Department of Agriculture November 25, 2019 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

NRCS announces the availability of the FSEIS for the Little Otter Creek Watershed Plan (LOCWP), Caldwell County, Missouri, involving the proposed construction of a multi-purpose reservoir. The purpose of this supplement is to address changes which have occurred since NRCS prepared the LOCWP and Environmental Impact Statement in 2003. The FSEIS updates the original EIS with more recent relevant environmental information and expands the alternatives analysis beyond those previously considered. The FSEIS evaluates reasonable and practicable alternatives and their expected environmental impacts under the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) provisions of the Council on Environmental Quality.

The USDA is modifying the regulations implementing the export sales reporting requirements of Section 602 of the Agricultural Trade Act of 1978. The Export Sales Reporting Requirements regulations require exporters to report on a weekly basis information concerning quantity, country of destination, and other specified information related to export sales of beef and pork, among other commodities. USDA is adding a footnote to clarify the descriptions for ``fresh, chilled or frozen muscle cuts/whether or not boxed'' for beef and pork in the appendix to the regulations. The footnote includes an illustrative list of items that fall under these headings, such as carcasses and half- carcasses. This final rule clarifies the wording of the regulations to avoid potential confusion.

We are advising the public that we have determined that 26 taxa of plants for planting are quarantine pests, and that all Myrtaceae taxa (when destined to Hawaii), all subfamily Bambusoideae taxa, and 43 other taxa of plants for planting are hosts of 18 quarantine pests, and therefore should be added to our lists of taxa of plants for planting whose importation is not authorized pending pest risk analysis. We have prepared data sheets that detail the scientific evidence we evaluated in making the determination that the taxa are quarantine pests or hosts of quarantine pests. We are making these data sheets available to the public for review and comment.

The Shawnee National Forest is proposing to charge new fees at six recreation sites. All sites are highly developed day use sites with significant infrastructure. They provide amenities and special opportunities that are beyond those typical of Shawnee National Forest day use sites. Fees are assessed based on the level of amenities and services provided, cost of operation and maintenance, market assessment, and public comment. The fees listed are proposed and will be determined upon further analysis and public comment. Funds from fees would be used for the continued operation and maintenance of these recreation sites. An analysis of the nearby state and private recreation opportunities with similar amenities show that the proposed fees are reasonable for the area.