⛷️USDA Forest Service Revises Ski Area Authorization Regulations
The United States Department of Agriculture, Forest Service (Forest Service or Agency) is making purely technical, clarifying revisions to its existing regulations relating to the conversion of ski area authorizations on National Forest System lands (NFS) pursuant to the National Forest Ski Area Permit Act of 1986. The revisions remove the requirements for conversion of ski area authorizations because all ski area authorizations on NFS have been converted or issued under the National Forest Ski Area Permit Act, rendering this provision obsolete.
Learn More🎓Overview of Uniform Grant Application for Discretionary Grants
In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice invites the general public and other public agencies to comment on this revised information collection. This is a revision of a currently approved collection. The purpose of the Uniform Grant Application Package for Discretionary Grant Programs is to provide a standardized format for the development of all Requests for Applications for discretionary grant programs released by the Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) Agency and to allow for a more expeditious OMB clearance process. This revision also addresses additional information to be collected for some grant programs as supplemental information beyond the Uniform Grant Application. This notice provides 60-day notice to the public that State Plan information will be submitted in association with this information collection, and program-specific supplemental forms will be used as discussed in this notice.
Learn More🌸Nonregulated Status for Genetically Engineered Moth Orchid Petition
We are advising the public that the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service has received a petition from Ishihara Sangyo Kaisha, Limited seeking a determination of nonregulated status for ISK-311NR-4 Phalaenopsis (moth orchid) which has been developed using genetic engineering to produce a blue-purple flower color. We are making the petition, draft plant pest risk assessment, and draft environmental assessment available for public review and comment.
Learn More🏭Correction to Tobacco Grading and Inspections Regulations
This document provides a correction to a previous rule concerning tobacco grading and inspection services. It specifies a date amendment in the regulatory framework, ensuring accuracy in the regulations issued by the Department of Agriculture, specifically under the Agricultural Marketing Service related to tobacco price support provisions.
Learn More🌾USDA Special Priorities Assistance
In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Farm Production and Conservation Business Center (FPAC-BC) is requesting comments from all interested individuals and organizations on an extension of a currently approved information collection request associated with the Request for Special Priorities Assistance. The information collection established by the Agriculture Priorities and Allocations System (APAS) regulation is necessary for the program applicant (person) to request prioritizing of a contract above all other contracts. The purpose of the priority rating is to obtain item(s) in support of national defense programs that they are not able to obtain in time through normal market channels.
Learn More📦USDA Announces Referendum on Paper Packaging Promotion Order
This document directs that a referendum be conducted among eligible domestic manufacturers and importers of paper and paper-based packaging to determine whether they favor continuance of the Agricultural Marketing Service's (AMS) regulations regarding a national paper and paper-based packaging research and promotion program. AMS is also announcing an immediate moratorium on the collection of assessments under the program.
Learn More🌽Draft Plant Pest Risk Assessment for Bayer Corn Available for Comment
We are advising the public that the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service has prepared a draft plant pest risk assessment and draft environmental assessment regarding a petition from Bayer U.S.- Crop Science seeking a determination of nonregulated status for maize (corn) event MON 95379 which has been developed using genetic engineering to produce two insecticidal proteins to protect against feeding damage caused by target lepidopteran pests. We are making the draft plant pest risk assessment, and draft environmental assessment available for public review and comment.
Learn More📊USDA Revises Information Collection for Advisory Committees
This notice announces the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) intention to revise to the currently approved through October 31, 2027, Advisory Committee and Research and Promotion Background Information AD-755 and Supplemental Lists--Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS), Commodity (Research and Promotion and Marketing Order) specific questionnaire. The revised form will be changed to Advisory Committee or Commodity Board Background Information and include the supplemental information that will allow applicants to answer questions in more detail of their foreign citizenship identification (passport number, passport expiration date, and issuing country). In addition, if an applicant is a foreign national, identify if this person resided in the United States (U.S.) for 3 years or more continuous years. The revised form will meet the required U.S. Office of Management and Budget's Statistical Policy Directive No. 15 of standards for maintaining, collecting, and presenting Federal data. The primary objective is to determine the qualifications, suitability and availability of a candidate to serve on advisory committees and/or commodity boards. Lastly, the AD-755 Form and supplemental questionnaire are being digitized to allow applicants to access and complete the application form electronically.
Learn More📉USDA Updates Tobacco Grading and Inspections Regulations
This direct final rule amends regulations that govern tobacco price support services established under the Agricultural Act of 1949. The Fair and Equitable Tobacco Reform Act of 2004 eliminated the price support and quota system for tobacco produced in the United States. In alignment with Executive Order 14192, AMS is removing and, where appropriate, amending regulations that have expired authorizing statutes and govern non-operational programs.
Learn More🌾Revised Agricultural Foreign Investment Disclosure Act Information Collection
In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act requirement, the Farm Service Agency (FSA) is requesting comments from all interested individuals and organizations on a revision of a currently approved information collection request associated with the Agricultural Foreign Investment Disclosure Act of 1978 (AFIDA). This revised form is the basis for the development of a streamlined process for electronic submission and retention of AFIDA disclosures, which is required by the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023. Foreign persons, as defined by AFIDA, who are making amendments to existing filings, or filing land or leasehold dispositions, will continue to use the existing form as those filings are on paper.
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