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

This notice announces that the Farm Service Agency (FSA), on behalf of the Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC), intends to complete a Supplemental Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (SPEIS) assessing the environmental impacts of potential changes to the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP), as required by the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA). The intent of this notice is to provide an initial summary introduction to the alternatives being considered for potential changes to CRP, and to request comments on these proposed alternatives. The input we receive as a result of this notice will enable us to refine the alternatives, begin to evaluate their impacts, and document results in the scoping report as required by NEPA.

We are advising the public that we are adding or revising certain treatment schedules for the Imported Fire Ant Program in the Plant Protection and Quarantine (PPQ) Treatment Manual. In a previous notice, we made available to the public for review and comment a treatment evaluation document that discussed the existing treatment schedules, described the new treatment schedules, and explained why these changes are necessary. We also made available an environmental assessment that explained pesticide use in the new and revised treatments in the imported fire ant program. Based on the treatment evaluation document, the environmental assessment, and the comments we received, we are announcing our determination to add those new and revised treatments to the PPQ Treatment Manual.

The Ashley Resource Advisory Committee (RAC) meeting scheduled on the date below is cancelled. The meeting was scheduled to meet in Vernal, Utah. The RAC is authorized under the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act (the Act) (Pub. L. 110-343) and operates in compliance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA) (Pub. L. 92-463).

Pursuant to the Federal Advisory Committee Act, the Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) is announcing a call for nominations to the Fruit and Vegetable Industry Advisory Committee. The charter for the Committee was re-established for the 2013-2015 two-year term.

USDA announces the availability of competitive grant funding through the Value-Added Producer Grant (VAPG) program. Approximately $10.5 million in carry over funding from fiscal year (FY) 2013 is available to help agricultural producers enter into value-added activities. This NOFA is being published prior to the Congressional enactment of a full-year appropriation for FY 2014. Should additional funding be made available during FY 2014 for this program RBS will continue to fund applications received under this announcement based upon the applications score. At this time, the exact amount of funding that will be made available to this program for FY 2014 is unknown. Anyone interested in submitting an application for funding under this program should consult the Rural Development Value Added Producer Grant Program Web site at https://www.rurdev.usda.gov/BCP_VAPG.html periodically for updated information regarding any FY 2014 funding for the program. The program purpose is to help U.S. agricultural producers enter into value-added activities. Awards may be made for either economic planning or working capital activities related to the processing and/or marketing of valued-added agricultural products. The maximum grant amount for a planning grant is $75,000 and the maximum grant amount for a working capital grant is $200,000. There is a matching funds requirement of at least $1 for every $1 in grant funds provided by the Agency (matching funds plus grant funds must equal proposed total project costs). Matching funds may be in the form of cash or eligible in-kind contributions and may be used only for eligible project purposes. Matching funds must be available at time of application and must be certified and verified as described in 7 CFR 4284.931(b)(3) and (4). 7 CFR 4284.925 and 7 U.S.C. 1632(a) provide for the reservation of ten percent of available funds for applications submitted by Beginning and Socially Disadvantaged Farmers or Ranchers, and an additional ten percent of available funds for applications from farmers or ranchers proposing development of Mid-Tier Value Chains. For this announcement, Reserved Funds were not obligated prior to June 30, 2013 as required by 7 CFR 4284.925 and 7 U.S.C. 1632(a). Therefore, no reserves are available to fund these categories from FY 2013 carry over monies. However, 7 CFR 4284.925 and 7 U.S.C. 1632(a) allow the Secretary to repurpose and reuse these funds for the general VAPG competition. Beginning and Socially-Disadvantaged Farmers or Ranchers and applicants proposing Mid-Tier Value Chains can still compete and benefit by receiving priority through the award of Priority Points. Should FY 2014 funds become available, 20 percent of those funds will be reserved for these categories.

This rule decreases the assessment rate established for the Colorado Potato Administrative Committee, Area No. 2 (Committee), for the 2013-2014 and subsequent fiscal periods from $0.0051 to $0.0033 per hundredweight of potatoes handled. The Committee locally administers the marketing order, which regulates the handling of Irish potatoes grown in Colorado. Assessments upon potato handlers are used by the Committee to fund reasonable and necessary expenses of the program. The fiscal period begins September 1 and ends August 31. The assessment rate will remain in effect indefinitely unless modified, suspended, or terminated.

The Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest is proposing to add eleven cabins to the recreation rental program and charge fees for the overnight rental of these facilities. The cabins and proposed fee structure include: (1) Payson Lakes Cabin, available from June 1 to September 30 at $125 per night. The cabin can accommodate up to 10 people and has running water, flush toilets, shower, electric heat, and electric appliances. (2) Card Guard Station, available from June 1 through October 15 at $125 per night. The cabin can accommodate up to 10 people and has running water, flush toilet, shower, electricity and modern appliances. (3) Current Creek Work Center, available from June 1 through October 15 at $200 per night. The cabin is a duplex that can accommodate up to 14 people. There are also three trailer pads with hookups. The cabin has running water, flush toilets, electricity and modern appliances. (4) Rice Creek Field Station, available from June 1 through October 1 at $100 per night. The cabin can accommodate up to 10 people and has running water, flush toilet, shower, propane cook stove, electric lights and modern appliances. (5) Mirror Lake Guard Station, available from July 1 through September 15 at $100 per night. The cabin can accommodate up to four people and has running water, shower, flush toilets, propane heat, and propane lights and appliances. (6) Mill Hollow Guard Station, available from June 1 through September 30 at $100 per night. The cabin can accommodate up to eight people and has running water, shower, flush toilets, wood stove, and propane lights and appliances. (7) Tony Grove Guard Station, available year-round at $85 per night. The cabin can accommodate up to four people and has running water (summer only), pit toilet, propane heat, and extra space for camping. (8) Monte Cristo Guard Station, available from year-round at $85 per night. The cabin can accommodate up to eight people and has running water (summer only), flush toilets, shower, propane heat, and propane lights and appliances. (9) Ledgefork Guard Station, available from June 1 through September 30 at $85 per night. The cabin can accommodate up to six people and has running water, flush toilets, shower, propane heat, and electric lights and appliances. Electricity to appliances is provided by a generator. (10) Blacksmith Fork Guard Station, available year-round at $75 per night. The cabin can accommodate up to six people and has a vault toilet, wood stove, and propane lights and appliances. (11) Diamond Fork Guard Station, available year-round at $50 per night. The cabin can accommodate up to eight people and has a vault toilet, wood stove, and propane lights and appliances. Fees are assessed based on the level of amenities and services provided, cost of operations and maintenance, and market comparison. A market comparison of the nearby rental cabins with similar amenities shows that the proposed fees are reasonable and typical of similar sites in the area. Funds from fees would be used for the continued operation and maintenance and improvements of these rental cabins.

El Yunque National Forest, located in Puerto Rico, is initiating the development of a land management plan revision (forest plan) for El Yunque National Forest (NF). A Draft Assessment is being posted to our Web site. We are inviting the public to help us develop a preliminary ``need for change'' and a proposed action for the land management plan revision.

We are amending the fruits and vegetables regulations to allow the importation of commercial shipments of fresh beans, shelled or in pods (French, green, snap, and string), from Jordan into the continental United States. As a condition of entry, the beans must be produced in accordance with a systems approach that includes requirements for packing, washing, and processing. The beans must also be accompanied by a phytosanitary certificate attesting that all phytosanitary requirements have been met and that the consignment was inspected and found free of quarantine pests. This action allows for the importation of fresh beans, shelled or in pods, from Jordan into the continental United States while continuing to provide protection against the introduction of plant pests.

The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) is amending regulations to allow for the addition of an optional cotton futures classification procedureidentified and known as ``registration'' by the U.S. cotton industry and the Intercontinental Exchange (ICE). In response to requests from the U.S. cotton industry and ICE, AMS will offer a futures classification option whereby cotton bales may be certificated for the purpose of an exchange's cotton futures contract using Smith-Doxey data to verify that submitted bales meet more restrictive quality requirements and age parameters established by that exchange. AMS anticipates that the futures classification option will be available in time for the implementation of ICE's Cotton Resolution No. 2, which is scheduled to commence with the March 2014 contract month.

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

The National Advisory Committee for Implementation of the National Forest System Land Management Planning Rule will meet in Arlington, VA, on November 21, 2013. Attendees may also participate via webinar and conference call. The Committee operates in compliance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA) (Pub. L. 92-463). The purpose of the Committee is to provide advice and recommendations on the implementation of the National Forest System Land Management Planning Rule. The purpose of this meeting is to present finalized recommendations on the Proposed Land Management Planning Directives and to initiate dialogue around the development of a committee work plan to fulfill the Committee's charter. This meeting is open to the public.

The Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration (GIPSA) is soliciting comments on proposed revisions to the United States Standards for Whole Dry Peas. The proposal would establish an additional color grading factor requirement for the Whole Dry Peas class ``Smooth Yellow Dry Peas'' and establish a definition for ``fair color yellow peas.'' These changes are being proposed at the request of the Dry Pea industry and will help facilitate the marketing of the class, Smooth Yellow Dry Peas and help ensure the purity of classes for Whole Dry Peas.

We are advising the public that we have been and are assessing certain plant pests that are present in the United States to determine whether we should take action to mitigate the risk posed by those pests when they are found in consignments of imported goods at ports of entry into the United States. We have determined that it is no longer appropriate or necessary to take such action on some plant pests on which we had been taking action at ports of entry because we are not taking any regulatory action on those same pests when we find them in interstate movement, due to our scientific determination that we do not need to mitigate their pest risk. This process relieves restrictions that are no longer needed and ensures that actions taken on plant pests found in imported goods are consistent with the actions we take on those same pests when they appear in interstate commerce.

This rule invites comments on a proposed Hardwood Lumber and Hardwood Plywood Promotion, Research and Information Order (Order). Hardwood lumber and hardwood plywood are used in products like flooring, furniture, moldings, doors, and kitchen cabinets. The program would be financed by an assessment on hardwood lumber manufacturers and hardwood plywood manufacturers and would be administered by a board of industry members selected by the Secretary of Agriculture (Secretary). The assessment rate varies according to the product manufactured. The purpose of the program would be to strengthen the position of hardwood lumber and hardwood plywood in the marketplace and maintain and expand markets for hardwood lumber and hardwood plywood. A referendum would be held among eligible hardwood lumber manufacturers and hardwood plywood manufacturers to determine whether they favor implementation of the program prior to it going into effect. This rule also announces the Agricultural Marketing Service's (AMS) intent to request approval by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) of new information collection requirements to implement the program.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice announces the Rural Business-Cooperative Service's intention to request an extension for a currently approved information collection in support of the program for 7 CFR part 4284, subpart G, Rural Business Opportunity Grant Program.

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 an extension for and revision to the forms currently used to collect information under Federal Marketing Order No. 983, for pistachios grown in California, Arizona, and New Mexico.