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

Indianapolis Grain Inspection & Weighing Service, Inc. (Indianapolis) is designated to provide official inspection service through December 31, 2012, under the United States Grain Standards Act (USGSA), as amended. Indianapolis informed the Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration (GIPSA) that it was willing to provide official inspection services through December 31, 2012, but requested that GIPSA find an interim provider as soon as possible. GIPSA notified all official agencies of the interim availability for Indianapolis and selected East Indiana Grain Inspection, Inc. as the interim provider effective October 15, 2012 until a permanent designee is selected. Accordingly, GIPSA is announcing that Indianapolis's designation terminates effective December 31, 2012 and is asking persons or governmental agencies interested in providing official services in the area presently assigned to Indianapolis to submit an application for designation.

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 restricting the importation of products of poultry and birds into the United States in order to prevent the introduction of poultry disease.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice announces the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service's intention to revise and extend an information collection associated with regulations for the importation of live swine, pork and pork products, and swine semen from the European Union.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice announces Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration's intention to request that the Office of Management and Budget approve a 3-year extension and revision of a currently approved information collection in support of the reporting and recordkeeping requirements for the Swine Contract Library program.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. Chapter 3) and the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) regulations at 5 CFR part 1320, this notice announces the Agricultural Research Service's (ARS) intent to seek reinstatement of the ARS Animal Health National Program Assessment Survey, which seeks input on the impact of the Animal Health National Research Program through the completion of an electronic evaluation form. This voluntary information collection will give the beneficiaries of ARS research the opportunity to provide input on the impact of the research conducted by ARS in the last national program cycle. This input will be used for planning the research agenda for the next 5-year program cycle.

Interested citizens are invited to serve on the Olympic Peninsula Resource Advisory Committee (RAC). The RAC will be responsible for reviewing and recommending land management projects to be funded under the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self- Determination Act, should the act be reauthorized this year. RAC members represent a wide range of interests. The committee consists of 15 members and each member is assigned to one of three categories. The Olympic Peninsula RAC has vacancies in all three categories. Category A represents organized labor, developed outdoor recreation, off-highway vehicle use, commercial recreation activities, energy development interests, the commercial timber industry, and Federal grazing or other land use permits. Category B represents nationally recognized environmental organizations, regionally or locally recognized environmental organizations, dispersed recreational activities, archaeological and historical interests. Category C represents state, county, or local elected offices, American Indian tribes, school officials or teachers, and the affected public-at-large. A four-year term would begin upon appointment by the Secretary of Agriculture. Committee members serve without compensation, but may be reimbursed for travel expenses. Members must be Washington residents, preferably living in one of the Olympic Peninsula counties. Meetings are held at least once and up to four times per year within Thurston, Mason, Jefferson, Clallam, or Grays Harbor Counties. Interested participants should submit the required AD 755 application, available on the forest's Web site at https:// www.fs.usda.gov/main/olympic/workingtogether/advisorycommitte es.

The final rule entitled Community Forest and Open Space Conservation Program was published on October 20, 2011. The Office of Management and Budget approved and cleared the associated information collection requirements (ICR) on August 22, 2012. This document announces approval of the ICR.

The Chief of the Forest Service has determined there is a Substantial Overriding Public Interest (SOPI) in extending for up to 1 year certain National Forest System FS-2400-6/6T and FS-2400-13/13T contracts that terminate on or before December 31, 2013 and meet one or more of the following conditions; (1) Require removal of biomass material, (2) require removal of balsam fir, (3) have been appraised to a processing facility that has permanently closed, or (4) have been appraised to a processing facility that has not operated for at least 6 months prior to requesting an extension under this authority. The intended effects of the SOPI finding and contract extensions are to minimize contract defaults, mill closures, and company bankruptcies while the Forest Service assesses markets to determine if other relief measures are needed. The Government benefits if defaulted timber sale contracts, mill closures, and bankruptcies can be avoided by granting extensions. Having numerous, economically viable, timber sale purchasers increases competition for National Forest System timber sales, results in higher prices paid for such timber, and allows the Forest Service to provide a continuous supply of timber to the public in accordance with Forest Service authorizing legislation. See Act of June 4, 1897 (Ch. 2, 30 Stat. 11 as amended, 16 U.S.C. 475) (Organic Administration Act).

The meeting of the National Agricultural Research, Extension, Education, and Economics Advisory Board scheduled for October 23-25, 2012 has been cancelled. The original meeting notice was published in Federal Register Volume 77, Number 186, (Tuesday, September 25, 2012) {Pages 58978-58979{time} [FR Doc No: 2012-23610].

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice announces the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Administration's (ASA) intention to request approval from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for an extension of the currently approved information collection for the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) 1994 Tribal Scholars Program.

The Manti-La Sal and Fishlake National Forests along with the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Price Field Office as joint lead agencies announce their intent to prepare a supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) and Record of Decision to the 2011 Final EIS For the Leasing and Undeground Mining of the Greens Hollow Federal Coal Lease Tract UTU-84102. Supplemental analyses are required to correct deficiencies in the Final EIS.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Forest Service is seeking comments from all interested individuals and organizations on the revision with changes of the currently approved information collection 0596-0066 Advertised Timber for Sale.

This notice announces the appointment of the members of the Senior Executive Service (SES) and Senior Level (SL) and Scientific or Professional (ST) Performance Review Boards (PRBs) for the Department of Agriculture, as required by 5 U.S.C. 4314(c)(4). The Department of Agriculture has a total of seven PRBs: The Secretary's PRB; Career Agency Head's PRB; Departmental Management and Staff Offices PRB; Natural Resources and Environment PRB; Farm and Foreign Agricultural Services, Rural Development, Food, Nutrition and Consumer Services PRB; Marketing and Regulatory Programs, Food Safety PRB; and Research, Education, and Economics PRB. The PRBs are comprised of career and noncareer executives and chairpersons, who make recommendations on the performance of executives to the Secretary, including performance ratings and bonuses for SES, SL, and ST employees. The boards meet annually to review and evaluate performance appraisal documents and provide written recommendations to the Secretary for final approval of performance ratings and base salary increases.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3506), the Office of the Chief Information Officer (OCIO) is requesting comments from all interested individuals and organizations on a new information collection request associated with Representations Regarding Felony Conviction and Tax Delinquent Status for Corporate Applicants and Awardees. The Department of Agriculture agencies and staff offices (except Forest Service) must comply with FY 2012 appropriations restrictions in sections 738 and 739, of the Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2012 (2012 Ag Appropriations Act) (Pub. L. 112-55). Forest Service must comply with the restrictions in sections 433 and 434 of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2012 (Pub. L. 112-74).

In March 2008, the U.S. Forest Service completed the Eldorado National Forest Public Wheeled Motorized Travel Management Final Environmental Impact Statement (ENF TM FEIS) and Record of Decision (ROD). The 2008 TM FEIS and ROD designated roads and trails to be open for public motor vehicle use and prohibited cross country travel. In 2009 a complaint was filed with the Eastern District Federal Court (Court Case No. 2:09-CV-02523-LKK-JFM). In its opinion dated May 26, 2011, the Court found the Forest Service failed to comply with the National Forest Management Act (``NFMA'') in connection with its analysis and designation of routes encountering meadows. In particular, the court found that the Forest Service had designated 42 routes through meadows which was inconsistent with certain standards and guidelines in both the Forest's 1989 Land and Resource Management Plan (LRMP) and standards and guidelines within the 2004 Sierra Nevada Forest Plan Amendment (SNFPA), which amended the ENF LRMP. The Court pointed out that the error in the agency's Travel Management Decision was limited to 42 routes designated for public wheeled motorized travel that have some segment(s) that go through meadows. The purpose of the current analysis is to comply with the subsequent court order to reconsider that portion of the Travel Management Decision that pertains to the Riparian Conservation Objective (RCO) 2 for Standard and Guideline 100 pertaining to the meadows on the 42 routes, and to determine whether public wheeled motor vehicle use will be allowed on the portions of those routes that were closed by Court Order.

The Helena National Forest (HNF) is submitting a corrected Notice of Intent (NOI) in regard to the Blackfoot Travel Plan Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) that is being prepared. This NOI includes the correction of the previous Blackfoot Travel Plan NOI and includes a new alternative, alternative 3 and a potential programmatic plan amendment to the Helena National Forest Plan regarding the standard for elk hiding cover/open road density index. The plan amendment would be signed as a separate decision to the Blackfoot Travel Plan EIS. The proposed programmatic plan amendment would establish a new standard for elk security for the herd units located within the project area. As a result, HNF Forest Plan Standard 4a would be amended as it relates to the Blackfoot travel planning area. This programmatic plan amendment was not explicitly stated in the previous two Federal Register notices. All other aspects of the proposal are the same as those described in the previous Federal Register notices. The Helena National Forest is preparing an EIS to analyze the effects of proposed changes to existing motorized public access routes and prohibitions within the Blackfoot travel planning area. Consistent with Forest Service travel planning regulations, the resulting available public motorized access routes and areas would be designated on a Motor Vehicle Use Map (MVUM). Upon publishing the MVUM, public use of a motor vehicle other than in accordance with those designations would be prohibited.

In accordance with the Agricultural Bioterrorism Protection Act of 2002, we are amending and republishing the list of select agents and toxins that have the potential to pose a severe threat to animal or plant health, or to animal or plant products. The Act requires the biennial review and republication of the list of select agents and toxins and the revision of the list as necessary. This action implements the findings of the third biennial review of the list. In addition, we are reorganizing the list of select agents and toxins based on the relative potential of each select agent or toxin to be misused to adversely affect human, plant, or animal health. Such tiering of the list allows for the optimization of security measures for those select agents or toxins that present the greatest risk of deliberate misuse with the most significant potential for mass casualties or devastating effects to the economy, critical infrastructure, or public confidence. We are also making a number of amendments to the regulations, including the addition of definitions and clarification of language concerning security, training, biosafety, biocontainment, and incident response. These changes will increase the usability of the select agent regulations as well as provide for enhanced program oversight.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) intends to re- establish the Advisory Committee on Universal Cotton Standards (Committee). The Committee is necessary and in the public interest. The Committee reviews official Universal Standards for American Upland cotton prepared by USDA and would make recommendations to the Secretary of Agriculture regarding the establishment or revision of standards. USDA also seeks nominations of individuals to be considered for selection as Committee members.

The Caribou-Targhee National Forest is proposing to begin charging fees at the Al Taylor Cabin. Facilities at the site have recently been reconstructed and amenities have been added to improve services and experiences. Fees are assessed based on the level of amenities and services provided, cost of operation and maintenance, market assessment, and public comment. Funds from fees would be used for the continued operation and maintenance of these recreation sites. The Al Taylor cabin recently came into Forest Service ownership. It is located approximately 35 miles NE of Dubois, Idaho and 10 miles NW of Kilgore, Idaho. Access is via a gravel 2WD road. The proposed fee would be $35.00 per night and the cabin will accommodate 5-8 people.

In accordance with Section 3(b) of the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act, the USDA Forest Service, Washington Office, is transmitting the final amended boundary of the White Salmon Wild and Scenic River ``Lower Segment'' to Congress.