Department of Agriculture February 2014 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Rural Utilities Service (RUS), a Rural Development agency of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), hereinafter referred to as RUS or the Agency, is proposing to amend the telecommunications standards and specifications for material, equipment and construction regulations by streamlining and replacing Equipment Specific Contracts, RUS Forms 397, 398, 525, 545, and the associated documents (Forms 231, 396, 396a, 397b, 397c, 397d, 397f, 397g, 397h, 517, 525a, 744, 752a, 754, and addenda) with a new Equipment Contract, RUS Form 395 and the associated close-out documents (Forms 395a, 395b, 395c and 395d). The proposed rule includes conforming changes to reflect the use of the new contract, administrative updates, and addresses the discontinuance of the requirement for RUS borrowers to use the Informational Publication (I.P.) 344-2, ``List of Material Acceptable for Use on Telecommunications Systems of RUS Borrowers.'' The intended effect is to streamline the contractual process for RUS borrowers and expedite the approval process of equipment during the development of RUS funded construction projects.

The Greater Red Lodge Project is proposed to (1) reduce hazardous fuels; (2) maintain and/or improve resiliency of forest vegetation and grasslands; (3) enhance aspen habitat; and (4) improve water quality. The EIS will consider a no action alternative and three action alternatives that propose treatment on 1000-2000 acres depending upon the alternative. The project area encompasses approximately 21,871 acres north and west of the community of Red Lodge, Carbon County, MT in the vicinity of Red Lodge Creek (10,275 acres) and Nichols/Willow Creek (11,596 acres). The project area is designated Wildland Urban Interface (WUI) in the Carbon County Wildfire Protection Plan, and may be considered a transition zone between developed areas and Inventoried Roadless and the Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness. The Nichols Creek portion of the project area is part of the West Fork Municipal Watershed for the community of Red Lodge. Proposed treatment consists of a variety of thinning (including post and pole/teepee pole collection), clearcuts ranging from one half acre to 40 acres in size, hand cutting and mechanical treatment of small diameter vegetation, and broadcast and pile burning to meet the purpose and need. The action alternatives also include reconstruction of Nichols Creek Road to reduce sedimentation into Nichol Creek, road reconstruction and maintenance of existing roads, approximately 4 miles of road decommissioning, and 5 to 7.4 miles of temporary road construction depending upon alternative. A site specific Forest Plan amendment may be needed to address effects to Management Indicator Species (MIS) habitat.

The Ashley National Forest Resource Advisory Committee (RAC) will meet in Vernal, Utah. 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 to receive updates from approved and finished projects and plan meeting schedule for recommending new projects for funding in 2014.

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 RUS intends to request approval from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB).

In a final rule published in the Federal Register on March 29, 2013, and effective on April 15, 2013, we amended the regulations governing the importation of animals and animal products by recognizing 25 Member States of the European Union (EU) as the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS)-defined EU Poultry Trade Region. In that rule, we established requirements for the importation of live birds and poultry, and poultry meat and products, from the APHIS- defined EU Poultry Trade Region. In the final rule, it was not our intent to prohibit the importation of birds, poultry, and poultry meat and products from Member States of the APHIS-defined EU Poultry Trade Region that conduct trade in poultry and poultry products with other regions that APHIS recognizes as being free of Newcastle disease and highly pathogenic avian influenza. It was also not our intent that the import requirements for cooked poultry meat and products from the APHIS- defined EU Poultry Trade Region not be equivalent with the requirements we apply to other regions whenever an outbreak of Newcastle disease or highly pathogenic avian influenza occurs in those regions. This document amends the regulations to reflect our original intentions.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice announces the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service's intention to request approval of a new information collection associated with the National Animal Health Laboratory Network laboratories annual inventory verification for U.S. Department of Agriculture-owned equipment.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice announces the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service's intention to request approval of a new information collection concerning the National Veterinary Services Laboratories request forms.

We are advising the public that we have determined that it is necessary to add a treatment schedule for Asian longhorned beetle in the Plant Protection and Quarantine Treatment Manual. Thus, we have prepared a treatment evaluation document that discusses the existing treatment schedule and explains why this change is necessary. We are making this treatment evaluation document available to the public for review and comment.

We are reopening the comment period for a petition requesting that we amend the Animal Welfare Act regulations to add specific standards for the humane handling, care, treatment, and transportation of all species of bears held in captivity except polar bears, for which there are already standards. This action will allow interested persons additional time to prepare and submit comments.

The Department of Agriculture published a document in the Federal Register on January 31, 2014, concerning a request for comments on the Information collection ``Fire and Rescue Loans7 CFR 1942, Subpart C,'' OMB number 0575-0120.

The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), an agency under the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), is announcing availability of Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) to stimulate the development and adoption of innovative conservation approaches and technologies. Applications will be accepted from all 50 States, District of Columbia, Caribbean Area (Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands), and the Pacific Islands Area (Guam, American Samoa, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands). NRCS anticipates that the amount available for support of this program in FY 2014 will be up to $15 million. Applications are requested from eligible governmental or non-governmental organizations or individuals for competitive consideration of grant awards for projects between 1 and 3 years in duration. Funds will be awarded through a two-phase nationwide competitive grants process that will include: (1) A pre-proposal process, and (2) a full proposal process. The full proposal process will only be open to applicants whose pre-proposal applications are selected by NRCS. Both phases are described in the full announcement found at Grants.gov. Only pre-proposals are being solicited at this time. Please visit https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/technical/cig/ for more information about this grant opportunity. In addition, the full notice that identifies the objectives, eligibility criteria, and application instructions for CIG projects can also be found at: www.grants.gov. Applications will be screened for completeness and compliance with the provisions of the announcement. Incomplete applications will be eliminated from competition, and notification of elimination will be mailed to the applicant. NRCS will request a full proposal package only from those applicants selected in the pre- proposal phase.

We are advising the public that the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service will host a series of public meetings to provide a forum for discussion on the current and future capacity for live animal import quarantines.

The Southern Region Recreation Resource Advisory Committee (Recreation RAC) will meet in Decatur, Georgia. The Recreation RAC is established consistent with the Federal Advisory Committee Act of 1972 (FACA) (5 U.S.C. App. II), and Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act of 2004 (the Act) (Pub. L. 108-447). Additional information concerning the Recreation RAC can be found by visiting the committee's Web site at https://www.fs.usda.gov/main/r8/recreation/racs. The meeting is open to the public.

The Forest Resource Coordinating Committee (Committee) will meet via teleconference. The Committee is established consistent with the Federal Advisory Committee Act of 1972 (FACA) (5 U.S.C. App. II), and the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 (the Act) (Pub. L. 110-246). Additional information concerning the Committee can be found by visiting the Committee's Web site at https://www.fs.fed.us/spf/coop/ frcc/.

The Department of Agriculture published a document in the Federal Register of January 23, 2014, concerning a request for comments on the Information collection ``Federal and Non-Federal Financial Assistance Instruments'' OMB control number 0596-0217. Under the heading ``Need and Use of the Information'' the incorrect statement ``In addition, mandatory post-award meetings must be held for each new Federal financial assistance award'' is corrected to read: ``FS will utilize a new financial capabilities checklist or questionnaire to assist and to monitor recipients of Federal financial assistance by outlining both the financial and the internal policies necessary to accept and spend Federal dollars.''

This proposed rule would establish minimum professional standards for school nutrition personnel who manage and operate the National School Lunch and School Breakfast Programs. The proposed rule would also institute hiring standards for the selection of State and local school nutrition program directors; and require all personnel in these programs to complete annual continuing education/training. These proposed changes respond to amendments made by section 306 of the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010 (HHFKA), which require USDA to establish professional standards for school nutrition personnel. The HHFKA also requires each State to provide at least annual training to local educational agency and school nutrition personnel. This proposed rule is expected to provide consistent, national standards for school nutrition professionals and staff. The principal benefit of this proposed rule is to ensure that key school nutrition personnel are meeting minimum professional standards in order to adequately perform the duties and responsibilities of their positions.

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 Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome Vaccine, Respiratory Form, Modified Live Virus. The environmental assessment, which is based on a risk analysis prepared to assess the risks associated with the field testing of this vaccine, 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.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act, this notice invites the public and other public agencies to comment on a proposed information collection burden for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Employment and Training (E&T) Program, currently approved under OMB No. 0584-0339. This is an extension without revision of a currently approved collection. The burden estimate remains 21,889 hours.

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), the Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources Planning Act of 1974 (16 U.S.C. 1600 et.seq.), the National Forest Management Act of 1976 (16 U.S.C. 1612), and the Federal Public Lands Recreation Enhancement Act (Pub. L. 108-447). Additional information concerning the Board can be found by visiting the Board's Web site at: https://www.fs.usda.gov/main/ blackhills/workingtogether/advisorycommittees.