Department of Agriculture 2008 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

Through this Notice of Funds Availability (NOFA), in conjunction with the GRRHP 2007 Notice, published February 26, 2007, Volume 72 FR, 8339-8346 and the GRRHP 2008 Notice, published February 4, 2008, Volume 73 FR, 6469-6477, the Agency announces the implementation of a demonstration program under the section 538 Guaranteed Rural Rental Housing Program (GRRHP) pursuant to 7 CFR 3565.4 for Fiscal Year (FY) 2008 and 7 CFR 3565.17 demonstration programs. The Demonstration Program's purpose is to test the viability and efficacy of the concept of a continuous loan note guarantee through the construction and permanent loan financing phases of a project. Those applications that meet the Demonstration Program's qualifying criteria and are selected to participate will be offered one loan note guarantee upon closing of the construction loan that will be in effect throughout both of the project's construction and permanent phases without interruption. The funding for the Demonstration Program will be approximately 10 percent of the FY 2008 appropriation. Expenses incurred in developing applications will be at the applicant's risk. The following paragraphs outline the timeframes, eligibility requirements, lender responsibilities, and the overall response and application processes. Eligible Lenders wishing to have their FY 2008 obligations considered for the Demonstration Program must send a signed request on its letterhead with the proposed project details as outlined in the ``Demonstration Program Response Submission Address'' section of this Notice.

This final rule describes the National Forest System (NFS) land management planning framework; sets up requirements for sustainability of social, economic, and ecological systems; and gives directions for developing, amending, revising, and monitoring land management plans. It also clarifies that, absent rare circumstances, land management plans under this final rule are strategic in nature and are one stage in an adaptive cycle of planning for management of NFS lands. The intended effects of the rule are to strengthen the role of science in planning; to strengthen collaborative relationships with the public and other governmental entities; to reaffirm the principle of sustainable management consistent with the Multiple-Use Sustained-Yield Act of 1960 (MUSYA) and other authorities; and to streamline and improve the planning process by increasing adaptability to changes in social, economic, and environmental conditions. This rulemaking is the result of a United States District Court of Northern California order dated March 30, 2007, which enjoined the United States Department of Agriculture (the Department, the Agency, or the USDA) from putting into effect and using the land management planning rule published on January 5, 2005 (70 FR 1023) until it complies with the court's order regarding the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the Endangered Species Act (ESA), and the Administrative Procedure Act (APA) (Citizens for Better Forestry v. USDA, 481 F. Supp 2d 1059 (N.D. Cal. 2007)). The purpose of this final rule is to respond to the district court's ruling. This final rule replaces the 2005 final rule (2005 rule) (70 FR 1022, Jan. 5, 2005), as amended March 3, 2006 (71 FR 10837) (which was enjoined by the district court's ruling) and the 2000 final rule (2000 rule) adopted on November 9, 2000 (65 FR 67514) as amended on September 29, 2004 (69 FR 58055).

We are giving notice of meetings of the General Conference Committee of the National Poultry Improvement Plan and of the Biennial Conference.

The Alaska Region of the Forest Service is proposing a revised regional flat fee policy in place of the proposal published in the Federal Register on September 15, 2006 (71 FR 54454). The revised policy differs enough from the original proposed policy to merit public notice and comment.

This rule increases the assessment rate established for the South Texas Onion Committee (Committee) for the 2007-08 and subsequent fiscal periods from $0.02 to $0.03 per 50-pound equivalent of onions handled. The Committee locally administers the marketing order which regulates the handling of onions grown in South Texas. Assessments upon onion handlers are used by the Committee to fund reasonable and necessary expenses of the program. The fiscal period begins August 1 and ends July 31. The assessment rate will remain in effect indefinitely unless modified, suspended, or terminated.

This proposed rule would establish regulations for hunting and trapping seasons, harvest limits, methods, and means related to taking of wildlife for subsistence uses during the 2008-09 and 2009-10 regulatory years. These regulations have been subject to an annual public review cycle, but starting in 2008 the Federal Subsistence Management Program will provide a public review process for subsistence hunting and trapping regulations in even-numbered years and subsistence fishing and shellfish regulations in odd-numbered years. The Program will also address customary and traditional use determinations during the applicable biennial cycle. This cycle adjustment does not affect the public's ability to submit special action requests or requests for reconsideration, as outlined in the regulations. When final, the resulting rulemaking will replace the subsistence wildlife taking regulations, which expire on June 30, 2008. This rule would also amend the customary and traditional use determinations of the Federal Subsistence Board and the general regulations on taking of wildlife.

The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) is proposing to raise 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 proposal would raise the fee for the 2008 crop to $2 per bale. The proposed fee and the existing reserve are sufficient to cover the costs of providing classification services, including costs for administration and supervision.

This document directs that a continuance referendum be conducted among eligible California kiwifruit growers to determine whether they favor continuance of the marketing order regulating the handling of kiwifruit grown in California.

The Department of Agriculture (USDA) is adopting, as a final rule, without change, an interim final rule revising the quantity of Class 3 (Native) spearmint oil that handlers may purchase from, or handle for, producers during the 2007-2008 marketing year. This rule continues in effect the action that increased the Native spearmint oil salable quantity from 1,162,336 pounds to 1,172,956 pounds, and the allotment percentage from 48 percent to 53 percent. The marketing order regulates the handling of spearmint oil produced in the Far West and is administered locally by the Spearmint Oil Administrative Committee (Committee). The Committee recommended this rule for the purpose of avoiding extreme fluctuations in supplies and prices and to help maintain stability in the Far West spearmint oil market.

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 Emergency Management Response System.

The USDA, Forest Service, will prepare an environmental impact statement (ETS) on a proposed action to address forest health and hazardous fuels concerns as well as facilitating research within the 3,535-acre planning area known as the Lookout Mountain Unit of the Pringle Falls Experimental Forest. The planning area is located about 30 miles southwest of Bend, Oregon; it is located in Township 20 South, Range 9 East, and Township 21 South, Range 9 East. The alternatives will include the proposed action, no action, and additional alternatives that respond to issues generated through the scoping process. The agency will give notice of the full environmental analysis and decision making process so interested and affected people may participate and contribute to the final decision.

In accordance with Section 3(b) of the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act, the USDA Forest Service, Washington Office, is transmitting the final boundary of the Wildcat National Wild and Scenic River to Congress. The Wild and Scenic Rivers Act requires that each federally administered river in the National System have a legally established boundary.

The Commodity Credit Corporation and Natural Resources Conservation Service published in the Federal Register on March 27, 2008, (73 FR 16246), a document stating ``Notice of the Conservation Security Program, (CSP-08-01) sign-up. This notice corrects the end date from May 17, 2008 to May 16, 2008, in the SUMMARY and SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION sections of the previously published document. Additionally, page 16251 of the Federal Register, Vol. 73, No. 60, dated Thursday, March 27, 2008, contains a 2008 Conservation System CriteriaCropland table that requires numerical corrections. The 2008 Conservation System CriteriaCropland table needs to be revised by deleting: from the Group Level 2 row``and

The Department of Agriculture and the Department of Health and Human Services announce the intent to establish a Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee and invite nominations for the Committee.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Forest Service is seeking comments from all interested individuals and organizations on the new information collection, Forest Landscape Value and Special Place Mapping for National Forest Planning.

This Notice announces the Department's annual adjustments to the Income Eligibility Guidelines to be used in determining eligibility for free and reduced price meals and free milk for the period from July 1, 2008 through June 30, 2009. These guidelines are used by schools, institutions, and facilities participating in the National School Lunch Program (and Commodity School Program), School Breakfast Program, Special Milk Program for Children, Child and Adult Care Food Program and Summer Food Service Program. The annual adjustments are required by section 9 of the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act. The guidelines are intended to direct benefits to those children most in need and are revised annually to account for changes in the Consumer Price Index.

Deciding Officers in the Southern Region will publish notice of decisions subject to administrative appeal under 36 CFR parts 215 and 217 in the legal notice section of the newspapers listed in the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section of this notice. As provided in 36 CFR part 215.5 and 36 CFR part 217.5(d), the public shall be advised through Federal Register notice, of the newspaper of record to be utilized for publishing legal notice of decisions. Newspaper publication of notice of decisions is in addition to direct notice of decisions to those who have requested it and to those who have participated in project planning. Responsible Officials in the Southern Region will also publish notice of proposed actions under 36 CFR part 215 in the newspapers that are listed in the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section of this notice. As provided in 36 CFR part 215.5, the public shall be advised, through Federal Register notice, of the newspaper of record to be utilized for publishing notices on proposed actions. Additionally, the Deciding Officers in the Southern Region will publish notice of the opportunity to object to a proposed authorized hazardous fuel reduction project under 36 CFR part 218.4 in the legal notice section of the newspapers listed in the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section of this notice.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice invites the general public and other public agencies to comment on the proposed information collection. The proposed collection is a revision of a currently approved collection. The purpose of the Child Nutrition Labeling Program is to aid schools and institutions participating in Child Nutrition Programs in determining the contribution a commercial product makes toward the food-based meal pattern requirements of these programs.

We are amending the Karnal bunt regulations to remove certain areas or fields in Baylor, Knox, Throckmorton, and Young Counties, TX, from the list of regulated areas based on our determination that those fields or areas meet our criteria for release from regulation. This action is necessary to relieve restrictions that are no longer necessary.

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 regulations for the issuance of phytosanitary certificates for plants or plant products being exported to foreign countries.

In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Forest Service (Forest Service), the U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI), Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and the City of Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) will prepare a joint Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) and Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for the proposed Barren Ridge Renewable Transmission Project. This action is in response to LADWP's application to the Forest Service for a special use authorization and amendments to existing special use authorizations, and application to BLM for a right-of-way grant and amendments to existing right-of-way grants. It has been determined that this project is a major federal action which may have a significant impact upon the environment. Therefore, the appropriate environmental analysis document is an EIS/EIR. The EIS/EIR would describe and analyze potential environmental impacts from the proposed project/action and the range of reasonable alternatives. LADWP proposes the following: (1) Construction of a 230 kilovolt (kV) transmission line from the existing Barren Ridge Switching Station to Haskell Canyon on double circuit structures; (2) addition of a 230 kV circuit on existing double circuit structures from Haskell Canyon to the Castaic Power Plant; (3) upgrading of the existing Owens Gorge- Rinaldi (OG-RIN) 230 kV Transmission Line with larger capacity conductors between the Barren Ridge Switching Station and Rinaldi Substation; (4) construction of a new electrical switching station within Haskell Canyon near the southern boundary of the Angeles National Forest. This notice initiates the public participation and scoping process for the EIS/EIR and also serves as an invitation for other interested agencies, individuals, organizations and Native American Tribes to provide comments on the scope and content of the EIS/EIR.

This rule changes the current reporting requirements prescribed under the California pistachio marketing order (order). The order regulates the handling of pistachios grown in California and is administered locally by the Administrative Committee for Pistachios (committee). These changes will modify one existing committee form and add a new form to a currently-approved information collection. The information collected will require handlers to report production and producer data, enabling the committee to obtain better information for preparing its annual marketing policy statement and conducting committee nominations and periodic referenda under the order.

The Ochoco National Forest is planning to charge an $8 fee for family overnight campsites at Skull Hollow Campground with additional vehicle/vehicles being $4.00. These sites have been available for non- fee recreation use prior to this date. Camping in other campgrounds on the Ochoco National Forest has shown that people appreciate and enjoy the availability of campgrounds. Funds from the fee site will be used for the continued operation and maintenance of Skull Hollow.

The USDA, Forest Service, will prepare an environmental impact statement (EIS) on a proposed action to address forest health and hazardous fuels concerns within the 16,000-acre planning area known as the Deadlog Vegetation Project. The planning area is located about 36 miles southeast of Bend, Oregon; it is located in Township 22S, Range 15E, and Township 23S, Ranges 14E and 15E. The alternatives will include the proposed action, no action, and additional alternatives that respond to issues generated through the scoping process. The agency will give notice of the full environmental analysis and decision-making process so interested and affected people may participate and contribute to the final decision.