Department of Agriculture January 4, 2011 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

GIPSA is announcing the designation of the following organizations to provide official services under the United States Grain Standards Act, as amended (USGSA): Columbus Grain Inspection, Inc. (Columbus); Gulf Country Grain Inspection Service, Inc. (Gulf Country); and Northeast Indiana Grain Inspection, Inc. (Northeast Indiana).

Lewiston Grain Inspection Service, Inc. (Lewiston) is designated to provide official inspection services through September 30, 2012, under the United States Grain Standards Act, as amended (USGSA). Lewiston informed the Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration (GIPSA) that it would cease providing official inspection services effective December 31, 2010. Accordingly, GIPSA is announcing that Lewiston's designation terminates effective December 31, 2010. GIPSA is also asking persons or governmental agencies interested in providing official services in the area presently served by Lewiston to submit an application for designation.

This proposed rule would address recommendations submitted to the Secretary of Agriculture (Secretary) by the National Organic Standards Board (NOSB) on November 5, 2009, and April 29, 2010. The recommendations addressed in this proposed rule pertain to the continued exemption (use) of 12 substances in organic production and handling. Consistent with the recommendations from the NOSB, this proposed rule would continue the exemption (use) of 12 substances on the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) National List of Allowed and Prohibited Substances (National List) (along with any restrictive annotations). These substances were originally added to the National List on September 12, 2006.

The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) announces the availability of approximately $55 million in grant funds, less USDA administrative costs, for fiscal year (FY) 2011 to solely enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops. SCBGP-FB funds are authorized by the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 (the Farm Bill). State departments of agriculture are encouraged to develop their grant applications promptly. State departments of agriculture interested in obtaining grant program funds are invited to submit applications to USDA. State departments of agriculture, meaning agencies, commissions, or departments of a State government responsible for agriculture within the 50 States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands are eligible to apply.

The USDA, Forest Service, will prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) on a proposed action to manage forest fuels and forest stand densities, including areas within a designated wildland urban interface, on the Sisters Ranger District, Deschutes National Forest. In addition, the proposal would decommission and close Forest Roads. The proposed action would be located on National Forest System lands south of the city of Sisters, Oregon; east of the Three Sisters Wilderness; north of the boundary with the BendFort Rock Ranger District; and west of the 33,000 acre Cascade Timberlands property which is being considered as a future Community Forest. The legal location is Townships 16 and 17 south and Range 9 east, Willamette Meridian. The project area is managed under the Northwest Forest Plan: Matrix (12,813 acres); Late Successional Reserve (3,078 acres); and Administratively Withdrawn (1,301 acres). The project area also contains 1,336 acres of Riparian Reserves. The alternatives will include the proposed action, no action, and additional alternatives that respond to issues generated during the scoping process. The agency will give notice of the full environmental analysis and the decision making process so interested and affected people may participate and contribute to the final decision.