department of Agriculture, National Appeals Division's to request an extension for and revision to a currently approved information collection for Customer Service Survey.

Proposed Land Management Plans for the Kootenai and Idaho Panhandle National Forests are now available for public comment during a 90-day period that begins on the date of publication of this notice in Federal Register. The Kootenai and Idaho Panhandle National Forests comprise the KIPZ (Kootenai and Idaho Panhandle Planning Zone.)

The Rural Housing Service is correcting a notice published in the Federal Register on Monday, April 17, 2006. This action is taken to correct a State Office address referenced in the contact information of the application and submission portion of the notice. This correction will insure that the applicant receives the most current and accurate information necessary for the submission of the proposal packages. Accordingly, the notice published on April 17, 2006 (71 FR 19682- 19690), is corrected as follows: On page 19685, in the third column under the heading, ``Where to file,'' the Delaware & Maryland State Office address is corrected to read as follows: Delaware & Maryland State Office, 1221 College Park Drive, Suite 200, Dover, DE 19904-8724. (302) 857-3600, TDD (302) 857- 3585, W. Drew Clendaniel.

The Intergovernmental Advisory Committee (IAC), Northwest Forest Plan (NWFP), has scheduled an advisory meeting on June 1, 2006. The advisory meeting will begin at approximately 8 a.m. and end at 12 noon at the Red Lion Hotel, in the Juan de Fuca Conference room, 221 N. Lincoln Street, Port Angeles, Washington 98362, 877-333-2733. The purpose of the meeting is to review topics related to key findings and trends from the April 19-20, 2005 Science and the Northwest Forest Plan, Knowledge Gained Over a Decade conference hosted by the USDA, Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Research Station, and to collect advice regarding the implementation improvement strategies being drafted. The meeting is open to the public and fully accessible for people with disabilities. A 10-minute time slot is reserved for public comments at 8:30 a.m. Interpreters are available upon request at least 10 days prior to the meeting. Written comments may be submitted for the meeting record. Interested persons are encouraged to attend.

The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is reopening and extending the comment period for the proposed rulemaking ``Availability of Lists of Retail Consignees During Meat or Poultry Product Recalls,'' which closed on May 8, 2006. This action is based upon requests made by individuals who attended the Agency's April 24, 2006, public meeting to solicit comments on the proposal.

The Farm Service Agency (FSA) issues this interim final rule in response to emergency agricultural situations caused by the 2005 Hurricanes Dennis, Katrina, Ophelia, Rita, and Wilma in certain counties in Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, and Texas. The named hurricanes severely limited the purchasing power of farmers engaged in the production of agricultural commodities. This rule provides for the establishment of four hurricane disaster programs and one grant program using an estimated $250 million in funds available under section 32 of the Act of August 24, 1935, to be administered by FSA in order to provide funds to eligible producers who suffered eligible losses, thus reestablishing these producers' purchasing power. The grants will be provided to the respective States to enable them to assist aquaculture producers having losses related to the aforementioned 2005 hurricanes.