Department of Agriculture 2009 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The USDA Forest Service is proposing to amend the Land and Resource Management Plans (LRMP) of the Rogue River (administered as the Rogue River-Siskiyou NF), Umpqua, and Winema (administered as the Fremont-Winema NF) National Forests to make provision for the proposed Pacific Connector Gas Pipeline (PCGP). The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) is the lead agency for the environmental analysis of the construction and operation of the proposed natural gas pipeline (FERC Docket No. CP07-441-000). The FERC has prepared an environmental impact statement (EIS) that discusses the environmental impacts that could result from the construction and operation of the PCGP. FERC issued the FEIS for the PCGP on May 1, 2009.

Pursuant to Section 102(2) (C) of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969; the Council of Environmental Quality Guidelines (40 CFR part 1500); and the Natural Resources Conservation Service Guidelines (7 CFR part 650): The Natural Resources Conservation Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, gives notice that an environmental impact statement is being prepared for Pocasset River Watershed, Providence County, Rhode Island.

The Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest, Naches Ranger District, proposes to charge new fees at four recreation sites. A $5.00 per vehicle per night charge at Ponderosa Camp, Lost Meadow, Longmire Meadow and Long Meadow camp areas in the Little Naches drainage is under consideration. The fee would not apply to any towed vehicle(s). Fees are assessed based on the level of amenities and services provided, cost of operation and maintenance, market assessment, and public comment. Revenue generated would be used for operation and maintenance of existing facilities at the sites, increased services, and potential future improvements. The fees listed are only proposed and will be determined upon further analysis and public comment.

We are amending the administrative regulations of the Office of the Secretary of Agriculture to provide that the rules of practice contained in those regulations shall be applicable to adjudicatory proceedings under the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service's regulations pertaining to the possession, use, and transfer of select agents and toxins. This final rule is necessary to clarify the rules of practice that will apply to the adjudication of a violation of regulations pertaining to the regulation of select agents and toxins.

This interim final rule establishes the process and procedures for designating veterinarian shortage situations, specifically for the Veterinary Medicine Loan Repayment Program (VMLRP) authorized by the National Veterinary Medical Service Act (NVMSA) and administered by the Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service (CSREES) of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. CSREES will designate geographic and practice areas that have a shortage of food supply veterinarians in order to carry out the VMLRP goals of strengthening the nation's animal health infrastructure and supplementing the Federal response during animal health emergencies. CSREES will carry out NVMSA by entering into educational loan repayment agreements with veterinarians who agree to provide veterinary services in veterinarian shortage situations for a determined period of time. CSREES is establishing Subpart A for the designation of the veterinarian shortage situations and Subpart B for the administration of the VMLRP.

The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) is amending 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 is adding and changing Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTS) statistical reporting numbers that were amended since the last assessment adjustment.

The Rogue/Umpqua Resource Advisory Committee (RAC) will meet on Wednesday and Thursday, July 22 and 23, in Roseburg, Oregon, at the Umpqua National Forest Headquarters, 2900 NW. Stewart Parkway. On July 22, the meeting will begin at 9 a.m. and conclude at 4:30 p.m. On July 23, the meeting will begin at 8 a.m. and conclude at 4:15 p.m. Agenda items on July 22 include (1) update on fiscal year 2009 Title II projects at 9:15 a.m., (2) 30-minute public forum at 10 a.m., (3) review and vote on proposed projects for Lane County at 10:45 a.m., and (4) review and vote on proposed projects for Jackson County at 1:45 p.m. The agenda for July 23 includes (1) 30-minute public forum at 8:10 a.m., (2) review and vote on Douglas County projects at 8:40 a.m., (3) review and vote on Klamath County projects at 2:15 p.m., and (4) discussion of monitoring Title II projects at 3:45 p.m. Written public comments may be submitted prior to the meeting by sending them to

Pursuant to the Federal Advisory Committee Act, this notice announces a meeting of the National Advisory Council on Maternal, Infant and Fetal Nutrition.

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 Lolo and Kootenai National Forests' Sanders County Resource Advisory Committee will meet on July 16 at 7 p.m. in Thompson Falls, Montana for a business meeting. The meeting is open to the public.

The Federal Crop Insurance Corporation (FCIC) finalizes amendments to the Common Crop Insurance Regulations, Grape Crop Insurance Provisions and Table Grape Crop Insurance Provisions. The intended effect of this action is to provide policy changes and clarify existing policy provisions to better meet the needs of insured producers, and to reduce vulnerability to fraud, waste, or abuse.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 and the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) regulations, the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is announcing its intention to request a new information collection concerning the responses by official establishments and plants to noncompliance records.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104-13) and Office of Management and Budget (OMB) regulations at 5 CFR part 1320 (60 FR 44978, August 29, 1995), this notice announces the National Agricultural Library's intent to request renewal of an approved electronic mailing list subscription form from those whose who work in the nutrition and food safety fields.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 and the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) regulations, the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is announcing its intention to request an extension of an information collection concerning the application for return of exported product.

This rule implements the general eligibility provisions for all the supplemental agricultural disaster assistance programs authorized by the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 (2008 Farm Bill) and the specific requirements for the Livestock Indemnity Program (LIP). LIP provides disaster assistance for livestock losses. LIP applies only to livestock owners and contract growers that had losses due to livestock deaths in excess of normal mortality due to adverse weather during the calendar year, including losses due to hurricanes, floods, blizzards, disease, wildfires, extreme heat, and extreme cold. Eligible LIP losses must have occurred on or after January 1, 2008, and before October 1, 2011. This rule specifies how the LIP payments are calculated and when producers may apply for benefits. This rule also removes some outdated rules from the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR).

Rural Development is withdrawing the May 6, 2009, Federal Register notice (74 FR 20900), announcing the availability of approximately $18 million in competitive grants for fiscal year 2009 to help independent agricultural producers enter into value-added activities.

The Lake Tahoe Basin Federal Advisory Committee will hold a meeting tentatively on July 15, 2009 at the Sierra Nevada College, 999 Tahoe Boulevard, 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.

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.