Department of Agriculture January 18, 2007 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

Notice is hereby given that the Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) is accepting applications from State cattle producer organizations or associations and general farm organizations, as well as cattle or beef importer organizations, who desire to be certified to nominate producers or importers for appointment to vacant positions on the Cattlemen's Beef Promotion and Research Board (Board). Organizations which have not previously been certified that are interested in submitting nominations must complete and submit an official application form to AMS. Previously certified organizations do not need to reapply.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. Chapter 35), this notice announces that the Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) is requesting approval from the Office of Management and Budget of a new information collection: the USDA Food and Commodity Connection Web site.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice announces the intent of the Farm Service Agency (FSA) to request renewal of the information collection currently approved and used in support of the FSA Farm Loan Programs (FLP). The collection of information from FLP applicants and commercial lenders is used to determine eligibility; financial feasibility and security positions when the applicant applies for direct loan assistance.

This notice supersedes prior Department of Agriculture's (USDA) National Organic Program's (NOP) published guidelines used to submit petitions to amend the National List of Allowed and Prohibited Substances (National List). The National List identifies the synthetic substances that may be used and the non-synthetic substances that may not be used in organic production. The National List also identifies synthetic and non-synthetic substances that may be used in organic handling. This notice provides guidance on who may submit petitions, what substances may be petitioned and the information that is required to be included within a submitted petition. Additionally, this notice establishes new commercial availability evaluation criteria that will be applied during the petition review of non-organic agricultural substances for inclusion onto or removal from Sec. 205.606 of the National List.

The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is re-opening and extending the comment period on a petition submitted by Hormel Foods on the voluntary labeling claim ``natural'' and on the broader question of how to define this claim. The original comment period closed on January 11, 2007. The Agency is taking this action in response to requests that were made at and after a public meeting that the Agency held on December 12, 2006, to discuss both the Hormel petition and issues associated with the claim ``natural'' in general.

The Black Hills National Forest Advisory Board (NFAB) has announced its meeting dates for 2007. These meetings are open to the public, and public comment is accepted at any time in writing and during the last 15 minutes of each meeting for spoken comments. Persons wishing to speak are given three minutes to address the Board. Meeting dates are the third Wednesday of each month unless otherwise indicated: January 3 (Previously announced), February 21, March 21, April 18, May 16, June 20, July 18, August 15 (Summer Field TripTBA), September 19, October 17, November 21. No meeting in December, January 2, 2007 (Tentative).