Department of Agriculture March 2021 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

This agenda provides summary descriptions of the significant and not significant regulatory and deregulatory actions being developed in agencies of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) in conformance with Executive Orders (E.O.) 12866 ``Regulatory Planning and Review,'' 13771 ``Reducing Regulation and Controlling Regulatory Costs,'' 13777, ``Enforcing the Regulatory Reform Agenda,'' and 13563, ``Improving Regulation and Regulatory Review.'' The agenda also describes regulations affecting small entities as required by section 602 of the Regulatory Flexibility Act, Public Law 96-354. This agenda also identifies regulatory actions that are being reviewed in compliance with section 610(c) of the Regulatory Flexibility Act. We invite public comment on those actions as well as any regulation consistent with Executive Order 13563. USDA has attempted to list all regulations and regulatory reviews pending at the time of publication except for minor and routine or repetitive actions, but some may have been inadvertently missed. There is no legal significance to the omission of an item from this listing. Also, the dates shown for the steps of each action are estimated and are not commitments to act on or by the date shown. USDA's complete regulatory agenda is available online at www.reginfo.gov. Because publication in the Federal Register is mandated for the regulatory flexibility agendas required by the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 602), USDA's printed agenda entries include only: (1) Rules that are likely to have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities; and (2) Rules identified for periodic review under section 610 of the Regulatory Flexibility Act. For this edition of the USDA regulatory agenda, the most important regulatory and deregulatory actions are summarized in a Statement of Regulatory Priorities that is included in the Regulatory Plan, which appears in both the online regulatory agenda and in part II of the Federal Register that includes the abbreviated regulatory agenda.

The Rural Business-Cooperative Service (RBCS) is requesting public input from interested parties and hosting a listening session on a new Rural Energy Pilot Program. The RBCS is exploring options to provide financial assistance for rural communities to further develop renewable energy; as authorized in The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021. Additionally, RBCS requests input regarding the purposes, goals, participants, technologies, and community impacts of the Rural Energy Pilot Program.

This final rule amends Marketing Order No. 984, which regulates the handling of walnuts grown in California. The amendments were proposed by the California Walnut Board (Board) and add the authority for the Board to provide credit for certain market promotion expenses paid by handlers against their annual assessments due under the Order and establish requirements to effectuate the new authority. In addition, the Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) made necessary changes to conform to the amendments adopted.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice announces the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service's (AMS) intent to request approval from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for an extension of and revision to the currently approved information collection used in support of the Regulations Governing the Inspection of Eggs (as authorized by the Egg Products Inspection Act (EPIA)), which is commonly referred to as the Shell Egg Surveillance Program (OMB: 0581-0113).

This proposed rule would implement a recommendation from the California Desert Grape Administrative Committee (Committee) to increase the assessment rate established for the 2021 and subsequent fiscal periods. The proposed assessment rate would remain in effect indefinitely unless modified, suspended, or terminated.

We are advising the public that we have added India 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 India.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice announces that NRCS will request an extension for a currently approved information collection for Long-Term Contracting forms.

The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Wisconsin State Office announces its intent to prepare an EIS for the Coon Creek Watershed Project in the proximity of Cashton, Westby, Bloomingdale, Coon Valley, and Chaseburg, Wisconsin. NRCS is requesting comments to identify significant issues and alternative to be addressed in the EIS from all interested all interested individuals. The EIS process will examine existing flood control measures and evaluate additional (new) alternatives identified during scoping.

This final rule modifies the handling regulation prescribed under the Federal marketing order regulating the handling of pears grown in Oregon and Washington.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 and the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) regulations, the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is announcing its intention to revise the approved information collection regarding its Consumer Complaint Monitoring System (CCMS) web portal. The Agency has increased the burden estimate by 575 hours due to increased use of the Agency's updated, more user-friendly web portal that supports more direct communication. The approval for this information collection will expire on September 30, 2021.

The U.S Codex Office is sponsoring a public meeting on April 12, 2021. The objective of the public meeting is to provide information and receive public comments on agenda items and draft United States (U.S.) positions to be discussed at the 14th Session of the Codex Committee on Contaminants in Foods (CCCF) of the Codex Alimentarius Commission. The U.S. Manager for Codex Alimentarius and the Acting Deputy Under Secretary for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs recognize the importance of providing interested parties the opportunity to obtain background information on the 14th Session of the CCCF and to address items on the agenda.

The Lincoln 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. RAC information can be found at the following website: https://www.fs.usda.gov/pts.

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.

The El Dorado County Resource Advisory Committee (RAC) will hold a series of virtual meetings. 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 (FACA). 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 the Act. RAC information can be found at the following website: https:// www.fs.usda.gov/main/eldorado/workingtogether/advisorycommitt ees.

The U.S. Codex Office is sponsoring a public meeting on May 11, 2021. The objective of the public meeting is to provide information and receive public comments on agenda items and draft United States (U.S.) positions to be discussed at the 52nd Session of the Codex Committee on Food Additives (CCFA) of the Codex Alimentarius Commission. The U.S. Manager for Codex Alimentarius and the Acting Under Secretary for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs recognize the importance of providing interested parties the opportunity to obtain background information on the 52nd Session of the CCFA and to address items on the agenda.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice announces the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service's intention to request approval of a new information collection associated with the National Animal Health Monitoring System's On-Farm Monitoring of Antimicrobial Use and Resistance in U.S. Broiler Production Study.

We are advising the public that we have added the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste 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 the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste.

The Rural Utilities Service (RUS) announces its intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) and hold a virtual public scoping meeting in connection with possible impacts related to the Skeleton Creek Solar and Battery Storage Project (Project) proposed by NextEra Energy Resources (NextEra or Applicant). The Project will consist of a 250-megawatt (MW) solar array, plus 200-MW/800-megawatt- hour (MWh) storage facility using photovoltaic (PV) modules on private lands in Garfield County, Oklahoma. NextEra is seeking federal loan financing from RUS to support construction of the Project. RUS has determined that a loan for the Project would be a federal action and is, therefore, subject to National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) review, with RUS as the lead federal agency, for preparation of the EIS.

As part of a Federal Government-wide effort to streamline the process to seek feedback from the public on service delivery, the Department of Agriculture (USDA), the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has submitted a Generic Information Collection Request (Generic ICR): ``Generic Clearance for the Collection of Qualitative Feedback on Agency Service Delivery'' to OMB for approval under the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA).

The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) of the Department of Agriculture (USDA) has revised the U.S. Standards for Grades of Frozen Corn on the Cob.