Department of Agriculture April 22, 2013 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

We are advising the public of our record of decision for the final supplemental environmental impact statement for the Gypsy Moth Program.

We are advising the public that the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has received a petition from the Monsanto Company and Forage Genetics International (FGI) seeking a determination of nonregulated status of alfalfa designated as event KK179, which has been genetically engineered to express reduced levels of guaiacyl lignin. 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 Company and FGI 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 National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA), as part of its compliance with the requirement of Section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, invites the general public to comment on an information collection for the Veterinary Medicine Loan Repayment Program (VMLRP). This notice initiates a 30-day comment period and prescribes the proposed nomination form for the VMLRP that will be submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for renewal. The NIFA may not conduct or sponsor, and the respondent is not required to respond to, a collection of information unless the collection of information displays a valid OMB control number.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. chapter 35), this notice announces the Agricultural Marketing Service's (AMS) intention to request for renewal a recordkeeping burden for the information collection for the Export Fruit Acts covering exports of apples and grapes.

The Department of Agriculture (USDA) is adopting, as a final rule, without change, an interim rule that revised the quantity of Class 1 (Scotch) and Class 3 (Native) spearmint oil that handlers may purchase from, or handle on behalf of, producers during the 2012-2013 marketing year under the Far West spearmint oil marketing order. The interim rule increased the Scotch spearmint oil salable quantity from 782,413 pounds to 2,622,115 pounds and the allotment percentage from 38 percent to 128 percent. In addition, the interim rule increased the Native spearmint oil salable quantity from 1,162,473 pounds to 1,348,270 pounds and the allotment percentage from 50 percent to 58 percent. This change is expected to moderate extreme fluctuations in the supply and price of spearmint oil. Also, this change will help maintain stability in the Far West spearmint oil market.

The Flathead Resource Advisory Committee will meet in Kalispell, Montana. The committee is authorized under the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act (Pub. L. 112-141) (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 re-evaluate project proposals for 2013 due to reduced funding related to sequestration.