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

The West Virginia Resource Advisory Committee will meet in Elkins, West Virginia. 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 for the committee to consider new project proposals.

The USDA Forest Service is withdrawing the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for The Golden Hand No. 3 and No. 4 Lode Mining Claims Proposed Plan of Operations. The project included mining operations on the lode claims along with associated activities such as road maintenance and construction. The project will not be implemented. Any further action on claims No. 3 and No. 4 would be conducted under a new plan of operation and subsequent environmental documentation.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is adopting as final, without change, an interim rule published in the Federal Register on August 24, 2010 (75 FR 51919). The interim rule amended the National List of Allowed and Prohibited Substances (National List) based upon a recommendation submitted to the Secretary of Agriculture (Secretary) by the National Organic Standards Board (NOSB) on April 29, 2010. Consistent with the recommendation from the NOSB, the interim rule revised the annotation of one substance on the National List, methionine, to extend its use in organic poultry production until October 1, 2012, at the following maximum levels of synthetic methionine per ton of feed: laying chickens4 pounds; broiler chickens5 pounds; turkeys and all other poultry6 pounds.

We are advising the public that the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has prepared an environmental assessment and finding of no significant impact relative to the release of the hawkweed gall wasp, Aulacidea subterminalis, into the continental United States as a biological control agent to reduce the severity of infestations of hawkweeds (Hieracium spp.). Based on its finding of no significant impact, APHIS has determined that an environmental impact statement need not be prepared.

The Rural Utilities Service, an agency delivering the United States Department of Agriculture's (USDA's) Rural Development Utilities Programs, hereinafter referred to as the Agency, is amending its regulation for the Rural Broadband Access Loan and Loan Guarantee Program (Broadband Loan Program). Since the Broadband Loan Program's inception in 2002, the Agency has faced and continues to face significant challenges in delivering the program due to the following factors: The competitive nature of the broadband market in certain geographic areas; the significant number of companies proposing to offer broadband service that are start-up organizations with limited resources; continually evolving technology; and economic factors such as the higher cost of serving rural communities. In addition, the Office of Inspector General, in a 2005 report, made recommendations to improve program efficiency. For these reasons and in an effort to improve program operation, the Agency published proposed changes to the program's regulation in the Federal Register on May 11, 2007. While the Agency was reviewing public comments and revising the rule, the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 (2008 Farm Bill) was enacted and changed the statute under which the program operates. In accordance with the statute and taking into account the public comments received regarding the proposed rule to the extent possible, this interim rule presents the regulations that will govern the program until a final rule is published. The Agency is seeking comments regarding this interim rule to guide its efforts in drafting the final rule for the Broadband Loan Program.

The Shasta County Resource Advisory Committee (RAC) will meet at the USDA Service Center in Redding, California, on March 30, 2011, from 8:30 a.m. to 12 noon. The purpose of this meeting is to discuss project updates and proposals, information on monitoring efforts, and a timeline for the upcoming year.

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 (Pub. L. 106-393) the Caribou-Targhee National Forests' Eastern Idaho Resource Advisory Committee will meet Friday, March 25, 2011 in Idaho Falls, Idaho for a business meeting. The meeting is open to the public.

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 of data for the second phase of the WIC Breastfeeding Peer Counseling Study. The first phase of this study examined the implementation of the Loving Support peer counseling program in State and local WIC agencies across the country; the final report on this first phase of the study may be downloaded from https:// www.fns.usda.gov/ora/ (see ``WIC studies''). This second phase is a revision of a currently approved collection which will assess the impact of including in-person peer counseling as part of the Loving Support program on breastfeeding outcomes for WIC participants.

The Ontonagon Resource Advisory Committee will meet in Rockland, 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 review and make recommendations on Title II Projects submitted by 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. For Fiscal Year 2011, there is only one round of competition. Applications must be received by May 10, 2011 to compete for Fiscal Year 2011 program funds. The Notice announces the availability of approximately $129 million in mandatory budget authority to support guaranteed loans under this Program in Fiscal Year 2011, in addition to any carry-over funds from Fiscal Year 2010. This budget authority represents approximately $463 million in program funds.

This Notice announces the acceptance of applications to enter into Contracts to make payments to eligible advanced biofuel producers under the Bioenergy Program for Advanced Biofuels to support and ensure an expanding production of advanced biofuels. To be eligible for payments, advanced biofuels must be produced from renewable biomass, excluding corn kernel starch, in a biofuel facility located in a State. The Notice announces the availability of up to $85 million to make payments to advanced biofuel producers for the production of eligible advanced biofuels in Fiscal Year 2011.

The United States Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Rural Utilities Service (RUS) published a document in the Federal Register of March 4, 2011, announcing the availability of $25 million in funding for Fiscal Year (FY) 2011 for the Community Connect Grant Program. The document contained an incorrect website.

The Yavapai County Resource Advisory Committee (RAC) will meet in Prescott, Arizona. 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 orientate new committee members to the Secural Rural Schools Act, roles of members, guidelines for Title II, and the Federal Advisory Committee Act.

In accordance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act, 5 U.S.C. App 2, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) announces a meeting of the National Agricultural Research, Extension, Education, and Economics Advisory Board.

The Dixie Resource Advisory Committee will meet in Cedar City, Utah. 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 this meeting is to make recommendations for Title II projects. The March 16, 2011 meeting has been cancelled.

This document announces the second meeting of the Wholesale Pork Reporting Negotiated Rulemaking Committee (Committee). The primary purpose of the Committee is to develop proposed language to amend the Livestock Mandatory Reporting (LMR) regulations to implement mandatory pork price reporting, as directed by the Mandatory Price Reporting Act of 2010 (Pub. L. 111-239).

The Yakutat Resource Advisory Committee will meet in Yakutat, Alaska. The purpose of the meeting is to continue business of the Yakutat Resource Advisory Committee. The committee was formed to carry out the requirements of the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self- Determination Act (Pub. L. 110-343) and in compliance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act. The agenda for this meeting is to review submitted project proposals and consider recommending projects for funding. Project proposals were due by December 31, 2011 to be considered at this meeting.

The San Juan National Forest Resource Advisory Council (RAC) will meet in Durango, Colorado. 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 gather the newly appointed Committee members together to elect a Chair, determine operating principles and organize to review project proposals and recommend allocations of Title II funds within Archuleta, Dolores, La Plata, and Montezuma counties, Colorado.

The Ravalli County Resource Advisory Committee will meet in Hamilton, Montana. The purpose of the meeting is to discuss upcoming projects.

The El Dorado County Resource Advisory Committee will meet in Placerville, California. 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 RAC will deliberate and recommend projects for the Forest Supervisor's approval.

The Madera County Resource Advisory Committee will be meeting in North Fork, California on March 9th and March 16th, 2011. The purpose of these meetings will be to discuss and approve submitted proposals for funding as authorized under the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act of 2000 (Pub. L. 110-343) for expenditure of Payments to States Madera County Title II funds.

The Shoshone Resource Advisory Committee (Committee) will meet in Thermopolis, Wyoming. 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 elect a new Chairperson and review Title II project proposals.

The Delta-Bienville Resource Advisory Committee will meet in Forest, Mississippi. 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.

The MedBow-Routt Resource Advisory Committee will meet in Walden, Colorado. 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 new project proposals and update RAC members on the progress of previously approved projects.

In accordance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act, as amended, the Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) is announcing a forthcoming meeting of the National Organic Standards Board (NOSB).