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

This rule proposes amendment of the Mango Promotion, Research, and Information Order (Order) to increase the assessment rate on first handlers and importers of mangos from one half cent per pound to three quarters of a cent per pound. The increase is permitted under the Order, which is authorized by the Commodity Promotion, Research, and Information Act of 1996 (Act). The National Mango Board (Board), which administers the Order, recommended this action to ensure that the Board's research and promotion programs continue to be adequately funded.

This document informs the general public that no further action will be taken by the National Organic Program (NOP) to amend the provision on ruminant slaughter stock under the NOP regulations. This document provides a summary of the comments received in response to a request for comments on the ruminant slaughter stock requirements as codified by the final rule on access to pasture published on February 17, 2010. Based upon the comments received, the rationale behind the decision to retain the section on livestock living conditions for ruminant slaughter stock as codified under the NOP regulations is discussed.

We are reopening the comment period for our proposed rule that would relieve certain restrictions regarding the movement of fresh Hass variety avocados. This action will allow interested persons additional time to prepare and submit comments.

The National Organic Program (NOP) is announcing the availability of four final guidance documents intended for use by accredited certifying agents and certified operations. The four final guidance documents are entitled as follows: ``Compost and Vermicompost in Organic Crop Production (NOP 5021); Wild Crop Harvesting (NOP 5022)''; ``Commingling and Contamination Prevention in Organic Production and Handling (NOP 5025)''; and ``The Use of Chlorine Materials in Organic Production and Handling (NOP 5026)''. These final guidance documents are intended to inform the public of NOP's current thinking on these topics. These final guidance documents are now available from the NOP through ``The Program Handbook: Guidance and Instructions for Accredited Certifying Agents (ACAs) and Certified Operations''. The current edition of the Program Handbook is available online at https://www.ams.usda.gov/NopProgramHandbook, or in print upon request.

On January 27, 2011, Umatilla National Forest Supervisor Kevin Martin withdrew his October 8, 2010 Record of Decision (ROD) for the Cobbler II Timber Sale and Fuels Reduction Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS). The Umatilla National Forest will prepare a Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS) to clarify and revise portions of the Cobbler II Timber Sale and Fuels Reduction project FEIS analysis.

The Butte County Resource Advisory Committee (RAC) will hold a meeting on May 23, 2011 in Oroville, CA. The purpose of the meeting is to: Review Secure Rural Schools legislation, Sec. 204 (f) and discuss the 50% watershed restoration/road maintenance funding goal; discuss developing a process for providing partial funding; discuss requiring a maximum request amount; review and discuss examples of watershed/stream restoration and road maintenance projects along with monitoring projects such as GPS/GIS mapping; review funding Cycle 2 application and instructions and discuss improvements as necessary; review a timeline for Cycle 2 project funding and schedule out meeting(s). The funding is made available under Title II provisions of the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act of 2000.

This document directs that a referendum be conducted among eligible producers of raspberries for processing and importers of processed raspberries to determine whether they favor the establishment of an industry-funded promotion, research, and information program for processed raspberries. The proposed program, Processed Raspberry Promotion, Research, and Information Order (Proposed Order), was submitted to the Department of Agriculture (Department) by the Washington Red Raspberry Commission (WRRC). Under the Proposed Order, producers of raspberries for processing and importers of processed raspberries would pay an assessment of up to one cent per pound, with the initial assessment rate being one cent per pound, which would be paid to the proposed National Processed Raspberry Council (Council). Producers and importers of less than 20,000 pounds annually of raspberries for processing and processed raspberries, respectively, would be exempt from the assessment. The proposed program would be implemented under the Commodity Promotion, Research, and Information Act of 1996 (1996 Act). The Department is conducting an initial referendum to ascertain whether the persons to be covered by and assessed under the Proposed Order favor the implementation of the program prior to it going into effect. The Proposed Order would be implemented if it is approved by a majority of producers and importers voting in the referendum.

This proposed rule would amend the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) National List of Allowed and Prohibited Substances (National List) to reflect recommendations submitted to the Secretary of Agriculture (Secretary) by the National Organic Standards Board (NOSB) on June 20, 2008, and May 30, 2004. The recommendations addressed in this proposed rule pertain to establishing exemptions (uses) for two substances, fenbendazole and moxidectin, on the National List as parasiticides in organic livestock production. Consistent with the recommendations from the NOSB, this proposed rule would amend the National List to add these two substances, along with their restrictive annotations.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. Chapter 35), this notice announces the Agricultural Marketing Service's (AMS) intention to request approval from the Office of Management and Budget, for an extension of and revision to the currently approved information collection for Recordkeeping Requirements for Certified Applicators of Federally Restricted Use Pesticides (7 CFR part 110).

The North Gifford Pinchot Resource Advisory Committee will meet in Salkum, Washington. 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 the title II of the Act. The meeting is open to the public. The purpose of the meeting is to review and recommend fiscal year 2012 Title II project nominations.

The Alpine County Resource Advisory Committee (RAC) will meet in Markleeville, CA. 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 the title II of the Act. The meeting is open to the public. The purpose of the meeting is to review and recommend projects for year 3 and year 4 funding.

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, Salmon-Challis, and Sawtooth National Forests' Southwest Idaho Resource Advisory Committee will conduct a business meeting. The meeting is open to the public.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act, this notice announces the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service's intention to initiate an information collection associated with a new category of plants for planting, also referred to as nursery stock, whose importation is not authorized for importation pending pest risk analysis.

The Siskiyou County Resource Advisory Committee will meet in Yreka, 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 the title II of the Act. The meeting is open to the public. The purpose of the meeting is for the committee to hear project status, presentation and review of new project proposals and to vote and make recommendations. The meeting is open to the public. Opportunity for public comment will be provided.

The Lincoln County Resource Advisory Committee will meet in Libby, MT. 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 the title II of the Act. The meeting is open to the public. The purpose of the meeting is to review 2011 project proposals.

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 prioritize a list of projects for funding in FY 2011 and FY 2012. The RAC may also be voting to recommend projects for funding.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 and the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) regulations, this notice announces the Food Safety and Inspection Service's (FSIS) intention to request a revision of a currently approved information collection. The information collection addresses the paperwork requirements specified in the regulations relating to the application for inspection, accreditation of laboratories, and exemptions. FSIS is revising the information collection to increase the estimate of the total burden hours, and because the OMB approval will expire on July 31, 2011.

This Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) proposes to amend the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) (formerly the Food Stamp Program) regulations to implement Section 4116 of the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 (the Farm Bill). Section 4116 of the Farm Bill, Review of Major Changes in Program Design, requires the United States Department of Agriculture (the Department) to identify standards for major changes in operations of State agencies' administration of SNAP. The provision also requires State agencies to notify the Department if they implement a major change in operations and to collect data that can be used to identify and correct problems relating to integrity and access, particularly by certain vulnerable households. This NPRM proposes criteria for changes that would be considered ``major changes'' in program operations and identifies the types of data State agencies must collect in order to identify problems relating to integrity and access. It also proposes when and how State agencies must report on implementation of a major change. This NPRM proposes to amend the Management Evaluation (ME) Review regulations by modifying the requirements for Federal and State reviews of State agency operations. It also proposes to revise the definitions of large, medium and small project areas. Finally, it proposes to remove sections of the regulations pertaining to coupons and coupon storage since they are obsolete.

The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is amending the Federal meat and poultry products inspection regulations to establish a new voluntary cooperative program under which State-inspected establishments with 25 or fewer employees will be eligible to ship meat and poultry products in interstate commerce. In participating States, State-inspected establishments selected to take part in this program will be required to comply with all Federal standards under the Federal Meat Inspection Act (FMIA) and the Poultry Products Inspection Act (PPIA). These establishments will receive inspection services from State inspection personnel that have been trained in the enforcement of the FMIA and PPIA. Meat and poultry products produced under the program that have been inspected and passed by designated State personnel will bear an official Federal mark of inspection and will be permitted to be distributed in interstate commerce. FSIS will provide oversight and enforcement of the program.