Department of Agriculture 2007 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

Pursuant to Section 102(2)(C) of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969; the Council on Environmental Quality Guidelines (40 CFR Part 1500); and the Natural Resources Conservation Service Guidelines (7 CFR Part 650); the Natural Resources Conservation Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, has decided to subordinate its rights, acquired under the Wetland Reserve Program (WRP), to allow the Gulf South Pipeline Company, LP (Gulf South) to cross NRCS held conservations easements associated with the East Texas to Mississippi Expansion Project (Project) in Madison Parish, Red River Parish, Richland Parish and Ouachita Parish, LA. On September 1, 2006, Gulf South filed, in Docket No. CP04-446-000, an application under section 7(c) of the Natural Gas Act (NGA) for authorization to construct and operate its proposed project. The proposed project consists of 241.9 miles of pipeline, and 110,604 horsepower (hp) of compression that will connect Gulf South's existing facilities in DeSoto Parish, Louisiana to Gulf South's pipeline in Simpson County, Mississippi. The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) has prepared a final environmental impact statement (EIS) to fulfill requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). The purpose of this document was to make public the analysis of the environmental impacts that would likely result from the construction and operation of the proposed Project. The NRCS participated as a cooperating agency in the preparation of the EIS. The project will affect approximately 16 NRCS held Wetlands Reserve Program (WRP) easements by creating a 60 ft. permanent right of way (within a 100 ft. construction right of way) that extends for approximately 241.9 miles of which 12.5 miles is over lands encumbered under WRP easements located in Madison, Red River, Richland and Ouachita Parishes, Louisiana. Of the 34,584 acres encumbered by WRP easements in Madison Parish, Louisiana 76.43 acres will be affected; Of the 513 acres encumbered by WRP easements in Red River Parish, Louisiana 4.61 acres will be affected; of the 7,285 acres encumbered by WRP easements in Richland Parish, Louisiana 6.36 acres will be affected; of the 3,716 acres encumbered by WRP easements in Ouachita Parish, Louisiana 1.82 acres will be affected.

This document summarizes the results of an Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) review of the Soybean Promotion, Research, and Consumer Information Program under the criteria contained in section 610 of the Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA). Based upon its review, AMS has determined that the Soybean Research and Promotion Order (Order) should be continued without change.

The Department of Agriculture (USDA) is adopting, as a final rule, without change, an interim final rule suspending the container regulations prescribed under the Washington apricot marketing order. This rule continues in effect the action that indefinitely extended the temporary 2006 season container regulation suspension. The marketing order regulates the handling of fresh apricots grown in designated counties in the State of Washington, and is administered locally by the Washington Apricot Marketing Committee (Committee). This relaxation in the regulatory requirements allows handlers to pack and ship apricots in any size, shape, or type of container, thus providing the apricot industry with increased marketing flexibility.

Pursuant to the authorities in the Federal Advisory Committees Act (Pub. L. 92-463) and under the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act of 2000 (Pub. L. 106-393) the Alpine County Resource Advisory Committee (RAC) will meet on Thursday, July 17, 2007 at 18:00 at the Diamond Valley School for business meetings. The purpose of the meeting is to discuss issues relating to implementing the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act of 2000 (Payment to States) and expenditure of Title II funds. The meetings are open to the public.

This rule increases the assessment rate established for the California Desert Grape Administrative Committee (committee) for the 2007 and subsequent fiscal periods from $0.0175 to $0.0200 per 18-pound lug of grapes handled. The committee locally administers the marketing order, which regulates the handling of grapes grown in a designated area of southeastern California. Assessments upon desert grape handlers are used by the committee to fund reasonable and necessary expenses of the program. The fiscal period began January 1 and ends December 31. The assessment rate will remain in effect indefinitely unless modified, suspended, or terminated.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. Chapter 35, as amended), the Rural Utilities Service, 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 RUS intends to request approval from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB).

This Notice announces the annual adjustments to the ``national average payments,'' the amount of money the Federal Government provides States for lunches, afterschool snacks and breakfasts served to children participating in the National School Lunch and School Breakfast Programs; to the ``maximum reimbursement rates,'' the maximum per lunch rate from Federal funds that a State can provide a school food authority for lunches served to children participating in the National School Lunch Program; and to the rate of reimbursement for a half-pint of milk served to non-needy children in a school or institution which participates in the Special Milk Program for Children. The payments and rates are prescribed on an annual basis each July. The annual payments and rates adjustments for the National School Lunch and School Breakfast Programs reflect changes in the Food Away From Home series of the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers. The annual rate adjustment for the Special Milk Program reflects changes in the Producer Price Index for Fluid Milk Products.

Notice is hereby given of the intention of NRCS to issue a series of new or revised conservation practice standards in its National Handbook of Conservation Practices. These standards include: ``Agrichemical Handling Facility (Code 309)'' (This is a new standard), and ``Fence (Code 382)'' (This is an existing standard that has been updated). NRCS State Conservationists who choose to adopt these practices for use within their States will incorporate them into Section IV of their respective electronic Field Office Technical Guides (eFOTG). These practices may be used in conservation systems that treat highly erodible land or on land determined to be a wetland.

The Glenn/Colusa County Resource Advisory Committee (RAC) will meet in Willows, California. Agenda items covered include: (1) Introductions, (2) Approve Minutes, (3) Public Comment, (4) Project Proposals/Possible Action, (5) Status of Funding, (6) Reports on Completed Projects, (7) General Discussion, (8) Next Agenda.

In accordance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act, 5 U.S.C. App. 2, this notice announces an invitation from the Office of the Secretary of Agriculture for nominations to the Advisory Committee on Agriculture Statistics. On March 23, 2007, the Secretary of Agriculture re-established the Advisory Committee charter for another 2 years. The purpose of the Committee is to advise the Secretary of Agriculture on the scope, timing, content, etc., of the periodic censuses and surveys of agriculture, other related surveys, and the types of information to obtain from respondents concerning agriculture. The Committee also prepares recommendations regarding the content of agriculture reports and presents the views and needs for data of major suppliers and users of agriculture statistics.

The Fremont River Ranger District of the Fishlake National Forest will begin charging an $8 fee for single family overnight camping at the Elkhorn Campground. There will also be a $4 fee for an extra vehicle. There is presently a fee of $25 to $45, depending on the number of people, for use of the group site at this campground. Overnight camping at other campgrounds on the Fishlake National Forest have shown that people appreciate and enjoy the availability of developed recreation facilities. Funds from the fee charges will be used for the continued operation and maintenance of the Elkhorn Campground.

We are proposing to amend the regulations for the treatment of plant pests by removing two treatment options that we now believe to be ineffective at neutralizing their target plant pests. A review of these treatments found these options to be ineffective. We are also proposing to remove two treatment schedules that are no longer authorized for use and to clarify the fruits and vegetables on which two methyl bromide treatments may be used. These changes would ensure that ineffective or unauthorized treatments are not used and clarify the regulations.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice announces the Rural Housing Service's intention to request an extension for a currently approved information collection in support of the program for Technical and Supervisory Assistance (TSA) grants.

The Rural Utilities Service (RUS), an agency delivering the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development Utilities Program, hereinafter referred as Rural Development, announces its Community Connect Grant Program application window for funding during fiscal year (FY) 2007. In addition, RUS announces the minimum and maximum amounts for Community Connect grants applicable for the fiscal year. The Community Connect Grant Program regulations can be found at 7 CFR part 1739, subpart A.

The Hood/Willamette Resource Advisory Committee (RAC) will meet on Thursday, August 30, 2007. The meeting is scheduled to begin at 9:30 a.m. and will conclude at approximately 12:30 p.m. The meeting will be held at Salem Office of the Bureau of Land Management Office; 1717 Fabry Road SE., Salem, Oregon; (503) 375-5646. The tentative agenda includes: (1) Report on status of past projects; (2) Election of chairperson; (3) Decision on overhead rate for 2008 projects; (4) Presentation of 2008 Projects; and (5) Public Forum. The Public Forum is tentatively scheduled to begin at 9:45 a.m. Time allotted for individual presentations will be limited to 3-4 minutes. Written comments are encouraged, particularly if the material cannot be presented within the time limits for the Public Forum. Written comments may be submitted prior to the August 30th meeting by sending them to Joanne West at the address given below.

The North Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie Resource Advisory Committee (RAC) will meet at the Mt. Baker Ranger District Office in Sedro Woolley, Washington. The first meeting will include electing this year's chairperson, followed by reviewing proposed Title II projects. The second meeting will be to complete the review, and prioritize proposal to recommend for FY 2008.

The South Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie Resource Advisory Committee (RAC) will meet at the Snoqualmie Ranger District Office in North Bend, WA to review and select Title II projects for FY 2008.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice announces the Rural Business-Cooperative Service's intention to request an extension for a currently approved information collection in support of the program for 7 CFR part 4284, subpart J.

We are amending the export certification regulations to clarify that an International Standards for Phytosanitary Measures No. 15 (ISPM 15) quality/treatment mark is an industry-issued certificate within the meaning of 7 CFR part 353 and thus may only be issued when the organization applying the certification mark has entered into an agreement with the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service. We are also removing all references to a certificate of heat treatment from the regulations because those certificates have been replaced by the ISPM 15 quality/treatment mark. These changes are necessary in order to ensure the appropriate issuance of the ISPM 15 quality/treatment mark.

We are adopting as a final rule, without change, an interim rule that amended Asian longhorned beetle regulations by removing the Oz Park area in Cook County, IL, from the list of quarantined areas and removing restrictions on the interstate movement of regulated articles from those areas. We have determined that the Asian longhorned beetle no longer presents a risk of spread from that area and that the quarantine and restrictions are no longer necessary. With that action, there are no longer any areas in Illinois that are quarantined because of the Asian longhorned beetle.

The e Utilities Service (RUS), an agency delivering the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development Utilities Program, hereinafter referred to as Rural Development, announces its Community Connect Grant Program application window for funding during fiscal year (FY) 2007. In addition, RUS announces the minimum and maximum amounts for Community Connect grants applicable for the fiscal year. The Community Connect Grant Program regulations can be found at 7 CFR part 1739, subpart A.