Department of Agriculture August 25, 2008 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

We are adopting as a final rule, without change, an interim rule that amended the brucellosis regulations concerning the interstate movement of cattle by changing the classification of Texas from Class A to Class Free. We determined that Texas meets the standards for Class Free status. The interim rule relieved certain restrictions on the interstate movement of cattle from Texas.

Rural Business-Cooperative Service programs are administered through USDA Rural Development. USDA Rural Development announces the availability of $491,535 in competitive cooperative agreement funds for fiscal year (FY) 2008 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 and FY 2007, the intent of which was to encourage research on the critical issue of the economic value of cooperatives. Funding for FY 2008 is expected to expand upon research undertaken with FY 2006 and FY 2007 funds.

The Willamette National Forest is planning to charge a fee at Benson Lake Trailhead and adjacent Scott Lake Campground beginning the summer of 2009. Benson Lake Trailhead was in the recreation fee demonstration project prior to 2005, and fees are being reestablished to help maintain facilities and services including toilet, picnic tables, garbage collection, interpretive and informational signing, and visitor security. A $5 day use fee is being proposed and recreation passes would be honored including: The Northwest Forest Pass, Interagency Passes and Golden Passports. Implementation Date: New fees would begin in August 2009.