Department of Agriculture 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 a proposed information collection for the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP). Pursuant to Section 13 of the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act (NSLA), the SFSP provides assistance to States to initiate and maintain nonprofit food service programs for needy children during the summer months and at other approved times. Subsection (m) of the statute directs States and service institutions participating in the SFSP to keep accounts and records necessary to enable the Secretary to determine whether there has been compliance with this section and the SFSP regulations. This information collection concerns the efforts required of States and service institutions to comply with the Secretary's requests for information. This proposed collection is a revision of the currently approved collection for the SFSP.

The Department of Agriculture (USDA) is adopting, as a final rule, without change, an interim final rule that decreased the assessment rate established for the California Desert Grape Administrative Committee (Committee), for the 2009 and subsequent fiscal periods from $0.02 to $0.01 per 18-pound lug of grapes handled. The Committee locally administers the marketing order for grapes grown in a designated area of southeastern California (order). The interim final rule was necessary to align the Committee's expected revenue with decreases in its proposed budget for the 2009 fiscal period, which began on January 1.

The Rural Development Business and Cooperative Programs are administered through USDA (``the Agency''). This Notice announces the availability of stimulus assistance provided pursuant to Title 1 of Division A of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Recovery Act) (Pub. L. 111-5).

The Shasta-Trinity National Forest proposes to improve forest health and restore fire-adapted ecosystem characteristics on approximately 3,000 acres of National Forest System Lands in and adjacent to the Harris Mountain Late-Successional Reserve. Ground and ladder fuels would be reduced. In addition, forested stands would be thinned to yield a fire-resilient forest where periodic low-intensity surface fires can be safely reintroduced. Selective removal of trees is proposed to produce forested areas dominated by fire-resilient tree species with sustainable densities and to exhibit stand structure that provides habitat for late-seral dependent species. Reducing overcrowded conditions will enhance tree survival from insects, drought and disease, and natural disturbance. Trees to be removed would generally be smaller in size than trees retained; renewable by-products including commercial sawtimber and energy from biomass are expected. Dying and diseased mature lodgepole stands within the project area would be regenerated through the removal of most overstory trees. Aspen and oak hardwood trees species will be retained. Removal of conifers competing with existing aspen and oak hardwood trees will enhance the overall diversity of forest stands. Surface and ladder fuel loads will be reduced through removal of brush and small-diameter trees in the forest understory and by underburning. Proposed road reconstruction, closure and decommissioning will aid in restoration of drainage patterns and sediment regimes supporting aquatic systems. The project is located in Siskiyou County within portions of T41N, R1E, section 1; T42N R1E section 36; T42N R2E sections 17-21 and 28-36; and T41N R2E sections 1- 6 and 9 Mt. Diablo Meridian.

We are proposing to establish a new category of regulated articles in the regulations governing the importation of nursery stock, also known as plants for planting. This category would list taxa of plants for planting whose importation is not authorized pending pest risk analysis. If scientific evidence indicated that the taxon of plants for planting is a potential quarantine pest or a potential host of a quarantine pest, we would publish a notice that would announce our determination that the taxon is a potential quarantine pest or a potential host of a quarantine pest, cite the scientific evidence we considered in making this determination, and give the public an opportunity to comment on our determination. If we received no comments that changed our determination, the taxon would subsequently be added to the new category. We would allow any person to petition for a pest risk analysis to be conducted for a taxon that has been added to the new category. After the pest risk analysis was completed, we would remove the taxon from the category and allow its importation subject to general requirements, allow its importation subject to specific restrictions, or prohibit its importation. We would consider applications for permits to import small quantities of germplasm from taxa whose importation is not authorized pending pest risk analysis, for experimental or scientific purposes under controlled conditions. This new category would allow us to take prompt action on evidence that the importation of a taxon of plants for planting may pose a risk while continuing to allow for public participation in the process.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice announces the Rural Business-Cooperative Service's (RBS) intention to request an extension of a currently approved information collection in support of the Intermediary Relending Program (IRP).

In accordance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act, 5 U.S.C. App., the United States Department of Agriculture announces solicitation for nominations to fill 11 vacancies on the National Agricultural Research, Extension, Education and Economics Advisory Board.

On July 7, 2009, the Federal Crop Insurance Corporation (FCIC) published amendments to the Common Crop Insurance Regulations, Grape Crop Insurance Provisions and Table Grape Crop Insurance Provisions. Due to an editing error, a definition was constructed with incorrect paragraph designations. This document corrects that error.

This document corrects 36 CFR 242.3 and 50 CFR 100.3 of the subsistence management regulations for public lands in Alaska, subpart A, Makhnati Island Area, which were published in the Federal Register of August 24, 2006. That rule, which became effective September 25, 2006, inadvertently omitted 190 acres of the Makhnati Island Area in the regulatory text.

The Allegheny National Forest, Bradford Ranger District is issuing this notice to advise the public that the agency intends to withdraw their Notice of Intent (NOI) to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the proposed Willow Creek All-Terrain Vehicle (ATV) Trail Expansion Project (WCATEP).

Pursuant to Section 102(2)(C) of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, the Council on Environmental Quality Regulations (40 CFR Part 1500); and the Natural Resources Conservation Service Regulations (7 CFR Part 650); the Natural Resources Conservation Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, gives notice that an environmental impact statement is not being prepared for the South River Watershed Structure No. 4, Madison County, Georgia.

Pursuant to Section 102(2)(C) of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, the Council on Environmental Quality Regulations (40 CFR part 1500); and the Natural Resources Conservation Service Regulations (7 CFR part 650); the Natural Resources Conservation Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, gives notice that an environmental impact statement is not being prepared for the Sandy Creek Watershed Structure No. 15, Jackson County, Georgia.

Pursuant to Section 102(2) (C) of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, the Council on Environmental Quality Regulations (40 CFR Part 1500); and the Natural Resources Conservation Service Regulations (7 CFR Part 650); the Natural Resources Conservation Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, gives notice that an environmental impact statement is not being prepared for the Little Sandy Trail Creek Watershed Structure No. 1, Madison County, Georgia.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice invites the general public and other public agencies to comment on proposed information collections. This collection is an extension without change of a currently approved collection for Data Collection Related to Institutions and Organizations, and concerns whether and to what extent faith-based and community organizations are participating in Federal nutrition assistance programs.

This notice announces the annual adjustments to the national average payment rates for meals and snacks served in child care centers, outside-school-hours care centers, at-risk afterschool care centers, and adult day care centers; the food service payment rates for meals and snacks served in day care homes; and the administrative reimbursement rates for sponsoring organizations of day care homes, to reflect changes in the Consumer Price Index. Further adjustments are made to these rates to reflect the higher costs of providing meals in the States of Alaska and Hawaii. The adjustments contained in this notice are made on an annual basis each July, as required by the laws and regulations governing the Child and Adult Care Food Program.

This Notice announces the annual adjustments to the ``national average payments,'' the amount of money the Federal Government provides States for lunches, afterschool snacks and breakfasts served to children participating in the National School Lunch and School Breakfast Programs; to the ``maximum reimbursement rates,'' the maximum per lunch rate from Federal funds that a State can provide a school food authority for lunches served to children participating in the National School Lunch Program; and to the rate of reimbursement for a half-pint of milk served to non-needy children in a school or institution which participates in the Special Milk Program for Children. The payments and rates are prescribed on an annual basis each July. The annual payments and rates adjustments for the National School Lunch and School Breakfast Programs reflect changes in the Food Away From Home series of the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers. The annual rate adjustment for the Special Milk Program reflects changes in the Producer Price Index for Fluid Milk Products.

The Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest is proposing to charge a $10.00 fee at Bob Scott Campground. Fees are assessed based on the level of amenities and services provided, cost of operations and maintenance, market assessment and public comment. The fee is proposed and will be determined upon further analysis and public comment. Funds from fees would be used for the continued operation, maintenance and improvements of this campground.

A minor relocation (approximately 2,000 feet) will occur on the Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail (PCNST) in 2009. The trail will be re-routed from its current location within the White Pass Ski Area south to the Wilderness boundary on the edge of the expansion area with the purpose of maintaining a quality, uninterrupted backcountry experience for PCNST users and to minimize their views of ski area structures and facilities. All activities were analyzed in the White Pass Expansion Master Development Plan Proposal Final Environmental Impact Statement and documented in the June 2007 Record of Decision. Relocation will begin in July 2009 and is expected to be completed by fall 2009. Trail relocation will be done in conjunction with the Pacific Crest Trail Association.

The Hell Canyon Ranger District of the Black Hills National Forest (BHNF) is preparing an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for a proposal to implement multiple resource management actions within the Norbeck Wildlife Preserve (Norbeck) project area as directed by the Norbeck Organic Act and the Black Hills National Forest Land and Resource Management Plan. Since the original NOl was published, the proposed action has been modified to no longer include prescribed burning within the Black Elk Wilderness, and two additional action alternatives have been developed. The No Action alternative, which is also being considered, would not authorize habitat improvements of any type within the project area. This revised Notice of Intent is being issued to provide updated information on this project, including the proposal, timing, and contact information.

This rule proposes a new U.S. honey producer funded research and promotion program under the Commodity Promotion, Research, and Information Act of 1996 (1996 Act). The proposed U.S. Honey Producer Research, Promotion and Consumer Information Order (Proposed U.S. Producer Order) was submitted to the Department of Agriculture (Department) by the American Honey Producers Association (AHPA). The Department proposes that an initial referendum be conducted to ascertain whether the persons to be covered by and assessed under the Proposed U.S. Producer Order favor the Order prior to it going into effect. The Proposed U.S. Producer Order would provide that producers pay an assessment to the U.S. Honey Producer Board (Proposed Board) at the rate of $0.02 cents per pound of U.S. honey produced and shall only be imposed on U.S. producers. A producer who produces less than 100,000 pounds of U.S. honey per year would be eligible for a certificate of exemption.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, FSA is requesting comments from all interested individuals and organizations on a currently approved information collection to support the FSA Farm Loan Programs (FLP).

The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS or the Agency) publishes this interim final rule to request comments on additional categorical exclusions, which are actions that the agency has determined do not individually or cumulatively have a significant effect on the human environment and, thus, should not require preparing an environmental assessment (EA) or environmental impact statement (EIS) under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). NRCS' categorical exclusion actions promote restoration and conservation activities related to natural or human induced damage, or alteration of floodplain easements and watershed areas. For projects being funded under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA), the interim final rule will assist NRCS in meeting mandates set forth in ARRA and NEPA for undertaking actions in the most expeditious manner and in compliance with NEPA.