Department of Agriculture June 2, 2008 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

We are announcing designation of the following organizations to provide official services under the United States Grain Standards Act, as amended (USGSA): Georgia Department of Agriculture (Georgia); Montana Department of Agriculture (Montana); and Mid-Iowa Grain Inspection, Inc. (Mid-Iowa). We are also announcing an amendment of Mid-Iowa's designated geographic area.

The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) of the Department of Agriculture (USDA) is soliciting comments on the proposed revision to the United States Standards for Grades of Olive Oil. The proposal includes two major groups of oil: ``olive oil,'' produced from olives by mechanical means; and ``olive-pomace oil,'' produced using heat and a solvent to separate the oil from the olive-pomace remaining after olive oil is produced. The proposal includes new product descriptions, definitions, and requirements for the following grade designations: ``U.S. Extra Virgin Olive Oil,'' ``U.S. Virgin Olive Oil,'' ``U.S. Lampante Virgin Olive OilNot Fit for Human Consumption,'' ``U.S. Refined Olive Oil,'' ``U.S. Olive Oil,'' ``U.S. Olive-Pomace Oil,'' ``U.S. Refined Olive-Pomace Oil,'' and ``U.S. Crude Olive-Pomace Oil.'' The proposed revisions to the grade standards are intended to provide a uniform language for commerce and the use of the standards would be voluntary. The proposed standards include objective criteria for determining quality and purity among the grades of olive oil and olive- pomace oil, thereby facilitating the marketing of olive oil and olive- pomace oil.

Notice is hereby given that the Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) is accepting applications from State, regional, and national sorghum producer organizations or associations which desire to be certified as eligible to nominate sorghum producers for appointment to the Sorghum Promotion, Research, and Information Board (Board). To nominate a producer to the Board, organizations must first be certified by USDA. Notice is also given that upcoming appointments are anticipated and that during a period to be established by USDA, nominations will be accepted from eligible organizations.

The USDA, Forest Service is resuming preparation of the Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit revised land management plan (hereafter referred to as the Forest Plan), as directed by the National Forest Management Act (NFMA) . Preparation of the revised plan was halted when the 2005 Forest Service planning rule was enjoined. A new planning rule (36 CFR Part 219 was implemented on April 21, 2008, allowing the planning process to be resumed. This notice resumes the plan revision process under the new planning rule. The Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit (LTBMU) Forest Plan Comprehensive Evaluation Report documents the need for change and the initial scope of forest plan revisionbased upon management review & determination, February 2007which is still valid; this documentation provides information concerning public participation and collaboration. The original notice of initiation for plan revision appeared in the Federal Register Feb. 5, 2007. The Responsible Official, Terri Marceron, has determined the LTBMU land management plan revision process is to be adjusted from compliance with the 2005 planning regulations to conform to the 2008 regulations, published: April 21, 2008.