Department of Agriculture 2011 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Nevada and Placer Counties Resource Advisory Committee (RAC) will meet in Nevada City, 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 to discuss and vote on projects submitted for funding and the expenditure of Title II funds benefiting National Forest System lands in Nevada and Placer Counties.

The Nevada and Placer Counties Resource Advisory Committee (RAC) will meet in Auburn, 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 to discuss and vote on projects submitted for funding and the expenditure of Title II funds benefiting National Forest System lands in Nevada and Placer Counties.

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.

In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as amended, the Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources Planning Act of 1974, as amended by the National Forest Management Act of 1976, and the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976, as amended, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) have prepared a Supplement to the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) and the Draft Land Management Plan (LMP) for the San Juan Public Lands that was published on December 14, 2007, and by this notice, are announcing the opening of the comment period. The San Juan Public Lands Center (SJPLC) is the joint USFS/BLM Service First Office responsible for the management of BLM and USFS lands covered in the Draft LMP.

The Hood/Willamette Resource Advisory Committee will meet in Sandy, Oregon. 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 have a field trip review of Title II projects by the committee.

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 review and discuss implementation of approved RAC projects.

Deciding Officers in the Rocky Mountain Region will publish notice of decisions subject to administrative appeal under 36 CFR parts 215 and 219 in the legal notice section of the newspapers listed in the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section of this notice. The public shall be advised through Federal Register notice, of the newspaper of record to be utilized for publishing legal notice of decisions. Responsible Officials in the Rocky Mountain Region will also publish notice of proposed actions under 36 CFR 215.5 in the newspapers that are listed in the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section of this notice. The public shall be advised, through Federal Register notice, of the newspaper of record to be utilized for publishing notices on proposed actions. Additionally, the Deciding Officers in the Rocky Mountain Region will publish notice of the opportunity to object to a proposed authorized hazardous fuel reduction project under 36 CFR 218 or developing, amending or revising land management plans under 36 CFR 219 in the legal notice section of the newspapers listed in the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section of this notice.

This notice announces the intention of the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) to request comments on a currently approved information collection for which approval will expire, 0578-0030, Emergency Watershed Protection (EWP) program. Public Participation: NRCS invites public participation to promote open communication and better decisionmaking. All persons and organizations that have an interest in the EWP program are urged to provide comments. Scoping Process: Public participation is requested throughout the scoping process. NRCS is soliciting comments from the public indicating what issues and impacts the public believes should be encompassed within the scope of the EWP program. Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including whether the information will have practical utility, (b) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of burden of the proposed collection of information, including the validity of the methodology and assumptions used, (c) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected, and (d) ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on those who are to respond, such as through the use of appropriate automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technologic collection techniques or other forms of information technology.

We are announcing to the public that veterinarians who are currently accredited in the National Veterinary Accreditation Program (NVAP) may continue to perform accredited duties and may elect to continue to participate in the NVAP until October 1, 2011. The regulations indicate that currently accredited veterinarians must elect to continue their participation in the NVAP in order to maintain their accredited status, after which we will confirm their continued participation and notify them of their first renewal date. A previous document announced that currently accredited veterinarians may continue to perform accredited duties until further notice, even if they have not received a date for their first accreditation renewal. That document stated that we would specify a date by which veterinarians would have to elect to participate in a subsequent document.

We are amending the regulations to allow, under certain conditions, the importation of commercial shipments of peppers from Panama into the United States without treatment. Conditions of entry to which the peppers will be subject include trapping, pre-harvest inspection, and shipping procedures. This action will allow for the importation of peppers from Panama into the United States while continuing to provide protection against the introduction of quarantine pests.

We are amending the domestic quarantine regulations to expand the regulated area for European larch canker to include additional areas in Maine. We are also correcting some misidentifications of previously listed regulated areas. This action is necessary to prevent human-assisted transmission of European larch canker from infested areas to noninfested areas.

It has been determined by the NRCS State Conservationist for Virginia that changes must be made in the NRCS State Technical Guide specifically in the following practice standards: 328, Conservation Crop Rotation, 329, Residue and Tillage Management No Till/Strip Till/Direct Seed, 344, Residue Management, Seasonal, 345, Residue and Tillage Management Mulch Till, 346, Residue Management, Ridge Till, 391, Riparian Forest Buffer, 422, Hedgerow Planting, 472, Access Control, 595, Integrated Pest Management, 612, Tree/Shrub Establishment, and 666, Forest Stand Improvement. These practices will be used to plan and install conservation practices.

This rule proposes to amend Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)formerly the Food Stamp Program) regulations to implement the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 (the Farm Bill), which requires adequate system testing before and after implementation of a new State automatic data processing (ADP) and information retrieval system, including the evaluation of data from pilot projects in limited areas for major systems changes, before the Secretary approves the system to be implemented more broadly. It also provides that systems be operated in accordance with an adequate plan for continuous updating to reflect changed policy and circumstances, and for testing the effects of the system on access by eligible households and on payment accuracy. This proposed rule would also specify the requirements for submission of a test plan. Further, the rule proposes changing the due date of an Advance Planning Document Update (APDU) from 90 days after to 60 days prior to the expiration of the Federal financial participation (FFP) approval and revises language regarding the Federal share of costs in consolidated information technology (IT) operations to specify that the threshold for service agreements applies to federally aided public assistance programs, rather than to SNAP alone. In addition, this rule proposes to amend the SNAP regulations relating to the establishment of an automated data processing and information retrieval system and to provide clarifications and updates which have occurred since this section was last updated in 1996.

The Flathead Resource Advisory Committee will meet in Kalispell, Montana. 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 hear project proposal presentations for 2012.

We are advising the public that we have received a request from the Government of Argentina to recognize additional areas as pest- free areas for South American fruit fly (Anastrepha fraterculus) and all other economically important species of Anastrepha. After reviewing the documentation submitted in support of this request, the Administrator of the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service has determined that these areas meet the criteria in our regulations for recognition as pest-free areas. We are making that determination, as well as the evaluation document we have prepared in connection with this action, available for review and comment.

The Southwest Mississippi Resource Advisory Committee will meet in Meadville, MS. 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 select proposed projects.

On January 25, 2011, the Notice of Intent (NOI) to prepare an environmental impact statement (EIS) was published in the Federal Register (76 FR 4279-4281). From January, 2011 to June, 2011, six public meetings and workshops were held for the purposes of receiving comments and recommendations that would inform the development of a refined proposed action. As a result, the Forest Service revised the NOI document, Federal Register of January 25, 2011 (76 FR 4279-4281) to incorporate the changes to the proposed action. On August 12, 2011, a corrected NOI was published in the Federal Register (76 FR 50168- 50170). Due to a need to incorporate an edit in the proposed action and reschedule the public open houses, the Forest Service has revised the NOI document to read: Revision: The Forest Service is preparing an environmental impact statement (EIS) that proposes to conduct restoration activities on approximately 600,000 acres on the Coconino NF and Kaibab NF. Of this total, approximately 361,379 acres would be treated on the Coconino NF and 233,991 acres would be treated on the Kaibab NF. Restoration actions would be focused on the Flagstaff district with fewer acres included on the Mogollon Rim and Red Rock districts of the Coconino NF. On the Kaibab NF, activities would occur on the Williams and Tusayan districts. The objective of the project is to re-establish forest structure, pattern and composition, which will lead to increased forest resiliency and function. Resiliency increases the ability of the ponderosa pine forest to survive natural disturbances such as insect and disease, fire and climate change (FSM 2020.5). This project is expected to put the project area on a trajectory towards comprehensive, landscape-scale restoration with benefits that include improved vegetation biodiversity, wildlife habitat, soil productivity, and watershed function.

The Mendocino County Resource Advisory Committee will meet September 16, 2011 (RAC) in Willits, California. Agenda items to be covered include: (1) Approval of minutes, (2) Handout Discussion (3) Public Comment, (4) Financial Report (5) Sub-committees (6) Matters before the group (7) Discussionapproval of projects (8) Next agenda and meeting date.

The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS), prior to undertaking research and other work associated with revising official U.S. grade standards, is soliciting comments on a request to revise the United States Standards for Grades of Grapefruit Juice. AMS received a petition from the Florida Citrus Processors Association asking AMS to consider revising the current U.S. grade standards for grapefruit juice to account for advances in industry processing technology.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice invites the general public and other public agencies to comment on this proposed information collection. This information collection will conduct research by methodological testing, surveys, focus groups, and related tools to assess program performance, respond to the needs of policymakers, and develop innovative approaches that bear on the practical operations, management, and impact of Federal nutrition assistance programs.

The Allegheny Resource Advisory Committee will meet in Warren, 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 finalize project recommendations for decisionmaking before September 30, 2011.

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 collection of user fees.