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

This rule invites comments on the establishment of final free and restricted percentages for the 2006-2007 crop year. The percentages are 55 percent free and 45 percent restricted and will establish the proportion of cherries from the 2006 crop which may be handled in commercial outlets. The percentages are intended to stabilize supplies and prices, and strengthen market conditions. The percentages were recommended by the Cherry Industry Administrative Board (Board), the body that locally administers the marketing order. The marketing order regulates the handling of tart cherries grown in the States of Michigan, New York, Pennsylvania, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Wisconsin.

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, Timber Purchaser Cost and Sales Data.

This document corrects a proposed rule published November 28, 2006, proposing to amend the regulations governing the selection and functions of Farm Service Agency (FSA) State and county committees in accordance with the Soil Conservation and Domestic Allotment Act, as amended. A correction is needed because the proposed rule incorrectly stated the duties of the State committees.

The Siuslaw National Forest is planing to charge fees at a new recreation site that has recently been constructed. Fees are assessed based on the level of amenitites and services provided, cost of operation and maintenance and market assessment. Funds from fees will be used for the continued operation and maintenance of the site. Old Bark Road OHV Staging Area at the Oregon Dunes NRA will be available for day use staging by off highway vehicles (OHVs). A $5 per day fee will be charged for each highway vehicle using the site. National and regionally focused recreation passes such as the Interagency Annual Pass, Senior Pass or Access Pass and the Northwest Forest Pass will be valid for day use fees at the site. Northwest Forest Passes are $5 for a daily pass and $30 for an annual pass. The Interagency Annual Pass Costs $80.

The Rural Utilities Service (RUS), an agency which administers the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Rural Development Utilities Programs (USDA/RD) is issuing a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Norborne Baseload Plant (Norborne Plant). The Draft EIS was prepared pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA) (U.S.C. 4231 et seq.) in accordance with the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) regulations for implementing the procedural provisions of NEPA (40 CFR parts 1500-1508) and USDA Rural Utilities Service (RUS) regulations (7 CFR part 1794). The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is a cooperating agency for this Draft EIS. The purpose of the EIS is to evaluate the potential environmental impacts of and alternatives to the Associated Electric Cooperative, Inc. (AECI) application for a USDA/RD loan to construct the proposed 660 megawatt (MW) coal-fired power plant in Carroll County, Missouri, near the town of Norborne. AECI is proposing to use a coal combustion technology known as supercritical pulverized coal, along with other proposed pollution controls collectively known as Best Available Control Technology (BACT). The primary components of the Proposed Action include the following: Power plant and associated facilities and operations, including the plant cooling system, waste management operations, lighting, and fire protection and other safety systems. 345-kV substation with associated transmission line modifications and communications facilities. New and modified substations. Approximately 134 miles of new 345-kV transmission lines to connect with AECI's existing network. Water supply system consisting of groundwater wells and associated pipeline. Utility waste landfill. New rail access from existing mainline railroads. Actions to reduce or prevent environmental impacts. The Proposed Action has been identified as USDA/RD's Preferred Alternative.

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 this information collection for which RUS intends to request approval from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB).

The Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) announces the availability of funding for the 2007 Technical Assistance for Specialty Crops (TASC) Program. The intended effect of this notice is to solicit applications from the private sector and from government agencies for participation in the FY 2007 TASC Program. The TASC Program is administered by personnel of the Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS).

We are advising the public that the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service has received a petition from Syngenta Seeds, Inc., seeking a determination of nonregulated status for corn rootworm- resistant corn derived from a transformation event designated as MIR604. 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 comments on whether this corn presents a plant pest risk. We are also making available for public comment a draft environmental assessment for the proposed determination of nonregulated status.

We are adopting as a final rule, without change, an interim rule that amended the Mediterranean fruit fly regulations by removing portions of Los Angeles, San Bernardino, and Santa Clara Counties, CA, from the list of quarantined areas and by removing restrictions on the interstate movement of regulated articles from those areas. The interim rule was necessary to relieve restrictions that were no longer needed to prevent the spread of the Mediterranean fruit fly into noninfested areas of the United States.

We are proposing to amend the regulations regarding the importation of animals and animal products to establish conditions for the importation of the following commodities from regions that present a minimal risk of introducing bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) into the United States: Live bovines for any use born on or after a date determined by APHIS to be the date of effective enforcement of a ruminant-to-ruminant feed ban in the region of export; blood and blood products derived from bovines; and casings and part of the small intestine derived from bovines. We are proposing these amendments after conducting a risk assessment and comprehensive evaluation of the issues that concluded that such bovines and bovine products can be safely imported under the conditions described in this proposed rule.

We are extending the submission period for our notice that requests information from interested persons regarding potential sites for the production of sterile fruit flies or alternates sources of those flies. This action will allow interested persons additional time to prepare and submit information.

We are proposing to amend the regulations to add that portion of the Patagonia region of Argentina located south of latitude 42[deg] south (Patagonia South) to the list of regions considered free of rinderpest and foot-and-mouth disease (FMD). We are taking this action because we have determined that Patagonia South is free of rinderpest and FMD. We are also proposing to add that region to the list of regions that are subject to certain import restrictions on meat and meat products because of their proximity to or trading relationships with rinderpest-or FMD-affected countries. These actions would update the disease status of Patagonia South with regard to rinderpest and FMD 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 Patagonia South.

Pursuant to the Privacy Act (5 U.S.C. 552a), notice is hereby given that the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) proposes to amend the Privacy Act System of Records FCIC-8, entitled ``List of Ineligible Producers''. The system of records is maintained by the Risk Management Agency (RMA), an agency of USDA, which administers programs of the Federal Crop Insurance Corporation (FCIC), a wholly-owned Government corporation. The list of ineligible producers system of records is being revised to reflect changes in the administration and management of the Federally reinsured plan of insurance contractors and to reflect more completely the types of information collected and maintained in this system of records. The primary purpose of the system of records is to aid private insurance companies in identifying ineligible persons and to reduce fraud and misuse of Federal funds. Private insurance companies operate under a reinsurance agreement with FCIC to deliver programs in accordance with policy and procedure issued by RMA. The reinsurance agreement is authorized by the Federal Crop Insurance Act and regulations of FCIC published at 7 CFR chapter IV. Additionally, 7 CFR part 400, subpart Q, provides general administrative regulations for Social Security Number (SSN) and Employer Identification Number (EIN) collection, storage, use and confidentiality to all holders of crop insurance policies sold by insurance providers, their contractors and subcontractors, including past and present officers and employees of such companies, their contractors and subcontractors.

We are adopting as a final rule, without change, an interim rule that amended the bovine tuberculosis regulations regarding State and zone classifications by raising the designation of Texas from modified accredited advanced to accredited-free. The interim rule was based on our determination that Texas met the criteria for designation as an accredited-free State.

Pursuant to Section 102(2)(c) of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969; the Council on Environmental Quality Regulations (40 CFR Part 1500); and the Natural Resources Conservation Service Regulations (7 CFR Part 650); the Natural Resources Conservation Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, gives notice that an environmental impact statement is not being prepared for the rehabilitation of Floodwater Retarding Structure No. 8 of the Poteau River Watershed, Scott County, Arkansas.