Department of Agriculture March 4, 2009 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Department of Agriculture (USDA) is adopting, as a final rule, without change, an interim final rule which decreased the assessment rate established for the California Walnut Board (Board) for the 2008-09 and subsequent marketing years from $0.0158 to $0.0131 per kernelweight pound of assessable walnuts. The Board locally administers the marketing order which regulates the handling of walnuts grown in California. Assessments upon walnut handlers are used by the Board to fund reasonable and necessary expenses of the program. The marketing year began September 1 and ends August 31. The assessment rate will remain in effect indefinitely unless modified, suspended, or terminated.

On May 9, 2006, Federal Register (Volume 71, Number 89, [Page 26921-26923]), the USDA Forest Service, Plumas National Forest announced its intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to eradicate populations of the noxious weed tall whitetop (Lepidium Iatifoliuin), along the Middle Fork of the Feather River. The proposed Federal action in this EIS was to use a three-step process to ensure the successful eradication of tallwhite top. One of the steps involved the use of herbicides. The EIS would have evaluated the environmental effects associated with these actions and any reasonable alternatives. The notice of intent to prepare an EIS is withdrawn. The Plumas National Forest will continue the NEPA process by preparing an Environmental Assessment to evaluate the environmental effects of a new proposed action.