Department of Agriculture April 2013 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents
Results 101 - 116 of 116
Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program
The Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) is amending the regulations for the Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP) to conform with policies implemented under the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 (the 2008 Farm Bill). The amendments concern requirements for coverage of native sod, increases in service fees, the multiple benefits limitation of the program, payment and income limitations, and eligibility for aquaculture losses caused by drought. Also, the rule makes clarifying amendments regarding the eligibility of wheat, barley, oats, or triticale acreage used for grazing and regarding the eligibility of tropical crops for benefits. The rule also clarifies the eligibility requirements for coverage in tropical regions. The amendments in this rule have already been implemented administratively.
Notice of Solicitation of Applications for the Intermediary Relending Program
This Notice of Solicitation of Applications (NOSA) announces the acceptance of applications under the Intermediary Relending Program (IRP) to provide direct loans to intermediaries that establish programs for the purpose of providing loans to ultimate recipients for business facilities and community developments in a rural area. The Agency will make awards each Federal fiscal quarter following the appropriation of funding. In the event all program funds are not obligated in a quarter, the remaining unobligated funds will be carried over to the subsequent quarter. This Notice is being issued prior to a determination of Fiscal Year 2013 funding for this program in order to allow applicants sufficient time to prepare and submit their applications and to provide the Agency time to process applications within Fiscal Year 2013. The Agency will publish a subsequent notice in the Federal Register identifying the program funding available for Fiscal Year 2013 for this program.
Designation of Product Categories for Federal Procurement; Withdrawal
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is withdrawing the final rule ``Designation of Product Categories for Federal Procurement'' published April 1, 2013, at 78 FR 19393. The final rulemaking, which amended the Guidelines for Designating Biobased Products for Federal Procurement, to add eight sections to designate product categories within which biobased products will be afforded Federal procurement preference, was published prematurely due to an oversight in the development process.
Tonto National Forest; Arizona; Salt River Allotments Vegetative Management EIS
The Tonto National Forest hereby gives notice that it is extending the public comment period for the Salt River Allotments Vegetative Management Draft Environmental Impact Statement (Draft EIS), which was published in the Federal Register on February 22, 2013, (Volume 78, No. 36) originally for a 45-day comment period. Please see the Notice of Availability of the Draft EIS (78 FR 12310) for more detailed information related to the Salt River Allotments Vegetative Management Draft EIS. In response to requests for additional time, the Forest Service will extend the comment period from April 8, 2013, to May 8, 2013. Federal, State, tribal, and local governments and other interested parties are requested to comment on the Draft EIS. Comments will be accepted by email to comments-southwestern-tonto@fs.fed.us or by mail to Debbie Cress, Tonto National Forest, 2324 E. McDowell Rd., Phoenix, AZ 85006 (928) 595-2093 or faxed to (602) 225-5295.
Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection: Comment Request: Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Education and Administrative Reporting System (EARS)
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. The proposed collection is an extension, without change, of a currently approved collection. The purpose of the Education and Administrative Reporting System (EARS) form is to collect uniform and standard information on nutrition education activities (SNAP-Ed) funded by SNAP. The data collected will inform management decisions, support policy initiatives and provide documentation for legislative, budget and other requests that support planning within the agency.
Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; Comment Request-Food Programs Reporting System
In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice invites the general public and other public agencies to comment on this proposed information collection. This is a new collection for the electronic submission of programmatic and financial data through the Food Programs Reporting System (FPRS). The data is currently collected on approved Office of Management and Budget (OMB) forms.
Ochoco National Forest, Paulina Ranger District; Oregon; Wolf Creek Vegetation and Fuels Management Project EIS
The Ochoco National Forest is preparing an environmental impact statement (EIS) to analyze the effects of managing vegetation and fuels within the 24,506 acre Wolf project area, which is approximately 50 miles east of Prineville, Oregon. The project area includes National Forest system lands within the Lower Beavercreek watershed. The alternatives that will be analyzed include the proposed action, no action, and additional alternatives that will respond to issues generated through the scoping process. The Ochoco National Forest will give notice of the full environmental analysis and decision making process so interested and affected people may participate and contribute to the final decision.
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program: Nutrition Education and Obesity Prevention Grant Program
This rule amends Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) regulations to implement Section 28 of the Food and Nutrition Act (``FNA'' or the ``Act'') of 2008, as added by Section 241 of the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids (HHFK) Act of 2010, to award grants to States for provision of nutrition education and obesity prevention programs. These programs will provide services for eligible individuals that promote healthy food choices consistent with the current Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGAs). This rule provides State agencies with requirements for implementing Section 28 including the grant award process and describes the process for allocating the 100 percent Federal grant funding authorized under the Act to carry out nutrition education and obesity prevention services each fiscal year.
National Tree-Marking Paint Committee Meeting
The National Tree-Marking Paint Committee will meet in Awendaw, SC on May 21-23, 2013. The purpose of the meeting is to discuss activities related to improvements in, concerns about, and the handling and use of tree-marking paint by personnel of the Forest Service and the Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management.
Privacy Act of 1974; Proposed New System of Records
As required by the Privacy Act of 1974, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is publishing for comment a proposed new system of records, Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration, USDA/ GIPSA-1, Packers and Stockyards Automated System (PAS). PAS will be used by the Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration (GIPSA) to enforce the Packers and Stockyards (P&S) Act of 1921, as amended. PAS, an automated information management system, integrates case file management, data monitoring, and reporting into a single enterprise application that shares data across organizational units.
Public Availability of FY 2012 Service Contract Inventories
In accordance with Section 743 of Division C of the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2010 (Pub. L. 111-117), Department of Agriculture is publishing this notice to advise the public of the availability of the FY 2012 Service Contract inventory. This inventory provides information on FY 2012 service contract actions over $25,000. The information is organized by function to show how contracted resources are distributed throughout the agency. The inventory has been developed in accordance with guidance issued on November 5, 2010 by the Office of Management and Budget's Office of Federal Procurement Policy (OFPP). OFPP's guidance is available at https://www.whitehouse.gov/ sites/default/files/omb/procurement/memo/service-contract-inv entories- guidance-11052010.pdf. Department of Agriculture has posted its inventory and a summary of the inventory on the Office of Procurement and Property Management homepage at the following link: https:// www.dm.usda.gov/procurement/.
National Organic Program: Notice of Draft Guidance on Classification of Materials and Materials for Organic Crop Production
This notice announces draft guidance for review and comment by accredited certifying agents, certified operations, material evaluation programs, and other organic industry stakeholders. The first set of draft guidance documents implements recommendations from the National Organic Standards Board (NOSB) concerning the classification of materials under the USDA organic regulations (7 CFR part 205). The Classification of Materials draft guidance, NOP 5033, details the procedures and decision trees for classifying materials used for organic crop production, livestock production, and handling. The second set of draft guidance documents, NOP 5034, provides clarification regarding materials for use in organic crop production. These documents include an itemization of allowed natural and synthetic materials and a limited appendix of materials prohibited in organic crop production. The guidance explains the policy of the National Organic Program (NOP) concerning the portions of the regulations in question, referenced herein. The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) invites organic producers, handlers, certifying agents, material evaluation programs, consumers and other interested parties to submit comments about these guidance provisions. Notices of availability of final guidance on these topics will be issued upon final approval. Once finalized, final guidance documents will be available from NOP through ``The Program Handbook: Guidance and Instructions for Certifying Agents and Certified Operations.'' This Handbook provides those who own, manage, or certify organic operations with guidance and instructions that can assist them in complying with the USDA organic regulations. The current edition of the Program Handbook is available online at https://www.ams.usda.gov/nop or in print upon request.
Meeting of the Land Between The Lakes Advisory Board
The Land Between The Lakes Advisory Board will hold a meeting on April 23, 2013. Notice of this meeting is given under the Federal Advisory Committee Act, 5 U.S.C. App 2. The meeting agenda will focus on existing Environmental Education programs and improving engagement with regional school groups. The meeting is open to the public. Written commens are invited and should be sent to Bill Lorenz, Acting Area Supervisor, Land Between The Lakes, 100 Van Morgan Drive, Golden Pond, KY 42211 and must be received by April 16, 2013 in order for copies to be provided to the members for this meeting. Board members will review written comments received, and at their request, oral clarification may be requested for a future meeting.
Pawnee National Grassland, Colorado; Oil and Gas Leasing Analysis Environmental Impact Statement
In November of 1997, the Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forest and Pawnee National Grassland Record of Decision (ROD) for the Revision of the Land and Resource Management Plan (LRMP), which included the Oil and Gas Leasing Analysis on the Pawnee National Grassland (PNG), was signed. That decision determined which Lands are administratively available for leasing [36 CFR 228.102(d)], including conditions (lease stipulations) under which lands will be available. The oil and gas decisions contained in the 1997 ROD were based on an April 1995 projection of the reasonably foreseeable oil and gas development for the Pawnee National Grassland. Much of the PNG's federal mineral estate made available per the 1997 ROD has already been leased. Since the analysis was completed 16 years ago, there has been a change in the manner in which oil and gas development has occurred on the Pawnee National Grassland. Multiple wells can be drilled from a single well pad rather than just one, as was most common in the past. The improvements in horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing technologies to improve the ability to access and recover oil and gas located deep underground from horizons previously thought uneconomic are the primary reasons for these changes in development. The remaining available lands that are not presently leased have been nominated for leasing by industry. Before the Forest Service provides the Bureau of Land Management with consent to offer these lands for lease, it must verify that the requested lands have been adequately addressed in a NEPA document and is consistent with the Forest Land and Resource Management Plan [36 CFR 228.102(e)]. Accordingly, the PNG finds it is necessary to disclose the potential effects of the changed pattern and level of oil and gas development from those effects considered in the 1997 FEIS, and determine whether or not there is a need to change LRMP standards and guidelines (and possibly leasing stipulations) to minimize the potential impact of oil and gas development on the Pawnee National Grassland, which may require a plan amendment.
Notice of Proposed New Fee Sites; Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act, (Title VIII, Pub. L. 108-447)
The Manti-La Sal National Forest is proposing to charge fees at four campsites. All sites will have been constructed and amenities added to improve the services and experience at the campgrounds. 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. Lake Canyon Recreation Area is a fee campground with 54 campsites. Depending on the terrain and location within the Lake Canyon Recreation Area, a number of campsites are clustered together in a loop and identified by a name. Three single campsites and one group site are being developed as part of a major restoration effort and proposed fee sites in the Miller Flat loop of Lake Canyon along with 44 less developed free sites. Fire rings, picnic tables, a cooking station, a kiosk, toilet, and roaded access and will be installed. A host is on site in the area. Lake Canyon Recreation Area is popular for ATV use. Major loops of campsites are connected by trails that connect with the Arapeen Trail system and nearby fisheries. Also located within this area are three learners' loops where children and adults can learn to ride their vehicle close to their campsite. The wide open area at Miller Flat has been an encouraging factor in the development of numerous unauthorized roads and camping. The restoration project has closed unauthorized trails and defined camping to an acceptable area. A financial analysis is being completed to assist in determining the fees, but the proposal is to keep the site fees consistent with other campsites in the Lake Canyon Recreation Area. The fee currently charged in Lake Canyon Recreation Area is being proposed at Miller Flat; $5 per vehicle per night for a single family campsite and $50 per night for a group site. All sites are proposed to be on the reservation system. If the group site is not reserved, first-come-first served campers may use the group site for $5 per vehicle per night. The additional campsites will greatly improve the resources, sanitation and recreation conditions. Fees would be used to continue to help protect and maintain the resources and campsites.
Designation of Product Categories for Federal Procurement
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is amending the Guidelines for Designating Biobased Products for Federal Procurement, to add eight sections to designate product categories within which biobased products will be afforded Federal procurement preference, as provided for under section 9002 of the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002, as amended by the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 (referred to in this document as ``section 9002''). USDA is also adding a new subcategory to one previously designated product category. USDA is also establishing minimum biobased contents for each of these product categories and subcategories. In addition, USDA is officially changing the term ``item'' to product category.
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