Department of Agriculture February 16, 2007 – 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 initiate a new information collection activity associated with the Agency's Animal Care program. The activity involves surveying nongovernmental organizations interested in animal welfare.

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 associated with the Agency's Animal Care program. The activity involves surveying licensees and registrants.

The Department of Agriculture (USDA) is adopting, as a final rule, without change, an interim final rule that relaxed the container marking requirements for kiwifruit covered under the California kiwifruit marketing order (order). The order regulates the handling of kiwifruit grown in California and is administered locally by the Kiwifruit Administrative Committee (Committee). Prior to implementation of the interim final rule, kiwifruit that had been inspected, met applicable grade and size requirements, and was subsequently placed into new containers, had to be positive lot identified, which required reinspection. This rule continues in effect the action that established procedures for handlers to ship such kiwifruit without positive lot identification (PLI). This rule is intended to reduce handler inspection costs and facilitate the marketing of kiwifruit.

The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) is withdrawing the notice soliciting comments on its proposal to amend the voluntary United States Standards for Grades of Winter Pears. After reviewing and considering the comments received, the agency has decided not to proceed with this action.

The Department of Agriculture (USDA) is adopting, as a final rule, without change, an interim final rule changing the reporting requirements established under the Idaho-Eastern Oregon onion marketing order, which regulates the handling of onions grown in designated counties in Idaho and Oregon and is administered locally by the Idaho- Eastern Oregon Onion Committee. This rule continues in effect the action that: Established a credit application procedure for assessments paid on onions that are subsequently regraded, resorted, or repacked within the production area or diverted to exempt special purpose outlets; changed the reporting requirements for fresh onions for peeling, chopping, or slicing, and for special purpose shipments; and added ``disposal'' as a special purpose shipment.

The Boise Ranger District of the Boise National Forest will prepare an environmental impact statement (EIS) for a resource management project in the Crooked River Watershed. The 14,500 acre project area is located approximately 18 miles northeast of Idaho City, Idaho, and about 48 miles northeast of Boise, Idaho. The agency invites written comments and suggestions on the scope of the analysis. The agency also hereby gives notice of the environmental analysis and decision-making process that will occur on the proposal so interested and affected people are aware of how they may participate and contribute to the final decision. At this time no public meetings to discuss the project are planned. Proposed Action: The primary purposes of the project are: (1) Manage the stand density, structure, and species composition to provide conditions that are more resistant to insect and disease infestations and uncharacteristic wildfire. Move towards the Forest Plan vegetation desired conditions, and maintain or increase the large tree component. (2) Modify stand density, structure, and species composition, to restore suitable habitat for white-headed woodpecker and flammulated owls. (3) Provide commercial timber that will contribute to the annual harvest of expected timber volume on the Boise National Forest while moving towards attaining the Forest Plan desired vegetative conditions. (4) Reduce tree stocking & brush within plantations in order to maintain good tree growth and vigor, to reduce fire hazard by removal of developing ladder fuels, and to reduce future susceptibility to insects and disease infestations. (5) Improve water quality and aquatic habitat by reducing long term sedimentation caused by existing roads. The Proposed Action would commercial harvest trees, and in some areas use a combination of commercial harvest thinning and pre- commercial thinning from approximately 1,970 acres in the 14,500 acre project area. Regeneration harvest would occur on approximately 1,100 acres where insect and disease infestation is particularly severe. In addition approximately 4,700 acres would have only pre-commercial removal of small diameter trees (including 1,688 acres of plantations). Within these areas of mechanical vegetation treatment, aspen clones would be managed by removing and reducing conifer competition in the immediate vicinity. Brush removal would occur within approximately 450 additional acres of conifer plantations. An estimated 14.0 MMBF of timber would be harvested using ground-based yarding systems. Prescribed burning would occur within approximately 12,000 acres of project area to breakup the horizontal and vertical fuel continuity to reduce the chance of uncharacteristic stand replacement fires. Approximately 1,550 acres would be a natural fuels burn area where no mechanical treatment would occur, these acres would include target areas and conditional or incidental burn areas. A burn block of approximately 10,620 acres would target mechanically treated areas (commercial and pre-commercial thinning) and also include conditional or incidental burn areas. Approximately 15 acres would be targeted for native plant restoration. Whitebark pine restoration and enhancement is proposed in a 40 acre area around the summit of Pilot Peak. The proposed action would decommission and remove these from the transportation system approximately 22 miles of currently authorized roads. Approximately 3.7 miles of temporary road would be constructed, and approximately 0.8 miles of new road would be constructed. Approximately 6.5 miles of road currently not authorized would be improved by construction and added to the transportation system. Approximately 15.6 miles of road would be closed (these would remain as authorized roads) that are currently open, and 10.9 miles of closed road would be opened. Three culverts that are currently posing a fish migration barrier will be replaced and one would be removed as part of road decommissioning. Possible Alternatives to the Proposed Action: One alternative to the Proposed Action that will be considered is a no action alternative. Other alternatives will likely be developed as issues are identified and information received. Decisions to be Made: The Boise National Forest Supervisor will decide the following: What amount and distribution of commercial tree harvest and pre-commercial tree thinning or removal should be implemented to achieve the project objectives? What amount of prescribed fire should be implemented to achieve the project objectives? What amount of plantation thinning or brush removal should be implemented to achieve the project objectives? Which roads should be adopted as part of the forest-wide minimum transporation system? What existing roads are needed for long term management of the area? What additional roads, if any, are needed to implement the action? What roads are not needed and should be decommissioned or obliterated? What roads currently open should be closed? What culverts that are currently functioning as fish migration barriers should be replaced? Should opportunities for aspen enhancement and whitebark pine restoration be implemented as part of the planned actions? Should opportunities for native plant restoration be implemented?