Department of Agriculture October 2023 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) revises the regulation providing guidance for domestic manufacturers that consume Upland Cotton and voluntarily participate in the Economic Adjustment Assistance for Textile Mills Program. The revisions add definitions and codify certain participant responsibilities currently outlined in the existing user Agreement. The changes made by this rule are intended to strengthen management controls that have been added into the Agreement to prevent fraud, waste, and abuse. This action provides the necessary legal support for program administration.

The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) announces that the Draft Programmatic Environmental Assessment (PEA) for the Local Meat Capacity Grant Program (Local MCap) is available for public review and comments.

The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) will hold a public meeting of the Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production Advisory Committee (UAIPAC). UAIPAC will convene to discuss proposed recommendations for the Secretary of Agriculture on the development of policies and outreach relating to urban, indoor, and other emerging agriculture production practices. UAIPAC is authorized under the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 (2018 Farm Bill) and operates in compliance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act, as amended.

This proposed rule would implement a recommendation from the California Walnut Board (Board) to decrease the assessment rate established for the 2023-2024 and subsequent marketing years. The proposed assessment rate would remain in effect indefinitely unless modified, suspended, or terminated.

This notice is announcing that the National Advisory Committee on Microbiological Criteria for Foods (NACMCF) will hold a virtual public meeting from November 14, 2023, through November 16, 2023. The NACMCF Secretariat will introduce newly appointed members for the 2023- 2025 Committee term and introduce a new charge from FSIS on genomic characterization of pathogens. Also, the Committee will continue working on the response to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) Cronobacter spp. in Powdered Infant Formula charge.

The Rural Utilities Service (RUS or the Agency), a Rural Development (RD) mission area of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), announced its acceptance of applications under the Calendar Year (CY) 2022 Disaster Circuit Rider Technical Assistance (CY 2022 Disaster CRTA) Grants Program in a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) in the Federal Register on September 28, 2023. This notice is extending the date by which applications can be submitted through grants.gov.

The Rural Housing Service (RHS or the Agency), a Rural Development (RD) agency of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), proposes to amend its regulation to implement changes related to insurance requirements under the Multi-Family Housing (MFH) Direct Loan and Grant programs. The intent of this proposed rule is to align RD insurance coverage types, amounts, and deductibles with affordable housing industry standards to simplify the coverage amounts, deductible limits, and improve the customer experience with updated and understandable insurance requirements.

We are advising the public that we have added the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal to the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) list maintained on the APHIS website of regions considered to be affected with African swine fever (ASF). We have taken this action because of the confirmation of ASF in the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal.

The Northwest Forest Plan Area Advisory Committee will hold a public meeting according to the details shown below. The Committee is authorized under the National Forest Management Act (the Act) and operates in compliance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA). The purpose of the Committee is to provide advice and pragmatic recommendations regarding potential regional scale land management planning approaches and solutions in the Northwest Forest Plan Area within the context of the 2012 planning rule.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice announces the Agricultural Marketing Service's (AMS) intention to request an extension and revision to the approved forms and information collection for marketing orders covering various vegetables and specialty crops.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice invites the general public and other public agencies to comment on this proposed information collection. This collection is a revision of a currently approved collection. This information collection includes the requirement for case management services to individuals participating in Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Employment and Training (E&T) program as mandated by the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (FNA), as amended. The current information collection also includes four other provisions of the FNA and SNAP regulations that are being merged into other existing information collections. Those provisions include State agencies notifying individuals who have been determined ill-suited by an E&T provider for a particular E&T component; State agency notification to inform Able- bodied Adults without Dependents (ABAWD) about work requirements and the ABAWD time limit through a written notice and oral explanation; the requirement that State agencies inform SNAP households not otherwise exempt from the general work requirements in writing of available employment and training services at the time of recertification if these individuals are members of households that contain at least one adult, with no elderly or disabled individuals, and with no earned income at the their last recertification or required report; and the addition of four data elements to the FNS-583 reports (SNAP Employment and Training Program Activity Report).

The Rural Utilities Service, Rural Business-Cooperative Service, and Rural Housing Service, agencies that comprise the Rural Development (RD) Mission Area within the United States Department of Agriculture, published a final rule with comment in the Federal Register on September 15, 2020, to establish the special authority authorized by Section 6210 of the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018, which will assist rural families and small businesses in gaining access to broadband service by permitting recipients of loans, grants, and loan guarantees from RD to use up to 10 percent of the amount provided to construct broadband infrastructure in areas not served by the minimum acceptable level of broadband service. The final rule described the procedures by which these agencies will consider projects eligible for special broadband authority. Through this action, the agencies are confirming the final rule as it was published and providing responses to the public comments that were received.

The Forest Service, United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), is seeking nominations for the Greater Rocky Mountain Resource Advisory Committee (GRM RAC) pursuant to the Secure Rural Schools Act (the Act) and the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA). Additional information on the Greater Rocky Mountain Resource Advisory Committee can be found by visiting the Committee website at https:// www.fs.usda.gov/detail/r2/home/?cid=fseprd972168.

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

The Forestry Research Advisory Committee (FRAC) will hold a public meeting according to the details shown below. The Committee is authorized under the Agriculture and Food Act of 1981 (the Act) and operates in compliance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA). The purpose of this Committee is to make recommendations to and advise the Secretary of Agriculture on forestry research. The Agriculture and Food Act directs the Secretary to appoint the FRAC which advises on how to efficiently accomplish the purposes of the McIntire-Stennis Act of 1962. The FRAC focuses on developing and utilizing the Nation's forest resources, forestry schools, and forest industries. FRAC recommendations support states in carrying out a program of forestry research through land-grant colleges or agricultural experiment stations and other state-supported colleges and universities that offer graduate training in forestry. The FRAC also provides advice related to the Forest Service research program which is authorized by the Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources Research Act of 1978.

This proposed rule invites comments on the establishment of an industry-funded promotion, research, and information program for natural grass sod products. The proposed Natural Grass Sod Promotion, Research, and Information Order (Order) was submitted to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) by Turfgrass Producers International (TPI), a group of natural grass sod producers. The proposed Order also announces the Agricultural Marketing Service's (AMS) intent to request approval from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) of new information collection requirements to implement the program.

This amendment to NIFA regulations updates the list of institutions that are granted Hispanic-Serving Agricultural Colleges and Universities (HSACU) certification by the Secretary and are eligible for HSACU programs for the period starting July 1, 2023, and ending July 1, 2024.

The Forest Service published a document in the Federal Register of September 21, 2023, concerning new recreation fee sites on the Shoshone National Forest. The document contained incorrect contact information and supplementary information.