Department of Agriculture 2008 – 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 request a revision and extension of approval of an information collection associated with the National Animal Identification System.

We are advising the public that we have made changes to the area in the State of Idaho that is quarantined to prevent the spread of potato cyst nematode. The description of the quarantined area was updated on November 1, 2007, when the potato cyst nematode regulations became effective; on November 28, 2007, when one additional field was found to be infested; on January 9, 2008, when some fields that had been quarantined were found not to have an association with an infested field; and on March 21, 2008, when 24 associated fields were removed from the quarantined area after having been surveyed and found to be free of potato cyst nematode.

We are amending the regulations to allow noncompetitive entertainment horses from countries affected with contagious equine metritis to be temporarily imported into the United States under certain conditions. The regulations currently provide for the temporary importation of horses from countries affected with contagious equine metritis to compete in specified events. In recent years it has become evident that similar provisions are needed for noncompetitive entertainment horses. This action will allow the temporary importation of horses into the United States solely for public exhibition and entertainment purposes while continuing to protect against the introduction and dissemination of contagious equine metritis.

The Pacific Northwest Recreation Resource Advisory Committee (RAC) will meet in Portland, Oregon. The purpose of the meeting is to review and provide recommendations concerning recreation fee proposals for facilities and services offered on lands managed by the Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management in Oregon and Washington. Proposals for this meeting include the jurisdictions of the Bureau of Land Management Salem, Vail, and Spokane Districts, the Okanogan- Wenatchee, Olympic, Rogue River-Siskiyou, Umatilla, Wallowa-Whitman, and Willamette National Forests. Other items of interest related to the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act of 2004 may be discussed.

Notice is hereby given that the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, intends to grant to VMRD, Inc. of Pullman, Washington, an exclusive license to U.S. Patent No. 5,171,685, ``Cloning Of The Babesia Bovis 60KD Antigen'', issued on December 15, 1992.

We are proposing to amend the regulations concerning user fees for import- and export-related services that we provide for animals, animal products, birds, germ plasm, organisms, and vectors. We are proposing increases in those fees for fiscal years 2009 through 2013 in order to ensure that the fees accurately reflect the anticipated costs of providing these services each year. By publishing the annual user fee changes in advance, users can incorporate the fees into their budget planning. The user fees pay for the actual cost of providing these services.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Forest Service is seeking comments from all interested individuals and organizations on the extension (without revision) of a currently approved information collection, Qualified Products List for Foam Fire Suppressants.

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.

On August 3, 2007 (72 FR 43223), the USDA, Forest Service published in the Federal Register a Notice of Intent (NOI) to prepare an environmental impact statement to designate a portion of the National Forest roads, trails, and areas open to public motor vehicle use on the Salmon-Challis National Forest (SCNF), and assign the type of use(s) and season of use allowed on each road and trail or portion thereof. The Forest Service is revising the proposed action to correct inconsistencies with the Salmon National Forest and Challis National Forest Land and Resource Management plans, correct errors in the mileages of roads and motorized trails described in the original proposed action, and announce a 60-day public comment period, rather than a 45-day public comment period on the Draft EIS.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice announces the Agricultural Marketing Service's (AMS) intention to request approval from the Office of Management and Budget, for an extension of and revision to a currently approved information collection in support of the shell egg surveillance portion of the Regulation for the Inspection of Eggs7 CFR part 57.

Pursuant to Section 102[2][c] of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, the Council on Environmental Quality Regulations [40 CFR Part 1500]; and the Natural Resources Conservation Service Regulations [7 CFR Part 650]; the Natural Resources Conservation Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, gives notice that an environmental impact statement is not being prepared for the rehabilitation of Pohick Creek Watershed Dam No. 3, Fairfax County, Virginia.

The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) will raise the user fees for cotton producers for 2008 crop cotton classification services under the Cotton Statistics and Estimates Act. These user fees also are authorized under the Cotton Standards Act of 1923. The 2007 user fee for this classification service was $1.85 per bale. This rule will raise the fee for the 2008 crop to $2.00 per bale. This fee and the existing reserve are sufficient to cover the costs of providing classification services, including costs for administration and supervision.

The following paragraph has been added to the beginning of the Summary portion of the January 22, 2008, Federal Register Notice: The Risk Management Agency (RMA) did not receive complete and valid application packages for the State of Delaware under the original Request for Application Notice published in the Federal Register on January 22, 2008, for the Crop Insurance Education in Targeted States Program (Targeted States Program). RMA is re-announcing its Funding OpportunityRequest for Applications under the Targeted States Program for the State of Delaware. Applicants who previously submitted an application under the January 22, 2008, Targeted States Program Request for Applications Notice for Delaware must reapply in accordance with the original Notice published in the Federal Register on January 22, 2008. All other portions and sections of the full text Notice remain unchanged.

The Colorado Recreation Resource Advisory Committee will tentatively meet in Golden, CO. The purpose of the meeting is to continue to provide the new committee members with the information they need to be effective committee members and review several fee proposals. These fee proposals will tentatively include several new cabin rentals and fee changes for: the Green Mountain Reservoir/ Cataract Lake fee area and the Arapaho National Recreation Area.

U.S. Department of Agriculture, Farm Service Agency (FSA) announces the availability of a Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS) for potential changes to the Emergency Conservation Program (ECP). ECP provides emergency funding to farmers and ranchers who have suffered damage to their agricultural lands as a result of a natural disaster. The goals of ECP are to restore farmland (currently, cropland, hayland, and pastureland) to a normal productive state after a natural disaster and provide assistance to producers to carry out emergency water conservation or enhancing measures in times of severe drought. The potential changes (proposed action) under consideration include expanding ECP eligibility to other types of farmland, namely timberland, farmsteads, roads, and feedlots. If FSA implements the changes, FSA would publish a proposed rule to reflect changes to the policy. The draft SEIS is available for public comment. The draft SEIS analyzes the impacts of the proposed action on the nation's environmental resources and economy. FSA analyzed the no action alternative (continuation of current program) to provide an environmental baseline.

We are amending 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 removing two treatment schedules that are no longer authorized for use and clarifying the fruits and vegetables on which two methyl bromide treatments may be used. These changes are necessary to ensure that ineffective or unauthorized treatments are not used and to clarify the regulations.

We are advising the public that a risk analysis has been prepared by the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service concerning the foot-and-mouth disease status of Surrey County, England, and the related disease risks associated with importing ruminants and swine and the fresh meat and other animal products of ruminants and swine from Surrey County, England. This evaluation will be used as a basis for determining whether to relieve certain restrictions on the importation of those articles into the United States from Surrey County, England. We are making this evaluation 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 the collection of user fees.

The United States Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) intends to conduct a Request for Referendum among eligible pork producers and importers of hogs, pigs, pork, and pork products to determine if those persons want a referendum on the Pork Promotion, Research, and Consumer Information Order (Order), commonly known as the Pork Checkoff Program, as authorized by the Pork Promotion, Research, and Consumer Information Act of 1985. The Request for Referendum is being conducted as a result of a settlement of a lawsuit entered into February 28, 2001, with USDA and the Michigan Pork Producers Association, Inc., et al. (Plaintiffs). Under the settlement agreement, USDA will conduct a Request for Referendum among eligible pork producers and importers to determine whether producers and importers favor holding a referendum on the Pork Checkoff Program. Eligible producers and importers will be able to participate during a specified period announced by USDA. If the Request for Referendum indicates that 15 percent of the total number of eligible producers and importers want a referendum on the Pork Checkoff Program, the referendum will be conducted within 1 year after the results of the Request for Referendum are announced. If results of the Request for Referendum indicate that a referendum is not supported, a referendum would not be conducted. AMS also is withdrawing in this issue of the Federal Register, the proposed rule concerning submission of information that was published on March 13, 2003 [68 FR 11996].