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

The Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) announces that it is inviting proposals for the 2014 Foreign Market Development Cooperator (Cooperator) program. The intended effect of this notice is to solicit applications from eligible applicants for fiscal year 2014 and to set out criteria for the award of funds under the program in October 2013. The Cooperator program is administered by personnel of the Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS). The funding authority for FMD expires at the end of fiscal year 2013. This notice is being published at this time to allow awards to be made early in fiscal year 2014, provided that program funding is reauthorized prior to that time. In the event this program is not reauthorized, or is substantially modified, FAS will publish a notice in the Federal Register rescinding this Notice of Funds Availability.

The Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) announces it is inviting proposals for the 2014 Quality Samples Program (QSP). The intended effect of this notice is to solicit applications from eligible applicants for fiscal year 2014 and to set out the criteria for the award of funds under the program in October 2013. QSP is administered by personnel of the Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS).

Notice is hereby given that the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, intends to grant to Headwall Photonics, Inc. of Fitchburg, Massachusetts, an exclusive license to U.S. Patent No. 7,460,227, ``METHOD TO DETECT BONE FRAGMENTS DURING THE PROCESSING OF MEAT OR FISH,'' issued on December 2, 2008, U.S. Patent No. 7,787,111, ``SIMULTANEOUS ACQUISITION OF FLUORESCENCE AND REFLECTANCE IMAGING TECHNIQUES WITH A SINGLE IMAGING DEVICE FOR MULTITASK INSPECTION,'' issued on August 31, 2010, U.S. Patent No. 8,126,213, ``METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR WHOLESOMENESS INSPECTION OF FRESHLY SLAUGHTERED CHICKENS ON A PROCESSING LINE,'' issued on February 28, 2012, and U.S. Patent No. 8,159,525, ``PORTABLE MULTISPECTRAL IMAGING SYSTEMS,'' issued on April 17, 2012.

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.

This document contains a technical correction to 36 CFR 219.11(d)(6). This technical correction concerns the estimation of the quantity of timber that can be removed on a sustained yield basis. The final rule was published in the Federal Register, on April 9, 2012 (77 FR 21162).

We are advising the public that we are adding 31 taxa of plants for planting that are quarantine pests and 107 taxa of plants for planting that are hosts of 13 quarantine pests to our lists of taxa of plants for planting whose importation is not authorized pending pest risk analysis. A previous notice made data sheets that detailed the scientific evidence we evaluated in making the determination that the taxa are quarantine pests or hosts of quarantine pests available to the public for review and comment. This notice responds to the comments we received and makes available final versions of the data sheets, with changes in response to comments.

We are advising the public that the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service has prepared an environmental assessment concerning authorization to ship for the purpose of field testing, and then to field test, an unlicensed Yersinia Pestis Vaccine, Live Raccoon Poxvirus Vector. The environmental assessment, which is based on a risk analysis prepared to assess the risks associated with the field testing of this vaccine and related information, examines the potential effects that field testing this veterinary vaccine could have on the quality of the human environment. Based on the risk analysis and other relevant data, we have reached a preliminary determination that field testing this veterinary vaccine will not have a significant impact on the quality of the human environment, and that an environmental impact statement need not be prepared. We intend to authorize shipment of this vaccine for field testing following the close of the comment period for this notice unless new substantial issues bearing on the effects of this action are brought to our attention. We also intend to issue a U.S. Veterinary Biological Product license for this vaccine, provided the field test data support the conclusions of the environmental assessment and the issuance of a finding of no significant impact and the product meets all other requirements for licensing.

This notice announces a forthcoming meeting of The Council for Native American Farming and Ranching (CNAFR) a public advisory committee of the Office of Tribal Relations (OTR). Notice of the meetings are provided in accordance with section 10(a)(2) of the Federal Advisory Committee Act, as amended, (5 U.S.C. Appendix 2). This will be the third meeting of the CNAFR and will consist of, but not limited to: hearing public comments; update of USDA programs and activities; discussion of committee priorities. This meeting will be open to the public.

The Nicolet Resource Advisory Committee will meet in Crandon, WI. The committee is authorized under the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act (Pub. L. 110-343) (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 review projects approved for payment in Fiscal Year 2013.

This document contains corrections to the final regulation that was published Friday, December 21, 2012. The regulation pertains to the insurance of Florida Citrus Fruit.

As part of the National Institute of Food and Agriculture's (NIFA) strategy to successfully implement the Integrated Forest Products Research (FPR) program and specifically design a response to current and emerging wood utilization issues, NIFA is soliciting stakeholder input that will allow it to identify the needs and opportunities of the different regions of the country but within a national needs framework. The focus of the stakeholder input is to gather topic areas for research which will be used in developing the priority research areas for the Request for Applications (RFA) in Fiscal Year (FY) 2013.

This proposed rule would establish the quantity of spearmint oil produced in the Far West, by class, that handlers may purchase from, or handle on behalf of, producers during the 2013-2014 marketing year, which begins on June 1, 2013. This proposal invites comments on the establishment of salable quantities and allotment percentages for Class 1 (Scotch) spearmint oil of 1,344,858 pounds and 65 percent, respectively, and for Class 3 (Native) spearmint oil of 1,432,189 pounds and 61 percent, respectively. The Spearmint Oil Administrative Committee (Committee), the agency responsible for local administration of the marketing order for spearmint oil produced in the Far West, recommended these limitations for the purpose of avoiding extreme fluctuations in supplies and prices to help maintain stability in the spearmint oil market.

The Six Rivers National Forest will prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to disclose the impacts associated with the re- authorization of livestock grazing in the Trinity Summit area on the Lower Trinity Ranger District through an adaptive management process. The planning area is located on National Forest System lands administered by the Lower Trinity Ranger District in Humboldt County, California within the upper Mill Creek and Tish Tang a Tang Creek watersheds to the east of Hoopa Valley Indian Reservation. Small portions of the planning area are located in the headwaters of Horse Linto Creek and Red Cap Creek. The majority of the grazing lands fall within the Trinity Wilderness and are considered to be culturally significant. The grazing lands are located in all or portions of T. 7 N., R. 6 E., R. 7 E.; T. 8 N., R. 5 E.; R. 6 E., R. 7 E.; and T. 9 N., R. 5 E., R. 6 E., R. 7 E.

The Department of Agriculture (USDA) is adopting, as a final rule, without change, an interim rule that decreased the assessment rate established for the Washington Apricot Marketing Committee (Committee) for the 2012-13 and subsequent fiscal periods from $1.50 to $0.50 per ton of Washington apricots handled. The Committee locally administers the marketing order that regulates the handling of apricots grown in designated counties in Washington. The interim rule decreased the assessment rate to reflect a reduction in the manager's salary and the Committee's operating expenditures.

The Department of Agriculture is adopting, as a final rule, without change, an interim rule that decreased the assessment rate established for the Washington Cherry Marketing Committee (Committee) for the 2012-2013 and subsequent fiscal periods from $0.40 to $0.18 per ton of sweet cherries handled. The Committee locally administers the marketing order for sweet cherries grown in designated counties in Washington. The interim rule was necessary to allow the Committee to reduce its monetary reserve.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 and Office of Management and Budget (OMB) regulations, the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is announcing its intention to request extension of an information collection for business registration requirements because the information collection approval is scheduled to expire on June 30, 2013.

Deciding Officers in the Southern Region will publish notice of decisions subject to administrative appeal or objection under 36 CFR parts 215, 218 and 219 in the legal notice section of the newspapers listed in the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section of this notice. The Southern Region consists of Alabama, Kentucky, Georgia, Tennessee, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, Virginia, West Virginia, Arkansas, Oklahoma, North Carolina, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico. As provided in 36 CFR part 215.5, 218.7 and Appendix A to 36 CFR 219.35 the public shall be advised through Federal Register notice, of the newspaper of record to be utilized for publishing legal notice of decisions. Newspaper publication of notice of decisions is in addition to direct notice of decisions to those who have requested it and to those who have participated in project planning. Responsible Officials in the Southern Region will also publish notice of proposed actions under 36 CFR part 215.5 and 218.24 in the newspapers that are listed in the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section of this notice. As provided in 36 CFR part 215.5, the public shall be advised, through Federal Register notice, of the newspaper of record to be utilized for publishing notices on proposed actions. Additionally, the Deciding Officers in the Southern Region will publish notice of the opportunity to object to a proposed authorized hazardous fuel reduction project under 36 CFR part 218.32 or developing, amending or revising land management plans under 36 CFR 219 in the legal notice section of the newspapers listed in the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section of this notice.

As part of a Federal Government-wide effort to streamline the process to seek feedback from the public on service delivery, the Department of Agriculture (USDA), Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has submitted a Generic Information Collection Request (Generic ICR): ``Generic Clearance for the Collection of Qualitative Feedback on Agency Service Delivery'' to OMB for approval under the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) (44 U.S.C. 3501 et. seq.).

The Rural Utilities Service (RUS), in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. chapter 35, as amended), invites comments on the following information collections for which the Agency intends to request approval from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB).