Department of Agriculture May 24, 2018 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Rural Utilities Service (RUS) is correcting a final rule with request for comment that appeared in the Federal Register on May 7, 2018, and is extending the comment period and delaying the effective date. The document amended regulations regarding its Policy on Audits to incorporate 2011 revisions to the Generally Accepted Government Auditing Standards (GAGAS) issued by the Government Accountability Office (GAO), the clarified audit standards issued by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) in 2011, and Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards, Subpart F, Audit Requirements, issued by the Office of Management and Budget on December 26, 2013, and adopted by USDA on December 26, 2014. The document also expanded and clarified the regulations to: Include grant recipients, amend peer review requirements, amend reporting requirements, expand the options for the electronic filing of audits, and clarify a number of existing audit requirements, and amended the title to reflect this change.

The Uinta-Wasatch-Cache Resource Advisory Committee (RAC) will meet in South Jordan, Utah. 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 website: https:// www.fs.usda.gov/main/uwcnf/workingtogether/advisorycommittees .

The Department of Agriculture (USDA), Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) has determined that the suspension of the assessment of fees for supervision of official inspection and weighing services performed by delegated States and/or designated agencies under the United States Grain Standards Act (USGSA) will continue through June 30, 2019.

We are amending the regulations that set out our National Environmental Policy Act implementing procedures. The amendments include clarifying the categories of actions for which we would normally complete an environmental impact statement or an environmental assessment for an action, as well as updating examples of categorically excluded actions and setting out an environmental documentation process that could be used in emergencies. The changes will serve to update the regulations and improve their clarity and effectiveness.