Department of Agriculture 2010 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, will prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) on a proposal to construct and operate a new electric transmission line intertie that would extend west across the Tongass National Forest from the Petersburg area to the community of Kake. The proposed action is to build a new transmission line that would transmit power at either 69 or 138 kilovolt (kV) and consist of single wood pole structures with horizontal post insulators, with average span lengths between pole structures of 350 to 400 feet. Two primary alternative routes are currently under consideration. These routes generally follow two routes previously identified as Transportation and Utility System (TUS) corridors in the Tongass National Forest Land and Resource Management Plan (Forest Plan). Both alternative routes follow existing logging roads for the majority of their lengths. In addition, one of the routes follows the proposed route identified by the Alaska Department of Transportation & Public Facilities (DOTPF) for the permanent road between Kake and Petersburg. Both routes would use existing roads for construction and long-term maintenance access where possible. New road segments would be built in locations where access is not currently available.

The Emmett Ranger District of the Boise National Forest will prepare an environmental impact statement (EIS) for the integrated restoration project in the Scriver Creek subwatershed. The 11,500-acre project is located approximately 6 miles north of Crouch, Idaho. The Scriver Creek Integrated Restoration Project proposes to undertake vegetation condition restoration, improve watershed conditions, and utilize wood products resulting from restoration activities to support local and regional communities through a variety of activities including commercial and noncommercial vegetation management and road system modifications and maintenance.

This notice revises the previous notice of intent, published on March 26, 2008, Vol. 73, No. 59, pages 15966 through 15968, to prepare an environmental impact statement for the Salt Timber Harvest and Fuels Reduction Project (Salt Project). A supplemental environmental impact statement will be prepared for the Salt Project to supplement wildlife management indicator assemblage analysis. This notice and supplement pertains only to the wildlife management indicator assemblage analysis for the Salt Project.

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, as amended, (Pub. L. 110-343), the Boise, Payette, and Sawtooth National Forests' Southwest Idaho Resource Advisory Committee will conduct a business meeting. The meeting is open to the public.

This notice announces the acceptance of applications for funds available under the BioRefinery Assistance Program (the ``Program'') to provide guaranteed loans for the development and construction of commercial-scale biorefineries or for the retrofitting of existing facilities using eligible technology for the development of advanced biofuels. Applications will be accepted for biorefineries that produce transportation fuels that meet the Renewable Fuel Standard or are currently undergoing an appeal to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for inclusion in the Renewable Fuel Standard, or that produce non-transportation renewable energy that results in a reduction in greenhouse gases. There will only be one application window under this Notice.

This Notice announces the acceptance of applications for payments to eligible biorefineries to encourage the use of renewable biomass as a replacement fuel source for fossil fuels used to provide process heat or power in the operation of these eligible biorefineries. Under this Notice, applications will be accepted for biorefineries that produce transportation fuels that meet the Renewable Fuel Standard or are currently undergoing an appeal to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for inclusion in the Renewable Fuel Standard, or that produce non-transportation renewable energy that results in a reduction in greenhouse gases.

The proposed revised form for the information collection requirement described below will be submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 and OMB implementing regulations. The Department is soliciting public comments on the subject proposal.

Notice is hereby given that the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, intends to grant to Renewable Organics, LLC of Pinehurst, North Carolina, an exclusive license to U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 12/026,346, ``Process for Removing and Recovering Phosphorus from Animal Waste,'' filed on February 5, 2008.

The Forest Service proposed to prepare an environmental impact statement for the White Pines Wind Farm Project on National Forest System (NFS) lands managed by the Huron-Manistee National Forests. This project has been cancelled. This cancellation notice terminates the environmental analysis process for the White Pines Wind Farm Project.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice invites the general public and other public agencies to comment on the proposed collection. This collection is an extension without change for the State Agency Options, Standard Utility Allowance and Self Employment Costs, burden calculations for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), formerly known as the Food Stamp Program.

We are adopting as a final rule, without change, an interim rule that amended the noxious weed regulations by adding Old World climbing fern (Lygodium microphyllum (Cavanilles) R. Brown) and maidenhair creeper (Lygodium flexuosum (Linnaeus) Swartz) to the list of terrestrial noxious weeds. This action is necessary to prevent the artificial spread of these noxious weeds within and into the United States.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice announces the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service's intention to revise an information collection associated with the Cooperative Agricultural Pest Survey and to request extension of approval of the information collection.

This is to notify all interested parties, including individuals and entities possessing, using, or transferring biological agents and toxins listed in 7 CFR 331.3, 9 CFR 121.3 and 121.4, or 42 CFR 73.3 and 73.4, that a meeting will be held to provide regulatory guidance related to the Federal Select Agent Program established under the Public Health Security and Bioterrorism Preparedness and Response Act of 2002. The meeting is being organized by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, the Department of Health and Human Services' Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the Department of Justice's Federal Bureau of Investigation. Issues to be discussed include entity registration, security risk assessments, biosafety requirements, and security measures.

Notice is hereby given that the Agricultural Policy Advisory Committee for Trade (APAC) and the Agricultural Technical Advisory Committees for Trade (ATACs) will hold closed meetings on May 6, 2010. The advisory committees are administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR). The meetings are closed to the public in accordance with the Trade Act of 1974, 19 U.S.C. 2155(f)(2), and the Government in the Sunshine Act, 5 U.S.C. 552b(c)(4)(6). USTR has determined that public access to the meetings would seriously compromise the development by the U.S. government of trade policy priorities, negotiating objectives, or bargaining positions with respect to the operation of trade agreements and other matters arising in connection with the development, implementation, and administration of the trade policy of the United States. Topics will include Doha Round negotiations in the World Trade Organization (WTO), WTO accession negotiations, and negotiations in bilateral and regional free trade agreements.

Nominations are being sought for certain positions to serve on the Recreation Resource Advisory Committee (Recreation RAC) operating in the state of Colorado for the Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management (BLM). New members will be appointed by the Secretary of Agriculture (Secretary) and serve three-year terms. Members are being sought to represent each of the following interests: (1) Winter motorized recreation, (2) Summer motorized recreation, (3) Summer non- motorized recreation, (4) Non-motorized outfitter guides, (5) Local environmental groups, (6) State tourism official, and (7) Indian tribes.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Farm Service Agency (FSA) is seeking comments from all interested individuals and organizations on the extension of a currently approved information collection that supports Inventory Property Management. The information is used to evaluate applicant requests to purchase inventory property, determine eligibility to lease or purchase inventory property, and ensure the payment of the lease amount or purchase amount associated with the acquisition of inventory property.

As required by the Highlands Conservation Act, Public Law 108- 421, the Forest Service has drafted the Highlands Regional Study: Connecticut and Pennsylvania 2010 Update. The study is now available (see link below) and identifies high conservation value areas, the impacts of land use change on the natural resources, and conservation strategies in the Connecticut and Pennsylvania portions of the Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania Highlands Region. Public comment is being sought on the results of the update to better inform potential consumers of the study results.

The Ketchikan Resource Advisory Committee will meet in Ketchikan, Alaska, May 19, 2010. The purpose of this meeting is to discuss potential projects under the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act of 2008.

The Wrangell-Petersburg Resource Advisory Committee will meet in Wrangell, Alaska. 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 of the meeting is to review project proposals and make project funding recommendations.