A comprehensive summary of today’s judicial, legislative, and regulatory developments in agriculture and food. Email important additions HERE.
ANNOUNCEMENT: Mark your calendar for the next Agricultural & Food Law Consortium webinar, Wednesday, March 21st: 2018 Farm Bill Outlook. Details available here.
LEGISLATIVE:
H.R. 1119: SENSE Act. Text for status Referred to Senate Committee (Mar 8, 2018) is now available.
H.R. 1917: Blocking Regulatory Interference from Closing Kilns Act of 2017. Text for status Referred to Senate Committee (Mar 8, 2018) is now available.
H.R. 5244: To reaffirm the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe reservation. Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
H.R. 5245: To transfer Coast Guard property in the Town of Jupiter Island, Florida, for inclusion in Hobe Sound National Wildlife Refuge. Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources and House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
H.R. 1350: To modify the boundary of Voyageurs National Park in the State of Minnesota. Added to the House’s schedule for the coming week, according to the House Majority Leader.
H.R. 1800: To direct the Secretary of Agriculture to transfer certain Federal land to facilitate scientific research supporting Federal space and defense programs. Added to the House’s schedule for the coming week.
H.R. 3469: To designate the bridge located in Blount County, Tennessee, on the Foothills Parkway (commonly known as “Bridge 2”) as the “Dean Stone Bridge”. Added to the House’s schedule for the coming week.
H.R. 4266: Acadia National Park Boundary Clarification Act. Added to the House’s schedule for the coming week.
H.R. 4465: Endangered Fish Recovery Programs Extension Act of 2017. Added to the House’s schedule for the coming week.
H.R. 5234: To amend the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 to expand opportunities for algae-based research. Referred to the House Committee on Agriculture.
H.R. 5217: To establish a White House Rural Council. Referred to the House Committee on Agriculture.
H.R. 5213: To prohibit the Rural Utilities Service from providing assistance for the provision of broadband service with a download speed of less than 25 megabits per second or an upload speed of less than 3 megabits per second. Referred to the House Committee on Agriculture and House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
H.R. 5212: To amend the Clean Air Act to reform the renewable fuel program under that Act. Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, House Committee on Natural Resources, and one other committee.
S. 2519: A bill to amend the Clean Air Act to reform the renewable fuel program under that Act. Referred to the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works.
REGULATORY: Includes USDA, EPA, FWS, FDA, ITA and NOAA rules and notices.
AGRICULTURE DEPARTMENT: Notice USDA has submitted information collection requirement(s) to OMB for review. Title: Guidelines for Designating Biobased Products for Federal Procurement. Details here.
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY:
Rule EPA is taking final action to approve a revision to the Commonwealth of Virginia state implementation plan. Details here.
Rule finalizing amendments of certain requirements that are contained within the final rule titled “Oil and Natural Gas Sector: Emission Standards for New, Reconstructed, and Modified Sources,” published in the Federal Register on June 3, 2016. Info here.
Rule EPA is proposing to approve a state implementation plan revision submitted by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Info here.
Rule EPA is proposing to approve a state implementation plan (SIP) revision formally submitted by the Commonwealth of Virginia. Info here.
FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE:
Notice FWS is are initiating 5-year status reviews of eight species under the Endangered Species Act of 1973. Details here.
Notice the Coastal Barrier Resources Reauthorization Act of 2006 requires the Secretary of the Interior to prepare digital versions of the John H. Chafee Coastal Barrier Resources System (CBRS) maps. Info here.
Notice that the Parties to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) meet periodically to review which species in international trade should be regulated and other aspects of the implementation of CITES. Details here.
FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION:
Rule FDA is announcing the withdrawal, without prejudice to a future filing, of a food additive petition (animal use) proposing that the food additive regulations be amended to provide for the safe use of L-selenomethionine as a dietary source of selenium in feed for poultry, swine, and ruminants. Details here.
Notice FDA is announcing the availability of a draft guidance for industry #240 entitled “Proprietary Names for New Animal Drugs.” Details here.
INTERNATIONAL TRADE ADMINISTRATION:
Notice Department of Commerce preliminarily determines that certain frozen warmwater shrimp from India is being sold in the United States at less than normal value during the period of review. Details here.
Notice Department of Commerce preliminarily determines that certain frozen warmwater shrimp from Vietnam is being sold in the United States at less than normal value during the period of review. Details here.
NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION:
Notice NMFS announces the receipt of an application for an exempted fishing permit (EFP) from Clean Ocean Initiative, Inc. (Clean Ocean). Details here.
Notice NMFS announces the receipt of five applications for exempted fishing permits (EFPs) from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (ADCNR) and others. Details here.
Notice Mariana Fuentes, Ph.D., Florida State University, 581 Oakland Avenue, Tallahassee, FL 32301, has requested a modification to scientific research Permit No. 19496. Details here.
Notice NMFS has received a request from the U.S. Navy (Navy) for authorization to take marine mammals incidental to vibratory and impact pile driving associated with proposed construction of the Service Pier Extension (SPE) at Naval Base Kitsap Bangor, WA. Info here.