Department of Agriculture 2016 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

Pursuant to the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA), the Office of Advocacy and Outreach (OAO) is announcing a meeting of the Beginning Farmers and Ranchers Advisory Committee (BFRAC). The committee is being convened to consider issues involving barriers for beginning farmers and ranchers, including lending and access to U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) programs, resources, and land. The members will deliberate on recommendations to be prepared for USDA Secretarial consideration.

We are advising the public that we have determined that it is warranted to amend cold treatment schedule T107-d-3 in the Plant Protection and Quarantine Treatment Manual to extend the applicability of the treatment to grapefruit from Australia. We have prepared a treatment evaluation document that describes the amended treatment schedule and explains why we have determined that it is effective at neutralizing certain target pests. We are making this treatment evaluation document available to the public for review and comment.

This proposed rule invites comments on a recommendation by the Raisin Administrative Committee (Committee) to the remove the term ``midget'' from the minimum grade standards of the California raisin marketing order (order). The marketing order regulates the handling of raisins produced from grapes grown in California, and is administered locally by the Committee. Recently, the U.S. Standards for Grades of Processed Raisins (standards) were amended to remove the word ``midget.'' The proposed change would make the marketing order consistent with the amended standards. Furthermore, this rule would make a corresponding change to the raisin import regulation as required by the Agricultural Marketing Agreement Act of 1937, as amended, when changes are made to the size, grade, maturity, or quality requirements of the order.

This proposed rule would implement a recommendation from the California Walnut Board (Board) to increase the assessment rate established for the 2016-17 and subsequent marketing years from $0.0379 to $0.0465 per kernelweight pound of assessable walnuts. The Board locally administers the marketing order and is comprised of growers and handlers of walnuts operating within the area of production. Assessments upon walnut handlers are used by the Board to fund reasonable and necessary expenses of the program. The marketing year begins September 1 and ends August 31. The assessment rate would remain in effect indefinitely unless modified, suspended, or terminated.

This proposed rule invites public comments on a proposed amendment to Marketing Order No. 984, which regulates the handling of walnuts grown in California. The California Walnut Board (Board), which is responsible for the local administration of the order and is comprised of walnut producers and handlers operating within the production area, recommended an amendment that would authorize the Board to borrow from a commercial lending institution to fund operations and marketing/research expenses. Allowing the Committee to utilize this customary business practice would provide flexibility for the Board while increasing its effectiveness.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 and Office of Management and Budget (OMB) implementing regulations, the U.S. Department of Agriculture Economic Research Service (ERS) invites the general public and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on a proposed new information collection for a study of ``Risk Preferences and Demand for Crop Insurance and Cover Crop Programs.''

A Notice of Intent to Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) announcing the Pike/San Isabel National Forests opening of their Travel Management Planning process 45 day public scoping comment period and public scoping meetings was published in the Federal Register on July 25, 2016 and available at the following link: https:// www.federalregister.gov/articles/2016/07/25/2016-17498/pikesa n-isabel- national-forests-colorado-pikesan-isabel-national-forests-tra vel- management-plan. The EIS scoping comment period was scheduled to end on September 8, 2016. This notice extends the comment period an additional 15 days to Friday, September 23, 2016. Project proposed action, purpose and need, alternatives and opportunities to comment are available at https:// www.psitravelmanagement.org/.

The Fremont and Winema Resource Advisory Committee (RAC) will meet in Lakeview, Oregon. 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:// facadatabase.gov/committee/committee.aspx?cid=2266&aid=171.

This Notice announces that the Rural Business-Cooperative Service (Agency) is accepting fiscal year (FY) 2016 applications for the Delta Health Care Services Grant (DHCS) Program as authorized by the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2016. Approximately $4,385,600.00 is available to be competitively awarded. The purpose of this program is to provide financial assistance to address the continued unmet health needs in the Delta Region through cooperation among health care professionals, institutions of higher education, research institutions and economic development entities in the Delta Region. The Agency is encouraging applications that direct grants to projects based in or serving census tracts with poverty rates greater than or equal to 20 percent. This emphasis will support Rural Development's (RD) mission of improving the quality of life for Rural Americans and its commitment to directing resources to those who most need them.

The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) hereby gives notice that no changes will be made to the current distribution of domestic National Dairy Promotion and Research Board (Dairy Board) members in 12 regions as outlined in Section 1150.131(b) of the Dairy Research and Promotion Order (Dairy Order). The Dairy Order provides that the Dairy Board shall review the geographic distribution of milk production throughout the United States (U.S.) and, if warranted, shall recommend to the Secretary a reapportionment of the regions and/or modification of the number of domestic members from the regions in order to better reflect the geographic distribution of milk production volumes in the U.S. The number of domestic Dairy Board members was last modified in 2011 based on 2010 U.S. milk production.

Notice is hereby given that the comment period on the proposed rule to increase the assessment rate for California almonds under Marketing Order No. 981 (order) is reopened until October 12, 2016. The proposed rule would implement a recommendation from the Almond Board of California (Board) to increase the assessment rate established for the 2016-17 through the 2018-19 crop years from $0.03 to $0.04 per pound of almonds handled under the marketing order (order). Of the $0.04 per pound assessment, 60 percent (or $0.024 per pound) would be available as credit-back for handlers who conduct their own promotional activities.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice announces the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service's intention to request a revision to and extension of approval of an information collection associated with the regulations for the interstate movement of horses that have tested positive for equine infectious anemia.

The Nez PerceClearwater National Forests is proposing to charge fees at the following sites:

The Yakutat Resource Advisory Committee (RAC) will meet in Yakutat, Alaska. 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=001t0000002JcvkAAC.

The Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) revises the regulations governing the award of agricultural commodities and financial and technical assistance to recipients under the McGovern-Dole International Food for Education and Child Nutrition (McGovern-Dole) Program. This revision is necessary to clarify requirements for applicants for, and recipients of, awards under the McGovern-Dole Program and to inform interested parties that the OMB guidance on Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards, as supplemented by USDA regulations, applies to awards under the McGovern-Dole Program other than awards to foreign public entities. The revised regulations will enable applicants and recipients to better understand program requirements and FAS to more effectively implement the McGovern-Dole Program.

In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as amended (NEPA), the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service (USFS), Caribou-Targhee National Forest (CTNF), have prepared a Final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the proposed Rasmussen Valley Phosphate Mine, and by this Notice are announcing the opening of the review and availability of the document. A Draft USFS Record of Decision (ROD) is also available for review and objection as described in the Summary section.

The Prince William Sound Resource Advisory Committee (RAC) will meet in Cordova, Alaska. 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/main/pts/specialprojects/racweb.

Pursuant to the Federal Advisory Committee Act, the Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) is announcing a meeting of the Fruit and Vegetable Industry Advisory Committee (Committee). The meeting is being convened to examine the full spectrum of fruit and vegetable industry issues and to provide recommendations and ideas to the Secretary of Agriculture on how the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) can tailor programs and services to better meet the needs of the U.S. produce industry. The meeting is open to the public. This notice sets forth the schedule and location for the meeting.

The Eastern Washington Cascades Provincial Advisory Committee (PAC) will meet in Wenatchee, Washington. The committee is authorized pursuant to the implementation of E-19 of the Record of Decision and operates in compliance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act. The purpose of the committee is to provide advice and make recommendations to promote a better integration of forest management activities between Federal and non-Federal entities to ensure that such activities are complementary. PAC information can be found at the following Web site: https://www.fs.usda.gov/main/okawen/workingtogether/advisoryco mmittees.

The United States Forest Service (Forest Service), Medicine Bow-Routt National Forests and Thunder Basin National Grassland (MBRTB), is preparing an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to consider and disclose the anticipated environmental effects of implementing projects proposed by Steamboat Ski and Resort Corporation (SSRC) at Steamboat Ski Resort (Steamboat). The proposal would occur within the resort's existing Special Use Permit area (Permit Boundary) that is located on National Forest System (NFS) lands, and would be consistent with the 2011 Steamboat Master Development Plan Amendment (MDPA). These projects are proposed to improve the quality of guest services, increase operational efficiencies, and enhance the recreation experience for all skier ability levels.

Foresthill Public Utility District (Foresthill) has submitted an application to the Tahoe National Forest (TNF) to amend their existing Special Use Permit (Permit) for Sugar Pine Dam and Reservoir (Sugar Pine Project) to increase water storage capacity of the reservoir and improve the stability of Foresthill's water supply by installing radial steel gates in the spillway of the dam. Installation of the radial gates would increase water storage capacity by 3,950 acre-feet (AF) up from 6,922 AF currently to 10,872 AF after installation; the maximum surface elevation of the reservoir would rise 20 vertical feet and inundate approximately 44 additional acres of NFS lands. The surface area of the reservoir would increase from 160 acres to approximately 204 acres if the project is implemented. Important NFS resources would be impacted by the project; popular reservoir recreation facilities would be inundated along with habitat for plants and wildlife, including habitat for Forest Service Sensitive Species.

The Tehama County Resource Advisory Committee (RAC) will meet in Red Bluff, California. 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/main/pts/specialprojects/racweb.

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, including the meeting summary/minutes, can be found by visiting the Board's Web site at: https://www.fs.usda.gov/main/blackhills/ workingtogether/advisorycommittees.

The USDA Forest Service will prepare a Supplement to the Greater Red Lodge Vegetation and Habitat Management Project Final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to address the Forest Service's recent analysis and to determine whether a change in the Records of Decision are required.