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

We are advising the public that the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service has received a petition from the Monsanto Company seeking a determination of nonregulated status of maize designated as event MON 87411, which has been genetically engineered for protection against corn rootworm and resistance to the herbicide glyphosate. 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 petition available for review and comment to help us identify potential environmental and interrelated economic issues and impacts that the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service may determine should be considered in our evaluation of the petition.

This final decision proposes to permanently adopt amendments that adjust the Class I pricing surface of the Appalachian, Florida, and Southeast Federal milk marketing orders. In addition, this decision seeks to adopt proposals that amend certain features of the diversion limit, touch-base, and transportation credit provisions for the Appalachian and Southeast milk marketing orders. This decision also proposes to adopt amendments that increase the maximum administrative assessment for the Appalachian, Florida and Southeast marketing orders. The orders as amended are subject to approval by producers in the affected markets. Producer approval for this action will be determined concurrently with amendments adopted in a separate final decision that amends the transportation balancing fund and other provisions of the Appalachian and Southeast milk marketing orders.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. Chapter 35), this notice announces the Economic Research Service's intention to request approval for a new information collection for the study of ``Census of Users of the National Plant Germplasm System.'' This is a new collection to provide information on usage and expectations of future use among requestors of genetic resources from USDA's National Plant Germplasm System.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (``Department'') announces adjusted income eligibility guidelines to be used by State agencies in determining the income eligibility of persons applying to participate in the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children Program (WIC). These income eligibility guidelines are to be used in conjunction with the WIC Regulations.

Notice is hereby given that the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, intends to grant to Highland Specialty Grains, Inc. of Almira, Washington, an exclusive license to the variety of feed barley described in Plant Variety Protection Certificate Number 200700405, ``RWA 1758,'' issued on September 20, 2007.

Notice is hereby given that the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, intends to grant to Tomahawk Live Trap, LLC of Hazelhurst, Wisconsin, an exclusive license to U.S. Patent No. 8,407,931, ``TRAPPING METHOD AND APPARATUS'', issued on April 2, 2013.

The Ochoco National Forest is preparing an environmental impact statement (EIS) to analyze the effects of managing fuels and vegetation within the 38,145-acre Gap project area, which is east of Prineville, Oregon. The project area includes National Forest System lands in the Upper North Fork Crooked River and Horse Heaven Creek- Crooked River Watersheds. The alternatives that will be analyzed include the proposed action, no action, and additional alternatives that 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.

This interim final rule would amend the procedures to Request a Referendum by removing the specific number of soybean producers eligible to request a referendum under the Soybean Promotion, Research, and Consumer Information program, commonly known as the Soybean Checkoff Program. The number of soybean producers will be replaced with language that allows the Secretary of Agriculture (Secretary) to update this number based on information provided by USDA. Additionally, this action would remove specific USDA and Farm Service Agency (FSA) Web site and office addresses and replace them with more flexible language. These changes will enable AMS to announce future Requests for Referendum without engaging in additional notice-and-comment rulemaking. This rule also serves as AMS' official notice that soybean producers may request a referendum to determine if producers want a referendum on the Soybean Promotion and Research Order (Order), as authorized under the Soybean Promotion, Research, and Consumer Information Act (Act). If at least 10 percent (not in excess of one- fifth of which may be producers in any one State) of eligible producers, as determined by USDA, participate in the Request for Referendum, a referendum will be held within 1 year from that determination. If results of the Request for Referendum indicate that a referendum is not supported, a referendum would not be conducted. The results of the Request for Referendum will be published in the Federal Register.

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, Generic Clearance for the Collection of Qualitative Feedback on Agency Service Delivery.

We are advising the public that the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service has prepared a preliminary determination regarding a request from Dow AgroSciences LLC seeking a determination of nonregulated status of soybean designated as event DAS-81419-2, which has been genetically engineered for resistance to certain lepidopteran pests. We are also making available for public review our plant pest risk assessment, environmental assessment, and preliminary finding of no significant impact for the preliminary determination of nonregulated status.

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). The meeting is open to the public. The purpose of the meeting is to provide:

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice announces the Rural Housing Service's intention to request an extension for a currently approved information collection in support of the program of the Agency's use of supervised bank accounts (SBA).