Department of Agriculture 2010 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) is amending the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) regulations to implement provisions of the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 (the 2008 Farm Bill). The 2008 Farm Bill generally extends the existing CRP through 2012 with some changes in eligibility requirements. The changes in this rule include adding alfalfa to the definition of agricultural commodity for the purposes of determining cropping history, adding incentives for limited resource farmers and Indian tribes, adding pollinator habitat incentives, adding a provision allowing preference for local residents in accepting competitive offers, adding an additional waiver provision to exclude certain acreage for CRP county acreage maximums, and clarifying the limited harvesting and grazing activities that may be allowed on CRP land. The purpose of CRP is to cost-effectively assist producers in conserving and improving soil, water, wildlife, and other natural resources by converting environmentally-sensitive acreage from the production of agricultural commodities to a long-term vegetative

The Agricultural Air Quality Task Force (AAQTF) will meet to continue discussions on air quality issues relating to agriculture. Additionally, the Livestock and Poultry Subcommittee of the AAQTF will conduct a pre-meeting Livestock and Poultry Air Emissions Standardization (LPAES) Workshop to discuss livestock and poultry air emissions monitoring data/research obtained from the National Animal Air Emissions Monitoring Study (NAAEMS).

The Rural Utilities Service, hereinafter referred to as RUS and/or the Agency, has issued a Record of Decision (ROD) for the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the proposed Deer Creek Station Energy Facility project (Project) in Brookings and Deuel Counties, South Dakota. The Administrator of RUS has signed the ROD, which is effective upon signing. The EIS was prepared pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA) (U.S.C. 4231 et seq.) and in accordance with the Council on Environmental Quality's (CEQ) regulations for implementing the procedural provisions of NEPA (40 CFR Parts 1500-1508), RUS's NEPA implementing regulations (7 CFR Part 1794), and the Western Area Power Administration's (Western) NEPA implementing regulations (10 CFR Part 1021). Western was the lead federal agency in preparation of the EIS as defined at 40 CFR 1501.5; RUS was a cooperating agency. The purpose of the EIS was to evaluate the potential environmental impacts of and alternatives to Basin Electric Power Cooperative's (Basin Electric) application for a RUS loan and a Western interconnection agreement to construct the proposed Project. The proposed Project's facility would include a new natural gas-fired combustion turbine set, a heat recovery steam generator, and a steam turbine generator set.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 and Office of Management and Budget (OMB) regulations, this notice announces the Food Safety and Inspection Service's (FSIS) intention to request revision of an approved information collection regarding specified risk materials (SRMs) in cattle because the OMB approval will expire on January 31, 2011, and to incorporate another approved information collection, Specified Risk MaterialsTransport.

This rule modifies the aflatoxin sampling and testing regulations currently prescribed under the California, Arizona, and New Mexico pistachio marketing order (order). The order regulates the handling of pistachios grown in California, Arizona, and New Mexico and is administered locally by the Administrative Committee for Pistachios (Committee). This rule streamlines the aflatoxin sampling and testing procedures under the order's rules and regulations for pistachios to be shipped for domestic human consumption while maintaining sufficient aflatoxin controls. It is expected to reduce handler operating costs by providing a uniform and consistent aflatoxin sampling and testing procedure for pistachios shipped to all market destinations.

This rule suspends the reporting and assessment requirements prescribed under the Washington-Oregon fresh prune marketing order. The marketing order regulates the handling of fresh prunes grown in designated counties in Washington and in Umatilla County, Oregon, and is administered locally by the Washington-Oregon Fresh Prune Marketing Committee (Committee). On June 1, 2010, the Committee unanimously voted to terminate Marketing Order No. 924. Since the only regulatory actions currently in effect are the reporting and assessment requirements, the Committee included a recommendation to immediately suspend these activities while USDA processes the termination request. The reporting and assessment requirements will remain suspended until reinstated or permanently terminated.

The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) is withdrawing a notice soliciting comments on the possible establishment of voluntary United States Standards for Grades of Refried Beans. After reviewing and considering industry input, the Agency has decided not to proceed further with this action.

The Gogebic Resource Advisory Committee will meet in Watersmeet, Michigan. The committee is meeting as authorized under the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act (Pub. L. 110- 343) and in compliance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act. The purpose is to hold the first meeting of the newly formed committee.

This document revises the delegations of authority from the Secretary of Agriculture and general officers of the Department of Agriculture (USDA) principally to reflect changes to the delegations required by the reorganization of Departmental Staff Offices, Departmental Administration, and the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights under the newly named ``Departmental Management,'' led by the Assistant Secretary for Administration. Other additions, deletions, and changes are made as summarized below.

On June 22, 2005, the USDA, Forest Service, Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest, published a notice of intent to prepare an environmental impact statement for Pack and Saddle Stock Outfitter- Guide Special Use Permit Issuance in the Federal Register (FR, Vol. 70, No. 119, 36112). The purpose of this revised notice of intent is to update the Purpose and Need, change the number of service days proposed, to describe a proposed forest plan amendment, and to revise the planned release date.

The Kisatchie National Forest Resource Advisory Committee will meet in Natchitoches, Louisiana. The committee is meeting as authorized under the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act (Pub. L. 110-343) and in compliance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act.

This rule implements specific requirements for the Durum Wheat Quality Program (DWQP) authorized by the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 (the 2008 Farm Bill). The 2008 Farm Bill authorizes the DWQP for fiscal years 2009 through 2012 to partially compensate producers for the cost of fungicides applied to durum wheat to control Fusarium head blight, commonly known as wheat scab.

The United States Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration (GIPSA) is issuing an interim rule to potentially make permanent the current waiver for high quality grain exported in containers from the mandatory inspection and weighing requirements of the United States Grain Standards Act (USGSA). This interim rule only extends for 2 years a 5-year waiver that is set to expire on July 31, 2010, and asks for interested parties to comment on making this waiver permanent. This action advances the objectives of the USGSA by providing relief to an evolving sector of the grain industry.

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.

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.

The Tehama County Resource Advisory Committee (RAC) will meet in Red Bluff, California. Agenda items to be covered include: (1) Introductions, (2) Approval of Minutes, (3) Public Comment, (4) Chairman's Perspective, (5) Project Voting, (6) Discuss Meeting Schedule, (7) Report on Existing Projects, (8) Discuss New Membership, (9) Next Agenda.

The Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) proposes regulations to implement the new Asparagus Revenue Market Loss Assistance Payment (ALAP) Program authorized by the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 (the 2008 Farm Bill). The purpose of the program is to compensate domestic asparagus producers for marketing losses resulting from imports during the 2004 through 2007 crop years. Payments will be calculated based on 2003 crop production. Through the ALAP Program, CCC is authorized to provide up to $15 million in direct payments to asparagus producers. This rule proposes eligibility requirements, payment application procedures, and the method for calculating individual payments. This rule also proposes new information collection for the payment application.