Department of Agriculture April 2009 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice invites the general public and other public agencies to comment on this proposed information collection. The proposed information collection is a request to revise a currently approved collection of information relating to the reporting and recordkeeping burden associated with completing and submitting form FNS-339, the WIC Federal and State Agreement.

USDA Rural Development (Agency) which administers the programs of the Rural Housing Service (RHS) announces the timeframe to submit applications to participate in a demonstration program to preserve and revitalize existing rural rental housing projects financed by Rural Development under Section 515, Section 514, and Section 516 of the Housing Act of 1949, as amended. A subsequent Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) will be published with specific funding information for fiscal year 2009 at a later date. The intended effect is to restructure selected existing Section 515 multi-family housing loans and Section 514 and 516 off-farm labor housing loans and grants expressly for the purpose of ensuring that sufficient resources are available to preserve the rental project for the purpose of providing safe and affordable housing for very low-, low-, or moderate-income residents. Expectations are that properties participating in this program will be revitalized and the affordable use will be extended without displacing tenants because of increased rents. No additional Agency rental assistance units will be made available under this program.

The Rural Cooperative Development Grant (RCDG) program is administered through USDA Rural Development on a competitive basis. USDA Rural Development announces the availability of approximately $4.424 million in competitive grant funds for the fiscal year (FY) 2009 Rural Cooperative Development Grant (RCDG) Program. The intended effect of this notice is to solicit applications for FY 2009 and award grants on or before September 15, 2009. The maximum award per grant is $200,000 and matching funds are required. In accordance with section 310B(e)(6)(B) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1932(e)) as amended by section 6013 of the Food, Conservation and Energy Act of 2008, the Secretary has determined that a grant period of one year is in the best interest of the program at this time.

The Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) announces that it is inviting proposals for the 2010 Emerging Markets Program (EMP). The intended effect of this notice is to solicit additional applications from the private sector and from government agencies for FY 2010. The EMP is administered by personnel of the Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS).

The Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) announces that it is inviting proposals for the 2010 Market Access Program (MAP). The intended effect of this notice is to solicit applications from eligible applicants and award funds in October 2009. The MAP is administered by personnel of the Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS).

The United States Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Rural Utilities Service (RUS) announces the availability of $993,000 in grant funds for the Household Water Well System (HWWS) Grant Program for fiscal year (FY) 2009, to be competitively awarded. A notice of funding availability and solicitation of applications was published in the November 20, 2008 Federal Register, 73 FR 70315, prior to passage of a final appropriations bill identifying a definite funding amount. For information and other requirements on how to apply for HWWS Grant Program funds, please refer to the November 20, 2008 issue of the Federal Register.

This final rule revises certain delegations of authority by the Secretary of Agriculture published at 7 CFR part 2. The Secretary delegates to the Assistant Secretary for Administration authority to serve as the USDA Chief Freedom of Information Act Officer; delegates to the Department of Agriculture Chief Information Officer the authority to appoint the USDA Privacy Act Officer; and, removes those delegations from the Department of Agriculture Director of the Office of Communications.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) is seeking comments from all interested individuals and organizations on the extension of a currently approved information collection. The information collection is to allow farmers to voluntarily assign their payment to a third party and to authorize a joint payment.

The Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) announces it is inviting proposals for the 2010 Quality Samples Program (QSP). The intended effect of this notice is to solicit applications from eligible applicants and award funds in October 2009. QSP is administered by personnel of the Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS).

The Forest Service, USDA will prepare an environmental impact statement (EIS) on a proposal to exchange approximately 1,028 acres of Federal lands for approximately 1,555 acres of non-Federal lands. The EIS will analyze the proposed exchange of the Federal lands described as Sierra Blanca Ranch Adjustment, City of Show Low, Show Low South, and Soda Springs Ranch Adjustment parcels for the non-Federal lands described as Sierra Blanca Ranch, Sprucedale, Alder Peak, Juan Miller, Leonard Canyon, Soda Springs Ranch, Cherry, Sponseller Ranch, and Railroad parcels. The Federal and non-Federal lands proposed for exchange are located in Apache, Coconino, Greenlee, Navajo, and Yavapai Counties, Arizona. The affected Forest Service units are the Alpine, Black Mesa, Clifton, and Lakeside Ranger Districts of the Apache- Sitgreaves National Forests, the Mogollon Rim and Red Rock Ranger Districts of the Coconino National Forest, and the Verde Ranger District of the Prescott National Forest. The exchange would occur with First American Title Insurance Company, Trustee, under Trust 8667, on behalf of SL Land Exchange, LLC. Implementation of the proposed exchange is scheduled for May 2010. The Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest Supervisor invites the public to submit comments on the proposal and suggestions on the scope of the proposed exchange. The Forest Supervisor also invites the public to participate in the environmental analysis and decision-making process for the proposed exchange of lands.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. Chapter 35), this notice announces the Department of Agriculture's Office of Security Services' intention to request an extension for and revision to a currently approved information collection for USDA Personal Identity Verification (PIV) Request for Credential, the USDA program implementing the provisions of Homeland Security Presidential Directive 12 (HSPD-12). HSPD-12 establishes a mandatory, Government-wide standard for secure and reliable forms of identification (credentials) issued by the Federal Government to its Federal Employees, other applicable individuals, and contractors. The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) mandated that these credentials be issued to all Federal Government employees, contractors, and other applicable individuals who require long-term access to federally controlled facilities and/or information systems. The HSPD-12 compliant program is jointly owned and administered by USDA through the Office of the Chief Information Officer (OCIO) and Departmental Administration (DA).

This notice announces the intention of the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) to suspend a currently approved information collection, the Distiller's Grains Survey, and its associated publication.

This rule revises the regulatory period during which minimum grade, size, quality, and maturity requirements are in effect for onions grown in South Texas under Marketing Order No. 959 (order). The previous regulatory period for South Texas onions was March 1 to July 15 of each year. The new regulatory period ends on June 4. Prior to this change, onions subject to order requirements from June 5 to July 15 were present in the market at the same time as onions produced in other areas of the United States not regulated under Federal marketing orders. Changing the ending date of the regulatory period to June 4 relaxes the regulatory requirements for onions covered under the order, and will enable producers and handlers to compete more effectively in the marketplace, and therefore, promote the orderly marketing of onions. The South Texas Onion Committee (Committee), which locally administers the order, unanimously recommended the change.

The Hood/Willamette Resource Advisory Committee (RAC) will meet on Thursday, May 28, 2009. The meeting is scheduled to begin at 9:30 a.m. and will conclude at approximately 12:30 p.m. The meeting will be held at the Salem Office of the Bureau of Land Management Office; 1717 Fabry Road SE; Salem, Oregon; (503) 375-5646. The tentative agenda includes: (1) Recommendations on 2009 and 2010 Projects; and (2) Public Forum.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. Chapter 35), this notice announces the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights' (OASCR) intention to request approval from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for an extension of the currently approved information collection for the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)/1994 Tribal Scholars Program.

The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) published a final rule in the Federal Register on July 20, 1992, on the Mushroom Promotion, Research, and Consumer Information Order (Order) referendum procedures. This rule established procedures for the conduct of a referendum to determine if producers and importers favored implementation of the Order. The procedures also apply to any subsequent referenda to amend, continue, or terminate the Order. As written, language to amend, suspend, or terminate the program was inadvertently omitted from the procedures. This document corrects that omission.

The Mendocino County Resource Advisory Committee will meet April 24, 2009 (RAC) in Willits, California. Agenda items to be covered include: (1) Approval of minutes, (2) Handout Discussion (3) Public Comment, (4) Financial Report (5) Sub-committees (6) Matters before the group (7) Discussionapproval of projects (8) Next agenda and meeting date.

We are amending the regulations to modify the requirements concerning the importation of eggs (other than hatching eggs) from regions where exotic Newcastle disease (END) exists. This action is necessary to provide a more efficient and equally effective testing option for determining the END status of flocks producing eggs (other than hatching eggs) for export to the United States.

We are correcting an error in the rule portion of a final rule that amended the regulations concerning user fees for import- and export-related services that we provide for animals, animal products, birds, germ plasm, organisms, and vectors. The final rule was published in the Federal Register on March 30, 2009, and is effective on April 29, 2009.

In a final rule that was published in the Federal Register on April 1, 2009 (74 FR 14710-14719, Docket No. APHIS-2007-0042), and effective on May 1, 2009, we amended the National Poultry Improvement Plan (the Plan) and its auxiliary provisions by providing new or modified sampling and testing procedures for Plan participants and participating flocks. In that final rule, we amended a section in the Plan to include additional tests for avian influenza, but we neglected to amend the heading of that section to indicate that it now contains some tests that are not blood tests. This document corrects that error.

The Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest is planning to charge an $8 per site per night fee for overnight camping at Hickey Gap Campground. The fees listed are only proposed and will be determined upon further analysis and public comment. This campground has five creek-side campsites and has been available for camping use prior to this date. Visitor use monitoring on the Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest has shown that people appreciate and enjoy the availability of quality outdoor camping facilities. Funds from the campground will be used for the continued operation and maintenance of Hickey Gap Campground.

The 1890 Institution Capacity Building Grants Program is authorized under section 1417(b)(4) of the National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977, as amended (NARETPA) (7 U.S.C. 3152(b)(4)) and pursuant to the annual appropriations made specifically for the 1890 Institution Capacity Building Grants Program. Section 7107 of the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 (FCEA) (Pub. L. 110-246) amended section 1417(b)(4) of NARETPA to add extension to the 1890 Institution Capacity Building Grants Program. By this notice, the Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service (CSREES) is soliciting public comment and stakeholder input from interested parties regarding the future design and implementation of this program, particularly the addition of extension to this program.

The Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration (GIPSA) is soliciting comments on the proposed revisions to the United States Standards for Whole Dry Peas and Split Peas. The proposal would amend the general definitions, ``Whole Dry Peas'' and ``Split Peas,'' and the following specific definitions: ``Smooth Green Dry Peas,'' ``Smooth Yellow Dry Peas,'' ``Wrinkled Dry Peas,'' ``Green Split Peas'' and ``Yellow Split Peas.'' In addition, GIPSA proposes to modify the classification term and associated definitions, ``Winter Dry Peas'' and ``Winter Split Peas.'' These proposed changes will help facilitate the marketing of new winter pea variety releases and help ensure the purity of class for ``Whole Dry Peas'' and ``Split Peas.''