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

The Wenatchee-Okanogan Resource Advisory Committee will meet on May 10, May 12, and May 17 at the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest Headquarters Office, 215 Melody Lane, Wenatchee, WA. These meetings will begin at 9 a.m. and continue until 3 p.m. On May 10, committee members will review Kittitas County and Yakima County projects, on May 12, committee members will review Okanogan County projects, and on May 17, committee members will review Chelan County projects proposed for Resource Advisory Committee consideration under Title II of the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act of 2000. All Wenatchee-Okanogan Resource Advisory Committee meetings are open to the public. Interested citizens are welcome to attend.

7 CFR 4279.119(a)(1) allows the Rural Development Administrator, at the Administrator's discretion, to grant an exception to the $10 million limit for Business and Industry (B&I) guaranteed loans of $25 million or less under certain circumstances. Due to the limited program funds that will be available for Fiscal Year 2011 for the B&I Guaranteed Loan Program, the Administrator has decided not to grant exceptions to the $10 million limit during FY 2011 in an effort to make guaranteed loan funds go farther and to provide financing assistance to as many projects as possible. Limiting guaranteed loans to $10 million or less will allow the Agency to guarantee more loans and target smaller loans/projects impacting more small businesses and will assist the Agency to conserve scarce funding dollars at a time when there is unprecedented interest in the program. Any applications or pre-applications that have been received as of the date of publication of this notice will be given full consideration.

The Rio Grande National Forest is preparing an Environmental Impact Statement to analyze the environmental effects of the proposed Village at Wolf Creek Land Exchange. This project includes the conveyance of approximately 177 acres of a non-Federal land parcel owned by the Leavell-McCombs Joint Venture (LMJV) to the United States in exchange for National Forest System lands totaling approximately 204 acres. The non-Federal parcel is located in T37N., R2E., NMPM, Mineral County, CO, Sections 4, 5, 8 and 9, a portion of Tract 37. The Federal parcel is located in T37N., R2E., NMPM, Mineral County, CO, Sections 3, 4, 5, and 9.

This notice is intended to notify the public of their opportunity to attend an open meeting of the Plant Variety Protection Board.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. Chapter 35), this notice announces that the Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) intends to request approval from the Office of Management and Budget of a revision to a currently approved information collection ``Laboratory Approval Programs'' in support of U.S. agricultural commodities.

We are amending the gypsy moth regulations by adding areas in Indiana, Maine, Ohio, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wisconsin to the list of generally infested areas based on the detection of infestations of gypsy moth in those areas. As a result of this action, the interstate movement of regulated articles from those areas is restricted. This action is necessary to prevent the artificial spread of the gypsy moth to noninfested areas of the United States.

The Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) announces that it is inviting proposals for the 2012 Technical Assistance for Specialty Crops (TASC) program. The intended effect of this notice is to solicit applications from the private sector and from government agencies for FY 2012 and to award funds in October 2011. The TASC program is administered by personnel of the Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS).

The Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) announces that it is inviting proposals for the 2012 Emerging Markets Program (EMP). The intended effect of this notice is to solicit applications from the private sector and from government agencies for FY 2012 and to award funds in October 2011. The EMP is administered by personnel of the Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS).

The Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) announces it is inviting proposals for the 2012 Quality Samples Program (QSP). The intended effect of this notice is to solicit applications from eligible applicants and to award funds in October 2011. QSP is administered by personnel of the Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS).

The Glenn/Colusa Resource Advisory Committee will meet in Willows, California. The committee is authorized under the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act (Pub. L 110-343) (the Act) and operates in compliance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act. The purpose of the committee is to improve collaborative relationships and to provide advice and recommendations to the Forest Service concerning projects and funding consistent with title II of the Act. The meeting is open to the public. The purpose of the meeting is to review and discuss existing projects, and review new proposals for additional projects.

The Lynn Canal/Icy Straits Resource Advisory Committee will meet in Juneau, Alaska, April 25, 2011. The purpose of this meeting is to orient the new appointees as to the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act of 2008, provide operational guidelines, discuss and adopt specific bylaws for the RAC, and elect a RAC Chairperson.

The Humboldt (NV) Resource Advisory Committee will meet in Winnemucca, Nevada. 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 U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Kootenai National Forest (KNF), in conjunction with Montana Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ), will prepare an environmental impact statement (EIS) to document the analysis and disclose the environmental impacts of the proposed action and alternatives to reclaim facilities, safely close the underground mine, and protect water quality at the Troy Mine, located in Lincoln County, Montana. The mine is located on public and private lands approximately 15 miles south of Troy, Montana. Genesis Incorporated (Genesis), a wholly owned subsidiary of Revett Silver Company, submitted the Troy Mine Revised Reclamation Plan (Revised Reclamation Plan or Proposed Action) on February 27, 2006, pursuant to U.S. Forest Service (USFS) locatable mineral regulations, 36 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) 228, Subpart A, and the State of Montana Metal Mine Reclamation Act, 82-4-301 et seq., Montana Codes Annotated. On December 30, 2010 Genesis Incorporated changed their name to Troy Mine, Incorporated. A single EIS, evaluating all components of the proposed reclamation project will be prepared.

This Notice announces the acceptance of applications for funds available under the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) for Fiscal Year 2011 for financial assistance as follows: grants, guaranteed loans, and combined grants and guaranteed loans for the development and construction of renewable energy systems and for energy efficiency improvement projects; grants for conducting energy audits; grants for conducting renewable energy development assistance; and grants for conducting renewable energy system feasibility studies. The Notice also announces the availability of $70 million of Fiscal Year 2011 budget authority to fund these REAP activities, which will support at least $42 million in grant program level and up to $61 million in guaranteed loan program level. If additional funding becomes available by a Fiscal Year 2011 Appropriations Act, a subsequent NOFA will be published in the Federal Register.

Notice is hereby given that the Rural Utilities Service (RUS), has prepared a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to meet its responsibilities under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and 7 CFR part 1794 related to possible financial assistance to Oglethorpe Power Corporation (Oglethorpe) for the construction of a 100 megawatt (MW) biomass plant and related facilities (Proposal) in Warren County, Georgia. The purpose of the Proposal is to provide a reliable, long-term supply of renewable and sustainable energy at a reasonable cost to meet part of the electric energy needs of Oglethorpe's members. Oglethorpe may request financial assistance in the future from the RUS for the Proposal.

We are notifying the public that the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service has received a petition requesting changes to our horse protection regulations and our current enforcement practices and related policies regarding those regulations. We are making this petition available to the public for review and comment. We are noting, however, that certain requests in the petition lack authority in the Horse Protection Act to implement.

The Department of Agriculture (USDA) is amending the regulations under the Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act (PACA) to allow, if there is a default in payment as defined in the regulations, a seller, supplier, or agent who has met the PACA trust eligibility requirements to enter into a scheduled agreement for payment of the past due amount without foregoing its trust eligibility. USDA is also amending 7 CFR 46.46(e)(2) by adding the words ``prior to the transaction.'' This change clarifies that the 30-day maximum time period for payment to which a seller can agree and still qualify for coverage under the trust refers to pre-transaction agreements.

The Ketchikan Resource Advisory Committee will meet in Ketchikan, Alaska, June 28, 2011. The purpose of this meeting is to discuss potential projects under the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act of 2008.

The Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest Resource Advisory Committee will conduct a meeting in Salt Lake 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 is to continue the review of project submittals.

The Tuolumne-Mariposa Counties Resource Advisory Committee (RAC) will meet on May 9, 2011 at the City of Sonora Fire Department, in Sonora, California. The primary purpose of the meeting is to review new project proposals, and to decide which project proponents to invite to make presentations at the June 13 and July 11 RAC meetings.

The Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) published a notice in the Federal Register on March 14, 2011, inviting proposals for the McGovern-Dole International Food for Education and Child Nutrition (McGovern-Dole) Program Micronutrient-Fortified Food Aid Products Pilot (MFFAPP). The notice stated that eligible applicants could submit proposals through June 10, 2011. This date was incorrect and, by this notice, FAS is correcting the due date to June 15, 2011.

The Madera County Resource Advisory Committee will be meeting in North Fork, California on April 20th 2011. The purpose of the meeting will be to review the funding schedule for projects identified for approval at the March 30, 2011 meeting and to assign project monitoring responsibilities for the remainder of the year. The Madera County Resource Advisory Committee met in North Fork, California on March 30th 2011. The purpose of that meeting was to discuss and then vote on 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 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.

Notice is hereby given of the intention of NRCS to issue a series of revised conservation practice standards in the National Handbook of Conservation Practices. These standards include: Alley Cropping (Code 311), Anionic Polyacrylamide (PAM) Application (Code 450), Conservation Crop Rotation (Code 328), Cover Crop (Code 340), Dam (Code 402), Dam, Diversion (Code 348), Farmstead Energy Improvement (Code 374), Forest Stand Improvement (Code 666), Irrigation Ditch Lining (Code 428), Irrigation Pipeline (Code 430), Irrigation Reservoir (Code 436), Irrigation System, Microirrigation (Code 441), Irrigation System, Sprinkler (Code 442), Irrigation System, Surface and Subsurface (Code 443), Irrigation System, Tailwater Recovery (Code 447), Irrigation Water Management (Code 449), Mulching (Code 484), Pipeline (Code 516), Pond (Code 378), Pumping Plant (Code 533), Renewable Energy System (Code 671), Residue and Tillage Management, Mulch Till (Code 345), Residue and Tillage Management No Till/Strip Till/Direct Seed (Code 329), Residue and Tillage Management, Ridge Till (Code 346), Residue Management, Seasonal (Code 344), Silvopasture Establishment (Code 381), Tree/Shrub Establishment (Code 612), Waste Recycling (Code 633), Windbreak/ShelterbeltEstablishment (Code 380), and Woody Residue Treatment (formerly Forest Slash Treatment) (Code 384). NRCS State Conservationists who choose to adopt these practices for use within their States will incorporate them into section IV of their respective electronic Field Office Technical Guide. These practices may be used in conservation systems that treat highly erodible land (HEL) or on land determined to be a wetland. Section 343 of the Federal Agriculture Improvement and Reform Act of 1996 requires NRCS to make available for public review and comment all proposed revisions to conservation practice standards used to carry out HEL and wetland provisions of the law.