Department of Agriculture 2009 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

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 regulations for the importation of live swine, pork and pork products, and swine semen from the European Union.

The Office of the Acting Under Secretary for Food Safety, U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), and the Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS), Fruit and Vegetable Programs, USDA, are sponsoring a public meeting on September 17, 2009. The objective of the public meeting is to provide information and receive public comments on agenda items and draft United States positions that will be discussed at the 15th Session of the Codex Committee on Fresh Fruits and Vegetables (CCFFV) of the Codex Alimentarius Commission (Codex). The Acting Under Secretary for Food Safety and AMS recognize the importance of providing interested parties the opportunity to obtain background information on

It has been determined by the NRCS State Conservationist for Virginia that changes must be made in the NRCS State Technical Guide specifically in practice standards: 356, Dike; 378, Pond; 402, Dam; 554, Draining Water Management; 587, Structure for Water Control; and 606, Subsurface Drain. These practices will be used to plan and install conservation practices on cropland, pastureland, woodland, and wildlife land.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice announces the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service's intention to revise an information collection associated with plant pest, noxious weed, and garbage regulations and to request an extension of approval of the information collection.

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 regulations for the use of irradiation as a phytosanitary treatment of imported fruits and vegetables.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice invites the general public and other public agencies to comment on a proposed information collection. The proposed collection is an extension of a currently approved collection for the FNS-143, Claim for Reimbursement (Summer Food Service Program), which is used to collect data on the number of meals served and cost data from sponsoring organizations participating in the Program.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice announces the intention the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) to request revision and extension of a currently approved information collection, the Cold Storage Survey. Revision to burden hours will be needed due to changes in the size of the target population, expected increases in response rates, and modes of data collection. The questionnaires have had some minor modifications to accommodate changes in the products stored by the industry, and to make the questionnaires easier to complete. The entire target population for cold storage operators will be contacted for this data on a monthly basis. Fruit storage operations are contacted on a seasonal basis. The capacity survey is conduced once every other year. These surveys are voluntary, except for operations that store certain manufactured dairy products that are required by Public Law No. 106-532 and 107-171 to respond.

The Lake Tahoe Basin Federal Advisory Committee will hold a meeting on August 25, 2009 at The Chateau, 955 Fairway Blvd., Incline Village, NV 89451. 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.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice announces the intention the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) to request revision and extension of a currently approved information collection, the Agricultural Prices Surveys. Revision to burden hours may be needed due to changes in the size of the target population, sampling design, and/or questionnaire length.

This advanced notice of proposed rulemaking (ANPR) solicits comments on options to reform the USDA, Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC), Facility Guarantee Program (FGP). The purpose of the ANPR is to invite suggestions on improvements and changes to be made in the implementation and operation of the FGP, with the intent of improving the FGP's effectiveness and efficiency and lowering costs.

This rule finalizes the interim rule that implemented the statutory provision to prohibit direct or indirect restrictions on the sale or marketing of fluid milk on school premises or at school- sponsored events, at any time or in any place, in schools participating in the National School Lunch Program. This rule ensures that there are no policies or procedures in place that have the effect of restricting the sale or marketing of fluid milk.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice invites the general public and other public agencies to comment on the proposed information collections for the FNS-245, Negative Case Action Review Schedule and FNS-248, Status of Sample Selection and Completion. The forms are currently used in the Quality Control process for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. The proposed collection is a revision of a collection currently approved under OMB No. 0584-0034.

The Department of Agriculture (USDA) is adopting, as a final rule, without change, an interim final rule that modified the minimum size requirement under the Colorado potato marketing order, Area No. 2. For most long potato varieties, the interim final rule changed the minimum size requirement from 2 inches in diameter to 1\7/8\ inches in diameter and removed the minimum weight requirement. The change is expected to improve the marketing of Colorado Area No. 2 potatoes while increasing returns to producers and potato supplies to consumers.

The Department of Agriculture (USDA) is adopting, as a final rule, without change, an interim final rule that changed the assessment rate established under the marketing order (order) for olives grown in California for the 2009 and subsequent fiscal years. The interim final rule increased the assessment rate from $15.60 to $28.63 per assessable ton of olives handled. The interim final rule was necessary to provide adequate operating funds for the California Olive Committee (committee), which administers the order locally.

The Rural Utilities Service (RUS) intends to hold public scoping meetings and prepare an Environmental Assessment (EA) to meet its responsibilities under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and 7 CFR part 1794 in connection with potential impacts related to a proposed project in Colorado by Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association, Inc. (Tri-State) and Public Service Company of Colorado (Public Service), an Xcel Energy Operating Company. The proposed San Luis Valley-Calumet-Comanche Transmission Project (proposed action) consists of the following: a proposed 230/345-kilovolt (kV) Calumet Substation to be located approximately 6 miles north of the existing Walsenburg Substation in Huerfano County; a proposed double-circuit 230-kV transmission line between the existing San Luis Valley Substation in Alamosa County and the Calumet Substation; a proposed single-circuit 230-kV transmission line between the Calumet Substation and the Walsenburg Substation; and a proposed double-circuit 345-kV transmission line connecting the Calumet Substation to the existing Comanche Substation in Pueblo County. Tri-State is requesting that RUS provide financial assistance for the proposed action.

Notice is hereby given that the Rural Utilities Service (RUS) has made a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) with respect to a request from Fitzgerald Renewable Energy, LLC (FRE) for assistance to finance the construction, operation, and maintenance of a new 55- megawatt (MW) gas-fired combustion biomass fueled power plant in Ben Hill County, Georgia near Fitzgerald, Georgia.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is proposing to establish a voluntary labeling program for biobased products under section 9002 of the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002, as amended by the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008. Under the proposed labeling program, a biobased product, after being certified by USDA, could be marketed using the ``USDA Certified Biobased Product'' label. The presence of the label will mean that the product meets USDA standards for the amount of biobased content and that the manufacturer or vendor has provided relevant information on the product for the USDA BioPreferred Web site. The proposed rule applies to manufacturers and vendors who wish to participate in the voluntary labeling program. The proposed rule also applies to other entities (e.g., trade associations) that wish to use the label to promote biobased products.

The Department of Agriculture (USDA) is adopting, as a final rule, without change, an interim final rule that changed the handling requirements applicable to well matured fruit covered under the nectarine and peach marketing orders (orders). The interim final rule updated the lists of commercially significant varieties subject to size regulations under the orders. The interim final rule was necessary to revise the regulations for the current marketing season, which began in April.

The Secretary of Agriculture intends to establish the Eastern Region Resource Advisory Committees (RACs) pursuant to the Emergency, Economic Stabilization Act of 2008, Energy Improvement and Extension Act of 2008, and Tax Extenders and Alternate Minimum Tax Relief Act of 2008 (Pub. L. 110-343) passed into law as an amendment to the Secure Rural School and Community Self-Determination Act of 2000 (Pub. L. No. 106-393) on October 3, 2008. The Eastern Region Resource Advisory Committees are being established to review forest projects (Title II) and to recommend the proposed projects they deem to have merit to the Secretary of Agriculture for approval.

This rule proposes to amend the Blueberry Promotion, Research, and Information Order (Order) to increase the assessment rate on producers and importers who produce or import more than 2,000 pounds of highbush blueberries annually from $12 per ton to $24 per ton. The increase provided under the Order is authorized by the Commodity Promotion, Research, and Information Act of 1996 (Act). The U.S. Highbush Blueberry Council (Council) which administers the Order recommended this action to expand their promotional activities and add an advertising component to bridge the potential gap between highbush blueberry demand and future supply. Furthermore, the Council recommended to use the additional revenue to strengthen existing consumer, food service, and food manufacturer publicity; to expand their health research; to develop an educational campaign on good management practices and food safety within the United States as well as internationally.

We are advising the public that the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service has determined the regulatory review period for NAHVAX[supreg] Marek's Disease Vaccine and is publishing this notice of that determination as required by law. We have made this determination in response to the submission of an application to the Commissioner of Patents and Trademarks, Department of Commerce, for the extension of a patent that claims that veterinary biologic.