Department of Agriculture 2013 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

Pursuant to 36 CFR 294.27 the Forest Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), is proposing to modify Idaho Roadless Area boundaries for the Big Creek, Grandmother Mountain, Pinchot Butte, Roland Point, Wonderful Peak Idaho Roadless Areas on the Idaho Panhandle National Forests to reflect lands acquired within and/or adjacent to these roadless areas. In addition, modifications to correct mapping errors involving Forest Plan Special Areas in the Salmo-Priest, and Upper Priest Idaho Roadless Areas are addressed. An administrative correction is proposed to Sec. 294.29 to add the Buckhorn Ridge Idaho Roadless Areas to the list under the Kootenai National Forest. Notice is given pursuant to 36 CFR 294.27(b), that the Chief proposes to issue the modifications after a 45-day public notice and opportunity to comment.

We are advising the public that we have prepared a pest list associated with oranges and tangerines from Egypt that identifies pests of concern. Subsequently, we prepared a commodity import evaluation document to determine the risk posed by peach fruit fly in oranges and tangerines from Egypt. Based on that evaluation, we have concluded that the application of one or more designated phytosanitary measures will be sufficient to mitigate the pest risk. In addition, we are advising the public that we have prepared a treatment evaluation document that describes a new treatment schedule that can be used to neutralize peach fruit fly and Mediterranean fruit fly in oranges and tangerines. We are making the pest list, commodity import evaluation document, and treatment evaluation document available to the public for review and comment.

The National Advisory Committee for Implementation of the National Forest System Land Management Planning Rule will meet in Fort Collins, Colorado. The committee operates in compliance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act. The purpose of the committee is to provide advice and recommendations on the implementation of the National Forest System Land Management Rule. The meeting is also open to the public. The purpose of the meeting is to initiate deliberations on formulating advice to the Secretary on the Proposed Land Management Planning Directives.

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.

The Department of Agriculture (USDA), Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration (GIPSA) is revising the fee schedule for official inspection and weighing services performed under the United States Grain Standards Act (USGSA), as amended. The USGSA provides GIPSA's Federal Grain Inspection Service (FGIS) with the authority to charge and collect reasonable fees to cover the cost of performing official services. The fees also cover the costs associated with managing the program. After a financial review of GIPSA's Fees for Official Inspection and Weighing Services, including a comparison of the costs and revenues associated with official inspection and weighing services, GIPSA is revising local and national tonnage fees (assessed in addition to all other applicable fees) for all export grain shipments serviced by GIPSA field offices.

The Rural Utilities Service (RUS) intends to prepare a Supplemental Final Environmental Impact Statement (SFEIS) to meet its responsibilities under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the Council on Environmental Quality's regulations for implementing NEPA (40 CFR Parts 1500-1508), and RUS's Environmental and Policies and Procedures (7 CFR Part 1794) in connection with potential impacts related to a proposal by Energy Answers Arecibo, LLC. The proposal consists of constructing a waste to energy generation and resource recovery facility in the Cambalache Ward of Arecibo, Puerto Rico. Energy Answers Arecibo, LLC may request a loan guarantee from RUS.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice announces the Agencies' intention to request an extension for a currently approved information collection in support of the program for 7 CFR part 1942, subpart A, ``Community Facility Loans.''

Rural Development, a mission area within the U.S. Department of Agriculture, is proposing grant and guaranteed loan programs for renewable energy systems and energy efficiency improvement projects as provided in the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008. The proposed rule will revise the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) found in 7 CFR part 4280, subpart B.

The Department of Agriculture is adopting, as a final rule, without change, an interim rule that decreased the assessment rate established for the Processed Pear Committee (Committee) for the 2012- 2013 and subsequent fiscal periods from $7.73 to $7.00 per ton of summer/fall processed pears. The Committee locally administers the marketing order that regulates the handling of processed pears grown in Oregon and Washington. The Committee recommended the assessment rate decrease because the summer/fall processed pear promotion budget for the 2012-2013 fiscal period was reduced.

The Forest Service is preparing an environmental impact statement (EIS) to document the potential effects of the Flagstaff Watershed Protection Project (FWPP). The analysis will evaluate and disclose the effects of implementing treatments on the National Forest to reduce the threat of high severity wildfire and subsequent flooding in two watersheds around Flagstaff. Specifically, two key areas have been identified for analysis and treatment under this project: The Dry Lake Hills portion of the Rio de Flag Watershed north of Flagstaff, and the Mormon Mountain portion of the Upper Lake Mary Watershed south of Flagstaff. The project area includes approximately 10,543 acres (roughly 7,569 acres in the Dry Lake Hills portion and 2,974 on Mormon Mountain), and proposed treatments would include thinning and prescribed fire on roughly 8,810 of those acres. The EIS will analyze a variety of harvesting methods, including the use of traditional ground- based equipment, hand thinning, and also methods atypical for the region, including cable and helicopter logging, in order to treat steep, inaccessible terrain.

There will be three open houses, one in Denver, Colorado; one in Salt Lake City, Utah; and one in Lake Tahoe, California, to provide initial public input on a new water rights clause for ski area permits issued by the Forest Service. There will be several stations at the open houses that will remain open from 4:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.; there will be no presentations by the Forest Service. The open houses will allow the public to provide comments and suggestions that the Forest Service will consider in developing a new ski area water rights clause. There will be another opportunity for the public to comment when the proposed clause is published in the Federal Register for public notice and comment.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Forest Service is seeking comments from all interested individuals and organizations on the extension of a currently approved information collection; Annual Wildfire Summary Report.

The Black Hills National Forest Advisory Board (Board) will meet in Rapid City South Dakota. The Board is established consistent with the Federal Advisory Committee Act of 1972 (5 U.S.C. App. II) (FACA); and the Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources Planning Act of 1974 (16 U.S.C. sec. 1600 et.seq.) (RPA); the National Forest Management Act of 1976 (16 U.S.C. sec. 1612) (NFMA), and the Federal Public Lands Recreation Enhancement Act (Pub. L. 108-447) (REA). The purpose of the Board is to provide advice and recommendations on a broad range of forest issues such as forest plan revisions or amendments, forest health including fire and mountain pine beetle epidemics, travel management, forest monitoring and evaluation, recreation fees, and site-specific projects having forest-wide implications. The meeting is open to the public. The purpose of the meeting is: (1) to provide information to, and receive recommendations from, the Board regarding future range and grazing management actions; (2) to provide an update to, and receive comments and recommendations from, the Board about White-Nose Syndrome and the Cave Management Environmental Impact Statement.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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/.

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.

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.

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 a new information collection for a survey of the egg products industry.