Department of Agriculture 2016 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

Notice is hereby given of the intention of NRCS to issue a series of revised conservation practice standards in NHCP. These standards include Brush Management (Code 314), Herbaceous Weed Treatment (Code 315), Lined Waterway or Outlet (Code 468), Prescribed Grazing (Code 528), and Restoration of Rare or Declining Natural Communities (Code 643). 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.

The Sabine-Angelina Resource Advisory Committee (RAC) will meet in Hemphill, Texas. The committee is authorized under the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act (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. RAC information can be found at the following Web site: https://cloudapps- usda-gov.force.com/FSSRS/RAC_Page?id=001t0000002JcvCAAS.

The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is announcing the availability of an updated version of the Agency's compliance guideline on documentation needed to support animal-raising claims on product labels that must be submitted for Agency approval before they can be used on product labels. The updated guideline reflects FSIS's current position and procedures for reviewing animal-raising claims and includes explanations of animal-raising claims that FSIS may approve and the types of supporting documentation that the Agency requires to be submitted to support these claims.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice announces the intention of USDA Farm Service Agency's (FSA) and Rural Development, henceforth collectively known as Rural Development, or individually as Housing and Community Programs, Business and Cooperative Programs, Utility Programs, to request an extension for a currently approved information collection in support of compliance with applicable acts for planning and performing construction and other development work.

The National Institute of Food and Agriculture, as part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, invites the general public to take this opportunity to comment on the ``Generic Clearance for the Collection of Qualitative Feedback on Agency Service Delivery'' for approval under the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA). This collection was developed to create a vehicle for obtaining stakeholder feedback. This notice announces our intent to submit this collection to Office of Management and Budget for approval and solicits comments on specific aspects for the proposed information collection.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. Chapter 35), this Notice announces the Rural Business- Cooperative Service intention to request an extension for to a currently approved information collection for the Rural Microentrepreneur Assistance Program (RMAP).

Notice is hereby given of a public hearing to receive evidence on proposed amendments to Marketing Order No. 982 (order), which regulates the handling of hazelnuts grown in Oregon and Washington. Two amendments are proposed by the Hazelnut Marketing Board (Board), which is responsible for local administration of the order. The proposed amendments would add both the authority to regulate quality and the authority to establish different regulations for different markets. In addition, the Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) proposes to make any such changes as may be necessary to the order to conform to any amendment that may result from the hearing. The proposals are intended to aid in pathogen reduction and meet the needs of different market destinations.

The Department of Agriculture (USDA) is adopting, as a final rule, without change, an interim rule implementing a recommendation from the Texas Valley Citrus Committee (Committee) that relaxed the container and pack requirements prescribed under the marketing order for oranges and grapefruit grown in the Lower Rio Grande Valley in Texas (order). The Committee locally administers the order and is comprised of producers and handlers of Texas citrus operating within the area of production. The interim rule added the word ``approximate'' to the size specifications of three regulated containers to make the language consistent with other containers specified under the order. This change provides uniformity in the descriptions of containers and helps prevent potential compliance violations stemming from slight variations in container dimensions.

The Gallatin Resource Advisory Committee (RAC) will meet in Bozeman, Montana. The committee is authorized under the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act (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. RAC information can be found at the following Web site: https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/custergallatin/workingtogether/ ?cid=stelprdb5304491.

The Lake Tahoe Basin Federal Advisory Committee (LTBFAC) will meet in South Lake Tahoe, California. The Committee is established pursuant to Executive Order 13057, and the Federal Advisory Committee Act of 1972. Additional information concerning the Committee can be found by visiting the Committee's Web site at: https://www.fs.usda.gov/ goto/ltbmu/LTFAC.

The Land Between The Lakes Advisory Board (Board) will meet in Golden Pond, Kentucky. The Board is authorized under Section 450 of the Land Between The Lakes Protection Act of 1998 (Act) and operates in compliance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act. The purpose of the Board is to advise the Secretary of Agriculture on the means of promoting public participation for the land and resource management plan for the recreation area; and environmental education. Board information can be found at the following Web site: https:// www.landbetweenthelakes.us/.

This document contains a correction to 7 CFR part 1940, subpart L, ``Methodology and Formulas for Allocation of Loan and Grant Program Funds'' to provide reference to the Rural Business Development Program, which replaced the Rural Business Enterprise Grant program and the Rural Business Opportunity Grant program.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. Chapter 35, as amended), the Rural Housing Service (RHS) invites comments on this information collection for which approval from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) will be requested. The intention is to request a revision for a currently approved information collection in support of the program for 7 CFR part 1927-B, Real Estate Title Clearance and Loan Closing.

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is seeking nominations for the Forest Resource Coordinating Committee (Committee) pursuant to Section 8005 of the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 (Act) (Pub. L. 110-246), and the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA), (5 U.S.C. App. 2). Additional information on the Committee can be found by visiting the Committee's Web site at: https://www.fs.fed.us/ spf/coop/frcc/.

The USDA Forest Service is withdrawing the Notice of Intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for the Warm Spring Habitat Enhancement project on the Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest. A Notice of Intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement was published in the Federal Register on October 9, 2009 (pages 52174- 52175)

Berlaimont Estates LLC (Berlaimont) owns a 680-acre private inholding completely within the White River National Forest (WRNF) to the north of Interstate 70 in the vicinity of Edwards, Colorado. Berlaimont desires to develop the property as 19 individual residential lots. Currently, the subject property may be accessed by National Forest System Roads (NFSR) 774 and 780, which connect to the southeastern corner of the horseshoe-shaped subject property. Beyond the southeastern corner, NFSR 780 connects to the southwestern corner of the property and NFSR 783 connects to the northwestern corner and northern areas of the property from the west side. Additionally, the northern portion of the property may be accessed via NFSR 778 running up Berry Creek which connects with NFSR 783 providing access into the northern portion of the property from the east. All NFSR's in this area are currently low development, native surfaced roads. Berlaimont has applied for an easement to construct, improve, utilize, and maintain road segments across the National Forest System (NFS) lands in support of their desired development of their property. Specifically, Berlaimont is proposing to improve segments of the existing NFSR 774 and NFSR 780, as well as construct a new road segment across additional NFS lands in order to more directly access the northern portion of their property. Their proposed improvements would consist of constructing a paved asphalt road with a gravel shoulder, vehicle turnouts, retaining walls, traffic signs, guardrails, erosion control facilities, and drainage facilities. The Forest Service will be analyzing this proposal along with a wider range of potential alternatives.

We are extending the comment period for our proposed rule to amend the horse protection regulations to provide that the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service will train and license inspectors to inspect horses at horse shows, exhibitions, sales, and auctions for compliance with the Horse Protection Act. This action will allow interested persons additional time to prepare and submit comments. We are also making a clarification to the proposed regulations pertaining to specific prohibitions concerning exhibitors.

This final rule amends the regulations used to administer the Facility Guarantee Program (FGP). Under the FGP, the Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) may issue payment guarantees in connection with sales of goods or U.S. services to establish or improve agricultural-related facilities in emerging markets to expand exports of U.S. agricultural commodities or products. This final rule incorporates statutory changes from the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 and modifications intended to reduce the burden on participants and improve program efficiency and effectiveness. Certain revisions will ensure the FGP is operated in compliance with the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Arrangement on Officially Supported Export Credits. Additionally, this final rule incorporates significant changes previously made to the regulations for the Export Credit Guarantee Program (GSM-102) that are also applicable to the FGP.

This rule implements a recommendation from the California Date Administrative Committee (committee) for a decrease in the assessment rate established for the 2016-17 and subsequent crop years from $0.10 to $0.05 per hundredweight of dates handled. The committee locally administers the marketing order, which regulates the handling of dates produced or packed in Riverside County, California. Assessments upon date handlers are used by the committee to fund reasonable and necessary expenses of the program. The crop year begins October 1 and ends September 30. The assessment rate will remain in effect indefinitely unless modified, suspended, or terminated.

The USDA Forest Service published a notice of intent to prepare an environmental impact statement in the Federal Register of September 12, 2016. The document contains confusing language regarding establishing standing for participation in the agency's admininstrative review process.

This notice announces a public comment period on the information collection requests (ICRs) associated with the Area Risk Protection Insurance.