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

The Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest is submitting a correction to the notice of intent for the Smiths Fork Vegetation Restoration Project published on May 7, 2012 [77 FR 26733]. The notice of intent initially read: ``Only persons who submit specific written comments on the proposed action during the 30-day comment period will be eligible to file an objection. This comment period represents the only opportunity for the public to comment on this proposal prior to the objection process. The opportunity to comment will end 30 days after a legal notice announcing the request for scoping comments is published in the Salt Lake Tribune, which is the newspaper of record.'' The correction to the notice of intent is as follows: ``Only individuals and organizations who have submitted specific written comments related to the proposed action during the opportunities for public comment provided during the scoping period or the comment period on the draft EIS will be eligible to file an objection under the Healthy Forests Restoration Act. The opportunity to provide scoping comments will end 30 days after a legal notice announcing the request for scoping comments is published in the Salt Lake Tribune, which is the newspaper of record. Comments on the draft EIS itself will be solicited when the draft EIS is available. Availability of the draft EIS will be made via a notice of availability in the Federal Register as well as a legal notice in the Salt Lake Tribune.''

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice invites the general public and other public agencies to comment on a proposed information collection. This collection is a revision of a currently approved collection for determining eligibility for free and reduced price meals and free milk in schools as stated in 7 CFR Part 245. These federal requirements affect eligibility under the National School Lunch Program, School Breakfast Program, and the Special Milk Program and are also applicable to the Child and Adult Care Food Program and the Summer Food Service Program when individual eligibility must be established. The current approval for the information collection burden associated with 7 CFR Part 245 expires on March 31, 2013. The revisions being requested are from rulemaking and are also from revisions made to a form associated with this information collection.

USDA announces the availability of grants through the Rural Cooperative Development Grant (RCDG) Program for Fiscal Year (FY) 2012. Nonprofit corporations and institutions of higher education may apply. Approximately $5.8 million is available. Applications are limited to a maximum of $175,000 and matching funds are required. The grant period is limited to a one-year timeframe.

We are amending the horse protection regulations to require horse industry organizations or associations that license Designated Qualified Persons to assess and enforce minimum penalties for violations of the Horse Protection Act (the Act). The regulations currently provide that such penalties will be set either by the horse industry organization or association or by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. This action will strengthen our enforcement of the Act by ensuring that minimum penalties are assessed and enforced consistently by all horse industry organizations and associations that are certified under the regulations by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

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 required by the Lacey Act for the importation of certain plants and plant products.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 and the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) regulations (5 CFR part 1320) which implement the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. chapter 35), this notice announces the National Institute of Food and Agriculture's (NIFA) intention to request approval to extend the currently approved information collection in support of authorizations to use the 4-H Club Name and/or Emblem.

The Departments, in compliance with the determinations of the District Court in Peratrovich v. United States, No. 3:92-cv-00734-HRH (D. Alaska), announce the initiation of reviews of pre-statehood withdrawals and reservations in the Tongass National Forest. These reviews, as ordered by the United States District Court for the District of Alaska, will be used in regulatory proceedings for the purpose of implementing Title VIII of the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act with respect to submerged public lands within the Tongass National Forest.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture, Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration published a document in the Federal Register on May 30, 2012, concerning the announcement for the Designation for the Topeka, KS; Cedar Rapids, IA; Minot, ND; and Cincinnati, OH Areas. The document contained an incorrect abbreviation.

The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) will maintain user fees for cotton producers for 2012 crop cotton classification services under the Cotton Statistics and Estimates Act and the Cotton Standards Act of 1923 at $2.20 per balethe same level as in 2011. This fee and the existing reserve are sufficient to cover the costs of providing classification services for the 2012 crop, including costs for administration and supervision.