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

This notice informs the public that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) in Fiscal Year 2006 established a demonstration Rural Development Voucher Program, as authorized under Section 542 of the Housing Act of 1949 as amended, (without regard to Section 542(b)). This notice informs the public that funding is available for the Rural Development Voucher Program. The notice also sets forth the general policies and procedures for use of these vouchers for Fiscal Year 2011. Pursuant to the requirements in the Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2010, Public Law 111-80 (October 16, 2009) and the Department of Defense and full-year continuing Appropriations Act, 2011 Public Law 112-10 (April 15, 2011), Rural Development Vouchers are only available to low income tenants of Rural Development-financed multifamily properties where the Section 515 loan has been prepaid, either through prepayment or a foreclosure action, prior to the loan's maturity date and after September 30, 2005.

The Food, Conservation and Energy Act of 2008 amended the Lacey Act to provide, among other things, that importers submit a declaration at the time of importation for certain plants and plant products. The declaration requirements of the Lacey Act became effective on December 15, 2008, and enforcement of those requirements is being phased in. We are soliciting public comment on regulatory options that could address certain issues that have arisen with the implementation of the declaration requirement. These options include establishing certain exceptions to the declaration requirement and modifying the Declaration Form PPQ 505 to simplify the collection of information.

As directed by the National Forest Management Act (NFMA), the USDA Forest Service is preparing the Colville, and Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forests revised land management plans and will also prepare an EIS for these revised plans. A Notice of Intent to revise the Colville, Okanogan, and Wenatchee forest plans was published in the Federal Register on March 9, 2004. That Notice also stated our intent to later publish a Notice to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement. This notice briefly describes the purpose and need, the proposed action, the scoping process for the plan revisions (including any scoping meetings), information concerning public participation, estimated dates for filing the EIS and provides the names and addresses of the responsible agency official and the individuals who can provide additional information. This notice also briefly describes the applicable planning rule. The revised land management plans will replace the land management plans previously approved by the Regional Forester. The Colville National Forest land management plan was signed on December 29, 1989, and has been amended 39 times. The Okanogan National Forest land management plan was signed on December 29, 1989, and has been amended 51 times. The Wenatchee National Forest land management plan was signed on March 2 1990, and has been amended 27 times. Most forest plan amendments are project-specific amendments and apply to that project only. Some amendments incorporated new management direction for specific resource areas, such as invasive weeds. Five amendments were incorporated into all the forest plans by the Regional Forester. The land management plans for the Okanogan National Forest and the Wenatchee National Forest were amended by the 1994 Northwest Forest Plan to incorporate standards and guidelines for management of habitat for late-successional and old-growth associated species within the range of the northern spotted owl and an aquatic conservation strategy to maintain and restore the ecological health of watersheds and aquatic ecosystems. These amendments included direction for managing streams and riparian areas, old growth forests, and treatment of invasive species. These amended plans will remain in effect until the revision takes effect. The Okanogan and Wenatchee National Forests were administratively combined in 2000; they will have a single forest plan.

Pursuant to the Federal Advisory Committee Act, section 1, et seq., 5 U.S.C. App., this notice announces a meeting of the National Advisory Council on Maternal, Infant and Fetal Nutrition.

The Allegheny Resource Advisory Committee will meet in Marienville, Pennsylvania. 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 project proposals received and prepare for the final review and prioritization of projects to occur at the September meeting.

Notice is hereby given that the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, intends to grant to P & M Signs, Inc. of Mountainair, New Mexico, an exclusive license to the Federal Government's rights in U.S. Patent No. 6,586,504, ``Wood And Plastic Composite Material And Methods For Making Same'', issued on July 1, 2003.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice invites the general public and other public agencies to comment on proposed information collections. The proposed collection is a revision of a currently approved collection. The purpose of this information collection request is to continue the use of the electronic form FNS 674, titled ``FNS User Access Request.'' This form will continue to allow access to current FNS systems, modified access, or to remove user access.

This action summarizes the results under the criteria contained in section 610 of the Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA), of an Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) review of Marketing Order No. 925 regulating the handling of grapes grown in a designated area of southeastern California (order). Based upon its review, AMS has concluded that there is a continued need for the order.

We are advising the public of our determination that a corn line developed by Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc., designated as event 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, is no longer considered a regulated article under our regulations governing the introduction of certain genetically engineered organisms. Our determination is based on our evaluation of data submitted by Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc., in its petition for a determination of nonregulated status, our analysis of available scientific data, and comments received from the public in response to our previous notice announcing the availability of the petition for nonregulated status and its associated environmental assessment and plant pest risk assessment. This notice also announces the availability of our written determination and finding of no significant impact.

We are advising the public that the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service has received a petition from the Monsanto Company seeking a determination of nonregulated status for soybean designated as MON 87701, which has been genetically engineered for insect resistance. The petition has been submitted in accordance with our regulations concerning the introduction of certain genetically engineered organisms and products. We are soliciting comments on whether this genetically engineered soybean is likely to pose a plant pest risk. We are making available for public comment the Monsanto petition, our plant pest risk assessment, and our draft environmental assessment for the proposed determination of nonregulated status.

Pursuant to 7 CFR part 4284, subpart J, the Rural Business- Cooperative Service (RBS) announces the availability of approximately $37 million in competitive grant funds for Fiscal Year (FY) 2011 to help independent agricultural producers enter into value-added activities. This Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) announces $19.3 million provided under the Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration and Related Agencies Appropriations Act of 2010 (Pub. L. 111-80), and $17.9 million from the Department of Defense and Full-Year Continuing Appropriations Act of 2011 (Pub. L.112-20). Awards may be made for planning activities or for working capital expenses, but not for both. The maximum grant amount for a planning grant is $100,000 and the maximum grant amount for a working capital grant is $300,000. Rural Development is encouraging applications that will support communities in urban or rural areas, with limited access to healthy foods and with a high poverty and hunger rate. Ten percent of available funds are reserved to fund applications submitted by Beginning Farmers or Ranchers and Socially Disadvantaged Farmers or Ranchers as defined at 7 CFR 4284.902. An additional 10 percent of available funds are reserved to fund Mid-Tier Value Chain projects (both collectively referred to as ``reserved funds''). Grants made to Majority Controlled Producer-Based Business Ventures may not exceed 10 percent of the total funds obligated for the program in the fiscal year.

The United States Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Rural Utilities Service (RUS) announces the availability of $325,663,157 in loan funds for the Rural Broadband Access Loans and Loan Guarantees Program for fiscal year (FY) 2011. A Notice of Solicitation of Applications (NOSA) was previously published in the Federal Register on March 14, 2011, at 76 FR 13797, prior to the passage of a final appropriations bill identifying a definite funding amount. The maximum amount of a loan under this authority will be $75 million. For all other information and requirements on how applicants can apply for Rural Broadband Access Loans and Loan Guarantees Program funds, please refer to the March 14, 2011, NOSA in the Federal Register and the interim regulation for the program published in the Federal Register at 76 FR 13770.

The Central Montana Resource Advisory Committee will meet in Stanford, 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. This will be the second official meeting of the Central Montana Resource Advisory Committee.

The Siuslaw Resource Advisory Committee will meet in Corvallis, OR. The purpose of the meeting is RAC FY12 Business, Elect Chairperson, Set FY12 Overhead Rate, Information Share, Public Forum, Project Selections.

The U.S. Forest Service will prepare an environmental impact statement (EIS) to amend the 1990 Siuslaw National Forest Land and Resources Management Plan (as amended by the 1994 Oregon Dunes Plan) in order to: (1) Designate Off Highway Vehicle (OHV), also called Off Road Vehicle (ORV) routes within Management Area (MA) 10 (C) of the Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area (ODNRA) beyond the three year timeframe identified in the Plan; (2) modify the boundaries of some areas currently zoned MA 10 (C) to MA 10 (B), in order to meet the management objectives of MA 10 (B); and (3) designate the Banshee Hill route as a site specific exception within the 10 (C) Management Area. Management Area 10 (C) requires that OHVs be operated only on designated routes, while Management Area 10 (B) allows OHVs to be operated anywhere within the area. This document is being prepared under the following authority: 40 CFR 1501.7 and 40 CFR 1508.22.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice announces the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service's intention to request an extension of approval of an information collection associated with the Virus-Serum-Toxin Act and regulations.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice announces the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service's intention to request an extension of approval of an information collection associated with regulations for the interstate movement of regulated articles to prevent the spread of the pale cyst nematode to noninfested areas of the United States.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice announces the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service's intention to request an extension of approval of an information collection associated with regulations for the importation of eggplant from Israel.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice announces the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service's intention to request an extension of approval of an information collection associated with regulations for the importation of tomatoes from Souss-Massa-Draa, Morocco.

The Rural Utilities Service (RUS) is amending its regulations on Electric and Telecommunications Standards and Specifications for Materials, Equipment and Construction, by codifying specifications for wood poles, stubs and anchor logs, wood crossarms (solid and laminated), transmission timbers and pole keys, and for quality control and inspection of timber products. RUS is updating these specifications to conform with revisions to the American Wood Preservers' Association (AWPA) standards and follow agency policy on insurance requirements.

The Tuolumne-Mariposa Counties Resource Advisory Committee will meet on July 11, 2011 at the City of Sonora Fire Department, in Sonora, California. The purpose of the meeting is to hear presentations made by project proponents requesting RAC funding.

This rule reduces the number of National Mango Board (Board) members from 20 to 18 to reflect the elimination of two non-voting wholesaler/retailer positions. In accordance with the Mango Promotion, Research, and Information Order (Order), which is authorized under the Commodity Promotion, Research, and Information Act of 1996 (Act), a review of the composition of the Board must be conducted every five years. The Board reviewed the production volumes and geographical distribution of domestic and imported mangos, and submitted this information to the U.S. Department of Agriculture with a recommendation that no changes be made to the number of importer, first handler, or producer seats on the Board. However, the Board recommended elimination of two non-voting wholesaler/retailer positions that have not been filled since 2007.

The Colorado Recreation Resource Advisory Committee will tentatively meet in Denver, CO. The purpose of the meeting is to train the new committee members and provide them with the information they need to be effective committee members and review several fee proposals. These fee proposals will tentatively include: 1. A new fee for the North Fruita Desert Campground located in the Grand Junction Field Office Area of the BLM. 2. An increase of fees for the Shelf Road Recreation Area in the Royal Gorge Field Office of the BLM. 3. An increase of overnight camping fees for the Penitente Canyon Campground located in the San Luis Valley Public Lands Center area. 4. A new fee for overnight camping fees at the new Zapata Falls Campground located in the San Luis Valley Public Lands Center area. 5. A fee revision for the Green Mountain Reservoir recreation area. Located on the Dillon Ranger District of the White River National Forest.

The Secretary of Agriculture today announced an increase in the domestic sugar Overall Allotment Quantity (OAQ); a reassignment of surplus sugar under domestic cane sugar allotments of 120,000 short tons raw value (STRV) to imports; and an increase in the fiscal year (FY) 2011 raw sugar tariff-rate quota (TRQ) of the same amount.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice invites the general public and other public agencies to send comments regarding any aspect of this proposed information collection. This is a new collection for the Rural Establishment Innovation Survey.