Department of Agriculture January 21, 2009 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents
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Revision of Delegations of Authority
This document revises the delegations of authority from the Secretary of Agriculture and general officers of the Department of Agriculture (USDA) principally to reflect changes and additions to the delegations required by the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 (FCEA), Public Law 110-246. Other additions, deletions, and changes are made as summarized below.
Shasta-Trinity National Forest, California; Moosehead Vegetation and Road Management Project
The Shasta-Trinity National Forest proposes to thin forest stands and reduce fuel loads on approximately 2,300 acres of National Forest System Lands. Overstocked forest stands would be thinned by removing primarily understory and midstory trees to achieve desired stocking. Trees to be removed would generally be smaller in size than trees that would be retained. Some dominant and codominant trees may be removed to attain desired stocking. Forest stand treatments would be accomplished primarily through commercial harvest. Harvest operations would yield sawtimber (logs) and biomass (chips) products. After commercial harvest, fuels would be reduced by treating brush and small diameter trees in the forest understory. Road reconstruction, closure and decommissioning are also proposed. Approximately 22 miles of road would be reconstructed to improve drainage and reduce erosion. The existing open road network would be reduced by decommissioning \1/4\ mile of road and closing approximately 10 miles of road.
Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act, (Title VIII, Pub. L. 108-447)
In accordance with the Federal Land Policy and Management Act (FLPMA), the Federal Advisory Committee Act of 1972 (FACA), and the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act (REA), the U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Boise and Twin Falls District Recreation Resource Advisory Council (Rec-RAC) Subcommittee, will hold a meeting as indicated below.
Lake Tahoe Basin Federal Advisory Committee
The Lake Tahoe Basin Federal Advisory Committee will hold a meeting on January 21, 2009 on the north shore of Lake Tahoe. This Committee, established by the Secretary of Agriculture on December 15, 1998 (64 FR 2876), is chartered to provide advice to the Secretary on implementing the terms of the Federal Interagency Partnership on the Lake Tahoe Region and other matters raised by the Secretary.
Grapes Grown in a Designated Area of Southeastern California and Imported Table Grapes; Change in Regulatory Periods
This rule revises the regulatory period when minimum grade, size, quality, and maturity requirements apply to southeastern California grapes under Marketing Order No. 925 (order), and to imported grapes under the table grape import regulation, from April 20 through August 15 of each year to April 10 through July 10 of each year. The order regulates the handling of grapes grown in a designated area of southeastern California and is administered locally by the California Desert Grape Administrative Committee (Committee). The change to the regulatory period beginning date is needed to ensure that imported table grapes marketed in competition with domestic grapes are subject to the grade, size, quality, and maturity requirements of the order. Section 8e of the Agricultural Marketing Agreement Act of 1937 (Act) provides authority for such change. The change to the regulatory period ending date is needed to realign the regulatory period with current shipping trends for grapes in the order's production area. This rule also clarifies the maturity (soluble solids) requirements for southeastern California and imported Flame Seedless variety grapes.
Notice of Request for Approval of an Information Collection; National Animal Health Laboratory Network
In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice announces the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service's intention to request approval of an information collection associated with the National Animal Health Laboratory Network.
Grassland Reserve Program
The Grasslands Reserve Program (GRP) assists landowners and operators in protecting grazing uses and other related conservation values by restoring and conserving eligible grassland and certain other lands through rental contracts and easements. This interim final rule sets forth how USDA, using the funds, facilities, and authorities of the Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC), will implement GRP in response to the changes made to the program by section 2403 of the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008. In addition, this interim final rule incorporates other changes to the regulation for clarification or program administrative improvement.
Notice for Request for Proposals for Loan Guarantees under the Section 538 Guaranteed Rural Rental Housing Program (GRRHP) for Fiscal Year 2009
This is a request for proposals for loan guarantees under the section 538 Guaranteed Rural Rental Housing Program (GRRHP) pursuant to 7 CFR 3565.4 for Fiscal Year (FY) 2009 subject to the availability of funding. FY 2008 funding for the section 538 program was $129,090,000. For FY 2009, there are approximately $2 million in additional funds for GRRHP properties that are located in a presidentially declared disaster area. Disaster funds may be used for new construction or repair and rehabilitation. To be eligible for these disaster funds, a property must be located in a county affected by hurricanes, floods, and other natural disasters occurring during 2008 for which the President declared a major disaster under Title IV of the Robert T. Stafford and Disaster and Emergency Assistance of 1974. Applicants must notify the Rural Development contact person for the respective state, as indicated in the ``Submission Address'' section of this notice, that their project is located in an eligible disaster zone and that they want the project considered for these funds. Applicants for both general program funding or disaster funds will submit proposals in the form of ``RESPONSES.'' The commitment of program dollars will be made to applicants of selected responses that have fulfilled the necessary requirements for obligation. 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. The GRRHP operates under 7 CFR part 3565. The GRRHP Origination and Servicing Handbook (HB-1-3565) is available to provide lenders and the general public with guidance on program administration. HB-1-3565, which contains a copy of 7 CFR part 3565 in Appendix 1, can be found at the Agency's Instructions Web site address https://www.rurdev.usda.gov/ regs/hblist.html#hbw6. Eligible lenders are invited to submit responses for the new construction and the acquisition with rehabilitation of affordable rural rental housing. Also eligible is the revitalization, repair, and transfer (as stipulated in 7 CFR 3560.406) of existing direct section 515 housing (transfer costs are subject to Agency approval and must be an eligible use of loan proceeds as listed in 7 CFR 3565.205), and properties involved in the Agency's multi-family preservation and revitalization program (MPR). Equity payments, as stipulated in 7 CFR 3560.406, in connection with the transfer of existing direct section 515 housing, are an eligible use of guaranteed loan proceeds. In order to be considered, the transfer of direct section 515 housing and MPR projects must need repairs and undergo revitalization of a minimum of $6,500 per unit. A Section 538 guaranteed loan used in conjunction with a section 515 transfer that includes an equity payment and that qualifies for an interest credit award, will receive interest credit according to the following schedule:
Oregon Coast Provincial Advisory Committee
The Oregon Coast Province Advisory Committee will meet at Siuslaw National Forest Headquarters, Siuslaw River Room. The agenda includes: Future of Coast PAC and Meeting Schedule, Travel Management Planning, Spotted Owl Recovery Plan, Western Oregon Plan Revision and Public Comment.
Notice of a Public Meeting on Implementation of Title VI, Rural Development Authorities of the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008-Section 6022, Rural Microentrepreneur Assistance Program and Section 6023, Grants for Expansion of Employment Opportunities for Individuals With Disabilities in Rural Areas
The Rural BusinessCooperative Service, an Agency in the Rural Development Mission Area of the United States Department of Agriculture, will hold a public meeting January 26, 2009, entitled ``Rural Microentrepreneur Assistance OpportunitiesInviting comments with the Public on new authorities of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act (Pub. L. 110-246) (``the Act'').'' The purpose of this event is to gather public comments and suggestions on how to implement certain new authorities authorized under Title VI of the Act.
United States Standards for Livestock and Meat Marketing Claims, Naturally Raised Claim for Livestock and the Meat and Meat Products Derived From Such Livestock
The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) is establishing a voluntary standard for a naturally raised marketing claim that livestock producers may request to have verified by the Department of Agriculture (USDA). This standard incorporates revisions made as a result of comments received from an earlier proposed standard. A number of livestock producers make claims associated with production practices in order to distinguish their products in the marketplace and there are a growing number of entities that are capturing value-added opportunities by using alternative production methods to meet the demands of consumers and markets seeking meat and meat products from naturally raised livestock. This voluntary standard will allow livestock producers to utilize AMS' voluntary, third party verification services to provide validity to such naturally raised livestock claims and, in certain cases, access to markets that require AMS verification. AMS verification of this claim would be accomplished through an audit of the production process in accordance with procedures that are contained in Part 62 of Title 7 of the Code of Federal Regulations (7 CFR part 62).
Consultative Group to Eliminate the Use of Child Labor and Forced Labor in Imported Agricultural Products
Notice is hereby given that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) requests nominations of individuals to serve as a non-government member of the Consultative Group to Eliminate the Use of Child Labor and Forced Labor in Imported Agricultural Products (Consultative Group). On June 18, 2008, the President signed into law the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 (the Act), also known as the 2008 Farm Bill. The Act provides for the creation of the Consultative Group.
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