Department of Agriculture 2022 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

In accordance with Section 3(d)(1) of the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act, the USDA Forest Service announces the completion and availability of a comprehensive river management plan (CRMP) for the Red Wild and Scenic River. A 19.4 mile segment of the Red River was designated by Congress in the Red River Designation Act of 1993, as a national wild and scenic river and managed by the Forest Service.

In accordance with the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act, the USDA Forest Service, Washington Office, is transmitting the final boundary of South Fork Roaring River National Wild and Scenic River to Congress. The South Fork Roaring River Wild and Scenic River boundary description is available for review on https://www.fs.usda.gov/main/mthood/ landmanagement/planning.

In accordance with Section 3(b) of the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act, the USDA Forest Service, Washington Office, is transmitting the final boundary of Middle Fork Hood River National Wild and Scenic River to Congress. The Middle Fork Hood River Wild and Scenic River boundary description is available for review on https://www.fs.usda.gov/main/ mthood/landmanagement/planning.

The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) is announcing designation awards of Amarillo Grain Exchange, Inc. (Amarillo); J.W. Barton Grain Inspection Service, Inc. (Barton); Cairo Grain Inspection Agency, Inc. (Cairo); Champaign-Danville Grain Inspection Departments, Inc. (Champaign); Detroit Grain Inspection Service, Inc. (Detroit); Eastern Iowa Grain Inspection and Weighing Service, Inc. (Eastern Iowa); Enid Grain Inspection Company, Inc. (Enid); Farwell Commodity and Grain Services, Inc. (Farwell Southwest); Fremont Grain Inspection Department, Inc. (Fremont); Keokuk Grain Inspection Service (Keokuk); Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry (Louisiana); Michigan Grain Inspection Services, Inc. (Michigan); Omaha Grain Inspection Service, Inc. (Omaha); Maryland Department of Agriculture (Maryland); North Carolina Department of Agriculture (North Carolina); North Dakota Grain Inspection Services, Inc. (North Dakota); Northeast Indiana Grain Inspection, Inc. (Northeast Indiana); Northern Plains Grain Inspection Service, Inc. (Northern Plains); Plainview Grain Inspection and Weighing Service, Inc. (Plainview); D. R. Schaal Agency, Inc. (Schaal); Sioux City Inspection and Weighing Service Company (Sioux City); State Grain Inspection, Inc. (State Grain); and Utah Department of Agriculture and Food (Utah) to provide official services under the United States Grain Standards Act (USGSA), as amended. The West Lafayette, Indiana area previously serviced by Titus Grain Inspection, Inc. (Titus), will now be serviced by two current official agencies: Champaign and North Dakota, as detailed below. AMS also announces that the designations of Plainview and Sioux City are amended to include Class X and Class Y weighing services.

The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) is announcing its decisions regarding proposed changes to its mycotoxin test kit performance criteria after evaluating public comments received during prior publications in the Federal Register (85 FR 82427 and 86 FR 10531).

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice announces the intention of the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) to request revision and extension of a currently approved information collection, the Cotton Ginning Survey. Revision to burden hours may be needed due to possible changes in the size of the target population, sampling design, and/or questionnaire length.

In accordance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act, this notice announces an invitation from the Office of the Secretary of Agriculture for nominations to the Advisory Committee on Agriculture Statistics. On September 22, 2021, the Secretary of Agriculture renewed the Advisory Committee charter for a two-year term to expire on September 21, 2023. The purpose of the Committee is to advise the Secretary of Agriculture on the scope, timing, content, etc., of the periodic censuses and surveys of agriculture, other related surveys, and the types of information to obtain from respondents concerning agriculture. The Committee also prepares recommendations regarding the content of agricultural reports and presents the views and needs for data of major suppliers and users of agricultural statistics.

The Sequoia National Forest is proposing to charge new fees at several recreation sites listed in SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION of this notice. Funds from fees would be used for operation, maintenance, and improvements of these recreation sites. An analysis of nearby developed recreation sites with similar amenities shows the proposed fees are reasonable and typical of similar sites in the area.

This proposal invites comments on updates to the Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTS) numbers for paper and paper-based packaging products in the Paper and Paper-Based Packaging Promotion, Research, and Information Order (Order). In addition, this action proposes new language that allows assessment collection to continue even if HTS numbers change in the future. The Paper and Packaging Board (Board) administers the Order with oversight by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).

This proposed rule would implement a recommendation from the Prune Marketing Committee (Committee) to increase the assessment rate established for the 2022-23 crop year and subsequent fiscal years. The proposed assessment rate would remain in effect indefinitely unless modified, suspended, or terminated.

Pursuant to the Pork Promotion, Research, and Consumer Information Act of 1985 (Act) and the Pork Promotion, Research, and Consumer Information Order (Order) thereunder, this rulemaking decreases the current rate of assessment of 0.40 percent of the market value of live porcine animals to 0.35 percent and decreases the amount of assessment per pound due on imported pork and pork products (one- to three-hundredths of a cent per pound). These reductions in assessment rates are made in response to the approximately 47 percent increase in 2021 in the average prices of live hogs above its 3-year average from 2018-2020 and reflect the National Pork Producers Delegate Body's (Delegate Body) desire to lessen the assessment burden on producers and make such funds available to pork producers and the industry. The adjustment in importer assessments also brings the equivalent market value of live animals from which imported pork and pork products are derived in line with the market value of domestic porcine animals. This action also updates the Harmonized Tariff Schedule number for prepared or preserved pork in the regulation.

USDA is providing public notice that the Secretary of Agriculture has determined that cost share payments made by the Florida's SOIRL Program are primarily for the purpose of conserving soil and water resources or protecting and restoring the environment. NRCS was assigned technical and administrative responsibility for reviewing Florida's SOIRL Program and for making appropriate recommendations for the Secretary's determination of primary purpose. The Secretary's determination permits recipients of cost share payments to exclude such payments from gross income to the extent allowed by the Internal Revenue Service.

The Forest Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, provides direction to employees through issuances in its Directive System, comprised of the Forest Service Manual and Forest Service Handbooks. The Agency must provide public notice of and opportunity to comment on any directives that formulate standards, criteria, or guidelines applicable to Forest Service programs. Once per quarter, the Agency provides advance notice of proposed and interim directives that will be made available for public comment during the next three months and notice of final directives issued in the last three months.

The Rural Housing Service (RHS or the Agency), a Rural Development (RD) agency of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), is issuing this notice to waive two regulatory requirements for the Section 502 Direct and Guaranteed Manufactured Housing pilot program. The Agency's intention is to evaluate the existing regulations and remove regulatory barriers to assist eligible applicants with improved ease of use for very low- to moderate-income homeowners seeking to purchase affordable housing. The pilot also supports the current Administration's Housing Supply Action Plan which seeks to boost new financing mechanisms to build and supply quality affordable housing units. This notice briefly discusses the continuation of the existing waivers and provides contact information for additional details about the pilot program.

The Department of Agriculture, as part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, is announcing an opportunity for public comment on a new proposed collection of information by the Agency. Under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), Federal Agencies are required to publish notice in the Federal Register concerning each proposed collection of information, and to allow 60 days for public comment in response to the notice. This notice solicits comments on new collection proposed by the Agency.

The Alpine County Resource Advisory Committee (RAC) will hold a public meeting according to the details shown below. 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 Title II of the Act, as well as make recommendations on recreation fee proposals for sites on the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest within Alpine County, California, consistent with the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act.

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 case-control study on highly pathogenic avian influenza in U.S. commercial poultry flocks.

In keeping with ongoing efforts to increase the number of small and underserved businesses participating in the USDA food procurement program, as well as increasing access to culturally appropriate foods, the Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) is seeking public input on perceived barriers that small businesses, those owned by underserved businesses, and providers of organic, kosher, and halal agricultural products face in working with AMS' Commodity Procurement Program (CPP). This input will be used to update CPP's Small Business and New Vendor Strategy as appropriate.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice announces the intention of the Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) to request approval for an existing collection in use without an OMB control number for the Borlaug Fellowship Program.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice announces the intention of the Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) to request approval for an existing collection in use without an Office of Management and Budget (OMB) control number for the Scientific Cooperation Research Program.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice announces the intention of the Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) to request approval for an existing collection in use without an Office of Management and Budget (OMB) control number for the International Agricultural Education Fellowship Program.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) intends to request approval for an existing information collection in use without an Office of Management and Budget (OMB) control number for the Embassy Science Fellows Program.

The Northeast Oregon Forests Resource Advisory Committee (RAC) will hold a public meeting according to the details shown below. 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).