Department of Agriculture 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 Salmon-Challis National Forest's Central Idaho Resource Advisory Committee will conduct a business meeting which is open to the public.

The Department of Justice is publishing its spring 2009 regulatory agenda pursuant to Executive Order 12866 ``Regulatory Planning and Review,'' 58 FR 51735, and the Regulatory Flexibility Act, 5 U.S.C. sections 601 to 612 (1988).

The Rural Housing Service (RHS), an agency within Rural Development, announces that it is soliciting competitive applications under its Housing Preservation Grant (HPG) program. The HPG program is a grant program which provides qualified public agencies, private non- profit organizations, which may include, but not be limited to, faith- based and community organizations, and other eligible entities grant funds to assist very low- and low-income homeowners in repairing and rehabilitating their homes in rural areas. In addition, the HPG program assists rental property owners and cooperative housing complexes in repairing and rehabilitating their units if they agree to make such units available to low- and very low-income persons. This action is taken to comply with Agency regulations found in 7 CFR part 1944, subpart N, which require the Agency to announce the opening and closing dates for receipt of preapplications for HPG funds from eligible applicants. The intended effect of this Notice is to provide eligible organizations notice of these dates.

Pursuant to authorities in the Federal Advisory Committee Act (Law 92-463) and Public Law 110-343, enacted on October 3, 2008, reauthorizing and amending the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self Determination Act of 2000 (Pub. L. 106-393), the Black Hills National Forest Custer County Resource Advisory Committee will meet on Wednesday, May 13, 2009 in Custer, South Dakota. The meeting is open to the public.

The Deschutes Provincial Advisory Committee will meet on May 27, 2009, starting at 8 a.m. at the Deschutes National Forest Supervisor's Office, 1001 SW., Emkay Drive, Bend, Oregon. There will be a 1-hour office meeting to brief members on the mapping effort for application of The Nature Conservancy/Fire Learning Network restoration principles. Then, members will go to the field to the Bend-Ft. Rock Ranger District to view areas where principles are being implemented. PAC members will help identify and prioritize areas for future restoration. The trip is scheduled to end at 4:30 p.m. All Deschutes Province Advisory Committee Meetings are open to the public and an open public forum is scheduled from 8:30 to 9 a.m.

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 wasp, Tetramesa romana, into the continental United States for use as a biological control agent to reduce the severity of Arundo donax 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.

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 pale cyst nematode. The description of the quarantined area was updated on February 10, 2009, when approximately 2,721 acres were removed from the quarantined area and approximately 4,976 acres were added to the quarantined area.

The South Gifford Pinchot National Forest Resource Advisory Committee will meet on Monday, June 8, 2009 at the Stevenson Community Library, 120 NW Vancouver Ave., Stevenson, Washington. The meeting will begin at 9 a.m. and continue until 4 p.m. The purpose of the meeting is to make recommendations on approximately 45 proposals for Title II funding of projects under the Secure Rural Schools and County Self- Determination Act of 2000.

Under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Forest Service is seeking comments from all interested people and organizations on the extension of a currently approved information collection, objections to new land management plans, plan amendments, and plan revisions.

This is a recommended decision regarding proposed amendments to Marketing Agreement and Order No. 983 (order), which regulates the handling of pistachios grown in California. The amendments were proposed by the Administrative Committee for Pistachios (Committee), which is responsible for local administration of the order. The proposed amendments would: Expand the production area covered under the order to include Arizona and New Mexico in addition to California; authorize the Committee to reimburse handlers for a portion of their inspection and certification costs in certain situations; authorize the Committee to recommend research projects; modify existing order authorities concerning aflatoxin and quality regulations; modify the authority for interhandler transfers of order obligations; redesignate several sections of the order; remove previously suspended order provisions, and make other related changes. The amendments are intended to improve the operation and functioning of the marketing order program. This recommended decision invites written exceptions on the proposed amendments. This rule also announces AMS's intention to request approval by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) of a new information collection.

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.

The EIS will document changed conditions on the Allison-Berg allotment relative to effects on bighorn sheep and their habitat sufficient to support a determination whether continued grazing by domestic sheep should be allowed or not, and if so, under what conditions.

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

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Forest Service is seeking comments from all interested individuals and organizations on the revision with changes of the currently approved information collection 0596-0066 Advertised Timber for Sale.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice invites the general public and other public agencies to comment on this proposed information collection. The proposed information collection is a request to revise a currently approved collection of information relating to the reporting and recordkeeping burden associated with completing and submitting form FNS-339, the WIC Federal and State Agreement.

USDA Rural Development (Agency) which administers the programs of the Rural Housing Service (RHS) announces the timeframe to submit applications to participate in a demonstration program to preserve and revitalize existing rural rental housing projects financed by Rural Development under Section 515, Section 514, and Section 516 of the Housing Act of 1949, as amended. A subsequent Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) will be published with specific funding information for fiscal year 2009 at a later date. The intended effect is to restructure selected existing Section 515 multi-family housing loans and Section 514 and 516 off-farm labor housing loans and grants expressly for the purpose of ensuring that sufficient resources are available to preserve the rental project for the purpose of providing safe and affordable housing for very low-, low-, or moderate-income residents. Expectations are that properties participating in this program will be revitalized and the affordable use will be extended without displacing tenants because of increased rents. No additional Agency rental assistance units will be made available under this program.

The Rural Cooperative Development Grant (RCDG) program is administered through USDA Rural Development on a competitive basis. USDA Rural Development announces the availability of approximately $4.424 million in competitive grant funds for the fiscal year (FY) 2009 Rural Cooperative Development Grant (RCDG) Program. The intended effect of this notice is to solicit applications for FY 2009 and award grants on or before September 15, 2009. The maximum award per grant is $200,000 and matching funds are required. In accordance with section 310B(e)(6)(B) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1932(e)) as amended by section 6013 of the Food, Conservation and Energy Act of 2008, the Secretary has determined that a grant period of one year is in the best interest of the program at this time.

The Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) announces that it is inviting proposals for the 2010 Emerging Markets Program (EMP). The intended effect of this notice is to solicit additional applications from the private sector and from government agencies for FY 2010. The EMP is administered by personnel of the Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS).

The Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) announces that it is inviting proposals for the 2010 Market Access Program (MAP). The intended effect of this notice is to solicit applications from eligible applicants and award funds in October 2009. The MAP is administered by personnel of the Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS).

The United States Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Rural Utilities Service (RUS) announces the availability of $993,000 in grant funds for the Household Water Well System (HWWS) Grant Program for fiscal year (FY) 2009, to be competitively awarded. A notice of funding availability and solicitation of applications was published in the November 20, 2008 Federal Register, 73 FR 70315, prior to passage of a final appropriations bill identifying a definite funding amount. For information and other requirements on how to apply for HWWS Grant Program funds, please refer to the November 20, 2008 issue of the Federal Register.

This final rule revises certain delegations of authority by the Secretary of Agriculture published at 7 CFR part 2. The Secretary delegates to the Assistant Secretary for Administration authority to serve as the USDA Chief Freedom of Information Act Officer; delegates to the Department of Agriculture Chief Information Officer the authority to appoint the USDA Privacy Act Officer; and, removes those delegations from the Department of Agriculture Director of the Office of Communications.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) is seeking comments from all interested individuals and organizations on the extension of a currently approved information collection. The information collection is to allow farmers to voluntarily assign their payment to a third party and to authorize a joint payment.

The Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) announces it is inviting proposals for the 2010 Quality Samples Program (QSP). The intended effect of this notice is to solicit applications from eligible applicants and award funds in October 2009. QSP is administered by personnel of the Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS).

The Forest Service, USDA will prepare an environmental impact statement (EIS) on a proposal to exchange approximately 1,028 acres of Federal lands for approximately 1,555 acres of non-Federal lands. The EIS will analyze the proposed exchange of the Federal lands described as Sierra Blanca Ranch Adjustment, City of Show Low, Show Low South, and Soda Springs Ranch Adjustment parcels for the non-Federal lands described as Sierra Blanca Ranch, Sprucedale, Alder Peak, Juan Miller, Leonard Canyon, Soda Springs Ranch, Cherry, Sponseller Ranch, and Railroad parcels. The Federal and non-Federal lands proposed for exchange are located in Apache, Coconino, Greenlee, Navajo, and Yavapai Counties, Arizona. The affected Forest Service units are the Alpine, Black Mesa, Clifton, and Lakeside Ranger Districts of the Apache- Sitgreaves National Forests, the Mogollon Rim and Red Rock Ranger Districts of the Coconino National Forest, and the Verde Ranger District of the Prescott National Forest. The exchange would occur with First American Title Insurance Company, Trustee, under Trust 8667, on behalf of SL Land Exchange, LLC. Implementation of the proposed exchange is scheduled for May 2010. The Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest Supervisor invites the public to submit comments on the proposal and suggestions on the scope of the proposed exchange. The Forest Supervisor also invites the public to participate in the environmental analysis and decision-making process for the proposed exchange of lands.