Department of Agriculture February 7, 2007 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

On April 29, 2004 (69 FR 23492-93), the Forest Service (FS) and the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) published in the Federal Register a Notice of Intent (NOI) to prepare a Supplement to the Final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for Gypsy Moth Management in the United States: a Cooperative Approach. The expected date for filing the Draft Supplemental EIS (SEIS) with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) was March 2005 and February 2006 for the Final SEIS. On March 13, 2006 (71 FR 12674-75), the FS and APHIS published a Revised NOI in the Federal Register modifying the expected date for filing the Draft SEIS with the EPA to September 2006 and August 2007 for the Final SEIS. Through this revised NOI, the FS and APHIS are extending the expected filing dates with the EPA for the Draft and Final SEIS.

Notice is hereby given of a public hearing to receive evidence on proposed amendments to Marketing Agreement and Order No. 930 (order), which regulate the handling of tart cherries grown in Michigan, New York, Pennsylvania, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Wisconsin. Seven amendments are proposed by the Cherry Industry Administrative Board (Board), which is responsible for local administration of the order. These proposed amendments would: Authorize changing the primary reserve capacity associated with the volume control provisions of the order; authorize establishment of a minimum inventory level at which all remaining product held in reserves would be released to handlers for use as free tonnage; establish an age limitation on product placed into reserves; revise the voting requirements necessary to approve a Board action; revise the nomination and election process for handler members on the Board; revise Board membership affiliation requirements; and update order language to more accurately reflect grower and handler participation in the nomination and election process in Districts with only one Board representative. In addition, the Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) proposes to make any such changes as may be necessary to the order or administrative rules and regulations to conform to any amendment that may result from the hearing. The proposals are intended to provide additional flexibility in administering the volume control provisions of the order, and to update Board nomination, election, and membership requirements. These proposed amendments are intended to improve the operation and administration of the order.