Department of Agriculture – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice announces FNS' plans to submit an Information Collection Request (ICR) to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and invites the general public and other public agencies to comment on the proposed ICR before FNS submits it to OMB. The proposed information collection is a revision of an approved information collection. The approved information collection (OMB Control Number 0584-0607) permitted the School Meals Operations (SMO) study to collect survey and administrative data about school year (SY) 2019-2020 through SY 2022- 2023 from a census of State agencies, and survey data about SY 2020- 2021 and SY 2022-2023 from a nationally representative sample of school food authorities. With the revision, FNS will seek approval for the SMO study to collect survey and administrative data about SY 2023-2024 from a census of State agencies. The SMO study will not collect survey data about SY 2023-2024 from school food authorities.

Notice is hereby given, pursuant to the provisions of the rules and regulations of the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA), the Office of Tribal Relations is announcing a meeting of the Tribal Advisory Committee. The committee is authorized under the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 (the 2018 Farm Bill) and operates in compliance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act. The purpose of the committee is to provide advice and guidance to USDA on matters related to Tribal and Indian affairs.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 the Rural Utilities Service (RUS) announces its intention to request a revision for a currently approved information collection package for the Rural Broadband Loans, Loan/Grant Combinations, and Loan Guarantees program.

The Rural Business-Cooperative Service (RBCS), Rural Housing Service (RHS), and Rural Utilities Services (RUS), agencies in the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development (RD) Mission area, are issuing a final rule to update RD program regulations by removing references to the Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) numbers and replacing them with the new Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) as the primary means of identifying entities registered for Federal awards government-wide in the System for Award Management (SAM).

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice invites comments on the Planning and Performing Construction and Other Development information collection package and announces the Rural Housing Service (RHS or the Agency) intention to request a revision for a currently approved information collection from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB).

The Forest Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, will prepare an environmental impact statement (EIS) to inform a decision about the designation of roads, trails, and areas of the Rio Grande National Forest (RGNF) which would be open to motorized over-snow use. The environmental impact statement will inform a decision about the classes of vehicles and times of year for which motorized over-snow use will be allowed on designated roads, trails, and areas. Roads, trails, and areas designated for motorized over-snow vehicle (OSV) use will be identified on an Over-Snow Vehicle Use Map which will specify the classes of vehicles and time of year for which use is designated on the Rio Grande National Forest. An additional map displaying the Desired Winter Recreation Opportunity Spectrum (ROS) settings will also be produced. The RGNF anticipates this travel management analysis based on the proposed action as presently described and the resulting decision may require an amendment to the Land Management Plan for the Forest.

The Black Hills National Forest Advisory Board will hold a public meeting according to the details shown below. The committee is authorized under the Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources Planning Act of 1974, the National Forest Management Act of 1976, the Federal Public Lands Recreation Enhancement Act, and operates in compliance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA). The purpose of the Committee is to provide advice and recommendations on a broad range of forest issues such as: forest plan revisions or amendments, forest health including fire, insect and disease, travel management, forest monitoring and evaluation, recreation fees, and site-specific projects having forest-wide implications.

This rulemaking proposes an amendment to Marketing Order No. 927, which regulates the handling of pears grown in Oregon and Washington. The proposed amendment would revise the Fresh Pear Committee's approval requirement for recommending modifications to the marketing order's fresh pear handling regulations from 80 to 75 percent.

The Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 (EISA) establishes procedures for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to consider adopting periodic revisions to the International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) and to ANSI/ASHRAE/IES Standard 90.1: Energy Standard for Buildings, Except Low-Rise Residential Buildings (ASHRAE 90.1), subject to a determination by the agencies that the revised codes do not negatively affect the availability or affordability of new construction of single and multifamily housing covered by EISA, and a determination by the Secretary of Energy that the revised codes "would improve energy efficiency." At the time of developing the preliminary determination, the most recent editions of the codes for which DOE had issued efficiency determinations were ASHRAE 90.1-2019, and the 2021 IECC. This notice follows the notice of preliminary determination published on May 18, 2023, and announces the final determination of HUD and USDA as required under section 481(d)(1) of EISA. After consideration of public comments, HUD and USDA determine that the 2021 IECC and ASHRAE 90.1-2019 will not negatively affect the affordability and availability of housing covered by EISA.

The Forest Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, is initiating the assessment phase of the Land Management Plan revision process for the Tongass National Forest, located in Southeast Alaska. The assessment supports the subsequent planning phase, which will result in a revised land management plan to guide resource management activities on the Tongass National Forest. The assessment will identify and consider relevant and readily accessible material about ecological, social, and economic conditions and trends in the planning area, and will identify best available scientific information including Native or Indigenous knowledge. Trends and conditions identified in the assessment will inform the need to change the existing plan as well as the subsequent revision process.

Pursuant to the Federal Advisory Committee Act, as amended (5 U.S.C. 10) notice is hereby given that the Secretary of Agriculture (Secretary) intends to reestablish the National Wildlife Services Advisory Committee (the "Committee") for a 2-year period. The Secretary has determined that the Committee is necessary and in the public interest.

This rulemaking finalizes long-term school nutrition requirements based on the goals of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2020-2025, robust stakeholder input, and lessons learned from prior rulemakings. Notably, this rulemaking gradually phases in added sugars limits for the school lunch and breakfast programs and in the Child and Adult Care Food Program, updates total sugars limits for breakfast cereals and yogurt to added sugars limits. As a reflection of feedback from stakeholders, this final rule implements a single sodium reduction in the school lunch and breakfast programs and commits to studying the potential associations between sodium reduction and student participation in the school lunch and breakfast programs. This rulemaking addresses a variety of other school meal requirements, including establishing long-term milk and whole grain requirements. Finally, this rule includes provisions that strengthen Buy American requirements. While this rulemaking takes effect school year 2024-2025, the Department is gradually phasing in required changes over time. Program operators are not required to make any changes to their menus as a result of this rulemaking until school year 2025-2026 at the earliest.

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 an extension of and revision to the currently approved information collection "Laboratory Approval and Testing Division."

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice announces OPPE's intention to request a new, generic information collection.

This proposed rule would implement a recommendation from the South Texas Onion Committee (Committee) to increase the assessment rate established for the 2023-2024 and subsequent fiscal periods from $0.05 to $0.08 per 50-pound container or equivalent for South Texas onions. The proposed assessment rate would remain in effect indefinitely unless modified, suspended, or terminated.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 and Office of Management and Budget (OMB) regulations, FSIS is announcing its intention to renew an approved information collection regarding requirements for official establishments to notify FSIS of adulterated or misbranded product, prepare and maintain written recall procedures, and document certain Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) plan reassessments. There are no changes to the existing information collection. The approval for this information collection will expire on September 30, 2024.

The Rural Housing Service (RHS or Agency), a Rural Development (RD) agency of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), announces that it is soliciting competitive pre-applications for Section 514 Off-Farm Labor Housing (Off-FLH) loans and Section 516 Off- FLH grants for the construction of new Off-FLH units for domestic farm laborers, retired domestic farm laborers, or disabled domestic farm laborers. The program objective is to increase the supply of affordable housing for farm laborers. This Notice describes the method used to distribute funds, the pre-application and final application process, and submission requirements.

The Pacific Northwest National Scenic Trail Advisory Council will hold public meetings according to the details shown below. The committee is authorized under the National Trails System Act (the Act) and operates in compliance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA). The purpose of the Council is to advise and make recommendations to the Secretary of Agriculture, through the Chief of the Forest Service, on matters relating to the Pacific Northwest National Scenic Trail as described in the Act.

The USDA Food and Nutrition Service is extending for 120 days the public comment period on the interim final rule, "Establishing the Summer EBT Program and Rural Non-Congregate Option in the Summer Meal Programs", which published in the Federal Register on December 29, 2023. This action extends the public comment period from April 29, 2024, to August 27, 2024, to give the public additional time to prepare and submit comments.

The North Wisconsin 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 Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest within Ashland, Bayfield, Florence, Forest, Langlade, Oconto, Price, Sawyer, Taylor, and Vilas counties, consistent with the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 and Office of Management and Budget (OMB) regulations, FSIS is announcing its intention to renew an approved information collection regarding its Consumer Complaint Monitoring System (CCMS) web portal. There are no changes to the existing information collection. The approval for this information collection will expire on September 30, 2024.

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, Cost of Pollination Survey. This survey gathers data related to the costs incurred by farmers to improve the pollination of their crops through the use of honey bees and other pollinators. A revision to burden hours will be needed due to changes in the size of the target population, sampling design, and/or questionnaire length.