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

The final rule entitled Employment and Training Opportunities in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program was published on January 5, 2021. The Office of Management and Budget cleared the associated information collection requirements (ICR) on March 16, 2021. This document announces approval of the ICR.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice announces the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Agricultural Marketing Service's (AMS) intention to request approval from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), for a new information collection used in support of the voluntary grading and certification of meat, meat products, shell eggs, poultry products, rabbit products, and Quality Systems Verification Programs. One new form is introduced in this information collection. The new form, LP-109A requests respondents accounts payable contact information used in facilitating billing administration.

This notice is announcing that the National Advisory Committee on Microbiological Criteria for Foods (NACMCF) will hold a public meeting of the full Committee on April 22, 2021. The Committee will discuss and vote on adopting the following two reports: Microbiological testing by industry of ready-to-eat foods under FDA's jurisdiction for pathogens (or appropriate indicator organisms): Verification of prevention controls and The Use of Water in Animal Production, Slaughter and Processing.

This notice advises the public of the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service's record of decision for the final environmental impact statement titled ``Revisions to USDA-APHIS 7 CFR part 340 Regulations Governing the Importation, Interstate Movement, and Environmental Release of Certain Genetically Engineered Organisms.''

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, FSA is requesting comments from interested individuals and organizations on an extension of a currently approved information collection request associated with the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP 2.0).

The Office of the Secretary of the Department of Agriculture (the Secretary) is providing notice of a change in the opening date for the fifth tranche of fiscal year (FY) 2021 (October 1, 2020-September 30, 2021) specialty sugar tariff-rate quota (TRQ). The fifth tranche, scheduled to open on July 15, will now open on April 5, 2021.

The United States Department of Agriculture has revised the final rule for the Community Forest and Open Space Program (Community Forest Program). The revisions included in this final rule will allow grant recipients to convey conservation easements to funding entities and, in some circumstances when consistent with the program's purposes, convey community forest land to other eligible entities. The final rule also clarifies the definitions of program-specific terms, streamlines the application process, and implements the Office of Management and Budgets (OMB)'s Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards.

The Rural-Business Cooperative Service (the Agency) announces the availability of two individual grants: One single $500,000 grant from the rural transportation funds appropriated for the Rural Business Development Grant (RBDG) program and another single $250,000 grant for Federally Recognized Native American Tribes (FRNATs) (collectively ``Programs'') from the funds appropriated for the RBDG program. Each grant is to be competitively awarded to an eligible applicant which is a qualified national non-profit organization. One grant is for the provision of technical assistance to rural transportation (RT) projects and the other grant will solely be for the provision of technical assistance to RT projects operated by FRNATs. All applicants are responsible for any expenses incurred in developing their applications.