Department of Agriculture – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

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: New collection.

We are advising the public that we have prepared a pest risk analysis that evaluates the risks associated with the importation of fresh pineapple fruit (Ananas comosus) for consumption from Indonesia into the United States. Based on the analysis, we have determined that the application of one or more phytosanitary measures will be sufficient to mitigate the risks of introducing or disseminating plant pests or noxious weeds via the importation of fresh pineapple fruit from Indonesia. We are making the pest risk analysis available to the public for review and comment.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Forest Service (Forest Service or Agency) is requesting public comment on the reapproval and proposed revisions of an approved information collection (ICR), 0596-0243, Non-Timber Forest Products.

The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) of the Department of Agriculture (USDA) is revising the regulations governing the inspection and certification for fresh fruits, vegetables, and other products by amending certain fees charged for Section 8e import inspections from a per-carlot basis to a per-pound basis, reducing the fee for each additional sublot by 50 percent, and establishing a new fee calculation for lots less than a carlot. These revisions recover, as nearly as practicable, the costs of performing inspection services on imported commodities in accordance with the Agricultural Marketing Agreement Act of 1937.

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 Vegetable Surveys Program. A revision to burden hours will be needed due to changes in the size of the target population, sampling design, and/or questionnaire length.

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) is amending the USDA organic regulations to clarify standards for organic mushrooms and organic pet food. The topics addressed by the rule include mushroom substrate composition and sourcing of mushroom spawn in organic mushroom production, composting requirements for organic mushroom production, composition and labeling requirements for organic pet food, and the use of certain synthetic substances, including taurine, in organic pet food.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice announces the Agricultural Marketing Service's (AMS) intent to request approval from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) of an existing information collection in use without an OMB control number for Dairy Market News pursuant to Section 203(g) of the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946, as amended.

This is a Request for Information to inform the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA's) development of the Child Nutrition Programs Tribal Pilot Projects, as authorized in the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2024. The Act authorized USDA to conduct pilot projects to allow one or more Tribes or Tribal organizations to administer one or more Child Nutrition Programs, assuming the roles and responsibilities typically held by State agencies. USDA will use comments received in response to this Request for Information to inform the application process, and eligibility and selection criteria, for the Child Nutrition Tribal Pilot Projects. USDA invites feedback from Tribes; Tribal organizations, leaders, representatives, and associations; State agencies that administer the Child Nutrition Programs; and others interested in opportunities to promote Tribal sovereignty in the operation of the Child Nutrition Programs. This notice is not a request for proposals and does not commit the Government to issue a solicitation, make an award, or pay any costs associated with responding to this announcement. All submitted information will remain with the Government and will not be returned.

The Rural Housing Service (RHS or Agency), an agency within Rural Development (RD), announces updates in the process for competitive lender application submissions regarding proposed properties for the Section 538 Guaranteed Rural Rental Housing Program (GRRHP). The amount of program dollars available for the GRRHP will be determined by the Appropriations Act for each fiscal year.

Pursuant to the provisions of the rules and regulations of the USDA and the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA), the USDA is soliciting nominations for membership on the National Advisory Committee on Microbiological Criteria for Foods (NACMCF)and announcing potential charges for the 2025-2027 term. USDA seeks to appoint 30 members. Advisory Committee members serve a two-year term beginning September 2025 through September 2027. Members may be reappointed for one additional consecutive term at the discretion of the Secretary of Agriculture.

The Ottawa National Forest 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 Ottawa National Forest, consistent with the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 the Rural Business-Cooperative Service (RBCS or Agency), an agency within the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Rural Development (RD), announces its intention to request a revision to a currently approved information collection package for Rural Innovation Stronger Economy (RISE) program. The Agency invites comments on this information collection for which it intends to request approval from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB).

The Rural Housing Service (RHS or Agency), a Rural Development (RD) agency of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), is amending its regulation to implement changes related to the smoke alarm requirements for properties that receive funding from the Multi-Family Housing Section 515 Rural Rental Housing and the Section 514/516 Farm Labor Housing Direct Loan and Grant Programs. These changes are intended to align the Agency's smoke alarm requirements with the requirements set forth in the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023. The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023, requires each unit of Federally assisted housing to contain hardwired or 10-year non- rechargeable, non-replaceable, sealed, tamper-resistant, primary battery-powered smoke alarm devices containing silencing means, and provides notification for persons with hearing loss as required by applicable law (Qualifying Smoke Alarm requirements).

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 the Rural Business-Cooperative Service (RBCS or Agency), an agency within the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Rural Development (RD), announces its intention to request a revision to a currently approved information collection package for Rural Development Cooperative Agreements (RDCA) Program. The Agency invites comments on this information collection for which it intends to request approval from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB).

We are advising the public that we have prepared a final supplemental environmental assessment (EA) and finding of no significant impact (FONSI) relative to our emergency response activities for highly pathogenic avian influenza outbreaks in commercial and backyard poultry operations located in the four migratory bird flyways in the United States. This final supplemental EA supplements the initial EA and FONSI we published in September 2022, which evaluated the environmental impacts associated with the first seven States where highly pathogenic avian influenza outbreaks occurred. Based on our FONSI, we have determined that an environmental impact statement need not be prepared for the proposed action as described in this final supplemental EA.

In accordance with Title II, Subtitle B of the Public Health Security and Bioterrorism Preparedness and Response Act of 2002 (which is cited as the "Agricultural Bioterrorism Protection Act of 2002" and referred to as the Act), we are amending and republishing the list of select agents and toxins that have the potential to pose a severe threat to animal or plant health, or to animal or plant products. The Act requires the biennial review and republication of the list of select agents and toxins (the list) and the revision of the list as necessary. This action implements the findings from the biennial review of the list. The biennial review was initiated within 2 years of the completion of the previous biennial review. This final rule will focus solely on removing from the select agent list the following pathogens: Peronosclerospora philippinensis (Peronosclerospora sacchari) (Plant Protection and Quarantine select agent), African horse sickness virus (Veterinary Services select agent), and Brucella abortus, Brucella suis, and Brucella melitensis (overlap select agents).

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice announces that NRCS will request an extension for a currently approved information collection for Long-Term Contracting forms.