The Federal Register

United States Standards for Grades of Cucumbers

Fri, Mar 11 2005 11:00:00 GMT

The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) is withdrawing the notice soliciting comments on its proposal to amend the voluntary United States Standards for Grades of Cucumbers. After reviewing and considering the comments received, the Agency has decided not to proceed with this action.

United States Standards for Grades of Kale

Fri, Mar 11 2005 11:00:00 GMT

The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) of the Department of Agriculture (USDA) is soliciting comments on it's proposal to revise the United States Standards for Grades of Kale. This action is being taken at the request of the Fruit and Vegetable Industry Advisory Committee, which asked AMS to review the grade standards for possible revision. AMS is proposing to revise the standards to allow percentages to be determined by count rather than weight. AMS is also proposing to revise the application of tolerances for packages which contain less than 15 specimens. Additionally, based on a request from an industry group, the North American Perishable Agriculture Receivers (NAPAR), AMS is proposing to allow the standards to be used for kale leaves and bunches of leaves in addition to kale plants. The proposed revision would bring the standards for kale in line with current marketing practices, thereby improving the usefulness in serving the industry.

United States Standards for Grades of Mangos

Fri, Mar 11 2005 11:00:00 GMT

The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) of the Department of Agriculture (USDA) is soliciting comments on the proposed voluntary U.S. Standards for Grades of Mangos. Members of the Fruit and Vegetable Industry Advisory Committee, the Fresh Produce Association of the Americas and other members of the mango industry have requested this action to be taken. The proposed standards would provide industry with a common language and uniform basis for trading, thus promoting orderly and efficient marketing of mangos.

United States Standards for Grades of Persian (Tahiti) Limes

Fri, Mar 11 2005 11:00:00 GMT

The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS), is soliciting comments on its proposal to revise the United States Standards for Grades of Persian (Tahiti) Limes. Specifically, AMS is proposing to revise the color and juice requirements. The proposed revision would simplify the two requirements in the standards which are complex and difficult to apply. These changes would bring the lime standards in line with other citrus standards, thereby, improving the usefulness in serving the industry.

United States Standards for Grades of Snap Beans

Fri, Mar 11 2005 11:00:00 GMT

The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS), prior to undertaking research and other work associated with revising official grade standards, is soliciting comments on the possible revisions to the United States Standards for Grades of Snap Beans. At a 2003 meeting with the Fruit and Vegetable Industry Advisory Committee, AMS was asked to review all the fresh fruit and vegetable grade standards for usefulness in serving the industry. As a result, AMS has identified that the standard may need to be modified to allow percentages to be determined by count and not weight. Additionally, AMS is seeking comments regarding any other revisions that may be necessary to better serve the industry.

United States Standards for Grades of Strawberries

Fri, Mar 11 2005 11:00:00 GMT

The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS), of the Department of Agriculture, is soliciting comments on a proposal to revise the United States Standards for Grades of Strawberries. AMS has received a petition from the California Strawberry Commission (CSC), requesting that the current standards be modified to allow percentages be determined on the basis of count and not volume. Additionally, AMS is seeking comments regarding any other revisions that may be necessary to better serve the industry.

United States Standards for Grades of Sweet Peppers

Fri, Mar 11 2005 11:00:00 GMT

The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS), of the Department of Agriculture (USDA) is soliciting comments on it's proposal to revise the United States Standards for Grades of Sweet Peppers. This action is being taken at the request of the Fruit and Vegetable Industry Advisory Committee, which asked AMS to review the grade standards for possible revision. AMS is proposing to revise the standards to report decay affecting the stems under the serious damage tolerance in all grades instead of the more restrictive tolerance of two percent for decay. Additionally, AMS is proposing to amend the similar varietal requirement to allow mixed colors and/or types when designated as speciality packs and remove the unclassified category. AMS is proposing to remove the requirement to redesignate lots of sweet peppers as ``Mixed Color'' in the grade statement when peppers fail to meet the color requirement. AMS is also proposing to include the Mixed Color designation as an option for any lot of sweet peppers intentionally pac

March 7, 2005. The Department of Agriculture has submitted the following information collection requirement(s) to

Fri, Mar 11 2005 11:00:00 GMT

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

Title: Importation of Restricted and Controlled Animal and Poultry Products and Byproducts, Organisms, and Vectors into the U.S.

OMB Control Number: 05790015.

Summary of Collection: Disease prevention is the most effective method for maintaining a healthy animal population and enhancing the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) ability to compete in the world market of animals and animal products trade. The Veterinary Service, a program in APHIS enforces regulations that pertain to the importation of restricted animal byproducts and controlled materials into the United States and the prevention of foreign animal disease incursions into the United States. The regulations under which APHIS conducts these disease prevention activities are contained in title 9, chapter 1, subchapter D, parts 94, 95, and 122 of the Code of Federal Regulations. APHIS colelcts information using several forms.

Need and Use of the Information: APHIS will collect

March 8, 2005. The Department of Agriculture has submitted the following information collection requirement(s) to

Fri, Mar 11 2005 11:00:00 GMT

Agricultural Marketing Service

Title: Tobacco Reports.

OMB Control Number: 05810004.

Summary of Collection: The Tobacco Statistics Act of 1929 (7 U.S.C. 501508) provides for the collection and publication of statistics of tobacco by
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USDA with regard to quantity of leaf tobacco in all forms in the United States and Puerto, owned by or in the possession of dealers, manufacturers, growers' cooperative associations, and others with the exception of the original growers of the tobacco. The information furnished under the provisions of this Act shall be used only for statistical purposes for which it is supplied.

Need and Use of the Information: The basic purpose of the information collection is to ascertain the total supply of
unmanufactured tobacco available to domestic manufacturers and to calculate the amount consumed in manufactured tobacco products. This data is also used for the calculation of production quotas for individual types of tobacco and for price support calculations

Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy; Minimal-Risk Regions and Importation of Commodities; Partial Delay of Applicability

Fri, Mar 11 2005 11:00:00 GMT

The amendments in this final rule delay until further notice the applicability of certain provisions of the rule entitled ``Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy; MinimalRisk Regions and Importation of Commodities,'' published in the Federal Register on January 4, 2005, 70 FR 460553. That rule was scheduled to amend the regulations in 9 CFR parts 93, 94, 95, and 96, effective March 7, 2005, to establish a category of regions that present a minimal risk of introducing bovine spongiform encephalopathy into the United States via live ruminants and ruminant products and byproducts and to add Canada to this category. That rule included conditions for the importation of certain live ruminants and ruminant products from such regions.

New Mexico Collaborative Forest Restoration Program Technical Advisory Panel

Fri, Mar 11 2005 11:00:00 GMT

The New Mexico Collaborative Forest Restoration Program Technical Advisory Panel will meet in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The purpose of the meeting is to provide recommendations to the Register Forest, USDA Forest Service Southwestern Region, on which forest restoration grant proposals submitted in response to the Collaborative Forest Restoration Program Request For Proposals best meet the objectives of the Community Forest Restoration Act (Title VI, Pub. L. 106393).

Alpine County, CA, Resource Advisory Committee (RAC)

Fri, Mar 11 2005 11:00:00 GMT

Pursuant to the authorities in the Federal Advisory Committees Act (Pub. L. 92463) and under the Secure Rural Schools and Community SelfDetermination Act of 2000 (Pub. L. 106393) the Alpine County Resource Advisory Committee (RAC) will meet on Monday, April 25, at 18:00 at the Diamond Valley School for business meetings. The purpose of the meeting is to discuss issues relating to implementing the Secure Rural Schools and Community SelfDetermination Act of 2000 (Payment to States) and expenditure of Title II funds. The meetings are open to the public.

Glenn/Colusa County Resource Advisory Committee

Fri, Mar 11 2005 11:00:00 GMT

The Glenn/Colusa County Resource Advisory Committee (RAC) will meet in Willows, California. Agenda items to be covered include: (1) introductions, (2) approval of minutes, (3) public comment, (4) project proposal/possible action, (5) Web site update, (6) national RAC meeting, (7) general discussion, (8) next agenda.

Information Collection Activity; Comment Request

Fri, Mar 11 2005 11:00:00 GMT

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. Chapter 35, as amended), the Rural Utilities Service (RUS) invites comments on this information collection for which RUS intends to request approval from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB).