Department of Agriculture 2012 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

We are giving notice that the Secretary of Agriculture is soliciting nominations for the election of regional membership for the General Conference Committee of the National Poultry Improvement Plan.

The Rural Housing Service of Rural Development previously announced in a Notice published August 22, 2011 (76 FR 52305) the availability of funds and the timeframe to submit applications for loans to private non-profit organizations, and State and local housing finance agencies, to carry out a demonstration program to provide revolving loans for the preservation and revitalization of low-income Multi-Family Housing (MFH). Rural Development did not receive sufficient applications to use all the available funds. As a result, Rural Development is soliciting additional applications under this Notice for the remaining funding. Housing that is assisted by this demonstration program must be financed by Rural Development through its MFH loan program under Sections 515, 514, and 516 of the Housing Act of 1949. The goals of this demonstration program will be achieved through loans made to intermediaries. The intermediaries will establish their programs for the purpose of providing loans to ultimate recipients for the preservation and revitalization of low-income Section 515, 514, and 516 MFH as affordable housing.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture published a final rule in the Federal Register on May 17, 2012 (77 FR 29474). This document corrects the final regulations by revising these sections.

The Federal Crop Insurance Corporation (FCIC) proposes to amend the Common Crop Insurance Regulations, Florida Citrus Fruit Crop Insurance Provisions. The intended effect of this action is to provide policy changes, to clarify existing policy provisions to better meet the needs of policyholders, and to reduce vulnerability to program fraud, waste, and abuse. The proposed changes will be effective for the 2014 and succeeding crop years.

The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS), of the Department of Agriculture (USDA), is proposing to revise the United States Standards for Grades of Almonds in the Shell. AMS received written requests from the produce industry to amend the standards to align inspection procedures for incoming inspections (based on the marketing order) and outgoing inspections (based on the grade standards). Therefore, AMS is proposing to change the determination of internal defects from count to weight.

We are advising the public that the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service has received a petition from Dow AgroSciences LLC seeking a determination of nonregulated status of soybean designated as DAS-68416-4, which has been genetically engineered for tolerance to broadleaf herbicides in the phenoxy auxin group (such as the herbicide 2,4-D) and the herbicide glufosinate. The petition has been submitted in accordance with our regulations concerning the introduction of certain genetically engineered organisms and products. We are soliciting comments on whether this genetically engineered soybean is likely to pose a plant pest risk. We are making available for public comment the Dow AgroSciences LLC petition, our plant pest risk assessment, and our draft environmental assessment for the proposed determination of nonregulated status.

We are advising the public that the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service has received a petition from Syngenta Biotechnology, Inc., seeking a determination of nonregulated status of corn designated as SYN-05307-1, which has been genetically engineered for resistance to corn rootworm, an insect pest of corn. The petition has been submitted in accordance with our regulations concerning the introduction of certain genetically engineered organisms and products. We are soliciting comments on whether this genetically engineered corn is likely to pose a plant pest risk. We are making available for public comment the Syngenta Biotechnology, Inc., petition, our plant pest risk assessment, and our draft environmental assessment for the proposed determination of nonregulated status.

We are advising the public that the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has received a petition from the Monsanto Company seeking a determination of nonregulated status of maize designated as MON 87427, which has been genetically engineered with tissue-selective tolerance to glyphosate in order to facilitate the production of hybrid maize seed. The petition has been submitted in accordance with our regulations concerning the introduction of certain genetically engineered organisms and products. We are making the Monsanto petition available for review and comment to help us identify potential environmental and interrelated economic issues and impacts that APHIS may determine should be considered in our evaluation of the petition.

The Farm Service Agency (FSA) is revising its disaster designation regulations, with minor changes from the proposed rule. The rule simplifies procedures for Secretarial designations of disaster areas. This rule includes provisions for nearly automatic disaster designation in the case of severe drought. The rule also provides procedures FSA may use to delegate disaster designation authority to FSA State level officials. The rule removes the requirement that a State Governor or Indian Tribal Council must request a Secretarial disaster designation before a designation can be made. Also, this rule moves the disaster designation regulations to the same chapter of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) as the FSA Emergency Loan (EM) Program regulations. FSA expects that the simplified process will result in faster designations of disaster areas, and result in more timely disaster assistance.

We are advising the public that the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has received a petition from Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc., (Pioneer) seeking a determination of nonregulated status of canola designated as DP-073496-4, which has been genetically engineered for tolerance to the herbicide glyphosate. The petition has been submitted in accordance with our regulations concerning the introduction of certain genetically engineered organisms and products. We are making the Pioneer petition available for review and comment to help us identify potential environmental and interrelated economic issues and impacts that APHIS may determine should be considered in our evaluation of the petition.

We are advising the public that the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service has prepared a finding of no significant impact and a preliminary decision regarding a request from Bayer CropScience LP to extend to cotton event T303-3, which has been genetically engineered to be tolerant to the herbicide glufosinate and resistant to several lepidopteran pests, our determination of nonregulated status of TwinLinkTM cotton (event T304-40). We are making available for public comment our finding of no significant impact for the proposed determination of nonregulated status.

We are advising the public that the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has received a petition from GENECTIVE SA seeking a determination of nonregulated status of maize designated as VCO-[Oslash]1981-5, which has been genetically engineered for tolerance to the herbicide glyphosate. The petition has been submitted in accordance with our regulations concerning the introduction of certain genetically engineered organisms and products. We are making the GENECTIVE SA petition available for review and comment to help us identify potential environmental and interrelated economic issues and impacts that APHIS may determine should be considered in our evaluation of the petition.

Notice is hereby given that the Rural Utilities Service (RUS) has prepared a Final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to meet its responsibilities under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), RUS' implementing regulations, 7 CFR 1794, and other applicable environmental requirements related to providing financial assistance to Dairyland Power Cooperative (Dairyland) for its share in the construction of a proposed 345-kilovolt (kV) transmission line and associated infrastructure between Hampton, Minnesota and the La Crosse area in Wisconsin (the proposed project). Dairyland is participating in the proposed project with a number of other utilities (Applicants). The purpose of the proposed project is to: (1) Improve community reliability of the transmission system in Rochester, Winona, La Crosse, and the surrounding areas, which include areas served by Dairyland; (2) improve the regional reliability of the transmission system; and (3) increase generation outlet capacity.

Rural Development is amending its regulations to address the change in the standard maximum deposit insurance amount under the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC).

The Department of Agriculture (USDA), Agricultural Air Quality Task Force (AAQTF) will meet to continue discussions on critical air quality issues relating to agriculture. Special emphasis will be placed on obtaining a greater understanding about the relationship between agricultural production and air quality. A draft agenda is included with this notice. The meeting is open to the public.

The Santa Fe National Forest is proposing to conduct ecological restoration activities on up to 110,000 acres within the greater Southwest Jemez Mountains (SWJM) landscape area over 10 years. Treatment areas are located on the Jemez Ranger District and would occur in the vicinity of Jemez Springs, New Mexico. The goal is to make the landscape less susceptible to undesirable, large-scale disturbances such as high-severity wildfire, climate change, or insects. Proposed actions include improving fish and wildlife habitat, vegetative diversity, and watershed function. Implementing the treatments will provide wood products and economic opportunities.

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

The Secretary of Agriculture has established the Pacific Northwest Provincial Advisory Committees (PACs) to the Provincial Interagency Executive Committees (PIECs) for 12 provinces, which are areas set up under the Northwest Forest Plan. The PIECs facilitate the successful implementation of the Record of Decision for Amendments to the Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management Planning Documents within the Range of the Northern Spotted Owl (ROD) of April 13, 1994. The purpose of the PACs is to advise the PIECs on coordinating the implementation of the ROD. Each PAC provides advice regarding implementation of a comprehensive ecosystem management strategy for Federal land within a province. The PACs provide advice and recommendations to promote better integration of forest management activities between Federal and non-Federal entities to ensure that such activities are complementary. The purpose of the administrative meetings will be to inform the current Provincial Advisory Committee membership of the following: (1) Provincial Advisory Committees transitioning from subcommittees to full standing committees, under General Services Administration guidance. (2) Inform the past PAC membership of Provincial Advisory Committee vacancies and nominations process.

We are advising the public that the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service has prepared an environmental assessment relative to an oral rabies vaccination field trial in New Hampshire, New York, Ohio, Vermont, and West Virginia. The environmental assessment analyzes the use of an experimental rabies vaccine in field safety and immunogenicity trials in portions of New Hampshire, New York, Ohio, Vermont, and West Virginia. The proposed field trial is necessary to evaluate a wildlife rabies vaccine that will produce sufficient levels of population immunity in raccoons and striped skunks. We are making the environmental assessment available to the public for review and comment.

This rule revises the primary inventory reserve capacity and the exemption provisions applicable to handler diversion activities prescribed under the marketing order for tart cherries (order). The order regulates the handling of tart cherries grown in the States of Michigan, New York, Pennsylvania, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Wisconsin, and is administered locally by the Cherry Industry Administrative Board (Board). This action increases the volume of tart cherries that can be placed in the primary inventory reserve from 50 million pounds to 100 million pounds and revises exemption provisions by limiting diversion credits for new market development and market expansion activities to one year. These changes are intended to facilitate sales and lessen the impact of market expansion activities on volume restriction calculations.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice announces the intention of the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) to request revision and extension of a currently approved information collection, the Mink Survey. Revision to burden hours will be needed due to changes in the size of the target population and/or questionnaire length. The target population will be pulled from positive historical data, trade magazines, or grower's association's lists. The questionnaire that NASS is planning to use is the same as what was used in previous years. Any changes to the questionnaire would result from requests by industry data users.

This rule makes a number of miscellaneous amendments to delegations of authority by adding new authorities, correcting references, and removing obsolete authorities.

This Notice announces the acceptance of applications from newly-formed Rural Business Investment Companies (RBICs) who are interested in being licensed as non-leveraged RBICs under the Agency's Rural Business Investment Program (RBIP). The Agency intends to issue no more than one non-leveraged license in Fiscal Year 2012.

The USDA Forest Service, Lincoln National Forest, is extending the public comment period for a draft environmental impact statement (DEIS) that discloses the potential impacts of a proposed action to authorize, under a new special use permit, the operation of four municipal supply water wells located on National Forest System (NFS) land in the North Fork Eagle Creek drainage. The new permit would be authorized for up to 20 years, with stipulations for frequent review and verification of the permit terms and conditions. These could occur as often as every year but would occur at least every 5 to 10 years. The new authorization would add terms and conditions to the permit reflecting current adaptive management strategies which both respond to the purpose and need for action, and mitigate potential adverse impacts to surface water and groundwater resources from well operations. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published a notice of availability (NOA) of the DEIS in the Federal Register on May 25, 2012 [77-31355; ER-FRL-9003-2]. The NOA provided for a public comment period ending on July 9, 2012.