Proposed Rules. Notice of public meeting

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BILLING CODE 3510-22-S 71 187 Wednesday, September 27, 2006 Notices DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Commodity Credit Corporation Finding of No Significant Impact AGENCY: Commodity Credit Corporation, USDA. SUMMARY: The Commodity Credit Corporation

(CCC)is issuing a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) with respect to the implementation of the Emergency Forestry Conservation Reserve Program (EFCRP). EFCRP provides cost-share assistance for cleanup and replanting for those owners or operators of non-industrial forest land and school trust land that experienced a loss of 35 percent or more of merchantable timber directly related to hurricanes that occurred during the 2005 calendar year. DATES: This action is effective 30 days after publication of this Notice. ADDRESSES: The Final Programmatic Environmental Assessment and FONSI may be reviewed at *http://www.fsa.usda.gov/dafp/cepd/epb/assessments.htm* . Written comments should be directed to Mike Linsenbigler, USDA/FSA/CEPD/Stop 0513, 1400 Independence Ave., SW., Washington, DC 20250-0513. Electronic comments may be submitted to *EFCRP@wdc.usda.gov.* Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication (Braille, large print, audio tape, etc.) should contact the USDA Target Center at

(202)720-2600 (voice and TDD). SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Consistent with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as amended, (42 U.S.C. 4321, *et seq.* ) (NEPA), the Council on Environmental Quality

(CEQ)Regulations for Implementing the Procedural Provisions of NEPA (40 CFR parts 1500-1508), and FSA's policy and procedures (7 CFR part 799), the United States Department of Agriculture, Farm Service Agency (FSA), on behalf of the CCC, prepared a Programmatic Environmental Assessment for the Emergency Forestry Conservation Reserve Program (EFCRP) to evaluate the environmental consequences associated with the 2005 hurricane season. During the course of the 2005 hurricane season, one of the worst on record, five hurricanes made landfall on the United States (U.S.) between July and October 2006: Dennis, Katrina, Ophelia, Rita, and Wilma. Each of these caused damage to infrastructure, homes, personal property, and agricultural resources, including privately owned forests. The purpose of EFCRP is to provide cost-share assistance for cleanup and replanting for those owners or operators of non-industrial forest land and school trust land that experienced a loss of 35 percent or more of merchantable timber directly related to hurricanes that occurred during the 2005 calendar year. The EFCRP was authorized by Section 107 of Division B, Title I, of the Department of Defense Appropriations Act of 2006, H.R. 2863, signed by the President on December 30, 2005. The program applies to the States of Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, and Texas. Preferred Alternative Implementation of the Preferred Alternative will provide cost-share assistance for cleanup and replanting for owners or operators of non-industrial private forest land (including school trust lands) who experienced a loss of 35 percent or more of merchantable timber directly related to hurricanes Katrina, Ophelia, Rita, Dennis, and Wilma during the 2005 calendar year. Producers will be provided financial assistance for the following nine eligible conservation practices: CP 35A and CP 35B: New and Existing Longleaf Pine; CP 35C and CP 35D: New and Existing Bottomland Hardwood; CP 35E and CP 35F: New and Existing Softwood; CP 35G and CP 35H: New and Existing Upland Hardwood; and Mixed Existing, CP35I. Each EFCRP contract would have a conservation plan developed by a professional forester. There would be a status review by FSA on each contract until the Practice is established. Reasons for Finding of No Significant Impact In consideration of the analysis documented in the Programmatic Environmental Assessment for the Emergency Forestry Conservation Reserve Program and the reasons outlined in this FONSI, the preferred alternative would not constitute a *major* State or Federal action that would significantly affect the human environment. Therefore, an Environmental Impact Statement need not be prepared. This determination is based on the following: 1. Both beneficial and adverse impacts of implementing the preferred alternative have been fully considered within the Programmatic Environmental Assessment for the Emergency Forestry Conservation Reserve Program. The beneficial impacts outweigh any adverse impacts. Adverse cumulative impacts are expected to be minor as implementation of the preferred alternative will cause very little if any adverse impacts on the area of potential effects and the human environment. 2. The preferred alternative would not significantly affect public health or safety. Further, the removal of downed timber as a result of the preferred alternative would reduce fire fuel, minimizing the potential for wildfires to threaten public safety. 3. The preferred alternative would not significantly affect any unique characteristics which includes historic and cultural resources, parklands, prime farmlands, wetlands, wild and scenic rivers, or ecologically critical areas. 4. The preferred alternative does not involve effects to the quality of the human environment that are likely to be highly controversial. Implementing the preferred alternative will reduce contamination of drinking water, improve air quality, and further recreational and socioeconomic benefits. 5. The preferred alternative would not impose highly uncertain, or involve unique or unknown risks. 6. The preferred alternative would not establish a precedent for future actions with significant effects and does not represent a decision in principle about a future consideration. The preferred alternative is intended to assist owners or operators of non-industrial private forest land in recovering from the 2005 hurricane damage. Any future projects that are similar in nature will need to be reviewed on a case-by-case basis to determine their individual potential for impact on the human environment. 7. The preferred alternative is not related to other actions with individually insignificant but cumulative significant impacts. The Environmental Consequences section of the Programmatic Environmental Assessment for the Emergency Forestry Conservation Reserve Program discusses potential cumulative impacts of implementing the preferred alternative. Cumulative impacts of implementing the preferred alternative were determined to not be significant. 8. The preferred alternative would not adversely affect districts, sites, highways, structures, or objects listed in or eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places or cause loss or destruction of significant scientific, cultural, or historical resources. Consultation with the State Historic Preservation Offices was completed. Site-specific cultural resource considerations will be addressed during the environmental review process for individual contracts. 9. The preferred alternative would not have adverse effects on threatened or endangered species or designated critical habitat. In accordance with section 7 of the Endangered Species Act, 16 U.S.C. 1536, the effects of implementing the preferred alternative on threatened and endangered species and designated critical habitat were addressed in the Programmatic Environmental Assessment for the Emergency Forestry Conservation Reserve Program. Informal consultation with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service was completed. 10. The preferred alternative does not threaten a violation of Federal, State, or local law or requirements imposed for the protection of the environment. Determination Consistent with the National Environmental Policy Act, 40 CFR part 1502.4, “Major Federal actions requiring the preparation of Environmental Impact Statements,” 7 CFR part 799, “Environmental Quality and Related Environmental Concerns—Compliance with NEPA implementing the regulations of the Council on Environmental Quality,” and 40 CFR Parts 1500-1508, I find that neither the proposed action nor any of the alternatives analyzed constitute a major Federal action significantly affecting the quality of the human environment. Therefore, no environmental impact statement will be prepared. Signed in Washington, DC on September 21, 2006. Thomas B. Hofeller, Acting Executive Vice President, Commodity Credit Corporation. [FR Doc. E6-15855 Filed 9-26-06; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3410-05-P DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Food Safety and Inspection Service [Docket No. FSIS-2006-0029] National Advisory Committee on Meat and Poultry Inspection AGENCY: Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS), USDA. ACTION: Notice of public meeting. SUMMARY: The National Advisory Committee on Meat and Poultry Inspection (NACMPI) will hold a public meeting on October 12-13, 2006, to review and discuss the following issues:

(1)Using Risk to Direct In-Plant Inspection Activities in Processing Assignments, and

(2)Using Risk in Slaughter Operations. Two subcommittees will also meet on October 12, 2006, to work on these issues after discussion during the full committee session. DATES: The full Committee will hold a public meeting on Thursday, October 12, and Friday, October 13, 2006, from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Subcommittees will hold open meetings on Thursday, October 12, 2006, from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. ADDRESSES: All Committee meetings will take place in the conference room at the south end of the U. S. Department of Agriculture

(USDA)cafeteria located in the South Building, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20250. A meeting agenda is available on the Internet at the NACMPI Web site, *http://www.fsis.usda.gov/about_fsis/nacmpi/index.asp.* The NACMPI meeting agenda, together with information and resource materials on risk-based inspection, is also available on the Internet at the Risk-based Inspection System Web site, *http://www.fsis.usda.gov/Regulations_&_Policies/Risk_Based_Inspection/index.asp.* FSIS welcomes comments on the topics to be discussed at the NACMPI public meeting. Comments may be submitted by any of the following methods: *Electronic mail:* *NACMPI@fsis.usda.gov.* *Mail, including floppy disks or CD-ROM's:* Send to Advisory Committee Specialist, United States Department of Agriculture, Food Safety and Inspection Service, 14th & Independence Avenue, SW., Mail Drop 405 Aerospace, Washington, DC 20250. H *and-or courier-delivered items:* Deliver to Loraine Cannon at 901 D Street, SW., Washington, DC. To deliver these items, the building security guard must first call

(202)690-6520. *Facsimile:* Send to Loraine Cannon,

(202)690-6519. All submissions received must include the Agency name and docket number FSIS-2006-0029. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Robert Tynan for technical information at

(202)720-3884, or e-mail *robert.tynan@fsis.usda.gov* and Loraine Cannon for meeting information at

(202)690-6647, FAX

(202)690-6519, or e-mail *NACMPI@fsis.usda.gov.* Persons requiring a sign language interpreter or other special accommodations should notify Loraine Cannon no later than September 26, 2006, at the numbers above or by e-mail. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Background On March 15, 2005, the Secretary of Agriculture renewed the charter for the NACMPI. The Committee provides advice and recommendations to the Secretary of Agriculture pertaining to the Federal and State meat and poultry inspection programs, pursuant to sections 7(c), 24, 205, 301(a)(3), 301(a) (4), and 301(c) of the Federal Meat Inspection Act [21 U.S.C. 607(c), 624, 645, 661(a)(3), 661(a)(4), and 661(c)] and sections 5(a)(3), 5(a)(4), 5(c), 8(b), and 11(e) of the Poultry Products Inspection Act [21 U.S.C. 454(a)(3), 454(a)(4), 454(c), 457(b), and 460(e)]. The Administrator of FSIS is the chairperson of the Committee. Membership of the Committee is drawn from representatives of consumer groups; producers, processors and marketers from the meat, poultry and egg product industries; State and local government officials; and academia. The current members of the NACMPI are: Dr. Gladys Bayse, Spelman College; Dr. David Carpenter, Southern Illinois University; Dr. James Denton, University of Arkansas; Mr. Darin Detwiler, Lake Washington School District; Mr. Kevin Elfering, Minnesota Department of Agriculture; Ms. Sandra Eskin, Public Policy Consultant; Mr. Mike Finnegan, Montana Department of Agriculture; Mr. Michael Govro, Oregon Department of Agriculture; Dr. Andrea Grondahl, North Dakota Department of Agriculture; Dr. Joseph Harris, Southwest Meat Association; Dr. Jill Hollingsworth, Food Marketing Institute; Mr. Michael Kowalcyk, Safe Tables Our Priority; Dr. Irene Leech, Virginia Citizens Consumer Council; Mr. Charles Link, Cargill Meat Solutions; Dr. Catherine Logue, North Dakota State University; and Mr. Mark Schad, Schad Meats, Inc. The Committee has two subcommittees to deliberate on specific issues and make recommendations to the whole Committee. The Committee makes recommendations to the Secretary of Agriculture. All interested parties are welcome to attend the meetings and to submit written comments and suggestions concerning issues the Committee will review and discuss. The comments and the official transcript of the meeting, when they become available, will be kept in the FSIS Docket Room, 300 12th Street, SW., Room 102, Cotton Annex Building, Washington, DC 20250, and posted on the Agency's NACMPI Web site, *http://www.fsis.usda.gov/about_fsis/nacmpi/index.asp.* Members of the public will be required to register before entering the meeting. Additional Public Notification Public awareness of all segments of rulemaking and policy development is important. Consequently, in an effort to ensure that minorities, women, and persons with disabilities are aware of this notice, FSIS will announce it on-line through the FSIS Web Page located at *http://www.fsis.usda.gov/regulations/2006_Notices_Index/.* FSIS will also make copies of this **Federal Register** publication available through the FSIS Constituent Update, which is used to provide information regarding FSIS policies, procedures, regulations, **Federal Register** notices, FSIS public meetings, recalls and other types of information that could affect or would be of interest to constituents and stakeholders. The update is communicated via Listserv, a free electronic mail subscription service for industry, trade and farm groups, consumer interest groups, allied health professionals, and other individuals who have asked to be included. The update is available on the FSIS Web page. Through the Listserv and Web page, FSIS is able to provide information to a much broader and more diverse audience. In addition, FSIS offers an e-mail subscription service which provides automatic and customized access to selected food safety news and information. This service is available at *http://www.fsis.usda.gov/news_and_events/email_subscription/.* Options range from recalls to export information to regulations, directives and notices. Customers can add or delete subscriptions themselves and have the option to password protect their account. Done in Washington, DC on: September 21, 2006. Barbara J. Masters, Administrator. [FR Doc. E6-15859 Filed 9-26-06; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3410-DM-P DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Food Safety and Inspection Service [Docket No. FSIS-2006-0028] Risk-Based Inspection System AGENCY: Food Safety and Inspection Service, USDA. ACTION: Notice of public meeting. SUMMARY: The Food Safety and Inspection Service

(FSIS)will hold a public meeting on October 10-11, 2006, to review and discuss the following issues:

(1)Measuring product inherent risk for risk-based inspection, and

(2)Measuring establishment risk control for risk-based inspection. In addition, FSIS will begin a discussion on how these two measures of risk might be used to implement a Risk-Based Inspection System (RBIS). FSIS will use Resolve, a national non-profit organization, to assist with the stakeholder input process. Resolve specializes in mediating, facilitating, and building consensus on solutions to scientifically complex public policy issues, including those in the areas of food safety, agriculture, and public health. DATES: FSIS will hold a public meeting on Tuesday, October 10, and Wednesday, October 11, 2006, from 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. ADDRESSES: The public meeting will be held at George Mason University, 3401 N. Fairfax Drive, Arlington, VA 22201. The specific room information for the meeting, directions to the site, and the agenda will be posted on the risk-based inspection

(RBI)Web site at *http://www.fsis.usda.gov/regulations_&_policies/Risk_Based_Inspection/.* The meeting will be broadcast electronically for viewing in selected locations in other parts of the country. Those locations and information on the telecasts will also be posted on the RBI Web site. Members of the public are required to pre-register for the meeting (see Background). Online registration information is also located on the RBI Web site above. FSIS welcomes comments on the topics to be discussed at the public meeting. The Agency's technical papers relating to

(1)Measuring product inherent risk for risk-based inspection, and

(2)Measuring establishment risk control for risk-based inspection are posted at the FSIS Web site above. Comments on these papers may be submitted by any of the following methods through October 27, 2006: *Electronic mail:* An e-mail box has been established specifically for RBI comments for the public meeting on October 10-11. Comments can be submitted to *riskbasedinspection@fsis.usda.gov.* *Mail, including floppy disks or CD-ROM's:* Send to Ellyn Blumberg, RBI Public Meeting, United States Department of Agriculture, Food Safety and Inspection Service, 14th & Independence Avenue, SW., Mail Drop 405 Aerospace, Washington, DC 20250. *Hand-or courier-delivered items:* Deliver to Ellyn Blumberg at 901 D Street, SW., Washington, DC. To deliver these items, the security guard must first call

(202)690-6520. *Facsimile:* Fax RBI comments to

(202)690-6519. All submissions received must include the Agency name and docket number FSIS-2006-0028. The comments also will be posted on the Agency's Web site at *http://www.fsis.usda.gov/regulations_&_policies/Risk_Based_Inspection/.* FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Robert Tynan for technical information at

(202)720-3884 or e-mail *robert.tynan@fsis.usda.gov.* Contact Ellyn Blumberg for meeting information at

(202)720-0087, Fax

(202)690-6519, or e-mail *ellyn.blumberg@fsis.usda.gov.* Persons requiring a sign language interpreter or other special accommodations should notify the agency contacts no later than September 26, 2006, at the numbers above or by e-mail. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Background FSIS is the public health regulatory agency in the U.S. Department of Agriculture

(USDA)responsible for ensuring that the nation's commercial supply of meat, poultry, and egg products is safe, wholesome, and correctly labeled and packaged. FSIS is accountable for protecting the lives and well-being of 295 million U.S. citizens and millions more around the world. To meet the realities of food safety and public health challenges, FSIS is working to make its inspection system more risk-based and to continue to implement science-based policies. Although the Agency acknowledges that some types of meat and poultry products pose greater health risks than others, and some establishments control risks better than others, under the current system of processing inspection, a Consumer Safety Inspector visits every plant at least once every shift to perform a variety of verification procedures scheduled by the Performance Based Inspection System (PBIS). PBIS schedules inspection procedures the same way in all processing plants, regardless of the particular food safety hazard associated with the products produced and processes performed at one plant versus another. In July 2004, the Agency outlined the basic features of a predictive model that would permit FSIS to improve resource allocation by considering the inherent risks and risk control effectiveness of the many meat and poultry establishments under Federal inspection. Since that time, FSIS has continued developing and refining these ideas. In November 2005, FSIS addressed the National Advisory Committee on Meat and Poultry Inspection (NACMPI) on Agency progress toward a RBIS. In May 2006, the Agency again addressed NACMPI—this time on ideas the Agency has on measuring establishment risk control effectiveness for RBI. Reductions in the number of illnesses attributed to the consumption of adulterated meat and poultry products can be achieved by placing greater inspection and verification emphasis on establishments whose processes, owing to the nature and volume of their production, require greater control of the risks. FSIS believes that it can improve public health by dedicating fewer inspection resources to processing establishments that produce products that present low inherent risk and that exercise effective risk control, and shifting those resources towards processing establishments that produce products that present high inherent risk and that have less effective risk control. At this meeting, FSIS will present some ideas about how the Agency can develop measures of inherent food safety risk for federally-inspected meat and poultry processing establishments and to solicit stakeholder input on the subject. The Agency will also accept stakeholder input on how to measure establishment control of risk. FSIS previously presented information on this topic at a meeting of NACMPI last May. Finally, FSIS will accept stakeholder input on some initial concepts on how the two measures of risk might be used to implement RBIS. FSIS is using Resolve, a national non-profit organization, to assist with the stakeholder input process. Resolve specializes in mediating, facilitating, and building consensus on solutions to scientifically complex public policy issues, including those in the areas of food safety, agriculture, and public health. All interested parties are welcome to attend the meetings and to submit written comments and suggestions through October 27, 2006. The comments and the official transcript of the meeting, when they become available, will be posted on the Agency's Web site at *http://www.fsis.usda.gov/regulations_&_policies/Risk_Based_Inspection/.* All comments received in response to this notice will be considered part of the public record. Members of the public are required to pre-register for the meeting. Online registration information is located at *http://www.fsis.usda.gov/regulations_&_policies/Risk_Based_Inspection/.* Additional Public Notification Public awareness of all segments of rulemaking and policy development is important. Consequently, in an effort to ensure that minorities, women, and persons with disabilities are aware of this notice, FSIS will announce it on-line through the FSIS Web page located at *http://www.fsis.usda.gov/regulations/2006_Notices_Index/. FSIS will also make copies* of this **Federal Register** publication available through the FSIS Constituent Update, which is used to provide information regarding FSIS policies, procedures, regulations, **Federal Register** notices, FSIS public meetings, recalls, and other types of information that could affect or would be of interest to constituents and stakeholders. The update is communicated via Listserv, a free electronic mail subscription service for industry, trade and farm groups, consumer interest groups, allied health professionals, and other individuals who have asked to be included. The update is available on the FSIS Web page. Through the Listserv and Web page, FSIS is able to provide information to a much broader and more diverse audience. In addition, FSIS offers an e-mail subscription service which provides automatic and customized access to selected food safety news and information. This service is available at *http://www.fsis.usda.gov/news_and_events/email_subscription/.* Options range from recalls to export information to regulations, directives and notices. Customers can add or delete subscriptions themselves and have the option to password protect their account. Done at Washington, DC on: September 21, 2006. Barbara J. Masters, Administrator. [FR Doc. E6-15866 Filed 9-26-06; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3410-DM-P DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Forest Service Opal Creek Scenic Recreation Area

(SRA)Advisory Council AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA Forest Service Action: Notice of Meeting. SUMMARY: An Opal Creek Scenic Recreation Area Advisory Council meeting will convene in Stayton, Oregon on Wednesday, October 25, 2006. The meeting is scheduled to begin at 6:30 p.m., and will conclude at approximately 8:30 p.m. The meeting will be held in the South Room of the Stayton Community Center located on 400 West Virginia Street in Stayton, Oregon. The Opal Creek Wilderness and Opal Creek Scenic Recreation Area Act of 1996 (Opal Creek Act) (Pub. L. 104-208) directed the Secretary of Agriculture to establish the Opal Creek Scenic Recreation Area Advisory Council. The Advisory Council is comprised of thirteen members representing state, county and city governments, and representatives of various organizations, which include mining industry, environmental organizations, inholders in Opal Creek Scenic Recreation Area, economic development, Indian tribes, adjacent landowners and recreation interests. The council provides advice to the Secretary of Agriculture on preparation of a comprehensive Opal Creek Management Plan for the SRA, and consults on a periodic and regular basis on the management of the area. Tentative agenda items include: Trails Planning, Monitoring Plan and Pearl Creek Strategy Subcommittees reports and recommendations. A direct public comment period is tentatively scheduled to begin at 8 p.m. Time allotted for individual presentations will be limited to 3 minutes. Written comments are encouraged, particularly if the material cannot be presented within the time limits of the comment period. Written comments may be submitted prior to the October 25th meeting by sending them to Designated Federal Official Paul Matter at the address given below. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For more information regarding this meeting, contact Designated Federal Official Paul Matter; Willamette National Forest, Detroit Ranger District, HC 73 Box 320, Mill City, OR 97360;

(503)854-3366. Dated: September 29, 2006. Dallas Emch, Forest Supervisor. [FR Doc. 06-8278 Filed 9-26-06; 8:45 am]

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