Department of Agriculture May 2012 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

We are amending the Asian longhorned beetle regulations to make changes to the list of quarantined areas by adding portions of Worcester County, MA, and Clermont County, OH, to the list of quarantined areas. We are also removing a portion of Suffolk County, NY, from the list of quarantined areas based on our determination that the area meets our criteria for removal. These actions are necessary to prevent the artificial spread of Asian longhorned beetle to noninfested areas of the United States and to relieve restrictions on certain areas that are no longer necessary.

This document amends the General Specifications for Dairy Plants Approved for United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Inspection and Grading Service (General Specifications) by raising the maximum allowable somatic cell count in producer herd goat milk from 1,000,000 cells per milliliter to 1,500,000 cells per milliliter. This will ensure that goat milk can continue to be shipped and recognizes that goats have a need for different regulatory limits for somatic cells than cows. In addition this document eliminates mandatory sediment testing on producer milk except for milk in cans. The requirement for sediment testing has become outdated and is no longer needed.

We are advising the public that we have prepared an environmental assessment relative to our recent proposal to allow the importation of fresh bananas from the Philippines into the continental United States. The environmental assessment documents our review and analysis of environmental impacts associated with the proposed action. We are making this environmental assessment available to the public for review and comment.

The designations of the official agencies listed below will end on December 31, 2012. We are asking persons or governmental agencies interested in providing official services in the areas presently served by these agencies to submit an application for designation. In addition, we are asking for comments on the quality of services provided by the following designated agencies: California-Agri Inspection Company, Ltd. (Cal-Agri); Frankfort Grain Inspection, Inc. (Frankfort); Indianapolis Grain Inspection and Weighing Service, Inc. (Indianapolis); and Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (Virginia).

We are advising the public that we have determined that it is necessary to immediately add to the Plant Protection and Quarantine Treatment Manual a treatment schedule for methyl bromide fumigation of cottonseed for the fungal plant pathogen Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. vasinfectum (FOV). We have prepared a treatment evaluation document that describes the new treatment schedule and explains why we have determined that it is effective at neutralizing FOV, certain strains of which are quarantine pests. We are making the treatment evaluation document available to the public for review and comment.

The Colorado Recreation Resource Advisory Committee will tentatively meet in Colorado Springs, CO. The purpose of the meeting is to continue to provide new members with the information they need to be effective committee members; to elect a Chair and Vice-Chair; and to review proposals for fee changes and new fee projects. These fee proposals will tentatively include two new cabin rentals, a new fee at the Buckeye Group Site, fee changes to Green Mountain Reservoir and the elimination of fees at Cataract Lake. There will also be an update of changes at the Mt. Evans fee site. Proposals can be found at https:// www.fs.usda.gov/goto/r2/rac-colorado.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 and Office of Management and Budget (OMB) implementing regulations, this notice announces the Economic Research Service's (ERS) intention to request renewal of approval for an annual information collection on supplemental food security questions in the Current Population Survey (CPS), commencing with the December 2013 survey. These data will be used: to monitor household-level food security and food insecurity in the United States; to assess food security and changes in food security for population subgroups; to assess the need for, and performance of, domestic food assistance programs; to improve the measurement of food security; and to provide information to aid in public policy decision making.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice announces the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service's intention to request approval of an extension to an information collection associated with regulations for the importation of live poultry, poultry meat, and other poultry products from specified regions.

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 National Poultry Improvement Plan.

This notice lists the updated quantity trigger levels for products which may be subject to additional import duties under the safeguard provisions of the WTO Agreement on Agriculture. This notice also includes the relevant period applicable for the trigger levels on each of the listed products.

We are giving notice that the Secretary is soliciting nominations for membership for this Committee to serve for 2- to 3-year staggered terms.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. chapter 35, as amended), the United States Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Rural Utilities Service (RUS) comments on this information collection for which the Agency intends to request approval from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB).

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. Chapter 35, as amended), the Rural Utilities Service (RUS) invites comments on this information collection for which approval from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) will be requested.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. Chapter 35), this notice announces the Office of the Chief Financial Officer intention to request approval for a new information collection for a Supplier Credit Recovery Audit.

We are advising the public of our decision to begin issuing permits for the importation into the continental United States of fresh celery, arugula, and spinach from Colombia. Based on the findings of three pest risk analyses, which we made available to the public for review and comment through a previous notice, we believe that the application of one or more designated phytosanitary measures will be sufficient to mitigate the risks of introducing or disseminating plant pests or noxious weeds via the importation of fresh celery, arugula, and spinach from Colombia.

The Rural Utilities Service (RUS), an agency of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), announces its Public Television Station Digital Transition Grant Program application window for fiscal year (FY) 2012. The FY 2012 funding for the Public Television Station Digital Transition Grant Program is $3,000,000.

This final rule revises and amends the regulation used to administer the Market Access Program (MAP) by updating and merging the application requirements and the activity plan requirements to reflect the Unified Export Strategy (UES) system currently in place; clarifying the eligibility of activities designed to address international market access issues; modifying the list of eligible and ineligible contributions; revising the portions of the regulation regarding evaluations, contracting procedures, and the compliance review and appeals process; eliminating the Export Incentive Program/Market Access Program (EIP/MAP) as a separate subcomponent; and making other administrative changes for clarity and program integrity. This final rule adopts the substantive provisions of the proposed rule published September 8, 2009, revising and amending MAP regulations, with changes made to reflect public comments to the proposed rule.

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. This is a new information collection in which Food and Nutrition Service seeks an updated description of Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR) participants and programs, and a better understanding of why FDPIR participation has been declining. This study will provide national estimates of participating households as well as estimates for large subgroups, such as households with elderly participants. For a sample of Indian Tribal Organizations (ITOs) or State-administered FDPIR programs, participating households will be selected for data collection. Data collection will consist of case record reviews (abstracting standard eligibility information for all household members) and, for each selected household, interviews with the person who applied for FDPIR assistance (noted as the Head of Household on some forms) or his/her proxy. Site visits will be conducted to a subset of the ITOs or State-administered programs to obtain qualitative information on program operations and experiences of FDPIR participants and eligible nonparticipants. Site visit data collection will include interviews with Tribal leaders, FDPIR administrators and staff, and other service providers; visits to FDPIR enrollment sites, warehouses, and distribution sites; and discussion groups with FDPIR participants and eligible nonparticipants. Information obtained will provide updated information on FDPIR participants and program operations and will be used by FNS to inform decisions regarding program administration and to identify ways to make the program more beneficial to participants.

The Foreign Agricultural Service published a document in the Federal Register of April 23, 2012, concerning funds availability and inviting applications for the Market Access Program (MAP). The document contained incorrect dates.

The Foreign Agricultural Service published a document in the Federal Register of April 23, 2012, concerning funds availability and inviting applications for the Technical Assistance for Specialty Crops (TASC) program. The document contained incorrect dates.

The Foreign Agricultural Service published a document in the Federal Register of April 23, 2012, concerning funds availability and inviting applications for the Foreign Market Development (Cooperator) Program. The document contained incorrect dates.