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

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice invites the general public to comment on the proposed information collection in the Annual Report of State Revenue Matching. The State agencies use this form to report State revenues used specifically by State agencies for school nutrition program purposes. The proposed collection is an extension of a collection currently approved for the Form FNS-13, Annual Report of State Revenue Matching.

The Rural Utilities Service (RUS), an Agency delivering the United States Department of Agriculture's Rural Development Utilities Programs, hereinafter referred to as Rural Development, consolidates and amends the regulations utilized to service water and waste loan and grant programs. The rule will combine the water and waste loan and grant servicing regulations found in 7 CFR parts 1951, 1955, and 1956 into one regulation. Unnecessary and burdensome requirements for water and waste loan and grant servicing under the program will be eliminated. The streamlining of the water and waste loan and grant servicing regulation will allow the Agency to provide better service to entities needing assistance in resolving financial and economic problems in their communities and, in general, improve the quality of life in rural areas. Additionally, this rule implements Section 6018 of the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 (7 U.S.C. 1936a) for Rural Development's Business, Housing and Utilities programs.

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 regulations for the importation of animals and animal products and byproducts to protect against the introduction of bovine spongiform encephalopathy into the United States.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. Chapter 35, as amended), the Rural Utilities Service (RUS), an agency delivering the United States Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Rural Development Utilities Programs, hereinafter referred to as Rural Development and/or the Agency, invites comments on this information collection for which Rural Development intends to request approval from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB).

The Forest Service is processing an application for a special use authorization from Deerfield Wind, LLC for the installation and operation of wind turbines on National Forest System (NFS) lands managed by the Green Mountain National Forest (GMNF). This notice revises the ``responsible official'', updates the expected dates for the release of the EIS, makes minor modifications to certain parts of the proposed action, and asks for comments on those modifications.

The Federal Crop Insurance Corporation (FCIC) finalizes the Fresh Market Sweet Corn Crop Insurance Provisions to make policy revisions that would allow expansion of the fresh market sweet corn coverage into additional areas where the crop is produced, and will allow coverage for fresh market sweet corn that is sold through direct marketing. The changes will be effective for the 2008 and succeeding crop years for all counties with a contract change date on or after the effective date of this rule and for the 2009 and succeeding crop years for counties with a contract change date prior to the effective date of this rule.

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 regulations for the importation of wheat and related articles from regions affected with Karnal bunt.

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 environmental monitoring.

This notice announces to the warehouse operators operating under a Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) Peanut Storage Agreement on the uniform rates that CCC will pay for storage, handling, and other associated costs for 2007 crop of peanuts.

This rule provides for use of an estimated trade demand figure to compute volume regulation percentages for 2007-08 crop Natural (sun- dried) Seedless (NS) raisins covered under the Federal marketing order for California raisins (order). The order regulates the handling of raisins produced from grapes grown in California and is administered locally by the Raisin Administrative Committee (Committee). This rule provides parameters for implementing volume regulation for 2007-08 crop NS raisins, if supplies are short, for the purposes of maintaining a portion of the industry's export markets and stabilizing the domestic market.

The Forest Service proposes to amend its internal agency directives for special use authorizations and wildlife monitoring. The proposed amendments would provide direction and guidance specific to wind energy development on National Forest System (NFS) lands. These amendments supplement, rather than supplant or duplicate, existing special use and wildlife directives to address issues specifically associated with siting, processing proposals and applications, and issuing special use permits for wind energy uses. The proposed directives would ensure consistent and adequate analyses for evaluating wind energy proposals and applications and issuing wind energy permits. Public comment is invited and will be considered in the development of final directives.

The Office of the Under Secretary for Food Safety, U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) are sponsoring a public meeting on September 25, 2007. The objective of the public meeting is to provide information and receive public comments on agenda items and draft United States positions that will be discussed at the 29th Session of the Codex Committee on Nutrition and Foods for Special Dietary Uses (CCNFSDU) of the Codex Alimentarius Commission (Codex), which will be held in Bad Neuenahr-Ahrweiler, Germany on November 12-November 16, 2007. In addition, an Ad Hoc Working Group on the Revision of the Standard for Gluten-Free Foods will meet on November 10, 2007. The Under Secretary for Food Safety and FDA recognize the importance of providing interested parties the opportunity to obtain background information on the 29th Session of CCNFSDU and to address items on the agenda.

This notice announces that the National Advisory Committee on Microbiological Criteria for Foods (NACMCF) will hold public meetings of the full Committee and subcommittees on September 24-28, 2007. The Committee will discuss: (1) Assessment of the food safety importance of Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis, (2) Determination of the most appropriate technologies for the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) to adopt in performing routine and baseline microbiological analyses, and (3) Parameters for inoculated-pack challenge study protocols.

This document sets forth the revised appendices to the Dairy Tariff-Rate Import Quota Licensing Regulation for the 2007 quota year reflecting the cumulative annual transfers from Appendix 1 to Appendix 2 for certain dairy product import licenses permanently surrendered by licenses or revoked by the Licensing Authority.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 and the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) regulations, the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is announcing its intention to request a revision of an approved information collection concerning the regulatory requirements for application for inspection, accreditation of laboratories, and exemptions because of revised estimates that support a finding of fewer total burden hours.

The Manti-La Sal National Forest is planning to charge fees at eleven recreation sites. All sites have recently been reconstructed or amenities added to improve services and experiences. Fees are assessed based on the level of amenities and services provided, cost of operation and maintenance, market assessment, and public comment. The fees listed are only proposed and will be determined upon further analysis and public comment. Funds from fees would be used for the continued operation and maintenance of these sites. Indian Creek Guard Station and Seeley Guard Station will be available for overnight rental. A financial analysis is being completed to determine the rental fee but may range between $30 and $50 per night. Guard Stations rentals offer a unique experience and are a widely popular offering on National Forests. These Guard Stations have recently been restored. Fees would continue to help protect and maintain the Guard Stations. The Manti-La Sal National Forest is proposing to charge a fee of $5 per vehicle per night at Twin Reservoir Fishing/Camping and an overnight fee of $5 per site at Mason Draw Campground, Oowah Lake Campground and Sand Flats Camping Area (Maloy Park). A $7 overnight fee per site is proposed at Fish Creek Campground and Trailhead. These sites are eligible under the Recreation Fee Enhancement Act to collect fees for continued operation and maintenance. A financial analysis is being completed to determine fee rates.

The Rural Utilities Service (RUS), an agency delivering the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development Utilities Programs, hereinafter referred to as Rural Development, has made a finding of no significant impact (FONSI) with respect to a request for possible financing assistance to East Kentucky Power Cooperative (EKPC) for the construction of two new Smith Station combustion turbine electric generating units (CTs), two new electric switching stations, and the 36-mile, Smith-West Garrard 345 kilovolt (kV) electric transmission line located in Clark, Madison, and Garrard Counties, Kentucky (Proposal).

On August 27, 2007, The Mt. Hood National Forest (Forest) published a Notice of Intent in the Federal Register (72 FR 48982) to prepare an environmental impact statement (EIS) to document and disclose the potential environmental effects of establishing and designating a system of roads, trails and areas for off-highway vehicles (OHV). The proposed action will change OHV access through much of the Forest in order to meet the intent of the Travel Management; Designated Routes and Areas for Motor Vehicle Use; Final Rule that was published on November 9, 2005 (70 FR 216). The original Notice of Intent listed the final date to receive comments concerning the scope of the analysis as October 1, 2007. The Notice of Intent is being revised to extend the final date for receiving comments concerning the scope of the analysis to November 1, 2007.

The USDA Forest Service, Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest, Medford-Park Falls Ranger District intends to prepare an environmental impact statement (EIS) to document the analysis and disclose the environmental effects of proposed land management activities, and corresponding alternatives within the Camp Four project area. The primary purpose of this proposal is to implement activities consistent with direction in the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forests Land and Resource Management Plan (Forest Plan) and respond to specific needs identified in the project area. The project area is located on National Forest System land in the north central portion of the Park Falls landbase of the Medford-Park Falls Ranger District, approximately 9 miles east of Park Falls, Wisconsin. The legal description for the area is: Township 40 North, Range 2 East, sections 1-3, 9-17, 19-28, 35; Township 40 North, Range 3 East, sections 4, 6, 8-10, 16-20, 29; 4th Principal Meridian.

We are amending the regulations concerning the importation of animals and animal products by adding the Republic of Georgia to the list of regions where African swine fever exists. We are taking this action because outbreaks of African swine fever have been confirmed in various locations throughout Georgia. This action will restrict the importation of pork and pork products into the United States from Georgia and is necessary to prevent the introduction of African swine fever into the United States.

We are allowing the importation into the continental United States of fresh blueberries from South Africa and Uruguay under certain conditions. As a condition of entry, the blueberries will have to undergo cold treatment and will have to be accompanied by a phytosanitary certificate issued by the national plant protection organization of the exporting country. This action will allow for the importation of blueberries from South Africa and Uruguay into the continental United States while continuing to provide protection against the introduction of quarantine pests. In addition, we are allowing the use of cold treatment for blueberries imported into the United States from Argentina. This action provides an alternative to the methyl bromide treatment that is currently required for blueberries imported from Argentina.