Department of Agriculture 2008 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

On May 1, 2007, the Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration (GIPSA) published an advance notice of proposed rulemaking (ANPR) in the Federal Register seeking public comment on the effectiveness of the soybean standards. We asked for input on factors used in the current standards and grading procedures, whether changes in soybean processing practices and technology merited changes in the standards, and whether any other changes were needed to ensure that the standards remain relevant to market needs. Because the comments that we received did not indicate a consensus concerning changes to the standards, we will not proceed with rulemaking in this matter.

The Pacific Northwest Recreation Resource Advisory Committee will meet in Portland, OR. The purpose of the meeting is to review and provide recommendations on recreation fee proposals for facilities and services offered on lands managed by the Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management in Oregon and Washington, under the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act of 2004.

This rule invites comments on a modification of the late payment and interest charge regulation prescribed under the Washington potato marketing order. The marketing order regulates the handling of Irish potatoes grown in Washington, and is administered locally by the State of Washington Potato Committee (Committee). This rule would revise the date interest is charged on late assessment payments from 30 to 60 days from the billing date shown on the handler's assessment statement received from the Committee. This rule would contribute to the efficient operation of the marketing order by reducing billing for nominal late payment interest charges on handlers who pay within 60 days of the billing date, while continuing those interest charges necessary to encourage payment, thereby ensuring that adequate funds are available to cover the Committee's authorized expenses.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice invites the general public and other public agencies to comment on a proposed information collection. The collection is a revision of a collection currently approved under OMB No. 0584-0025, Civil Rights Title VI Collection ReportsForms FNS-191 and FNS-101, for the Commodity Supplemental Food Program, the Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations, and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.

The Santa Rosa Ranger District of the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest will prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) on a proposal to authorize continued livestock grazing on National Forest System (NFS) lands within the boundaries administered by the Santa Rosa Ranger District. The Project Area is located in Humboldt County, Nevada. The preparation of this EIS is needed because the Record of Decision issued on June 2, 2006, for the Martin Basin Rangeland Management Project was appealed, and following review, the decision was reversed. A new EIS is being prepared to completely replace the Draft EIS released in 2004 and the Final EIS released in 2005.

The Forest Supervisor for the Pike and San Isabel National Forests and the Cimarron and Comanche National Grasslands (PSICC) has made available the Cimarron and Comanche National Grasslands Land Management Plan (Grasslands Plan) for a 30 day pre-decisional review and objection period. The 30-day pre-decisional review and objection period commences the day following the publication of the legal notice in the Pueblo Chieftain, Pueblo, Colorado.

In accordance with the Agricultural Bioterrorism Protection Act of 2002, we are amending and republishing the list of select agents and toxins that have the potential to pose a severe threat to animal or plant health, or to animal or plant products. The Act requires the biennial review and republication of the list of select agents and toxins and the revision of the list as necessary. This action implements the findings of the second biennial review of the list.

Rural Development, a mission area within the U.S. Department of Agriculture, is proposing a unified grant platform for enhanced delivery of eight existing Rural Development grant programsCommunity Facility; Distance Learning and Telemedicine; Economic Impact Initiatives; Renewable Energy Systems and Energy Efficiency Improvement Projects; Rural Cooperative Development; Tribal College; Value-Added Producer; and Water and Waste Disposal Facilities. This proposed rule would eliminate or revise the grant regulations for the eight existing programs and consolidate them under a new, single regulation.

We are amending the regulations to recognize Minnesota for split-State status for tuberculosis. The entire State of Minnesota has been classified as modified accredited; however, all its affected herds are located in portions of four counties in the northwest corner of the State. We have determined that Minnesota meets our requirements for zone classification. Therefore, we are removing Minnesota from the list of modified accredited States, adding an area in the northwest corner to the list of modified accredited zones, and adding the remainder of the State to the list of modified accredited advanced zones. This action relieves restrictions on the interstate movement of cattle and bison from areas of Minnesota other than the modified accredited zone in the northwest corner.

The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is issuing this notice to initiate a public process to review its policies regarding the approval of animal raising claims in the labeling of meat and poultry products. FSIS evaluates animal raising claims by considering information on animal production practices submitted by companies as part of their label approval requests. The Agency approves these claims if the animal production information submitted with the label application supports the claims being made and the claim is truthful and not misleading. The Agency's recent experience with labeling claims related to the raising of poultry have led FSIS to initiate a review of its evaluation and approval process for labels of meat and poultry products that contain animal raising claims. The Agency is publishing this notice to solicit public input and to announce that FSIS and the Agricultural Marketing Service will jointly hold a public meeting to discuss these issues.

The Willamette National Forest is seeking nominees for six positions on the Opal Creek Advisory Council. The Council was originally established in June 2000 with 13 members. About half of the current members will remain on the Council to provide continuity for new members. The Advisory Council makes recommendations to the Detroit District Ranger on matters relating to the management of the Opal Creek Scenic Recreation Area (SRA). The Advisory Council is composed of a diverse group of citizens, which allows for sharing of technical knowledge and personal experience. Members represent interests including, but not limited to: Timber industry; environmental organizations; mining industry; SRA land in-holders within the Opal Creek Wilderness and SRA; economic development interests; and Indian tribes. Other members serving on the Council as required by the Act represent Marion County, communities within a 25 mile radius of the SRA, State of Oregon, and City of Salem. Positions to be filled are from timber industry, SRA in-holders, environmental organizations, mining industry and two at-large members. Examples of ``at-large'' members who may be interested in serving on this Council include recreation interests, adjacent landowner, educators and researchers. Nominees must be United States citizens, at least 18 years old. Willamette officials will recommend nominees' appointments to the Secretary of Agriculture based on criteria which includes long-time familiarity with the Opal Creek SRA, knowledge and understanding of other cultures, ability to actively participate in diverse team settings, and respect and credibility in local communities. Nominations are due November 12, 2008. People interested in more information or a nomination packet should contact the Detroit Ranger District at 503-854-3366. The nomination packet can also be downloaded from the Opal Creek Advisory Council section of the Willamette National Forest Web site: https://www.fs.fed.us/r6/willamette/manage/opalcreek/ advisorycouncil.html.

This final rule adjusts representation on the Cattlemen's Beef Promotion and Research Board (Board), established under the Beef Promotion and Research Act (Act) of 1985, to reflect changes in cattle inventories and cattle and beef imports that have occurred since the most recent Board reapportionment rule became effective in February of 2005. These adjustments are required by the Beef Promotion and Research Order (Order) and will result in an increase in Board membership from 104 to 106, effective with the Department of Agriculture's (Department) appointments for terms beginning early in the year 2009.

The Black Hills National Forest Advisory Board, acting in its capacity as the Black Hills National Forest Recreation Resource Advisory Committee (RRAC), will meet in Rapid City, SD. The purpose of the meeting is for the Committee to consider recommending special recreation permit fees to use the Black Hills National Forest's designated, motorized, off-highway vehicle trail system. Fees would include a $20.00 weekly permit, a $40.00 annual permit, and a $100.00 commercial vehicle annual permit. The fees would be established pursuant to Public Law 108-447 (H.R. 48 118), September 8, 2004, Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2005, Title Vill-Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act, Section 803 Recreation Fee Authority, (h) Special Recreation Permit Fee.

We are amending the regulations to establish a voluntary Trichinae Certification Program for U.S. pork that has been produced under disease-prevention conditions. Under the program, we will certify pork production sites that follow prescribed good production practices that reduce, eliminate, or avoid the risk of exposure of swine to zoonotic parasites of the genus Trichinella. Such a program should enhance the ability of producers to export pork and pork products to overseas markets. This program has been developed as a cooperative effort by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the National Pork Board, and the pork processing industry. This program will include those producers who choose to participate in the program, as well as slaughter facilities and other persons that handle or process swine from pork production sites that have been certified under the program.

The Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 amended the Lacey Act to provide, among other things, that importers submit a declaration at the time of importation for certain plants and plant products. The declaration requirements of the Lacey Act become effective on December 15, 2008. The purpose of this notice is to inform the public about the new Lacey Act provisions, particularly the declaration requirements and the Federal Government's plan to implement and enforce the declaration requirements.

We are giving notice that the Secretary of Agriculture intends to renew the General Conference Committee of the National Poultry Improvement Plan (Committee) for a 2-year period. The Secretary of Agriculture has determined that the Committee is necessary and in the public interest.

The National Urban and Community Foresty Advisory Council, (NUCFAC), is charged, by law, to provide recommendations to the Secretary of Agriculture on urban forestry related issues and opportunities. Part of the Council's role is to recommend the criteria for the U.S. Forest Service's Urban and Community Forestry, (U&CF) Challenge Cost Share Grant Program. NUCFAC is revising their criteria for the U.S. Forest Service's U&CF Challenge Cost Share Grant Program for 2009. The new U&CF Challenge Cost Share Grant Program is designed to reflect this change, and implement new procedures that reduce the paperwork burden on potential grantees. Grants for 2009 will be solicited in two categories:

The Klamath National Forest (Klamath NF) will prepare an Environmental Impact Statement to disclose the impacts associated with the following proposed actions: 1. The prohibition of cross-country motorized vehicle travel (with the exception of snowmobiles) off designated National Forest System (NFS) roads, trails, and areas by the public except as allowed by permit or other authorization (Travel Management Rule, 36 CFR Part 212 Subpart B). 2. Make a non-significant amendment to the Klamath NF Land and Resource Management Plan (Klamath Forest Plan) to conform with the Travel Management Rule, Subpart B, by removing reference to OHV cross- country travel in the Forest Plan and including a Forest-wide standard: ``Prohibit motorized vehicle travel (with the exception of snowmobiles) off designated roads, trails and areas except as allowed by permit or other authorization.'' 3. Add approximately 54 miles (84 segments) of existing unauthorized routes to the National Forest Transportation System (NFTS) as roads open to the public for motorized vehicle use by vehicle class and season of use. Add approximately 24 miles (258 routes) of existing unauthorized routes to the NFTS as roads open to the public for motorized vehicle use to access dispersed recreation opportunities (e.g. river access, dispersed camping, etc.), by vehicle class and season of use. 4. Add approximately 14 miles (22 segments) of existing unauthorized routes to the NFTS as motorized trails open to the public for motorized vehicle use by vehicle class and season of use. 5. Allow motorized vehicle use on two areas (65 acres) where use of motorized vehicles by the public would be allowed anywhere within that delineated area. 6. Make the following changes to existing Forest roads: a. Allow non-highway legal vehicle use on approximately 88 miles (24 segments) of existing NFTS roads where such use is currently prohibited. b. Prohibit non-highway legal vehicle use on approximately 10 miles (8 segments) of existing NFTS roads where such use is currently allowed. c. Open NFTS roads 41S10 and 40N51 to public use where such use is currently prohibited to enhance motorized recreation by creating a loop opportunity.

The Eastern Washington Cascades Provincial Advisory Committee and the Yakima Provincial Advisory Committee will meet on Thursday, October 23, 2008 at the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest Headquarters office, 215 Melody Lane, Wenatchee, WA. This meeting will begin at 9 a.m. and continue until 3 p.m. During this meeting Provincial Advisory Committee members will share information on new developments relating to the Northwest Forest Plan, receive an update on the Access Travel Management Plan and the Recreation Facilities Analysis Master Plan, and offer input on the future role of the Provincial Advisory Committee. All Eastern Washington Cascades and Yakima Province Advisory Committee meetings are open to the public.

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 an extension of a currently approved information collection for the Regulations Governing the Inspection and Grading Services of Manufactured or Processed Dairy Products, and the Certification of Sanitary Design and Fabrication of Equipment Used in the Slaughter, Processing, and Packaging of Livestock and Poultry Products.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. Chapter 35), this notice announces our intention to request a 3- year extension and revision of a currently approved information collection for ``Export Inspection and Weighing Waiver for High Quality Specialty Grain Transported in Containers.''

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 New Creek Site 14 Rehabilitation Project of the New CreekWhites Run Subwatershed of the Potomac River Watershed, Grant County, West Virginia.

The Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) intends to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Biomass Crop Assistance Program (BCAP). BCAP is a new program authorized by the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 (the 2008 Farm Bill). The EIS will assess the potential environmental impacts of alternatives for administration and implementation of BCAP. BCAP is a CCC program administered by the Farm Service Agency (FSA) with the support of other Federal and local agencies. As part of the EIS process, CCC is now soliciting input about potential alternatives for program implementation as well as potential environmental concerns associated with program implementation. CCC will develop and analyze a range of BCAP implementation alternatives. This Notice of Intent (NOI) informs the public of CCC's intent to solicit public comment on potential program alternatives and environmental concerns.