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

We are advising the public of our decision to concur with the World Organization for Animal Health's (OIE) bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) risk designations for Ecuador and Serbia. The OIE recognizes Ecuador as being of controlled risk for BSE and Serbia as being of negligible risk for BSE. We are taking this action based on our review of information supporting the OIE's risk designations for these regions.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice invites the general public and other public agencies to comment on the proposed information collection for the Annual State Report of Verification of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Participation. This is a revision of a currently approved information collection request. The purpose of the Annual State Report of Verification of SNAP Participants is to ensure that no person who is deceased, or has been permanently disqualified from SNAP, improperly received SNAP benefits for the fiscal year preceding the report submission. Section 4032 of the Agricultural Act of 2014 is the basis for this collection. Section 4032 mandates that States will ``submit to the Secretary a report containing sufficient information for the Secretary to determine whether the State agency has, for the most recently concluded fiscal year preceding that annual date, verified that the State agency in that fiscal year (1) did not issue benefits to a deceased individual; and (2) did not issue benefits to an individual who had been permanently disqualified from receiving benefits.'' An email from each State agency to the corresponding Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) Regional SNAP Program Director containing the answers to the above questions will be used as the mechanism for State agencies to report their compliance with the Agriculture Act of 2014.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice announces the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service's intention to request a revision to and extension of approval of an information collection associated with the regulations to prevent the introduction or spread of foreign plant pests and diseases into or within the United States.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice announces the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service's (APHIS') intention to request an extension of approval of an information collection associated with the use of contract pilots and aircraft in APHIS' Plant Protection and Quarantine domestic, emergency, and biological control programs.

Pursuant to the provisions of the rules and regulations of the Department of Agriculture and the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA), the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is announcing a virtual meeting of the National Advisory Committee on Meat and Poultry Inspection (NACMPI). The purpose of the Committee is to provide advice to the Secretary of Agriculture concerning State and Federal programs with respect to meat, poultry and processed egg products inspection, food safety, and other matters that fall within the scope of the Federal Meat Inspection Act (FMIA), and the Poultry Products Inspection Act (PPIA). The committee will convene virtually on September 27 and 28, 2021, in a public meeting where FSIS will present two sets of charges to the Committee: (1) To consider how FSIS should clarify the Agency's positions on the custom and retail exemptions to ensure that meat, poultry, and egg products produced under the exemptions are safe, wholesome, and correctly labeled and packaged and (2) to consider actions FSIS should take to prevent and reduce illnesses associated with the handling or consumption of frozen, raw, stuffed not ready-to- eat (NRTE) poultry products, which may be breaded and par-fried and may appear ready-to-eat (RTE) to consumers.

The Daniel Boone Resource Advisory Committee (RAC) will hold a virtual meeting by phone and/or video conference. 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 as well as make recommendations on recreation fee proposals for sites on the Daniel Boone National Forest, consistent with the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act (FLREA). RAC information and virtual meeting information can be found at the following website: https://www.fs.usda.gov/main/dbnf/workingtogether/ advisorycommittees.

The Northern Utah Resource Advisory Committee (RAC) will hold a virtual meeting by phone and/or video conference. 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 as well as make recommendations on recreation fee proposals for sites on Ashley and Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forests, consistent with the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act. RAC information and meeting information can be found at the following website: https://www.fs.usda.gov/ashley/and https://www.fs.usda.gov/ uwcnf.

The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) is amending the Cotton Board Rules and Regulations, decreasing the value assigned to imported cotton for the purposes of calculating supplemental assessments collected for use by the Cotton Research and Promotion Program. This amendment is required each year to ensure that assessments collected on imported cotton and the cotton content of imported products will be the same as those paid on domestically produced cotton. In addition, AMS is updating the Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTS) statistical reporting numbers that were amended since the last assessment adjustment in 2020.

This proposed rule would implement a recommendation from the California Date Administrative Committee to increase the assessment rate for the 2020-21 and subsequent crop years. The assessment rate would remain in effect indefinitely unless modified, suspended, or terminated.

The USDA Forest Service is revising the Land Management Plan (LMP) for the Manti-La Sal National Forest and preparing an environmental impact statement (EIS). This notice describes the documents available for review and how to obtain them; summarizes the need for change to the existing LMP; identifies where a preliminary draft LMP (detailed proposed action) can be obtained; provides information concerning public participation and collaboration, including the process for submitting comments; provides an estimated schedule for the planning process, including the time available for comments; and includes the names and addresses of agency contacts who can provide additional information.

The Office of the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (the Secretary) is providing notice of an increase in the fiscal year (FY) 2021 raw cane sugar tariff-rate quota (TRQ) of 90,100 metric tons raw value (MTRV) and an extension of the TRQ entry period.

The Rural Business-Cooperative Service (RBCS) is hosting a listening session and opening a request for information for public input about the Value-Added Producer Grant (VAPG) program. The VAPG program helps agricultural producers enter into value-added activities related to the processing and marketing of new products. The goals of this program are to generate new products, create and expand marketing opportunities, and increase producer income. RBCS is currently considering how it can streamline the application process, clarify eligibility requirements concerning food safety, reduce the burden for meeting requirements, and implement such requirements.

The Rural Business-Cooperative Service (RBCS) is hosting a listening session and opening a request for information for public input about the Agriculture Innovation Center Demonstration (AIC) Program. The AIC program provides grants to Centers that provide services to agricultural producers to assist them with marketing value- added agricultural products. RBCS is currently considering how it can streamline the application process, clarify eligibility requirements and reduce the burden for meeting them, revise the merit review process, and assess the program's performance.

This proposed rule would implement an Avocado Administrative Committee recommendation to increase the assessment rate established for the 2021-22 and subsequent fiscal years. The proposed assessment rate would remain in effect indefinitely unless modified, suspended, or terminated.

The Caribou-Targhee National Forest will be implementing a new $95 per night, expanded amenity recreation fee for Jensen Cabin. The Federal Recreation Lands Enhancement Act directed the Secretary of Agriculture to publish a six-month advance notice in the Federal Register whenever new recreation fee areas are established. An analysis of the nearby private rental cabins with similar amenities shows that the proposed fees are reasonable and typical of similar sites in the area.

The Ketchikan Resource Advisory Committee (RAC) will hold a virtual meeting by phone and/or video conference. 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 as well as make recommendations on recreation fee proposals for sites on the Tongass National Forest within Ketchikan Borough, consistent with the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act.

The Siskiyou County Resource Advisory Committee (RAC) will meet virtually via Microsoft Teams. 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/main/klamath/workingtogether/advisorycommitte es.

The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) of the Department of Agriculture (USDA) is revising the U.S. Standards for Grades of Watermelons. Changes will provide a common language for trade of watermelons.

We are advising the public of our decision to revise the requirements for the importation of citrus from Australia in order to authorize the importation into the continental United States of citrus from additional areas of production. Based on the findings of a pest risk analysis, which we made available to the public for review and comment through a previous notice, 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 citrus from these additional authorized areas of production in Australia.

We are advising the public that the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service has prepared a draft plant pest risk assessment and draft environmental assessment regarding a request from BASF Corporation seeking a determination of nonregulated status for soybean event GMB151, which has been developed using genetic engineering for resistance to the plant-parasitic nematode, soybean cyst nematode (Heterodera glycines), and for tolerance to 4-hydroxyphenylpyruvate dioxygenase (HPPD-4) inhibitor herbicides. We are making these documents available for public review and comment.

On June 24, 2021, the Federal Crop Insurance Corporation revised the Common Crop Insurance Regulations; Dry Pea and Dry Beans Crop Insurance Provisions. That final rule inadvertently omitted the term ``you'' in the Dry Beans Crop Insurance Provisions and is being added in this correction.

This rule implements a recommendation from the Prune Marketing Committee to increase the assessment rate established for the 2020-21 and subsequent crop years. The assessment rate will remain in effect indefinitely unless modified, suspended, or terminated.

This proposed rule would change the maturity requirements currently prescribed under the Florida avocado marketing order. The order regulates the handling of avocados grown in South Florida and is administered locally by the Avocado Administrative Committee (Committee). The proposed change would establish beginning and end dates for the annual maturity shipping schedule. A corresponding change would be made to the avocado import regulation as required under section 8e of the Agricultural Marketing Agreement Act of 1937.

The Rural Housing Service (RHS), a Rural Development agency of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), announces the availability of up to $500 million in grant funding, appropriated under the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, for the establishment of the Emergency Rural Health Care (ERHC) Grant Program. As authorized under Section 1002 of the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, funds will be made available and distributed between two tracks of funding to eligible applicants: Track One, Recovery grants to offer support for rural health care services in the form of immediate relief to address the economic conditions arising from the COVID-19 emergency; and Track Two, Impact grants to offer longer-term funding to advance ideas and solutions to support long-term sustainability of rural health.