Department of Agriculture 2009 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

This document contains a correction to the final regulation which published in the Federal Register of June 19, 1997 (62 FR 33365). The regulations grant the basic authority of the Chief to issue directives concerning Forest Service operations.

Notice is hereby given that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is deleting two systems of records, consolidating two systems of records into one existing system of records; revising two systems of records; and proposing to create a new system of records entitled, ``Census of Agriculture Records,'' USDA/NASS-3, maintained by the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS).

The Six Rivers National Forest will prepare an Environmental Impact Statement to disclose the impacts associated with the following

The Pacific Southwest Recreation Resource Advisory Committee (Recreation RAC) will hold a meeting in Vallejo, California. The purpose of this meeting is to make recommendations for fee proposals on lands managed by the Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management in California. The Recreation RRAC will consider fee proposals for expanded amenity fees from the Plumas National Forest and Special Recreation Permit fees from the Bureau of Land Management, El Centro Field Office. The Forest Service will also give updates on the recreational fee program, accomplishment reporting and financial reporting for the Sequoia National Forest.

Responsible Officials in the Rocky Mountain Region of the USDA Forest Service will publish notices of availability for comment and notices of decisions that may be subject to administrative appeal under 36 CFR part 215. These notices will be published in the legal notice section of the newspapers listed in the Supplementary Information section of this notice. As provided in 36 CFR 215.5, 215.6, and 215.7, such notice shall constitute legal evidence that the agency has given timely and constructive notice for comment and notice of decisions that may be subject to administrative appeal. Newspaper publication of notices of decisions is in addition to direct notice to those who have requested notice in writing and to those known to be interested in or affected by a specific decision.

The Agricultural Marketing Service published a final rule in the Federal Register on March 3, 2008 (73 FR 11328). The document implemented amendments to the California walnut marketing order. However, that document inadvertently omitted a change that would make the term of office for California Walnut Board (Board) members correspond with the time period prescribed for the Board's marketing year. This correcting amendment changes the term of office of Board members from July 1 through June 30 to September 1 through August 31 to correspond with the Board's marketing year.

The Research, Education, and Extension Office (REEO) of the Research, Education, and Economics (REE) Mission Area of the Department of Agriculture published a document in the Federal Register on April 1, 2009, concerning written stakeholder input on the preparation of a roadmap for the REEO. The document contained an incorrect word in the background and purpose section which is listed under the supplementary information section of the notice. The correction notice was published on April 10, 2009. However, the correction notice still contained an incorrect word in the background and purpose section.

On December 8, 2008, the Forest Service corrected a notice of intent (NOI) to prepare one EIS to disclose the environmental effects of proposed nonsignificant amendments to the three Southwest Idaho Ecogroup (SWIE) 2003 Land and Resource Management Plans (Forest Plans). The December 8, 2008, NOI corrected a September 14, 2007 NOI, in part to reflect a delay of more than a year in filing the draft EIS. The December 8, 2008 NOI is now being corrected to reflect that three EISs

We are proposing to allow, under certain conditions, the importation of commercial shipments of fresh papaya from Colombia and Ecuador into the continental United States. The conditions for the importation of papayas from Colombia and Ecuador include requirements for approved production locations; field sanitation; hot water treatment; procedures for packing and shipping the papayas; and fruit fly trapping in papaya production areas. This action would allow for the importation of papayas from Colombia and Ecuador while continuing to provide protection against the introduction of injurious plant pests into the continental United States.

The Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest is planning to charge fees at two shooting range sites. One of the sites, Trembling Bridge Shooting Range, is being reconstructed and amenities are being added to improve services and experiences. The other site, Cedar Creek Shooting Range, is being constructed. Fees are assessed based on the level of amenities and services provided, cost of operation and maintenance, market assessment, and public comment. The fees listed are only proposed and will be determined upon further analysis and public comment. Funds from fees would be used for the continued operation and maintenance of these recreation sites. Trembling Bridge and Cedar Creek Shooting Ranges will be available for target practice. Amenities proposed for these facilities would include a 100 yard shooting range, parking area for ten to twenty vehicles, pathways, security fencing, a toilet, shooting shed, and benches, all which would all be accessible. A financial analysis has been completed to determine the fee of $5 per person per day, for those over the age of 16 years. Youth, 16 and under, will be allowed to use the ranges for free and must be accompanied by an adult. Shooting ranges offer a unique experience and are a widely popular offering on National Forests. Fees would help to provide security, operations and maintenance funds.

The Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest is planning to increase fees from $8 per site per night to $10 per site per night for overnight camping at Dockery Lake Campground. The fee increase is only proposed and will be determined upon further analysis and public comment. This campground has eleven lake-side campsites, each with a parking spur, tent pad, fire ring, picnic table and lantern post. It also offers drinking water, toilets, picnic sites and a fishing pier. Visitor use monitoring on the Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest has shown that people appreciate and enjoy the availability of quality outdoor camping facilities. Funds will be used to make improvements to the Dockery Lake Campground.

GIPSA is announcing the designation of the following organization to provide official services under the United States Grain Standards Act, as amended (USGSA): Central Illinois Grain Inspection (Central Illinois) d/b/a Lone Star Grain Inspection in Texas.

The Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration (GIPSA) is taking several actions to post and depost stockyards under the Packers and Stockyards Act (P&S Act). Specifically, we are proposing that 23 stockyards now operating subject to the P&S Act be posted. We are posting 12 stockyards that were identified previously as operating subject to the Act. Eleven other facilities, however, were not posted because they were found to be abandoned or no longer functioning as a stockyard and no longer operating subject to the P&S Act. Finally, we are deposting 19 stockyards that can no longer be used as stockyards.

The Forest Service is revising the Kaibab 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 Glenn/Colusa County Resource Advisory Committee (RAC) will meet in Willows, California. Agenda items covered include: (1) Introductions, (2) Approve Minutes, (3) Public Comment, (4) Project Presentations, (5) Project Voting by RAC Committee Members, (6) General Discussion, (7) Next Agenda.

This final rule terminates the Honey Research, Promotion, and Consumer Information Order (Honey Order) and its rules and regulations in their entirety. The Department previously proposed termination of the Honey Order because of the duplicative nature of the Honey Order with the new honey packers and importers program. This action is necessary because the results of a referendum conducted among honey first handlers and importers between April 2 and April 16, 2008, favored implementation of a new honey packers and importers program, and that program is now in effect. Therefore, termination of the Honey Order is appropriate.

This rule modifies the minimum size requirement under the Colorado potato marketing order, Area No. 2. The marketing order regulates the handling of Irish potatoes grown in Colorado, and is administered locally by the Colorado Potato Administrative Committee, Area No. 2 (Committee). Currently, Colorado Area No. 2 potatoes must be U.S. No. 2 or better grade and most varieties must be at least 2 inches in diameter or 4 ounces in weight, except that round potatoes may be of any weight. For most long potato varieties, this rule changes the minimum size requirement from 2 inches in diameter to 1\7/8\ inches in diameter and removes the minimum weight requirement. This change is intended to improve the marketing of Colorado Area No. 2 potatoes and increase returns to producers as well as provide consumers with increased supplies of potatoes.

The Rural Utilities Service (RUS) has prepared an Environmental Assessment (EA) to meet its responsibilities under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and the Agency's environmental policies and procedures (7 CFR 1794) related to possible financial assistance to PowerSouth Energy Cooperative Incorporated (PowerSouth). PowerSouth is requesting financial assistance for the construction of a new 360-megawatt (MW) peaking-load gas-fired generation facility at the existing McIntosh Power Plant in Washington County, Alabama. The proposed new unit is needed to provide additional electric generating capacity that would allow PowerSouth to meet its projected electrical peaking demand in 2010.

Notice is hereby given of the intention of NRCS to issue a series of revised conservation practice standards in its National Handbook of Conservation Practices. These standards include: Anaerobic Digester (Code 366); Anionic Polyacrylamide (PAM) Application (Code 450); Brush Management (Code 314); Fish Raceway or Tank (Code 398); Irrigation Ditch Lining (Code 428); Irrigation Pipeline (Code 430); Irrigation Reservoir (Code 436); Surface Drain, Field Ditch (Code 607); Surface Drainage, Main or Lateral (Code 608); Roof Runoff Structure (Code 558); and Surface Roughening (Code 609). NRCS State Conservationists who choose to adopt these practices for use within their States will incorporate them into Section IV of their respective electronic Field Office Technical Guides. These practices may be used in conservation systems that treat highly erodible land or on land determined to be a wetland.

The Ravalli County Resource Advisory Committee will be conducting two monthly meetings for project presentations and will hold a short public forum (question and answer session). The meetings are being held pursuant to the authorities in the Federal Advisory Committee Act (Pub. L. 106-939) and under the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act of 2000 (Pub. L. 106-393). The meetings are open to the public.