Department of Agriculture 2019 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) is temporarily extending the South Carolina Department of Agriculture's (SCDA) designation as provider of Federal Grain Inspection Service (FGIS) official services for the State of South Carolina, until December 31, 2019. AMS administers FGIS programs.

This action delays, from October 1, 2019 until October 1, 2021, the implementation date of the ``ounce equivalents'' requirement for crediting grains served in the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP). The final rule, Child and Adult Care Food Program: Meal Pattern Revisions Related to the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010, published on April 25, 2016, specified that meal planners must use ounce equivalents to determine the amount of creditable grain served as part of a reimbursable meal or snack. A two-year extension allows more time for FNS to develop additional technical assistance materials and for State agencies and sponsoring organizations to provide training and technical assistance to support meal planners and assure compliance nationwide. This action is consistent with FNS' efforts to provide excellent customer service as we work with State and local partners to ensure high quality, nutritious meals for children and adult participants in CACFP. This action also applies to the crediting of grains served to infants and toddlers in the National School Lunch and School Breakfast Programs. In addition, this rule makes a technical correction to the application for free and reduced-price meals for adult CACFP participants.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service (Agency), is proposing to amend its existing regulations to implement part of Title VIII, Subtitle G, Section 8705, of the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018, which requires regulations that streamline the Agency's procedures for evaluating applications to locate or modify communications facilities on National Forest System (NFS) lands.

This rule changes the membership, nominations, procedures, and continuance referenda period for the Softwood Lumber Board (Board) established under the Softwood Lumber Research, Promotion, Consumer Education and Industry Information Order (Order). The Board administers the Order with oversight by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). This action will also make administrative changes to other provisions of the Order.

We are advising the public that we have prepared an environmental assessment and finding of no significant impact relative to the release of the hoverfly Cheilosia urbana for the biological control of hawkweeds (Pilosella species), a significant invasive weed, within the contiguous United States. Based on our finding of no significant impact, we have determined that an environmental impact statement need not be prepared.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice announces the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service's intention to request an extension of approval of an information collection associated with the regulations for the importation of pork- filled pasta products into the United States.

This proposed rule would implement a recommendation from the Prune Marketing Committee (Committee) to decrease the assessment rate established for the 2019-20 and subsequent crop years from $0.28 to $0.25 per ton of salable dried prunes. The assessment rate would remain in effect indefinitely unless modified, suspended, or terminated.

The Ketchikan Resource Advisory Committee (RAC) will meet in Ketchikan, 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 website: https://cloudapps-usda- gov.secure.force.com/FSSRS/RAC_Page?id=001t0000002JcvNAAS.

The Lynn Canal-Icy Strait Resource Advisory Committee (RAC) will meet by teleconference call. 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://cloudapps- usda-gov.secure.force.com/FSSRS/RAC_Page?id=001t0000002JcwQAA S.

In December 2018, the USDA Forest Service (Forest Service), Tongass National Forest, received a proposal from Coeur Alaska, Inc. (Coeur Alaska), the owner/operator of the Kensington Gold Mine (Mine), to amend the 2005 Plan of Operations. This proposed life of mine extension, as described in Coeur Alaska's proposed Plan of Operations Amendment 1 (POA 1), would expand the disturbance area currently approved by the Forest Service under the 2004 Kensington Gold Project Final Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS). To assess Coeur Alaska's proposed POA 1, the Forest Service will prepare a new SEIS. This notice advises the public that the Tongass National Forest is gathering information necessary to prepare an SEIS to evaluate the effects of changing the Plan of Operations via Coeur Alaska's proposed POA 1.

We are advising the public that we have prepared commodity import evaluation documents (CIEDs) relative to the importation into the United States of Unshu oranges from Japan. Currently, Unshu oranges imported into the United States from the islands of Shikoku or Honshu must be fumigated with methyl bromide as a mitigation for mites and mealybugs if the oranges are destined to a port of entry in Arizona, California, Florida, Hawaii, Louisiana, or Texas. Additionally, Unshu oranges from the island of Kyushu are prohibited entry into Arizona, California, Florida, Hawaii, or Texas. Based on the findings of the CIEDs, we are proposing to remove the fumigation requirement for Unshu oranges from the islands of Honshu and Shikoku and to allow Unshu oranges from the island of Kyushu to be imported into any port of entry in the United States (excluding territories). We are making the CIEDs available to the public for review and comment.

We are advising the public that we have added Laos to the list of regions that the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service considers to be affected with African swine fever (ASF). We have taken this action because of confirmation of ASF in Laos.

The Siskiyou (OR) Resource Advisory Committee (RAC) will meet in Medford, 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 website: https://cloudapps-usda-gov.force.com/ FSSRS/RAC_Page?id=001t0000002JcvCAAS.

We are proposing to amend our regulations to remove the domestic pine shoot beetle (PSB) quarantine and to eliminate the restrictions that apply to the importation of PSB host material from Canada. We have prepared an analysis of regulatory options, which we are making available for public review and comment, that evaluates the effectiveness of the regulatory program in slowing the spread of the pest and reducing damages. This action would provide flexibility to the States as they manage PSB, would allow Federal resources spent on this program to be allocated elsewhere, and would remove PSB-related interstate movement and importation restrictions on PSB regulated articles.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) is amending its regulations governing the voluntary grading and certification relating to meats, prepared meats, meat products, shell eggs, poultry products, and rabbit products. Amendments include changing terminology to scheduled and non-scheduled, billing of holidays, billing excessive hours over and above agreement hours, and removing the administrative volume charge. Amendments will standardize and align billing practices for services provided by the Livestock and Poultry Program.

We are advising the public of our decision to authorize the importation into the continental United States of fresh cape gooseberry fruit from Ecuador. Based on the findings of a pest risk analysis, which we made available to the public for review and comment, we have determined that the application of one or more designated phytosanitary measures will be sufficient to mitigate the risks of introducing or disseminating plant pests or noxious weeds via the importation of fresh cape gooseberry fruit from Ecuador.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 and the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) regulations, this notice announces the National Agricultural Library's (NAL) intent to request renewal of an information collection to obtain an evaluation of user satisfaction with NAL internet sites.

The Lolo National Forest is proposing to charge new fees at four day-use sites, three recreation rental facilities and seven campgrounds across the Forest as described in the supplementary section of this notice. All sites have had recent upgrades and new or improved amenities added to improve the services and recreation experiences. The Driveway Peak lookout is being moved from its current location on Priscilla Peak to a more accessible location on Driveway Peak. Fees are assessed based on the level of amenities and services provided, cost of operation and maintenance, market assessment, and public comment. Funds from these fees will be used for continued operation, maintenance and capital improvements to these recreation sites. These new fees would align the sites with other sites offering similar amenities and services. These fees are only proposed and will be determined upon further analysis and public comment.

We are correcting an error in a notice published in the Federal Register on August 6, 2019, which announced a forthcoming National Wildlife Services Committee meeting. We provided an incorrect arrival time for attendees. This document corrects that error. The meeting will still begin at 8 a.m. and end at 5 p.m. on September 18 and 19, 2019.

This rule establishes provisions for providing agricultural disaster assistance as authorized by the Additional Supplemental Appropriations for Disaster Relief Act, 2019 (Disaster Relief Act). The Wildfire and Hurricane Indemnity Program Plus (WHIP+) will provide payments to eligible producers who suffered eligible crop, tree, bush, and vine losses resulting from hurricanes, floods, tornadoes, typhoons, volcanic activity, snowstorms, and wildfires that occurred in the 2018 and 2019 calendar years. The On-Farm Storage Loss Program will provide payments to eligible producers who suffered uncompensated losses of harvested commodities stored in farm structures as a result of hurricanes, floods, tornadoes, typhoons, volcanic activity, snowstorms, and wildfires that occurred in the 2018 and 2019 calendar years. The Wildfire and Hurricane Indemnity Program (WHIP) Milk Loss Program will provide payments to eligible dairy operations for milk that was dumped or removed without compensation from the commercial milk market due to hurricanes, floods, tornadoes, typhoons, volcanic activity, snowstorms, and wildfires that occurred in the 2018 and 2019 calendar years. This rule specifies the administrative provisions, eligibility requirements, application procedures, and payment calculations for WHIP+, On-Farm Storage Loss Program, and WHIP Milk Loss Program. As required by the Disaster Relief Act, this rule also expands eligibility for 2017 WHIP to include losses incurred from Tropical Storm Cindy, losses of peach and blueberry crops in calendar year 2017 due to extreme cold, and blueberry productivity losses in calendar year 2018 due to extreme cold and hurricane damage in calendar year 2017. This rule updates the regulations for the Tree Assistance Program (TAP) to provide assistance for eligible orchardists or nursery tree growers of pecan trees with a tree mortality rate that exceeds 7.5 percent (adjusted for normal mortality) and is less than 15 percent (adjusted for normal mortality) for losses incurred in calendar year 2018. Prevented planting supplemental disaster payments will provide support to producers who were prevented from planting eligible crops for the 2019 crop year due to excess precipitation, flood, storm surge, tornado, volcanic activity, tropical depressions, hurricanes, and cyclones in the 2019 calendar year. This rule specifies the administrative provisions, eligibility requirements, and payment calculations for prevented planting supplemental disaster payments.

This notice lists the newspapers that will be used by the ranger districts, forests and regional office of the Intermountain Region to publish legal notices. The intended effect of this action is to inform interested members of the public which newspapers the Forest Service will use to publish notices of proposed actions and notices of decision. This will provide the public with constructive notice of Forest Service proposals and decisions, provide information on the procedures to comment, object or appeal, and establish the date that the Forest Service will use to determine if comments or appeals/ objections were timely.