A comprehensive summary of today’s judicial, legislative, and regulatory developments in agriculture and food. Email important additions HERE.
LEGISLATIVE:
H.R. 2591: Modernizing the Pittman-Robertson Fund for Tomorrow’s Needs Act of 2017. Text for status Reported by House Committee (Aug 14, 2018) is now available.
H.R. 6038: To establish a procedure for the conveyance of certain Federal property around the Dickinson Reservoir in the State of North Dakota. Text for status Reported by House Committee (Aug 14, 2018) is now available.
H.R. 6039: To establish a procedure for the conveyance of certain Federal property around the Jamestown Reservoir in the State of North Dakota. Text for status Reported by House Committee (Aug 14, 2018) is now available.
REGULATORY: Includes CCC, EPA, FWS, and NOAA rules and notices.
COMMODITY CREDIT CORPORATION: Rule revises the eligibility requirements, enrollment procedures, and payment calculation for ARC and PLC required to conform with the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018. Details here.
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY:
Rule EPA is proposing to take action to approve the State of Iowa’s request to redesignate portions of Pottawattamie County, Council Bluffs, Iowa to attainment for the 2008 lead (Pb) National Ambient Air Quality Standards. Details here.
Rule EPA is proposing to approve, under the Clean Air Act, Ohio’s revised sulfur dioxide regulations, which Ohio submitted to EPA on March 13, 2017. Details here.
Rule EPA is proposing to approve a revision to the Wisconsin State Implementation Plan to meet the base year emissions inventory, reasonable further progress, RFP contingency measure, nitrogen oxides reasonably available control technology, and motor vehicle inspection and maintenance (I/M) requirements of the Clean Air Act (CAA) for the Wisconsin portion of the Chicago-Naperville, Illinois-Indiana-Wisconsin nonattainment area for the 2008 ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standards. Info here.
FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE:
Notice FWS received an application from Mr. Todd Tveten for an incidental take permit (ITP). The ITP would authorize “take” of the Yelm pocket gopher, incidental to otherwise lawful activities during construction of a single-family home and agricultural shop in Thurston County, Washington. Info here.
Notice FWS received an application from Richard Phillips for an incidental take permit. The permit would authorize take of the federally endangered Morro shoulderband snail that would occur incidental to otherwise lawful activities associated with the construction and maintenance of a single-family residence and associated uses addressed in the draft low-effect habitat conservation plan. Info here.
Notice FWS seeks public to comment on an application to conduct certain activities with endangered species. Details here.
Notice FWS received an application from Midnight Sun, Inc., for a 20-year incidental take permit. The application addresses the potential for “take” of the federally threatened California red-legged frog and California tiger salamander that is likely to occur incidental to ongoing agricultural activities, flood and erosion control activities, and habitat restoration at Gaver Ranch. Details here.
NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION:
Rule NMFS announces that the 2018 summer flounder commercial quota allocated to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts has been harvested. Details here.
Rule NMFS proposes regulations to modify management of the American Fisheries Act (AFA) Program and Crab Rationalization (CR) Program. Info here.
Notice NMFS Southeast Fisheries Science Center (SEFSC), 75 Virginia Beach Drive, Miami, FL 33149 (Responsible Party: Theophilus Brainerd, Ph.D.), has applied in due form for a permit to conduct research on up to 33 species of cetaceans. Info here.
Notice that permits or permit amendments have been issued to the following entities under the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) and the Endangered Species Act (ESA). Details here.