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

This is a notice to inform the public of the first meeting of the Secretary's Advisory Committee on Animal Health. The meeting is being organized by the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.

GIPSA is announcing the designation of Minot Grain Inspection, Inc. to provide official Class X weighing services under the United States Grain Standards Act, as amended (USGSA).

The designations of the official agencies listed below will end on June 30, 2011. We are asking persons or governmental agencies interested in providing official services in the areas presently served by these agencies to submit an application for designation. In addition, we are asking for comments on the quality of services provided by the following designated agencies: The Georgia Department of Agriculture (Georgia) and the Montana Department of Agriculture (Montana).

This final rule adopts an interim rule, with change, establishing new regulations addressing country of origin labeling for packed honey bearing any official USDA mark or statement. Also, the rule added a new cause for debarment from inspection and certification service for honey if country of origin labeling requirements are not met for packages of honey containing official USDA grade marks or statements. The rule was necessary because section 10402 of the Food, Conservation and Energy Act of 2008 (2008 Farm Bill) amended the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 to require country of origin labeling for honey if it contains official USDA grade marks or statements.

The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) is announcing that a referendum will be conducted among eligible sorghum producers and importers on the Sorghum Promotion, Research, and Information Order (Order), as authorized under the Commodity Promotion, Research, and Information Act of 1996 (Act).

The United States Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Prescott National Forest, is withdrawing the March 2, 2010, Federal Register notice (75 FR 9388) which announced their intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act, 42 U.S.C. 4321 (NEPA), to analyze the environmental impacts of vegetation management treatments in the Prescott Basin area. The original proposal included vegetation treatments to reduce fuels exceeding 9'' in diameter in Mexican Spotted Owl (MSO) Protected Activity Centers. This proposal would have been in conflict with the MSO recovery guidelines that had been incorporated into the Prescott National Forest's Land and Resource Management Plan. Subsequently the Forest Service entered into a new consultation with the United States Fish and Wildlife Service regarding the MSO and other threatened or endangered species. During this period of re-consultation, the responsible official on Prescott National Forest has determined that it would be unwise to pursue such vegetation treatments that could result in a negative impact to the MSO. Without these treatments in MSO protected activity centers, it was recognized that significant impacts to the environment would be highly unlikely, and therefore an Environmental Impact Statement would probably not be required and an Environmental Assessment would be prepared.

We are advising the public that the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service has received a petition from Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc., seeking a determination of nonregulated status for corn designated as DP-32138-1, which has been genetically engineered to produce male sterile/female inbred plants for the generation of hybrid corn seed that is non-transgenic. The petition has been submitted in accordance with our regulations concerning the introduction of certain genetically engineered organisms and products. In accordance with those regulations, we are soliciting comments on whether this genetically engineered corn is likely to pose a plant pest risk. We are also making available for public comment an environmental assessment for the proposed determination of nonregulated status.

The Rural Housing Service (RHS) (an agency within the Rural Development mission area) is amending its regulations to add an additional form of guarantee that is now available under its Guaranteed Rural Rental Housing Program. A single, continuous guarantee during the construction phase for construction advances and the permanent financing phase of the project (for loans that meet certain criteria) will now be provided in addition to the two existing forms of guarantees under the program. This action is taken to enhance efficiency, flexibility, and effectiveness in managing the program.

The Nye/White Pine County Resource Advisory Committee (RAC) will hold a meeting.