Department of Agriculture 2020 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) announces the reinstatement of the Agricultural Labor Survey previously scheduled for October 2020 and the associated publication previously scheduled for November 2020. NASS is reinstating the previously suspended information collection pursuant to a recent federal court order. See United Farm Workers v. Perdue, No. 20-cv-01452-DAD-JLT (E.D. Cal. Oct. 28, 2020) (order granting TRO and preliminary injunction).

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Forest Service, is seeking public comment on proposed directives implementing section 8630 of the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 (2018 Farm Bill). Section 8630 of the 2018 Farm Bill gives the Forest Service discretion to issue permits for conducting vegetation management pilot projects under lower liability standards to holders of an authorization for a powerline facility or natural gas pipeline on National Forest System (NFS) lands. These pilot projects may be conducted only on NFS lands that are not covered by the special use authorization for the powerline facility or natural gas pipeline.

This notice announces the Agricultural Marketing Service's (AMS) intention to request that the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approve a 3-year extension of a currently approved information collection for the ``Reporting and Recordkeeping Requirements under the United States Grain Standards Act (USGSA) and under the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 (AMA).'' This approval is required under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA).

The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) will host a virtual, open, public listening session with remote participation only, for public input about water quantity in the west as it relates to existing NRCS programs. There will not be any in-person gathering for this listening session.

Russell M. Bacon, Forest Supervisor for the Medicine Bow-Routt National Forests and Thunder Basin National Grassland, Rocky Mountain Region, signed the final Record of Decision (ROD) for the 2020 Thunder Basin National Grassland Land and Resource Management Plan Amendment (Grassland Plan amendment). The Final ROD documents the rationale for approving the Grassland Plan amendment and is consistent with the Reviewing Officer's response to objections and instructions.

The USDA, Forest Service (FS) published a notice of intent to prepare a Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS) to the 2017 Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) for the Mountain Valley Pipeline (MVP) and Equitrans Expansion Project in the Federal Register on July 30, 2020. The Notice of Intent (NOI) informed the public of the MVP project proposed action: To construct and operate a buried 42-inch natural gas pipeline across approximately 3.5 miles of the Jefferson National Forest (JNF). The NOI identified the FS as the lead agency and the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) as the Federal cooperating agency. A corrected NOI has been prepared to update the responsible official for the FS, to update the applicability of the FS predecisional administrative review process, and to update contacts for both parties.

We are advising the public that we have prepared a final environmental assessment and finding of no significant impact relative to the release of Aphalara itadori for the biological control of Japanese, Giant, and Bohemian knotweeds (Fallopia japonica, F. sachalinensis, and F. x bohemica), significant invasive weeds, 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 legislation implementing the results of the Uruguay Round of negotiations under the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade, we are informing the public of the international standard- setting activities of the World Organization for Animal Health, the Secretariat of the International Plant Protection Convention, and the North American Plant Protection Organization, and we are soliciting public comment on the standard-setting activities.

Notice is hereby given that the comment period for a notice for comment published in the Federal Register on September 29, 2020 is reopened. The publication invited comments on the revision to the method of interpretation for determining ``sample grade criteria,'' as it pertains to the class ``Blackeye beans,'' in the U.S. Standards for Beans under the United States Agricultural Marketing Act (AMA).

Notice is hereby given that the comment period for a notice for comment published in the Federal Register on September 29, 2020 is reopened. The publication invited comments on the revision to the method of interpretation for determining ``whole peas'' under the authority of the Agricultural Marketing Act (AMA).

The Rural Business-Cooperative Service (the Agency) Notice of Solicitation of Applications (NOSA) is being issued prior to passage of a final appropriations act to allow potential applicants time to submit applications for financial assistance under Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) for Federal Fiscal Year (FY) 2021 and give the Agency time to process applications within the current FY. This NOSA is being issued prior to enactment of full year appropriation for FY 2021. The Agency anticipates publishing a final rule for REAP later this year which will conform in part to the OneRD Guaranteed loan provisions published in the Federal Register on July 14, 2020 and will outline provisions as prescribed by the Agricultural Improvement Act of 2018 (Pub. L. 115-334), (2018 Farm Bill). It is the Agency's intention that the final REAP rule will codify REAP scoring criteria as outlined in this NOSA. All REAP applications competing for FY 2021 funding will be scored according to the scoring criteria listed in this NOSA. Applicants who have already filed REAP applications for FY 2021 will be allowed to provide additional information necessary for application scoring, and the modification will not be treated as a new application nor will it alter the submission date of record as noted in 4280.110(e). The Agency will publish the amount of funding received in any continuing resolution or the final appropriations act on its website at https://www.rd.usda.gov/newsroom/notices-solicitation- applications-nosas. Expenses incurred in developing applications will be at the applicant's risk. The REAP program has two types of funding assistance: (1) Renewable Energy Systems, Energy Efficiency Improvements and Energy Efficient Equipment and Systems Assistance and (2) Energy Audit and Renewable Energy Development Assistance Grants. The Renewable Energy Systems and Energy Efficiency Improvement Assistance provides grants and guaranteed loans to agricultural producers and rural small businesses to purchase and install renewable energy systems and make energy efficiency improvements to their operations. The Energy Efficient Equipment and Systems Assistance provisions were prescribed by the 2018 Farm Bill and provide guaranteed loans only to agricultural producers to purchase and install energy efficient equipment and systems for agricultural production and processing. Eligible renewable energy systems for REAP provide energy from: Wind, solar, renewable biomass (including anaerobic digesters and biogas), small hydro-electric, ocean, geothermal, or hydrogen derived from these renewable resources. Components and ancillary infrastructure of such renewable energy systems, such as a storage system, are also eligible. The Energy Audit and Renewable Energy Development Assistance Grant is available to a unit of State, Tribal, or local government; instrumentality of a State, Tribal, or local government; institution of higher education; rural electric cooperative; a public power entity; or a council, as defined in 16 U.S.C. 3451. The recipient of grant funds (grantee) will establish a program to assist agricultural producers and rural small businesses with evaluating the energy efficiency and the potential to incorporate renewable energy technologies into their operations.

This rulemaking proposes to codify three menu planning flexibilities established by the interim final rule titled, Child Nutrition Programs: Flexibilities for Milk, Whole Grains, and Sodium Requirements published November 30, 2017, and made permanent with some modifications by a final rule of the same title published December 12, 2018, hereafter referred to as the 2018 Final Rule. An April 2020 court decision vacated and remanded the 2018 Final Rule. In response to the vacatur and remand of the 2018 Final Rule, this rule proposes targeted changes to: Allow National School Lunch Program and School Breakfast Program operators to permanently offer flavored, low-fat milk as part of a reimbursable meal and for sale as a competitive beverage and allow flavored, low-fat milk in the Special Milk Program for Children and in the Child and Adult Care Food Program for participants ages 6 and older; allow for half of the weekly grains in the National School Lunch Program and School Breakfast Program menus to be whole grain-rich; and provide schools participating in the National School Lunch Program and School Breakfast Programs more time for gradual sodium reduction by retaining Sodium Target 1 through the end of school year (SY) 2023- 2024, continuing to Target 2 in SY 2024-2025, and eliminating the Final Target.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice announces the Foreign Agricultural Service's (FAS) intention to request a revision for currently approved information collections in support of the foreign donation of agricultural commodities under the section 416(b) program, the Food for Progress Program, and the McGovern-Dole International Food for Education and Child Nutrition Program.

The Black Hills Resource Advisory Committee (RAC) will conduct a virtual meeting. 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/detail/ blackhills/workingtogether/advisorycommittees/?cid=STELPRD380 7565.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice announces the Agricultural Marketing Service's (AMS) intention to request approval of a new collection, entitled: Agritourism Directory, from the Office of Management and Budget. Upon approval, we request that this collection be merged into OMB 0581-0169, Local Food Directories and Survey, which was approved January 29, 2020.

The Gallatin Resource Advisory Committee (RAC) will hold a virtual meeting. 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; and to make recommendations on recreation fee proposals for sites consistent with the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act. RAC information can be found at the following website: https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/ custergallatin/workingtogether/advisorycommittees/?cid=stelpr db5304491.

Notice is hereby given that the comment period for a notice for comment published in the Federal Register on September 29, 2020 is reopened. The publication invited comments on the revision to the method of interpretation for determining the special grade ``Green,'' as it pertains to the class ``Lentils,'' under the authority of the AMA.