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

The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is announcing the availability of an electronic Web-based version of FSIS Form 10,240-1, Production Information on Post-Lethality Exposed Ready-to-Eat Products. This form is available for the first time for online submission. FSIS Form 10,240-1 will be used to collect information about the ready-to-eat (RTE) products produced by establishments.

The designations of the official agencies listed below will end on December 31, 2007. We are asking persons interested in providing official services in the areas served by these agencies to submit an application for designation. We are also asking for comments on the quality of services provided by these currently designated agencies: Columbus Grain Inspection, Inc. (Columbus); Farwell Commodity and Grain Services, Inc. (Farwell); and Northeast Indiana Grain Inspection, Inc. (Northeast Indiana).

The Caribou-Targhee National Forest proposes to supplement the Big Bend Ridge Vegetation Management Project and Timber Sale analysis and to consider amending the Targhee Revised Forest Plan with regard to old growth and aspen. The supplement will provide additional analysis and disclosure of environmental effects.

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 credit account approval for reimbursable services.

The Rural Business-Cooperative Service announces the availability of approximately $1.1 million competitive grant funds for fiscal year (FY) 2007 for cooperatives and association of cooperatives to assist small, minority agricultural producers. USDA Rural Development Cooperative Programs hereby requests proposals from eligible cooperatives and associations of cooperatives interested in a competitively awarded grant. The cooperatives and associations of cooperatives will use the grant money to fund technical assistance to small, minority agricultural producers in rural areas. The maximum award per grant is $175,000.

The Department of Agriculture (USDA) is amending the regulations under the Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act (PACA) to ensure that the status of sellers of perishable agricultural commodities as trust creditors is protected when electronic data interchange (EDI) or other forms of electronic commerce are used to invoice buyers. Specifically, the amendments require that a buyer licensed under the PACA or its third party representative accept the PACA trust notice submitted to it by a seller on a paper, electronic invoice, or other billing statement. In addition, the buyer must allow sufficient data space for the required trust language regardless of the billing medium. Finally, any failure, act or omission inconsistent with this responsibility is unlawful and a violation of the PACA.

This action modifies the regulations for the Rural Economic Development Loan and Grant Programs. This revised regulation is written in a format that is simpler in design and should improve ease of use by the public and program beneficiaries.

We are reopening the comment period for the supplemental environmental impact statement prepared for the Importation of Solid Wood Packing Material Final Environmental Impact Statement. This action will allow interested persons additional time to prepare and submit comments.

This document contains a correction to the final regulation which was published Thursday, May 3, 2007 (72 FR 24523-24530). The regulation pertains to the insurance of mint.

This notice announces our intention to request a three year extension and revision of a currently approved information collection in support of the reporting and recordkeeping requirements under the Packers and Stockyards Act. This approval is required under the Paperwork Reduction Act.

The Secretary of Agriculture approved the Transition Plan to privatize the National Sheep Industry Improvement Center. The American Sheep and Goat Center, a Utah non-profit corporation, became the successor to the National Sheep Industry Improvement Center on October 1, 2006.

We are extending the comment period for our interim rule that amended the citrus canker quarantine regulations to explicitly prohibit, with limited exceptions, the interstate movement of regulated nursery stock from a quarantined area. This action will allow interested persons additional time to prepare and submit comments.

We are giving notice of a meeting of the National Wildlife Services Advisory Committee.

In accordance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act, 5 U.S.C. App., the United States Department of Agriculture announces solicitation for nominations to fill 10 vacancies on the National Agricultural Research, Extension, Education, and Economics Advisory Board.

The Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) is soliciting comments on whether to amend and revise the regulation at 7 CFR part 1485 for the purpose of improving the effectiveness of the program. This action announces the comment period and the date, time, and location for a public hearing on the proposed rulemaking. The Market Access Program (MAP) is administered by personnel of the Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS).

The Roadless Area Conservation National Advisory Committee (Committee) will meet in Washington, DC. The purpose of this meeting is to review the petition submitted by the Governor of Colorado for state specific rulemaking for inventoried roadless area management in the State of Colorado under the authority of the Administrative Procedure Act, 5 U.S.C. 553(e) and 7 CFR 1.28 and to discuss other related roadless area matters.

The Uinta National Forest is initiating the preparation of an Environmental Impact Statement for the Indian Springs Road Realignment.

This NOI revises information supplied in the NOI previously published in the Federal Register Vol. 71, No. 14 (pages 3454-3455) on January 23, 2006. The Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, will prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) on a proposal to harvest timber in the Navy Timber Sale project area on the Wrangell Ranger District, Tongass National Forest. The Proposed Action is to harvest 54 million board feet of sawtimber and 7.7 million board feet of utility from approximately 4,700 acres in one or more offerings and would construct approximately 17 miles of National Forest System road and 16 miles of temporary road to facilitate access for logging. The Proposed Action includes harvest units and road construction within Inventoried Roadless Areas, as identified in the Forest Plan SEIS. The Proposed Action includes the use of the existing Log Transfer Facility (LFT) at Anita Bay as well as the construction of a new LTF at the entrance to Burnett Inlet near Navy Creek. The Proposed Action includes a non-significant amendment to the Forest Plan to modify the boundaries of the Burnett, Anita Bay, Mosman and Quiet small old-growth reserves. The Forest Supervisor will decide if and how much timber harvest and road building will occur within the project area, as well as modify the existing small old-growth reserves. The decision will be documented in a Record of Decision based on the information disclosed in the EIS.

The purpose of this notice is to notify all interested parties that the Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) will hold a Fruit and Vegetable Industry Advisory Committee (Committee) meeting that is open to the public. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) established the Committee to examine the full spectrum of issues faced by the fruit and vegetable industry and to provide suggestions and ideas to the Secretary of Agriculture on how USDA can tailor its programs to meet the fruit and vegetable industry's needs. This notice sets forth the schedule and location for the meeting.

The International Cooperation on Harmonization of Technical Requirements for the Registration of Veterinary Medicinal Products (VICH) has developed a draft guideline titled ``Pharmacovigilance of Veterinary Medicinal Products: Controlled Lists of Terms.'' This draft guideline provides guidance for the development and maintenance of the controlled lists of terms required to complete the controlled data fields contained in adverse event reports concerning the use of veterinary medicinal products. Because the draft guideline applies to pharmacovigilance and adverse event reporting on veterinary vaccines regulated by the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service under the Virus-Serum-Toxin Act, we are requesting comments on the scope of the guideline and its provisions so that we may include any relevant public input on the draft in the Agency's comments to the VICH Steering Committee.

The Federal Crop Insurance Corporation (FCIC) proposes to amend 7 CFR part 400, subpart R to clarify existing administrative remedies, add additional administrative remedies that are available as a result of enactment of section 515(h) of the Federal Crop Insurance Act (Act) (7 U.S.C. 1515(h)), and make such other changes as are necessary to implement the provisions of section 515(h) of the Act.

The Nez Perce National Forest is undergoing planning efforts to comply with the designated routes and areas for motor vehicle use rule of November 9, 2005. The forest is proposing to analyze motorized routes and areas forest-wide to determine a base system, while considering the needs of the users, resources effects, rule requirements, and fiscal capabilities for continued maintenance.

We are advising the public that the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service has prepared an environmental assessment for confined field release of rice plants genetically engineered to express the human proteins lactoferrin, lysozyme, or serum albumin. After assessment of the application, review of pertinent scientific information, and consideration of comments provided by the public, we have concluded that these field releases will not present a risk of introducing or disseminating a plant pest. We have completed the environmental assessment and concluded that this field release will not have a significant impact on the quality of the human environment. Based on its finding of no significant impact, the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service has determined that an environmental impact statement need not be prepared for these field releases.