Department of Agriculture 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 new information collection activities, to conduct surveys of customer/stakeholder satisfaction for both the National Animal Health Monitoring System and the National Veterinary Services Laboratories.

Notice is hereby given that the comment period on proposed changes in the regulatory periods when minimum grade, size, quality, and maturity requirements apply to southeastern California grapes under Marketing Order No. 925 (order), and to imported grapes under the table grape import regulation is reopened and extended until December 28, 2007.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. Chapter 35), this notice announces that the Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) is requesting approval from the Office of Management and Budget of a new information collection ``Laboratory Approval Programs'' in support of U.S. agricultural commodities.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Forest Service is seeking comments from all interested individuals and organizations on the revision of a currently approved information collection, Airplane Pilot Qualifications and Approval Record, Helicopter Pilot Qualifications and Approval Record, Airplane Data Record, and Helicopter Data Record.

Pursuant to the Privacy Act (5 U.S.C. 552a), the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) gives notice that it proposes to amend five Privacy Act Systems of Records maintained by the Risk Management Agency (RMA).

We are correcting an error in the cold treatment regulations that resulted from the publication of an interim rule on July 2, 2007, that was effective on August 31, 2007, and the publication of a separate final rule on July 18, 2007, that was effective on August 17, 2007. Because the July 18 final rule reorganized the cold treatment regulations, changes we made in the July 2 interim rule inadvertently removed provisions relating to places for cold treatment and ports of entry from the regulations when the interim rule became effective on August 31, 2007. This correction amends the regulations by reinstating those provisions.

This rule invites comments on a modification of the minimum size requirements under the Colorado potato marketing order, Area No. 2. The marketing order regulates the handling of Irish potatoes grown in Colorado, and is administered locally by the Colorado Potato Administrative Committee, Area No. 2 (Committee). The minimum size requirements for Area No. 2 potatoes currently allow the handling of potatoes that are at least 2 inches in diameter or 4 ounces minimum weight, except that round potatoes may be of any weight, and Russet Burbank, Russet Norkotah, and Silverton Russet varieties may be a minimum of 1\7/8\ inches in diameter or 4 ounces in weight. This rule would remove the exception that Russet Burbank, Russet Norkotah, and Silverton Russet varieties may be 1\7/8\ inches in diameter, thus requiring these varieties to also meet the minimum requirements of 2 inches in diameter or 4 ounces in weight. This change is intended to facilitate the handling and marketing of Colorado Area No. 2 potatoes.

The Rural Housing Service (Agency) is amending its regulations to be consistent with other Federal agencies. The current thermal standards for existing single family housing can impose an unnecessary financial burden on the borrower and are not always cost-effective. Removing the thermal standards for existing single family housing will provide consistency with HUD. This change will not affect the thermal standards for new construction; such requirements are generally prescribed by adopted building and model energy codes. Construction materials and building techniques have improved tremendously during the last thirty years, creating many alternatives to achieve thermally efficient homes. Removing the Agency's imposed thermal standards for existing single family housing will give a borrower the opportunity to allocate money towards other improvements which may result in higher cost savings. The rule will not result in any increase in costs or prices to consumers; non-profit organizations; businesses; Federal, State, or local government agencies; or geographic regions.

This final rule amends the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) National List of Allowed and Prohibited Substances (National List) regulations to reflect recommendations submitted to the Secretary of Agriculture (Secretary) by the National Organic Standards Board (NOSB) on August 17, 2005. Consistent with the recommendations from the NOSB, this final rule adds one substance, along with any restrictive annotations, to two sections of the National List. This final rule also clarifies the use and prohibition of chitosan.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Forest Service is seeking comments from all interested individuals and organizations on the extension of a currently approved information collection, Locatable Minerals.

The Bridger-Teton National Forest prepared a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) in response to a request from PXP to drill an exploratory well on the Big Piney Ranger District, along with two additional wells on the same drill pad should the initial well be productive. After release of the DEIS for the Eagle Prospect exploratory wells and in response to public comments and a request from PXP relative to cumulative effects, the Forest will expand the analysis to address a potential field development scenario or master Development Plan, as provided for in the newly revised Onshore Order No. 1. this constitutes a substantial change in the proposed action analyzed in the DEIS and therefore requires the Forest to revise the analysis and prepare a new DEIS.

This rule changes the handling requirements currently authorized under the California pistachio marketing order (order). The order regulates the handling of pistachios grown in California and is administered locally by the Administrative Committee for Pistachios (committee). This rule suspends the minimum quality requirements, including maximum defects and minimum sizes, for California pistachios. This will reduce handler costs and provide handlers more flexibility in meeting customer needs.

The Rogue RiverSiskiyou National Forest is planning to charge fees at four new recreational-rental facilities. All four sites are Forest Service structures that are listed on the National Register of Historic Places; each of them has recently been repaired/restored and has had amenities added to improve services and experiences. Big Elk Guard Station, Lodgepole Guard Station, and Hershberger Mountain Lookout (all located on the High Cascades Ranger District) will become available for overnight rental; Squaw Peak Lookout (on the Siskiyou Mountains Ranger District) will also become available for overnight rental. Although different at each site, the new amenities range from electricity (Big Elk) and running water/indoor toilet (Lodgepole ) to vault toilets, working fireplaces, horse paddocks, and/or road-access improvements. The range of fees stated here is only proposed, and the actual fee for each site will be determined upon further analysis and public comment. Funds from fees would be used for the continued operation and maintenance of these recreation sites. A financial analysis is being done to determine the rental fees, but they may range between $40 and $80 per night. The Rogue River Siskiyou National Forest currently has ten other rental cabins or lookouts, and they are often booked up during the recreation season. The fees would continue to help preserve these particular structures and maintain their historic integrity.

This interim rule revises regulations governing the WIC food packages to align the WIC food packages with the Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGA) \1\ and current infant feeding practice guidelines of the American Academy of Pediatrics, better promote and support the establishment of successful long-term breastfeeding, provide WIC participants with a wider variety of food, and provide WIC State agencies with greater flexibility in prescribing food packages to accommodate participants with cultural food preferences.

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 U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development Utilities Programs invites comments on this information collection for which approval from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) will be requested.

The Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration (GIPSA) has received inquiries, letters, and requests for official services in the currently unassigned states of Maryland, New Jersey, and New York. GIPSA plans to designate one or more organizations qualified to provide official services in Maryland, New Jersey, and New York. GIPSA is asking persons interested in providing official services in all or part of the unassigned areas of Maryland, New Jersey, and New York to submit an application for designation.

The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) announces the availability of approximately $1.3 million in competitive grant funds for fiscal year 2008 to enable States to explore new market opportunities for U.S. food and agricultural products and to encourage research and innovation aimed at improving the efficiency and performance of the U.S. marketing system. Eligible applicants include State departments of agriculture, State agricultural experiment stations, and other appropriate State Agencies. Applicants are encouraged to involve industry groups, academia, community-based organizations, and other stakeholders in developing proposals and conducting projects. In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the information collection requirements have been previously approved by OMB under 0581-0240, Federal-State Marketing Improvement Program (FSMIP).

GIPSA requests comments on the applicants for designation to provide official services in north central Texas, and the applicant for south central California. Enid Grain Inspection Company, Inc. (Enid) and Plainview Grain Inspection and Weighing Service, Inc. (Plainview) applied for counties in Texas, and California Agri Inspection Company, Ltd. (California Agri) applied for counties in California that were open for designation.

The designations of the official agencies listed below will end on June 30, 2008. 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: Georgia Department of Agriculture (Georgia); Mid-Iowa Grain Inspection, Inc. (Mid-Iowa); and Montana Department of Agriculture (Montana).

This notice lists the newspapers that Forests and the Regional Office of the Alaska Region will use to publish legal notice of all decisions subject to appeal under 36 CFR part 217. The intended effect of this action is to inform interested members of the public which newspapers will be used to publish legal notice of decisions subject to appeal under 36 CFR part 217, thereby allowing them to receive constructive notice of a decision, to provide clear evidence of timely notice, and to achieve consistency in administering the appeals process.

In a final rule that was published in the Federal Register on August 6, 2007, and effective on September 5, 2007, we amended the regulations governing the importation of nursery stock by making several changes, including allowing the importation of restricted articles in tissue culture medium that is not transparent or translucent. It was our intent that the amended regulations only allow the use of agar or agar-like tissue culture medium. In this amendment, we are amending the regulation to clarify that intent.

The Rio Grande National Forest is planning to charge a $50/ night fee for the new overnight rentals of Stone Cellar Guard Station, Saguache Bunk House, Alder Creek Guard Station and Fitton Cabin; as well as a $75/night fee for Upper Crossing Guard Station, River Springs Guard Station and 2 cabins at Platoro Reservoir. These cabins have not been available for recreation use prior to this date. Rentals of other cabins on the Rio Grande National Forest have shown that people appreciate and enjoy the availability of historic rental cabins. The Rio Grande National Forest is also proposing that the fees for existing rental cabins be raised from $35/night to $50/night for Brewery Creek Guard Station, Carnero Guard Station, and Elwood Guard Station. Funds from the rental cabins will be used for the continued operation and maintenance of the cabins.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. Chapter 35), this notice announces the intention of NRCS to request a revision for a currently approved information collection, Long-Term Contracting.