Department of Agriculture 2022 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Hood-Willamette 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 Willamette and Mt. Hood National Forests, and the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area, consistent with the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act. General information and meeting details can be found at the following website: https://tinyurl.com/bde3dkp8.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 and Office of Management and Budget (OMB) regulations, FSIS is announcing its intention to renew the approved information collection regarding specified risk materials in cattle. The approval for this information collection will expire on March 31, 2023. FSIS is making no changes to the information collection.

The Federal Crop Insurance Corporation (FCIC) is amending its walnut crop insurance regulations to remove the minimum acreage insurability requirement. This change will align the insurability requirements for walnut crop insurance with other tree nut insurance policies. Many walnut producers also grow other tree nut crops. Having different insurability requirements for crop insurance for similar crops has created additional work and confusion for producers and their Approved Insurance Providers (AIP). Much like other tree nut policies, the Walnut Crop Provisions will continue to require that the producer has a share in the orchard, the trees be adapted to the area, grown in an orchard acceptable to the AIP if inspected, and meet a minimum age requirement. The remaining insurability requirements have proven to be effective underwriting controls in the other tree nut policies to ensure the walnut crop insurance program remains actuarially sound with this change. In aligning the insurability requirements for walnuts and similar crops, this change is expected to make it easier for producers to obtain walnut crop insurance.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice announces the intention of the Office of the Chief Information Security OfficerInformation Security CenterChief Privacy Office to request approval for a new information collection for an electronic Request and/or Consent for Privacy Records.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Housing Service (RHS or Agency) announces its' intention to request a revision of a currently approved information collection and invites comments on this information collection.

This proposed rule invites comments on a recommendation from the Washington Apricot Marketing Committee (Committee) to terminate the Federal marketing order regulating the handling of apricots grown in designated counties in Washington (Marketing Order No. 922). The Committee determined the marketing order is no longer necessary to maintain orderly marketing conditions and unanimously recommended its termination. Following the Committee's recommendation, the Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) suspended the remaining reporting and assessment collection requirements under the marketing order while it considered termination of the marketing order. After reviewing the Committee's recommendation and other information submitted, AMS determined that the marketing order no longer tends to effectuate the declared policy of the Agricultural Marketing Agreement Act of 1937. If implemented, this proposed rule would remove Marketing Order No. 922 from the Code of Federal Regulations.

The Shasta County Resource Advisory Committee (RAC) will hold three public meetings in November 2022 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. 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 to make recommendations on recreation fee proposals for sites on the Shasta-Trinity National Forest within Trinity County, consistent with the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act. RAC information and virtual meeting information can be found at the following website: https:// www.fs.usda.gov/main/stnf/workingtogether/advisorycommittees.

We are advising the public that we have prepared a pest risk assessment (PRA) and a commodity import evaluation document (CIED) relative to the importation into the United States of fresh table grapes from regions of Chile where European grapevine moth (Lobesia botrana, EGVM) is either absent or at very low prevalence. Chile grapes are currently subject to methyl bromide fumigation for EGVM and Chilean false red mite (Brevipalpus chilensis). Based on the PRA and the findings of the CIED, we are also proposing to authorize the importation of grapes from Chile under a systems approach or irradiation for EGVM and B. chilensis; current mitigation measures for Ceratitis capitata, or Medfly, would remain unchanged. We are making the PRA and CIED available to the public for review and comment.

The United States Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) plans to collect additional information from grant applicants for the second round of The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) Reach and Resiliency Grant applications and add reporting questions on a biannual basis. FNS already has OMB approval for collection of information associated with these grants under the Uniform Grant Application for Non-Entitlement Discretionary Grants, as approved under OMB Control Number: 0584-0512 (Expiration Date: July 31, 2025). This notice solicits public comment on the additional information proposed for collection.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Office of Inspector General (OIG) proposes to amend its systems of records by modifying six existing routine uses, adding one new routine use applicable to all systems of records, and making technical changes and corrections to its existing system of records notices. Based on these amendments, and to conform all system of records notices to the template prescribed by the Office of the Federal Register and the Office of Management and Budget, USDA OIG is re-publishing all of its system of records notices in their entirety.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice announces the Agricultural Marketing Service's (AMS) intention to request approval, from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), for a new information collection ``National Science Laboratories.''

The United States Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) is proposing revision to the U.S. Standards for Beans, pertaining to the grade determining factors Moisture and Contrasting Chickpeas in the class Chickpea/ Garbanzo Beans, under the United States Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946, as amended, (AMA). Stakeholders in the bean processing/handling industry requested AMS to amend the grading requirements for Moisture and Contrasting Chickpeas in Chickpea/Garbanzo Beans in the U.S. Bean Standards. To ensure that the bean standards remain relevant, AMS invites interested parties to comment on whether revising the Chickpea/ Garbanzo standard will facilitate the marketing of Chickpea/Garbanzo Beans. This action may revise or amend the table of Grades and Grade Requirements for Chickpea/Garbanzo Beans in the U.S. Standard for Beans.

On August 9, 2022, the Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) published proposed amendments to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) organic regulations, with a 60-day comment period ending on October 11, 2022. The proposed rule would amend organic livestock and poultry production requirements. In response to multiple requests, AMS is announcing an extension of the public comment period by an additional 30 calendar days.

We are advising the public of our decision to concur with the World Organization for Animal Health's (WOAH's) bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) risk designation for Ireland. The WOAH recognizes Ireland as being of negligible risk for BSE. We are taking this action based on our review of information supporting the WOAH's risk designation for Ireland.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Forest Service is seeking comments from all interested individuals and organizations on the revision of a currently approved information collection Disposal of Mineral Materials.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 and Office of Management and Budget (OMB) regulations, this notice announces the National Institute of Food and Agriculture's (NIFA) intention to request a new information collection titled ``Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR)/Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR)Programs Lifecycle Certification.''

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995, this notice invites the general public and other public agencies to comment on a proposed emergency information collection. The Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is requesting emergency approval under the Paperwork Reduction Act to conduct a survey of School Food Authorities to collect information on the continued impacts of COVID- 19-related supply chain disruptions on the Child Nutrition (CN) Programs, as well as emerging challenges related to the transition back to standard school nutrition program operations.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) is soliciting comments on proposed revisions to the regulations under the Packers and Stockyards Act, 1921. The proposal would prohibit certain prejudices against market-vulnerable individuals that tend to exclude or disadvantage covered producers in those markets. The proposal would identify retaliatory practices that interfere with lawful communications, assertion of rights, and associational participation, among other protected activities, as unjust discrimination prohibited by the law. The proposal would also identify unlawfully deceptive practices that violate the Packers and Stockyards Act with respect to contract formation, contract performance, contract termination, and contract refusal. The purpose of the rule is to promote inclusive competition and market integrity in the livestock, meats, poultry, and live poultry markets.

The Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 requires the Secretary of Agriculture to establish an interstate data system called the National Accuracy Clearinghouse (NAC) to prevent issuance of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits to an individual by more than one State agency simultaneously (also known as interstate duplicate participation). This interim final rule requires SNAP State agencies to provide information to the NAC regarding individuals receiving SNAP benefits in their States in order to ensure they are not already receiving benefits in another State. It also requires State agencies to take appropriate action with respect to each indication from the NAC that an individual may already be receiving SNAP benefits from another State agency. This rule aims to enhance Program integrity by reducing the risk of improper payments and improve customer service by incorporating best practices and lessons learned from the NAC pilot to require that State agencies take appropriate and timely action to resolve NAC matches. This rule also establishes safeguards to ensure households receive benefits for which they are eligible and are not incorrectly removed from the Program.