Department of Agriculture – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The USDA Forest Service is preparing an environmental impact statement for the Spirit Lake Outflow Safety Improvement Project (Project). Spirit Lake is within the Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument within the Gifford Pinchot National Forest, about 52 miles northeast of Portland, Oregon. The purpose of the Project is to provide for the safety of downstream communities by reducing the risk of flooding and mudflows from a failure of the Spirit Lake debris blockage. The Spirit Lake tunnel is at risk of failure due to its construction under emergency conditions and location in an area of volcanic, geologic, hydrologic, and seismic hazards. Downstream communities of nearly 50,000 people are at risk of catastrophic mudflow and flooding following a full lake breach. The Planning, Appeals, and Litigation System identification number for the Project is 66482.

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is issuing this notice to: revise fiscal year (FY) 2024 (crop year 2023) State cane sugar allotments and allocations to sugarcane processors; reassign FY 2024 cane sugar marketing allocations to raw cane sugar imports already anticipated; and announce the FY 2025 (crop year 2024) overall sugar marketing allotment quantity (OAQ), State cane sugar allotments, and sugar beet and sugarcane processor allocations. The first two actions apply to all domestic cane sugar marketed for human consumption in the United States from October 1, 2023, through September 30, 2024, and third action applies to all domestic beet and cane sugar marketed for human consumption in the United States from October 1, 2024, through September 30, 2025.

This document informs the public that the Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is withdrawing the proposed rule titled Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP): Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (D- SNAP) that published in the Federal Register on May 10, 2016. This rule would have amended the SNAP regulations to establish procedures for planning, requesting and operating D-SNAP. The Department is withdrawing this proposed rule to maintain the flexibility to adapt D- SNAP to unique disaster situations. The importance of this flexibility became apparent as the Department adjusted traditional D-SNAP operations to accommodate the changing circumstances during the public health emergency. The proposed rule would have prevented the Department from enacting many of the successful responses utilized during the public health emergency to best serve households and State agencies in the aftermath of a disaster. After enacting these critical adaptations to D-SNAP design during the public health emergency, receiving feedback from D-SNAP listening sessions, and reviewing the comments received on the proposed rule, the Department is withdrawing the proposed rule to reduce the burden on State agencies and households responding to disasters.

The National Forests in Mississippi are proposing to establish a recreation fee site and two special recreation permits. Proposed recreation fees collected at the proposed recreation fee site and for the proposed special recreation permits would be used for operation, maintenance, and improvement of the site and the specialized recreation use covered by the proposed special recreation permit. An analysis of nearby recreation fee sites and specialized recreation uses with similar amenities shows the proposed recreation fees that would be charged at the proposed recreation fee site and for the proposed special recreation permit are reasonable and typical of similar recreation fee sites and specialized recreation uses in the area.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice announces the Rural Housing Service (RHS), the Rural Business- Cooperative Service (RBS), and Rural Utilities Service (RUS) intention to request an extension for a currently approved information collection in support of compliance with Civil Rights laws.

The Rural Housing Service (RHS or Agency), a Rural Development agency of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), proposes to amend the current Single Family Housing Guaranteed Loan Program (SFHGLP) regulation to change the requirements for the length of time a prior Agency loss is considered significant derogatory credit and address seasoning requirements and payment performance for refinance transactions. This proposed rule intends to establish a seven-year time frame for the applicant to re-establish credit after a prior loss claim with the Agency before that loss would no longer be considered significant derogatory credit. This proposed rule also intends to clarify the seasoning requirements and expected payment history requirements for all three refinance submission types within the SFHGLP and identify when applicants are eligible to refinance their current mortgage.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Rural Housing Service's (RHS) announces its intention to request a revision for a currently approved information collection in support of the program for the Guaranteed Rural Rental Housing Program, for which approval from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) will be requested.

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. 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, consistent with the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act.

The Superior Resource Advisory Committee (RAC) will hold two public meetings 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 make recommendations on recreation fee proposals for sites on the Superior National Forest within Cook, Lake, and St. Louis counties, consistent with the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act.

Midsouth Grain Inspection Service and Grain Inspection Services of Texas, LLC have applied for designation under the U.S. Grain Standards Act to provide official services in the Southeast Texas designation area. The geographic area is described in the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section below. The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) is asking for comments on these applicants.

This notice lists the newspapers that will be used by the ranger districts, national forests and grasslands, and regional office of the Rocky Mountain Region to publish legal notices. The intended effect of this action is to inform interested members of the public which newspapers the Forest Service will use to publish notices of proposed actions and notices of decision. This will provide the public with constructive notice of Forest Service proposals and decisions, provide information on the procedures to comment, object or appeal, and establish the date that the Forest Service will use to determine if comments or appeals/objections were timely.

In accordance with the Privacy Act of 1974, and Office of Management and Budget Circular No. A-108 Federal Agency Responsibilities for Review, Reporting, and Publication, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA or Department) is issuing a public notice of its intent to modify the current system of records titled "Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, FS-33 Law Enforcement and Investigative Records." This system allows Law Enforcement and Investigations to record all criminal and civil investigations that take place or are related to crimes committed on National Forest System lands, which includes verified violations of criminal statutes and Forest Service (Agency) policy, as well as situations that may result in civil claims for or against the government. This information helps the Agency meet its objective of contributing to the safety of law enforcement officers, Forest Service employees, and national forest visitors.

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 regulations permitting applicants to self-certify certain medical statements when applying for positions with the Federal Government.

In accordance with the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 (CERCLA), as amended, notice is hereby given of a proposed Administrative Settlement Agreement and Order on Consent (ASAOC), between the Forest Service, United States Department of Agriculture, and Cabin Permittees (respondents), regarding respondents' access under their special use permit to the Cabin 29/East Area (affected property) of the Mammoth Stamp Mill Site (site) located on the Inyo National Forest, Mono County, California. Hazardous substances and/or pollutants or contaminants have come to be located at the site.

FSIS is announcing the availability of an updated version of its guideline on documentation needed to support animal-raising or environment-related claims on meat or poultry product labeling. Official establishments submit this documentation to the Agency when they apply for approval of labels with animal-raising or environment- related claims. The updated guideline includes changes made in response to updated scientific information, FSIS sampling data, askFSIS questions, public comments, petitions, and other meetings with Agency stakeholders.

In accordance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act, as amended, the Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS), U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), is announcing a two-day meeting of the Fruit and Vegetable Industry Advisory Committee (FVIAC). This meeting is being convened to examine the full spectrum of fruit and vegetable industry issues and provide recommendations and ideas on how the USDA can tailor programs and services to better meet the needs of the U.S. produce industry. Agenda items may include, but are not limited to, administrative matters and consideration of recommendations pertaining to labor and production, food safety, infrastructure and sustainability, consumption and nutrition, and data reporting and analysis.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is seeking to re- establish the Advisory Committee on Agriculture Statistics for two- years as a discretionary committee and call for member nominations to fill vacancies. Effective October 1, 1996, responsibility for the census of agriculture program was transferred to the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) at USDA from the Bureau of the Census, U.S. Department of Commerce. Effective February 2, 1997, NASS also received the transferred program positions and staff from the Bureau of the Census, U.S. Department of Commerce. Responsibility for the Advisory Committee on Agriculture Statistics was established by agency authority, was transferred, along with its allocated slot, to USDA with the census of agriculture program. The Committee is also established in accordance with the provisions of the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA).

The Forest Service (Forest Service or Agency), United States Department of Agriculture, is issuing this final rule to update its special uses regulations, consistent with the requirement in the Cabin Fee Act, to provide for suspension or temporary reduction of the land use fee for a recreation residence permit if access to or occupancy of the recreation residence is significantly restricted.