Department of Agriculture 2008 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

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 Advisory Committee on Biotechnology and 21st Century Agriculture (AC21).

The National Urban and Community Forestry Advisory Council will meet in Rio Grande, Puerto Rico on June 16-20, 2008. The purpose of the meeting is to discuss emerging issues in urban and community forestry, and conduct a one-day public listening forum on tropical urban forestry issues and opportunities on Wednesday, June 18, 2008.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act, this notice invites the general public and other public agencies to comment on a proposed adjustment to the information collection burden for the Food Stamp Program (FSP) Employment and Training Program, currently approved under OMB No. 0584-0339. This notice proposes to reduce the currently approved burden of 31,721 by 9,966 hours. The adjusted burden is 21,755 hours. The reduction is based on changes in annual estimates for reporting on Employment and Training activities.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. Chapter 35), this notice announces the Agricultural Marketing Service's (AMS) intention to request approval from the Office of Management and Budget, for an extension of the currently approved information collection used to compile and generate the Federally Inspected Estimated Daily Slaughter Report for the Livestock and Grain Market News Branch.

We are advising the public that the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service has prepared an environmental assessment concerning authorization to ship for the purpose of field testing, and then to field test, an unlicensed Mannheimia Haemolytica-Pasteurella Multocida Vaccine, Avirulent Live Culture. The environmental assessment, which is based on a risk analysis prepared to assess the risks associated with the field testing of this vaccine, examines the potential effects that field testing this veterinary vaccine could have on the quality of the human environment. Based on the risk analysis, we have reached a preliminary determination that field testing this veterinary vaccine will not have a significant impact on the quality of the human environment, and that an environmental impact statement need not be prepared. We intend to authorize shipment of this vaccine for field testing following the close of the comment period for this notice unless new substantial issues bearing on the effects of this action are brought to our attention. We also intend to issue a U.S. Veterinary Biological Product License for this vaccine, provided the field test data support the conclusions of the environmental assessment and the issuance of a finding of no significant impact and the product meets all other requirements for licensing.

The White River National Forest will prepare an environmental impact statement (EIS) to disclose the environmental effects of repairing the Crooked Creek Reservoir, Saffeels Ditch, and other associated activities in the project area.

The Rural Utilities Service (RUS), an Agency delivering the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development Utilities Programs, hereinafter referred to as Rural Development and/or the Agency, has prepared an Environmental Assessment (EA) related to possible financial assistance to Georgia Transmission Corporation (GTC) for the construction of approximately 38.7-miles of 500 kilovolt (kV) transmission line that would connect Georgia Power Company's existing Thomson Primary 500/230/115/46 kV Substation to Georgia Power Company's existing Warthen 500 kV Switching Station. GTC is requesting Rural Development provide financial assistance for the proposed project located in McDuffie, Warthen, Glascock and Washington Counties, Georgia.

The Rural Housing Service published a document in the Federal Register on March 28, 2008, announcing the availability of housing funds for fiscal year 2008. The document contained incorrect percentage allocations under the heading for Single Family Housing (SFH).

In accordance with the Privacy Act of 1974, as amended, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) proposes to add a system of records to its inventory of records systems. The system of records being proposed is the APHIS National Animal Identification System (NAIS). This notice is necessary to meet the requirements of the Privacy Act to publish in the Federal Register notice of the existence and character of record systems maintained by the agency. Although the Privacy Act requires only that the portion of the system that describes ``routine uses'' of the system be published for comment, we invite comment on all portions of this notice.

Pursuant to Section 102(2)(C) of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969; the Council on Environmental Quality Guidelines (40 CFR Part 1500); and the Natural Resources Conservation Service Guidelines (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 South Shore of the Pen Shoreline Protection and Marsh Creation Project (BA- 41), Jefferson Parish, Louisiana.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture proposes to add a system of records to its inventory of records systems subject to the Privacy Act of 1974, as amended. The system of records being proposed is the Wildlife Services Management Information System, USDA-APHIS-9. This notice is necessary to meet the requirements of the Privacy Act to publish in the Federal Register notice of the existence and character of record systems maintained by the agency. Although the Privacy Act requires only that the portion of the system that describes the ``routine uses'' of the system be published for comment, we invite comment on all portions of this notice.

We are announcing designation of the following organizations to provide official services under the United States Grain Standards Act, as amended (USGSA): Maryland Department of Agriculture (Maryland); and D. R. Schaal Agency, Inc. (Schaal).

On March 13, 2008, the USDA Forest Service, Coronado National Forest, published a Notice of Intent (NOI) to prepare an environmental impact statement (EIS) for the Rosemont Copper Project (73 Federal Register 13527). This revised NOI advises the public of a change in the duration of the period during which the Forest Service will accept comments on the scope of the Rosemont Copper Project EIS. It also provides the locations for three public hearings at which oral testimony will be taken, along with written comments. All other information given in the original NOT will remain the same until further notice is given. Public hearing dates and locations are as follows: May 12, 2008 in Elgin, Arizona. June 7, 2008 in Sahuarita, Arizona. June 30, 2008 in Tucson, Arizona.

This notice is announcing that the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS), the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition (CFSAN), and the National Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), will co-sponsor a two-day summit that will include a public meeting on May 15, 2008, and an invitation-only simulation exercise on May 16, 2008. The purpose of the summit is to have a discussion with stakeholders on improved information sharing and coordination during multi-jurisdictional foodborne outbreak investigations.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Forest Service is seeking comments from all interested individuals and organizations on the extension with no revision of a currently approved information collection, Qualified Products List for Water Enhancers.

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 Guidelines (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 UPPER EAST CANYON CREEK WATERSHED STREAM RESTORATION PROJECTS, Summit County, Utah.

The Agricultural Air Quality Task Force (AAQTF) will meet to continue discussions on air quality issues relating to agriculture.

Pursuant to the Federal Advisory Committee Act, this constitutes notice of the upcoming meeting of the 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.

We are advising the public that an environmental assessment has been prepared by the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service relative to the environmental release of the gall wasp Aulacidea acroptilonica for the biological control of Russian knapweed (Acroptilon repens). The environmental assessment documents our review and analysis of environmental impacts associated with, and alternatives to, the release of this biological control agent. We are making this environmental assessment available to the public for review and comment.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice invites the general public and other public agencies to comment on proposed information collections.

The Act of March 22, 1944 (58 Stat. 119) withdrew approximately 3,235 acres of land within the Cascade Creek watershed of the Tongass National Forest as a municipal watershed for the City and Borough of Sitka. The Act provided that the withdrawal would terminate upon a finding by the Secretary of Agriculture of an abandonment and nonuse for a period of two years. With the concurrence of the City and Borough of Sitka, a finding of such abandonment and nonuse is being made and the withdrawal terminated.

This notice sets forth the schedule and proposed agenda of a forthcoming teleconference meeting of the Plant Variety Protection Board. Notice of this meeting is required under section 10(a)(2) of the Federal Advisory Committee Act. This document is intended to notify the general public of their opportunity to attend the meeting.