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

Pursuant to the authorities in the Federal Advisory Committee Act (Pub. L. 92-463) and under the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self- Determination Act of 2000 (Pub. L. 106-393) the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest's Tri-County Resource Advisory Committee will meet on Thursday, July 16, 2009, from 5 p.m. until 9 p.m., in Deer Lodge, Montana. The purpose of the meeting is to review funding proposals for Title II funding.

We are amending the regulations to relieve certain restrictions regarding the movement of Hass variety avocados. Specifically, we are amending our domestic quarantine regulations to provide for the interstate movement, with a certificate, of Hass avocados from areas in the United States quarantined for Mexican fruit fly or sapote fruit fly, provided that the fruit is safeguarded after harvest in accordance with specific measures. We are also amending our foreign quarantine regulations to remove trapping and bait spray treatment requirements related to Anastrepha spp. fruit flies for imported Hass avocados from Michoacan, Mexico. These actions are warranted in light of research demonstrating the limited host status of Hass avocados to various species of fruit flies in the genus Anastrepha, including Mexican fruit fly and sapote fruit fly. By amending both our domestic and foreign quarantine regulations, we are making them consistent with each other and relieving restrictions for Mexican Hass avocado producers. In addition, this action provides an alternative means for Hass avocados to be moved interstate if the avocados originate from a Mexican fruit fly or sapote fruit fly quarantined area in the United States.

The Deschutes Provincial Advisory Committee will meet on July 9, 2009, to discuss the future of sustainable recreation on the Deschutes National Forest. The meeting will start at 8:30 a.m. at the Forest Supervisor's Office, 1001 SW. Emkay Drive, Bend, Oregon in the Upper Deschutes Conference Room. Members will be updated on the winter Recreation Sustainability Analysis. An Open Public Forum is scheduled from 9:40-10 a.m. Then, members will go to the field at 10 a.m. to key recreation sites on the forest to discuss future desired recreation opportunities in preparation for the upcoming Forest Plan Revision. The trip is scheduled to end at 4 p.m. All Deschutes Province Advisory Committee Meetings are open to the public.

We are advising the public that an environmental assessment and finding of no significant impact have been prepared by the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service relative to the release of a gall midge, Jaapiella ivannikovi, into the continental United States for use as a biological control agent to reduce the severity of Russian knapweed infestations. Based on its finding of no significant impact, the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service has determined that an environmental impact statement need not be prepared.

This Notice announces the availability of $6,256,000 of competitive grant funds for the RCDI program through the Rural Housing Service (RHS), an agency within the USDA Rural Development mission area herein referred to as the Agency. Applicants must provide matching funds in an amount at least equal to the Federal grant. These grants will be made to qualified intermediary organizations that will provide financial and technical assistance to recipients to develop their capacity and ability to undertake projects related to housing, community facilities, or community and economic development. This Notice lists the information needed to submit an application for these funds.

The Rural Utilities Service (RUS) intends to hold public scoping meetings and prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to meet its responsibilities under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and 7 CFR Part 1794 in connection with potential impacts related to projects proposed by Oglethorpe Power Corporation (Oglethorpe) of Tucker, Georgia. The proposal consists of the construction of a 100-MW biomass power plant in Warren County near Warrenton, Georgia. Oglethorpe is requesting RUS to provide financial assistance for the proposed action.

The Siskiyou Resource Advisory Committee will meet on Friday, July 31, 2009 to recommend Title II projects for fiscal year 2010 under the reauthorized Secure Rural Schools and Community Self Determination Act, Public Law 110-343. The meeting will be held at Smith River Rancheria (Howonquet Hall Community Center), 101 Indian Court, Smith River, CA 95567. It begins at 9:30 a.m., ends at 4:30 p.m.; the open public comments begin at 11 a.m. and end at 11:30 a.m. Written comments may be submitted prior to the meeting and delivered to Designated Federal Official, Scott Conroy, Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest, 3040 Biddle Road, Medford, OR 97504.

The Rural Business-Cooperative Service announces the availability of approximately $1.463 million in competitive grant funds for fiscal year (FY) 2009 for cooperatives or associations of cooperatives to assist small, socially-disadvantaged agricultural producers. USDA Rural Development Cooperative Programs hereby requests proposals from eligible cooperatives and associations of cooperatives for a competitively awarded grant to fund technical assistance to small, socially-disadvantaged agricultural producers in rural areas. The maximum award per grant is $175,000.

Pursuant to the Federal Advisory Committee Act, this constitutes notice of the upcoming meeting of the Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration (GIPSA) Grain Inspection Advisory Committee (Advisory Committee). The Advisory Committee meets twice annually to advise the GIPSA Administrator on the programs and services that GIPSA delivers under the U.S. Grain Standards Act. Recommendations by the Advisory Committee help GIPSA better meet the needs of its customers who operate in a dynamic and changing marketplace.

The Sequoia National Forest is proposing to charge a $175, $200, and $250 per night fee for the overnight rental of three cabins located on newly acquired National Forest System lands known as Upper Grouse Valley in the Giant Sequoia National Monument. These three cabins have not been available for public recreation use prior to this date. Rentals of other cabins on the Sequoia National Forest have shown that people appreciate and enjoy the availability of rental cabins. Funds from these rentals will be used for the continued operation and maintenance of the cabins and improvements. If there are excess funds, they will be used to improve the quality of the experience for visitors to the Giant Sequoia Monument. Improvements considered would include the development of interpretive opportunities, trails, and conservation programs focusing on bringing underrepresented youth to the Monument.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice announces the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service's intention to initiate an information collection to support the National Animal Health Monitoring System Catfish 2010 Study.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice announces the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service's intention to request an extension of approval of an information collection associated with the Asian longhorned beetle cooperative eradication program.

Central Illinois Grain Inspection, Inc. (Central Illinois), d/ b/a Lone Star Grain Inspection in Texas, has requested that the Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration (GIPSA) amend its designation to remove the northeast Texas region from its assigned geographic area. GIPSA is amending Central Illinois' designation and is designating Gulf Country Inspection Service, Inc. (Gulf Country) to provide official services in the northeast Texas area.

The Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration (GIPSA) is revising the US Standards for Whole Dry Peas and Split Peas to 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 is modifying the classification term and associated definitions, ``Winter Dry Peas'' and ``Winter Split Peas.'' These 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.''

The Rural Utilities Service (RUS) intends to hold public scoping meetings and prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to meet its responsibilities under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and 7 CFR part 1794 in connection with potential impacts related to projects proposed by Oglethorpe Power Corporation (Oglethorpe) of Tucker, Georgia. The proposal consists of the construction of a 100-MW biomass power plant in Appling County near Baxley, Georgia. Oglethorpe is requesting RUS to provide financial assistance for the proposed action.

The Forest Service is revising the Coronado 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 USDA, Forest Service is resuming preparation of the Kootenai and Idaho Panhandle National Forests revised land management plans as directed by the National Forest Management Act (NFMA). The Kootenai and Idaho Panhandle National Forests comprise the Kootenai and Idaho Panhandle Planning Zone (KIPZ). Preparation of the revised plan was halted when the 2005 Forest Service planning rule was enjoined. A new planning rule (36 CFR part 219) took effect on April 21, 2008, allowing the planning process to be resumed. This notice marks the resumption of the Kootenai and Idaho Panhandle National Forests plan revision process under the new planning rule.

This is a notice to inform the public of an addition to the schedule of upcoming meetings to discuss stakeholder concerns related to the implementation of the National Animal Identification System. The additional meeting is being organized by the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.

The Eastern Washington Cascades Provincial Advisory Committee and the Yakima Provincial Advisory Committee will meet on July 1, 2009 at the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest Headquarters office, 215 Melody Lane, Wenatchee, WA. During this meeting information will be shared about the Forest's Travel Management plan and process. All Eastern Washington Cascades and Yakima Province Advisory Committee meetings are open to the public.