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

The Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration (GIPSA) is taking several actions to post and depost stockyards under the Packers and Stockyards Act (P&S Act). Specifically, we are proposing that 23 stockyards now operating subject to the P&S Act be posted. We are posting 12 stockyards that were identified previously as operating subject to the Act. Eleven other facilities, however, were not posted because they were found to be abandoned or no longer functioning as a stockyard and no longer operating subject to the P&S Act. Finally, we are deposting 19 stockyards that can no longer be used as stockyards.

The Forest Service is revising the Kaibab National Forest's Land and Resource Management Plan (hereafter referred to as the forest plan). This notice describes the documents available for review and how to obtain them; summarizes the need to change the forest plan; provides information concerning public participation and collaboration, including the process for submitting comments; provides an estimated schedule for the planning process, including the time available for

The Glenn/Colusa County Resource Advisory Committee (RAC) will meet in Willows, California. Agenda items covered include: (1) Introductions, (2) Approve Minutes, (3) Public Comment, (4) Project Presentations, (5) Project Voting by RAC Committee Members, (6) General Discussion, (7) Next Agenda.

This final rule terminates the Honey Research, Promotion, and Consumer Information Order (Honey Order) and its rules and regulations in their entirety. The Department previously proposed termination of the Honey Order because of the duplicative nature of the Honey Order with the new honey packers and importers program. This action is necessary because the results of a referendum conducted among honey first handlers and importers between April 2 and April 16, 2008, favored implementation of a new honey packers and importers program, and that program is now in effect. Therefore, termination of the Honey Order is appropriate.

This rule modifies the minimum size requirement under the Colorado potato marketing order, Area No. 2. The marketing order regulates the handling of Irish potatoes grown in Colorado, and is administered locally by the Colorado Potato Administrative Committee, Area No. 2 (Committee). Currently, Colorado Area No. 2 potatoes must be U.S. No. 2 or better grade and most varieties must be at least 2 inches in diameter or 4 ounces in weight, except that round potatoes may be of any weight. For most long potato varieties, this rule changes the minimum size requirement from 2 inches in diameter to 1\7/8\ inches in diameter and removes the minimum weight requirement. This change is intended to improve the marketing of Colorado Area No. 2 potatoes and increase returns to producers as well as provide consumers with increased supplies of potatoes.

The Rural Utilities Service (RUS) has prepared an Environmental Assessment (EA) to meet its responsibilities under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and the Agency's environmental policies and procedures (7 CFR 1794) related to possible financial assistance to PowerSouth Energy Cooperative Incorporated (PowerSouth). PowerSouth is requesting financial assistance for the construction of a new 360-megawatt (MW) peaking-load gas-fired generation facility at the existing McIntosh Power Plant in Washington County, Alabama. The proposed new unit is needed to provide additional electric generating capacity that would allow PowerSouth to meet its projected electrical peaking demand in 2010.

Notice is hereby given of the intention of NRCS to issue a series of revised conservation practice standards in its National Handbook of Conservation Practices. These standards include: Anaerobic Digester (Code 366); Anionic Polyacrylamide (PAM) Application (Code 450); Brush Management (Code 314); Fish Raceway or Tank (Code 398); Irrigation Ditch Lining (Code 428); Irrigation Pipeline (Code 430); Irrigation Reservoir (Code 436); Surface Drain, Field Ditch (Code 607); Surface Drainage, Main or Lateral (Code 608); Roof Runoff Structure (Code 558); and Surface Roughening (Code 609). NRCS State Conservationists who choose to adopt these practices for use within their States will incorporate them into Section IV of their respective electronic Field Office Technical Guides. These practices may be used in conservation systems that treat highly erodible land or on land determined to be a wetland.

The Ravalli County Resource Advisory Committee will be conducting two monthly meetings for project presentations and will hold a short public forum (question and answer session). The meetings are being held pursuant to the authorities in the Federal Advisory Committee Act (Pub. L. 106-939) and under the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act of 2000 (Pub. L. 106-393). The meetings are open to the public.

We are advising the public that an environmental assessment has been prepared by the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service relative to a proposed rule that would add the Republic of Korea to the list of regions considered free of rinderpest and foot-and-mouth disease. The environmental assessment documents our review and analysis of environmental impacts associated with adding the Republic of Korea to the list of regions considered free of rinderpest and foot-and-mouth disease. We are making this environmental assessment available to the public for review and comment.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. Chapter 35, as amended), the Rural Utilities Service (RUS) invites comments on this information collection for which RUS intends to request approval from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB).

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice announces the intention of the Risk Management Agency to request approval for the collection of information in support of the agency's mission under section 522(d) of the Federal Crop Insurance Act to develop and implement risk management tools for producers of agricultural commodities through partnership agreements.

In a final rule published in the Federal Register on October 16, 2008 (73 FR 61325-61332, Docket No. APHIS-2007-0033), and effective November 17, 2008, we amended and republished 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, thus implementing the findings of the second biennial review of that list. Among other changes, we changed the entry for ``Newcastle disease virus (velogenic)'' to read ``virulent Newcastle disease virus,'' thus including some non-velogenic strains of Newcastle disease virus as select agents. The final rule set the compliance date for entities that were newly required to register as entities possessing select agents or toxins as April 14, 2009. Since the publication of the final rule, we have been notified of entities that use virulent Newcastle disease virus and that have not previously been registered. This notice informs the public that we are extending the compliance date for new registrants to July 13, 2009, to give us additional time to determine how best to regulate those entities.

The Tehama County Resource Advisory Committee (RAC) will meet in Red Bluff, California. Agenda items to be covered include: (1) Introductions, (2) Approval of Minutes, (3) Public Comment, (4) Chairman's Perspective, (5) Project Proposal Presentations, (6) Vote on Projects if time permits, (7) Next Agenda.

In accordance with the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self Determination Act of 2000 (Pub. L. 106-393), [as reauthorized as part of Public Law 110-343] and the Federal Advisory Committee Act of 1972 (FACA), the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Davy Crockett National Forest Resource Advisory Committee (RAC) meeting will meet as indicated below.

The Alpine County Resource Advisory Committee (RAC) will hold its first meeting.

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, the Land Management Agency Volunteer Surveys.

The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) is proposing to amend the Cotton Board Rules and Regulations by increasing the value assigned to imported cotton for calculating supplemental assessments collected for use by the Cotton Research and Promotion Program. An amendment is required to adjust the assessments collected on imported cotton and the cotton content of imported products to be the same as those paid on domestically produced cotton. In addition, AMS proposes to add and change Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTS) statistical reporting numbers that were amended since the last assessment adjustment.

We are advising the public that we have made changes to the area in the State of Idaho that is quarantined to prevent the spread of potato cyst nematode. The description of the quarantined area was updated on December 9, 2008, when 20 fields were removed from the quarantined area, and on January 14, 2009, when 17 additional fields were removed from the quarantined area.

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 215.5 and 36 CFR 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 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 218.4 or developing, amending or revising land management plans under 36 CFR 219.9 in the legal notice section of the newspapers listed in the Supplementary Information section of this notice.

The Fresno County Resource Advisory Committee will be meeting in Prather, California on April 21st. The purpose of the meeting will be to discuss a monitoring plan for the projects approved on April 2nd.