Department of Agriculture April 21, 2014 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents
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2014 Farm Bill Implementation Listening Session-Value-Added Producer Grant Program
As part of our implementation of the Agricultural Act of 2014 (commonly referred to as the 2014 Farm Bill), the Rural Business- Cooperative Service (RBS) is hosting a listening session for initial public input about changes to Value-Added Producer Grant (VAPG) program for which RBS has been delegated the authority to implement. The 2014 Farm Bill specifically identifies two new provisions to be implemented for VAPG(1) an additional priority preference for veteran farmers or ranchers and (2) a priority for projects that best contribute to creating or increasing marketing opportunities for beginning farmers or ranchers, socially disadvantaged farmers or ranchers, operators of small-and medium-sized family farms and ranches that are structured as family farms, and/or veteran farmers or ranchers. RBS is holding this listening session specifically to provide an opportunity for stakeholders to voice their priorities, concerns, and requests on the ``best contributing'' priority. Instructions regarding registering for and attending the listening session are in the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section of this notice.
Notice of Intent To Seek Approval To Reinstate an Information Collection
In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice announces the intention of the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) to seek reinstatement of an information collection, the 2014 Tenure, Ownership and Transition of Agricultural Land (TOTAL) survey, formerly known as the Agricultural Economics and Land Ownership Survey (AELOS).
Information Collection, Volunteer Program
In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Farm Service Agency (FSA) is requesting comments from all interested individuals and organizations on an extension with a revision of a currently approved information collection associated with the Volunteer Program.
Amended Opportunity for Designation in the Bloomington and Decatur, IL Areas; Request for Comments on the Official Agency Servicing This Area
Central Illinois Grain Inspection, Inc. (Central Illinois) purchased Decatur Grain Inspection, Inc. (Decatur) and met the requirements specified in 7 CFR 800.196 (f)(2). A Federal Register Notice (79 FR 3172) was published to amend Central Illinois' designation to include the former Decatur geographic area and was effective October 17, 2013 to March 31, 2014. In view of this, GIPSA is providing an additional opportunity to apply for designation for Central Illinois' amended geographic area. GIPSA is designating Central Illinois to provide official services in the amended geographic area until a designee is selected and announced in the Federal Register. This period is not to exceed one year. We are asking persons or government agencies interested in providing official services in the areas presently served by this agency to submit an application for designation. In addition, we are providing an additional opportunity for comments on the quality of services provided by Central Illinois.
Designation for the Owensboro, KY; Bloomington, IL; Iowa Falls, IA; Casa Grande, AZ; Fargo, ND; Grand Forks, ND; and Plainview, TX Areas
GIPSA is announcing the designation of J.W. Barton Grain Inspection Service, Inc. (Barton); Central Illinois Grain Inspection, Inc. (Central Illinois); Central Iowa Grain Inspection Corporation (Central Iowa); Farwell Commodity and Grain Services, Inc. (Farwell SW); North Dakota Grain Inspection Service, Inc. (North Dakota); Northern Plains Grain Inspection Service, Inc. (Northern Plains); and Plainview Grain Inspection and Weighing Service, Inc. (Plainview) to provide official services under the United States Grain Standards Act (USGSA), as amended.
Viruses, Serums, Toxins, and Analogous Products; Single Label Claim for Veterinary Biological Products
We are proposing to amend the Virus-Serum-Toxin Act regulations to provide for the use of a simpler labeling format that would better communicate product performance to the user. We intend to replace the current label format, which reflects any of four different levels of effectiveness, with a single, uniform label format. We are also proposing to require biologics licensees to provide a standardized summary, with confidential business information removed, of the efficacy and safety data submitted to the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service in support of the issuance of a full product license or conditional license. A simpler label format along with publicly available safety and efficacy data will help biologics producers to more clearly communicate product performance to their customers.
Wrangell-Petersburg Resource Advisory Committee
The Wrangell-Petersburg Resource Advisory Committee (RAC) will meet in Wrangell, Alaska and Petersburg, Alaska. 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 Title II of the Act. The meetings are open to the public. The purpose of the meetings is to review the progress of previously funded projects, review project proposals and make recommendations for allocation of Title II funds.
Change in Accredited Laboratory Fees
The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is proposing to amend its regulations to change the fees it charges for the accreditation and the maintenance of accreditation of non-Federal laboratories for the FSIS Accredited Lab Program (ALP). Currently, the Agency charges a flat annual fee of $5,000 for each accreditation or maintenance of accreditation. Laboratories that participate in FSIS' ALP can receive accreditation in one to six analyte classes. FSIS is proposing to charge laboratories $5,000 per year for the first analyte class accreditation or maintenance (as it currently does), but to reduce the charges to $2,900 per year for the second, and $2,100 per year for each additional analyte class accreditation or maintenance of accreditation.
Notice of Request for a New Information Collection: Meat Slaughter Industry Survey
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 meat slaughter industry.
Availability of FSIS Compliance Guidelines for Allergens and Ingredients of Public Health Concern: Identification, Prevention and Control, and Declaration Through Labeling
The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is announcing the availability of guidance on allergens and other ingredients of public health concern that provides recommendations for identifying hazards when conducting a hazard analysis and to prevent and control hazards through hazard analysis and critical control point (HACCP) plans or Sanitation standard operating procedures (SOPs) or other prerequisite programs with respect to these substances. The emphasis of the guidelines is on meat and poultry products. The guidelines represent the best practice recommendations of FSIS, based on scientific and practical considerations. By following these guidelines, establishments are likely to ensure that product labels declare all ingredients, as required in the regulations, and that the product does not contain undeclared allergens or other undeclared ingredients.
Best Practices Guidance for Controlling Listeria monocytogenes in Retail Delicatessens
The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is announcing the availability of the ``FSIS Best Practices Guidance for Controlling Listeria monocytogenes (Lm) in Retail Delicatessens.'' The best- practices guidance discusses steps that retailers can take to prevent listeriosis associated with the consumption of certain ready-to-eat (RTE) foods that are prepared or sliced in retail delicatessens (delis) and consumed in the home, such as deli meats and deli salads. FSIS encourages retailers to review the guidance and evaluate the effectiveness of their retail practices and intervention strategies in reducing the risk of listeriosis to consumers from RTE meat and poultry deli products. The Agency will consider all comments submitted and will revise the best-practices guidance as necessary.
HACCP Plan Reassessment for Not-Ready-To-Eat Comminuted Poultry Products and Related Agency Verification Procedures
The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is responding to comments on a Federal Register notice, ``HACCP Plan Reassessment for Not-Ready-to-Eat (NRTE) Comminuted Poultry Products and Related Agency Verification Procedures,'' that it published on December 6, 2012. The notice provided updated information on the Agency's sampling and testing of these products, and on how it is verifying that establishments are effectively addressing the possible presence of Salmonella and Campylobacter in them.
Notice of Request for Applications for the Veterinary Medicine Loan Repayment Program
The National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) is announcing the release of the Veterinary Medicine Loan Repayment Program (VMLRP) Request for Applications (RFA) at www.nifa.usda.gov/ vmlrp.
Notice of Proposed Changes to the National Handbook of Conservation Practices for the Natural Resources Conservation Service
Notice is hereby given of the intention of NRCS to issue a series of revised conservation practice standards in the National Handbook of Conservation Practices. These standards include: Access Road (Code 560), Agrichemical Handling Facility (Code 309), Grade Stabilization Structure (Code 410), Precision Land Forming (Code 462), Short Term Storage of Animal Waste and Byproducts (Code 318), Terraces (Code 600), Trails and Walkways (Code 575), Watering Facility (Code 614) and Water Well (Code 642). NRCS State Conservationists who choose to adopt these practices for use within their States will incorporate them into section IV of their respective electronic Field Office Technical Guide. These practices may be used in conservation systems that treat highly erodible land (HEL) or on land determined to be a wetland. Section 343 of the Federal Agriculture Improvement and Reform Act of 1996 requires NRCS to make available for public review and comment all proposed revisions to conservation practice standards used to carry out HEL and wetland provisions of the law.
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