Department of Agriculture 2007 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Forest Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, is providing notice and opportunity for comment on a proposed rule for National Forest System land management planning. This rulemaking is the result of a U.S. district court order dated March 30, 2007, which enjoined the United States Department of Agriculture from implementation and utilization of the land management planning rule published in 2005 (70 FR 1023) until it complies with the court's order regarding the National Environmental Policy Act, the Endangered Species Act, and the Administrative Procedure Act (Citizens for Better Forestry et al. v. USDA, C.A. C05-1144 (N. D. Cal.)). The purpose of this proposed rule is to respond to the court's ruling about notice and comment requirements under the Administrative Procedure Act by publishing the 2005 rule as a proposed rule. The Agency plans to comply with the court's order regarding the Endangered Species Act. In addition, the Agency is preparing a draft environmental impact statement under the National Environmental Policy Act. This proposed rule sets forth a framework for National Forest System land management planning to provide for sustainability of social, economic, and ecological systems and establishes direction for developing, amending, and revising land management plans. The proposed rule clarifies that, absent extraordinary circumstances, land management plans developed, amended, or revised under the proposed rule are strategic and are one stage in an adaptive cycle of planning for management of National Forest System lands. The intent of the proposed rule is to streamline and improve the planning process by making plans more adaptable to changes in social, economic, and environmental conditions; to strengthen the role of science in planning; to strengthen collaborative relationships with the public and other governmental entities; and to reaffirm the principle of sustainable management consistent with the Multiple-Use Sustained-Yield Act and other authorities.

The Santa Rosa and San Jacinto Mountains National Monument Advisory Committee (Monument Advisory Committee) will meet as indicated below.

The Rogue/Umpqua Resource Advisory Committee (RAC) will meet on Thursday and Friday, September 20 and 21, in Roseburg, Oregon. On September 20, the meeting will begin at 10:30 a.m. and conclude at 4:45 p.m. On September 21, the meeting will begin at 8 a.m. and conclude at 4 p.m. Agenda items on September 20 include (1) Selection of RAC chairperson, (2) approval of 2006 meeting minutes and RAC expenses, (3) 30-minute public forum at 11 a.m., (4) review of past and proposed projects in Klamath County at 11:30 a.m., (5) review of past and proposed projects for Lane County at 1:30 p.m., and (6) update on projects in Jackson and Josephine counties at 3:45 p.m. The agenda for September 21 includes (1) 30-minute public forum at 8:15 a.m., (2) review of past and proposed projects for Douglas County at 8:45 a.m., and (3) review of proposed public projects at 10:45 a.m. Written public comments may be submitted prior to the September meeting by sending them to Designated Federal Official Cliff Dils at the address given below.

The National Urban and Community Forestry Advisory Council will meet in Boston, Massachusetts, October 16-18, 2007. The purpose of the meeting is to discuss emerging issues in urban and community forestry.

Kevin Wickey, responsible Federal official for projects administered under the provisions of the Watershed Protection and Flood Prevention Act, Public Law 83-566, 16 U.S.C. 1001-1008, in the State of West Virginia, is hereby providing notification that a Record of Decision to proceed with the installation of the Dunloup Creek Watershed Project is available. Single copies of this Record of Decision may be obtained from Kevin Wickey at the address shown below.

The NRCS has issued a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) for a stream restoration project on a private landowner's land on McDonald Creek. A copy of the FONSI and the final Environmental Assessment (EA) is available for public review at the following locations: NRCS Office, 10507 N. McAlister Road, OR 97850. Grande Ronde Model Watershed, 1114 J Avenue, La Grande, OR 97850. La Grande Public Library, 2006 Fourth Street, La Grande, OR 97850. Additional copies may be obtained by contacting Greg Kuehl, NRCS, 541-963-4178, ext. 107.

We are seeking nominations for people to serve on GIPSA's Grain Inspection Advisory Committee. The Grain Inspection Advisory Committee meets twice annually to advise GIPSA on the programs and services we deliver under the U.S. Grain Standards Act. Recommendations by the committee help us to better meet the needs of our customers who operate in a dynamic and changing marketplace.

Notice is hereby given that the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, intends to grant to Epic Gardens of Richmond, Virginia, an exclusive license to the varieties of edamame soybeans described in Plant Variety Protection Certificate Number 200300169, ``Moon Cake'', issued on December 15, 2003, Plant Variety Protection Certificate Number 200300208, ``Asmara'', issued on April 27, 2004, Plant Variety Protection Certificate Number 200300241, ``Randolf'', issued on April 27, 2004, and Plant Variety Protection Certificate Number 200300250, ``Owens'', issued on April 27, 2004.

This rule would increase the assessment rate established for the Walnut Marketing Board (Board) for the 2007-08 and subsequent fiscal periods from $0.0101 to $0.0122 per kernelweight pound of assessable walnuts. The Board locally administers the marketing order which regulates the handling of walnuts grown in California. Assessments upon walnut handlers are used by the Board to fund reasonable and necessary expenses of the program. The marketing year begins August 1 and ends July 31. The assessment rate would remain in effect indefinitely unless modified, suspended, or terminated.

Pursuant to the authorities in the Federal Advisory Committee Act (Pub. L. 92-463) and under the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act of 2000 (Pub. L. 106-393) the Lolo and Kootenai National Forests' Sanders County Resource Advisory Committee will meet on August 23 at 7 p.m. in Thompson Falls, Montana for a business meeting. The meeting is open to the public.

The Lake Tahoe Basin Federal Advisory Committee will hold a meeting on September 5, 2007 at the U.S. Forest Service Office, 35 College Drive, South Lake Tahoe, CA 96150. This Committee, established by the Secretary of Agriculture on December 15, 1998 (64 FR 2876), is chartered to provide advice to the Secretary on implementing the terms of the Federal Interagency Partnership on the Lake Tahoe Region and other matters raised by the Secretary.

The Forest Service is proposing to move its National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) implementing procedures from Forest Service Manual (FSM) 1950 and Forest Service Handbook (FSH) 1909.15 to 36 Code of Federal Regulations, part 220 (36 CFR 220). The Agency also proposes to clarify existing NEPA procedures and add new procedures to incorporate Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) guidance and to better align Agency NEPA procedures with Agency decision processes. Agency explanatory guidance interpreting CEQ and Agency procedures in regulation will remain in FSH 1909.15. Agency NEPA authority, objectives, policy, and responsibilities will remain in FSM 1950. This rule would meet 40 CFR 1507.3 by placing Agency-implementing procedures in their proper regulatory position. Maintaining Agency explanatory guidance in directives would facilitate timely Agency responses to new ideas, new information, procedural interpretations, training needs, and editorial changes to assist field units when implementing the NEPA process. Finally, the proposed changes to the Forest Service NEPA procedures are intended to provide an environmental analysis process that fits better with modern thinking on decisionmaking, collaboration, and adaptive management to meet the intent of NEPA through establishing incremental alternative development, and adaptive management principles.

Colville National Forest's Resource Advisory Committee will meet twice in September, in Colville, Washington. The purpose of these meetings is to review and provide recommendations for Title II projects to be funded by the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self- Determination Act, more commonly known as Payments to Counties, in Fiscal Year 2008.

The Wenatchee-Okanogan Resource Advisory Committee will meet on Wednesday, August 29, and Monday, September 10 at the Okanogan and Wenatchee National Forest Headquarters Office, 215 Melody Lane, Wenatchee, WA. These meetings will begin at 9 a.m. and continue until 3 p.m. On August 29, 2007, committee members will review Okanogan County and Yakima County projects, and on September 10, 2007 committee members will review Chelan County and Kittitas County projects for Resource Advisory Committee consideration under Title II of the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act of 2000. All Wenatchee- Okanogan Resource Advisory Committee meetings are open to the public. Interested citizens are welcomed to attend.

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) Finalize Voting on Projects, (5) General Discussion, (6) Next Agenda.

Rural BusinessCooperative Service programs are administered through USDA Rural Development. USDA Rural Development announces the availability of approximately $500,000 in competitive cooperative agreement funds for fiscal year (FY) 2007 to conduct research on the national economic impact of all types of cooperatives. USDA Rural Development hereby requests proposals from institutions of higher education interested in applying for a competitively awarded cooperative research agreement. This funding is a follow on to funding awarded in FY 2006, the intent of which was to encourage research on the critical issue of the economic value of cooperatives. Funding for FY 2007 is expected to replicate and expand upon research undertaken with FY 2006 funds.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is proposing to reestablish the Advisory Committee on Universal Cotton Standards (Committee). The Committee reviews official Universal Standards for American Upland cotton prepared by USDA and would make recommendations regarding the establishment or revision of standards.

We are advising the public that the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service has prepared an environmental assessment for a proposed field test involving two genetically engineered strains of the bacteria, Burkholderia glumae. Burkholderia glumae is a plant pathogen that causes panicle blight in rice (Oryza sativa). The purpose of this field test is to conduct experiments that will provide information on the pathogenicity of Burkholderia glumae and will assist in the development of control methods to reduce yield loss caused by panicle blight. After assessing the application, reviewing pertinent scientific information, and considering public comment, we have concluded that this field test will not present a plant pest risk, nor will it 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 this field test.

In accordance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act, 5 U.S.C. App 2, the United States Department of Agriculture announces a meeting of the National Agricultural Research, Extension, Education, and Economics Advisory Board Specialty Crop Committee and Executive Committee.

This notice announces that the fee to be charged for the 2008 tariff-rate quota (TRQ) year for each license issued to a person or firm by the Department of Agriculture authorizing the importation of certain dairy articles, which are subject to tariff-rate quotas set forth in the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTS), will be $150.00 per license.

We are advising the public that a draft pest risk assessment has been prepared by the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service relative to our consideration of a request to allow the importation into the continental United States of fresh lemons from Argentina. We are making this draft pest risk assessment available to the public for review and comment.

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 accrediting nongovernment facilities to perform services related to the export certification of plants or plant products.

In accordance with the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self Determination Act of 2000 (Pub. L. 106-393) and the Federal Advisory Committee Act of 1972 (FACA), the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Davy Crockett National Forest Resource Advisory Committee (RAC) meeting will meet as indicated below.