REGULATORY:
Notice: Office of the Secretary, USDA; The Office of the Secretary of the Department of Agriculture (the Secretary) announces the establishment of the Fiscal Year (FY) 2020 (October 1, 2019-September 30, 2020) in-quota aggregate quantity of raw cane sugar at 1,117,195 metric tons raw value (MTRV), and the establishment of the FY 2020 in-quota aggregate quantity of certain sugars, syrups, and molasses (also referred to as refined sugar) at 192,000 MTRV. Info HERE
Notice of availability: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA: We are advising the public that we have prepared a final environmental assessment and finding of no significant impact relative to the release of Calophya latiforceps and Pseudophilothrips ichini for the biological control of Brazilian peppertree, a significant invasive weed, within the contiguous United States. Based on our finding of no significant impact, we have determined that an environmental impact statement need not be prepared. Info HERE
Final rule: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA); This regulation establishes tolerances for residues of the insecticide ethiprole in or on coffee, green bean. Bayer CropScience LP requested these tolerances under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA). Info HERE
Final rule: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA); This regulation establishes tolerances for residues of mefentrifluconazole in or on multiple commodities which are identified and discussed later in this document. BASF Corporation requested these tolerances under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA). Info HERE
Correcting amendment: Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA; This amendment implements corrections to typographical and miscellaneous errors in Marketing Order 989, as amended, regulating the handling of raisins produced from grapes grown in California. These changes include removing one duplicate use of the word “Committee” and standardizing several occurrences of non-hyphenated words to their hyphenated form. This document is necessary to inform the public of these non-substantive amendments to the marketing order. Info HERE
Final rule with request for comments: The Federal Crop Insurance Corporation (FCIC) amends the Catastrophic Risk Protection Endorsement, the Area Risk Protection Insurance (ARPI) Basic Provisions, and the Common Crop Insurance Policy (CCIP) Basic Provisions to implement the changes mandated by the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 (commonly referred to as the 2018 Farm Bill). This rule revises the provisions regarding the catastrophic administrative fee, actual production history (APH) yield, crop production on native sod, and the definition of veteran farmer or rancher. In addition to the 2018 Farm Bill required changes, FCIC is changing provisions for premium offsets, electronic delivery of policy changes, and assigned yields. The changes to the policy made in this rule are applicable for the 2020 crop year for crops with a contract change date on or after June 30, 2019. For all crops the changes to the policy made in this rule are applicable for the 2021 and succeeding crop years. Info HERE
Notice and request for comments: Food Safety and Inspection Service, USDA In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 and Office of Management and Budget (OMB) regulations, the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is announcing its intention to renew the approved information collection regarding industry responses to noncompliance records. The approval for this information collection will expire on November 30, 2019. FSIS is making no changes to the existing information collection. Info HERE
Notice: Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA; The interim designation of the South Carolina Department of Agriculture will end on September 30, 2019. We are asking persons or governmental agencies interested in providing official services in the areas presently served by this agency to submit an application for designation. The realignment of offices within the U.S. Department of Agriculture authorized by the Secretary’s Memorandum dated November 14, 2017, eliminates the Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration (GIPSA) as a standalone agency. The grain inspection activities formerly part of GIPSA are now organized under the Agricultural Marketing Service. Info HERE
Final rule: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA; We are revising our regulations regarding the movement of plant pests. We are also adding criteria to the regulations for the importation, interstate movement, and release of biological control organisms. This final rule also establishes regulations to allow the interstate movement of certain plant pests and biological control organisms without restriction by granting exceptions from permit requirements for those pests and organisms. Finally, we are revising our regulations regarding the importation and interstate movement of soil. This rule clarifies the points that we will consider when assessing the risks associated with the movement and release of certain organisms and facilitates the movement of regulated organisms and articles in a manner that protects U.S. agriculture. Info HERE
Notice: Forest Service, USDA; This notice lists all newspapers that will be used by the Ranger Districts, Grasslands, Forests and the Regional Office of the Southern Region to publish notices. The intended effect of this action is to inform members of the public which newspapers will be used by the Forest Service to publish legal notices regarding proposed actions, notices of decisions and notices indicating opportunities to file objections. Info HERE
Notice and request for stakeholder input: National Agricultural Statistics Service, USDA; The National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) is currently accepting stakeholder feedback in the form of content requests for the 2022 Census of Agriculture. This census is required by law under the Census of Agriculture Act of 1997. Info HERE
Notice; extension of comment period: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA); EPA issued a notice in the Federal Register of May 6, 2019, concerning the availability of EPA’s Proposed Interim Registration Review Decision for glyphosate. This document extends the comment period for 60 days, from July 5, 2019 to September 3, 2019. This action to extend the public comment period is being taken after receiving public comments requesting additional time to review the Glyphosate Proposed Interim Registration Review Decision and supporting materials. Info HERE
Proposed rule: Agricultural Marketing Service; This proposal invites comments on changing the membership, nominations, procedures, and continuance referenda period for the Softwood Lumber Board (Board) established under the Softwood Lumber Research, Promotion, Consumer Education and Industry Information Order (Order). The Board administers the Order with oversight by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). This proposal would also make administrative changes to other provisions of the Order. Info HERE
Proposed rule; reopening of comment period: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA; We are reopening the comment period for our proposed rule that would amend the domestic quarantine regulations for pale cyst nematode by adding procedures that would allow persons to review and comment on the protocols for regulating and deregulating quarantine and associated areas. This action will allow interested persons additional time to prepare and submit comments. Info HERE
Notice: Food and Nutrition Service (FNS), USDA: 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 is an extension of a currently approved collection under OMB No. 0584-0010, which is due to expire October 31, 2019. Info HERE