Department of Agriculture December 5, 2011 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice announces the Rural Business-Cooperative Service's (RBS) intention to request an extension of a currently approved information collection in support of the program for 7 CFR, part 1951, subpart R, ``Rural Development Loan Servicing.''

The Forest Service has finalized the development of an internal directive to Forest Service Manual (FSM) 2900 for invasive species management. This final invasive species management directive will provide foundational comprehensive guidance for the management of invasive species on aquatic and terrestrial areas of the National Forest System (NFS). This directive articulates broad objectives, policies, responsibilities, and definitions for Forest Service employees and partners to more effectively communicate NFS invasive species management requirements at the local, regional, and national levels. This directive primarily serves to clarify and improve the understanding, scope, roles, principles, and responsibilities associated with NFS invasive species management for Forest Service employees and the public. This directive will increase the Forest Service's effectiveness when planning and implementing invasive species management activities; using a collaborative and holistic approach for protecting and restoring aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems from the impacts of invasive plants, pathogens, vertebrates, and invertebrates. The proposed policy was issued on June 3, 2011, (76 FR 32135-32141) in the Federal Register for a 60-day public comment period. Responses were received from a wide variety of stakeholders in the public and private sectors, including non-government organizations, State and local government agencies, private individuals, and other Federal government agencies. Responses were organized into seven broad categories for the analysis: (1) Management Techniques, Requirements, and Protocols; (2) Coordination, Cooperation, and Partnerships; (3) Planning, NEPA, and Environmental Compliance; (4) Program Objectives, Principles, and Goals; (5) Definitions and Terms; (6) Budget and Performance Integration; and (7) Miscellaneous General Comments. An in-depth review of the comments and recommendations indicated strong support for the proposed directive and positive comments about the significant role that the National Forest System plays in the invasive species management issue. In addition, most respondents lauded the Agency for establishing this comprehensive policy guidance for the management of the full spectrum of invasive species across aquatic and terrestrial areas of the National Forest System. Respondents strongly supported the policy's emphasis on local, State, regional, and national coordination; and encouraged the National Forest System to continue broad integration and collaboration, both internally and externally. There was support and encouragement for national forests and grasslands to conduct invasives species management efforts which complement ongoing or existing programs and networks in the States. There also was support for the establishment of cooperative weed management areas, cooperative invasive species management areas, and similar landscape- scale partnerships involving national forests and grasslands; and for the use and sharing of information and compatible databases/protocols to advance the understanding of distribution, abundance, and management of invasive species. Some respondents recommended the Forest Service include the use of widely accepted protocols, management techniques and training programs available to help identify high risk species and pathways of invasion, and subsequently set priorities for management actions. Some respondents commented on funding and performance issues that hamper effective management of invasive species at the local level. Respondents provided a number of recommendations to add specific criteria, and other detailed management requirements into various components of the proposed directive (FSM 2900); including specific direction and requirements related to programmatic and project-level planning, NEPA and related environmental compliance, Forest Plan standards, pesticide use, weed treatment and prevention techniques, and other tactical-level direction to manage invasive species populations. The Forest Service agrees that additional detailed direction is necessary, however, as described in the June 3, 2011, Federal Register Notice (76 FR 32135-32141), this directive (FSM 2900) is designed to provide broad policy requirements and direction, rather than detailed criteria, standards, protocols, and other tactical-level direction. Such detailed operational direction will be provided through an accompanying Forest Service Handbook; to be published in the Federal Register for public comment at a later date. Hence, the responses received on the proposed directive clearly indicated the importance of completing the accompanying Forest Service Handbook (FSH 2909.11) to provide the essential and specific operational requirements and policy standards necessary to effectively implement the invasive species management direction articulated in the proposed directive (FSM 2900), across the National Forest System. Overall, the diverse suite of responses received validated that the proposed directive (FSM 2900) is consistent with the expectations of the general public, State and Federal partners, and other invasive species management stakeholders, for a proactive, collaborative, and holistic approach to managing aquatic and terrestrial invasive species. Based on the evaluation of the public responses received on the proposed directive, no changes were made to the final directive's objectives, policy statements, and definitions. Therefore, the Forest Service is issuing its final directive for the management of invasive species across the National Forest System, formally adding Chapter 2900, Invasive Species Management, as an amendment to the Forest Service Manual.

The Federal Crop Insurance Corporation (FCIC) proposes to amend the Common Crop Insurance Regulations, Prune Crop Insurance Provisions to remove the quality adjustment provisions for substandard prunes and to make other changes to clarify policy provisions. The intended effect of this action is to provide policy changes, to clarify existing policy provisions to better meet the needs of the producers, and to reduce vulnerability to program fraud, waste, and abuse. The changes will apply for the 2013 and succeeding crop years.