This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER

contains regulatory documents having general

applicability and legal effect, most of which

are keyed to and codified in the Code of

Federal Regulations, which is published under

50 titles pursuant to 44 U.S.C. 1510.

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Rules and Regulations Federal Register

55603 

Vol. 79, No. 180 

Wednesday, September 17, 2014 

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 

Agricultural Marketing Service 

7 CFR Part 63 

[Doc. No. AMS–LPS–14–0028] 

National Sheep Industry Improvement 

Center 

AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service, 

USDA. 

ACTION: Affirmation of interim rule as a 

final rule. 

SUMMARY: The Agricultural Marketing 

Service (AMS) is affirming without 

changes, its interim rule to promulgate 

rules and regulations as provided under 

the Agriculture Act of 2014 (2014 Farm 

Bill). The Agricultural Marketing 

Service (AMS) amends the National 

Sheep Industry Improvement Center 

(NSIIC) regulations to redesignate the 

statutory authority from the 

Consolidated Farm and Rural 

Development Act to the Agricultural 

Marketing Act of 1946, amends the 

definition of Act consistent with the 

redesignated statutory authority, and 

amends the regulations by increasing 

the administrative cap for the use of the 

fund from 3 percent to 10 percent. 

DATES: Effective Date: September 18, 

2014. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Kenneth R. Payne, Director, Research 

and Promotion Division, Livestock, 

Poultry, and Seed Program; Telephone 

202/720–5705; Fax: 202/720–1125; or 

email Kenneth.Payne@ams.usda.gov. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This 

action affirms the interim rule (79 FR 

31843) published in the Federal 

Register on June 3, 2014, which 

redesignates the statutory authority for 

the program from section 375 (7 U.S.C. 

2008j) of the Consolidated Farm and 

Rural Development Act to section 210 of 

the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 

(7 U.S.C. 1621–1627). In addition, the 

definition of ‘‘Act’’ is amended under 

section 63.1 to be consistent with the 

redesignated statutory authority, and 

amends the regulations by increasing 

the administrative cap for the use of the 

fund from 3 percent to 10 percent. This 

section also affirms information 

contained in the interim rule concerning 

Executive Orders 12866, 13563, 12988, 

13175, 13132, and the Paperwork 

Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA) (44 U.S.C. 

Chapter 35). Further for this action, the 

Office of Management and Budget has 

determined that this action is not 

significant under Executive Order 12866 

and therefore has not been reviewed by 

OMB. 

Background Information 

The NSIIC was initially authorized 

under the Consolidated Farm and Rural 

Development Act (Act). The Act, as 

amended, was passed as part of the 1996 

Farm Bill (Pub. L. 104–127). The initial 

legislation included a provision that 

privatized the NSIIC 10 years after its 

ratification or once the full 

appropriation of $50 million was 

disbursed. Subsequently, the NSIIC was 

privatized on September 30, 2006 (72 

FR 28945). 

In 2008, the NSIIC was re-established 

under Title XI of the Food, 

Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 

(Pub. L. 110–246), also known as the 

2008 Farm Bill. Section 11009 of the 

2008 Farm Bill repealed the requirement 

in section 375(e)(6) of the Act to 

privatize the NSIIC. Additionally, the 

2008 Farm Bill provided for $1,000,000 

in mandatory funding for fiscal year 

2008 from the Commodity Credit 

Corporation for the NSIIC to remain 

available until expended, as well as 

authorization for appropriations in the 

amount of $10 million for each of fiscal 

years 2008 through 2012. In July 2010, 

the U.S. Department of Agriculture 

(USDA) promulgated rules and 

regulations establishing the NSIIC, 

consistent with the Food, Conservation, 

and Energy Act of 2008 (75 FR 43031). 

The rule established the NSIIC and a 

Board that will manage and be 

responsible for the general supervision 

of the activities of the NSIIC, with 

oversight from the USDA. The NSIIC is 

authorized to use funds to make grants 

to eligible entities in accordance with a 

strategic plan. 

The authorizing legislation 

established in the United States 

Department of the Treasury the NSIIC 

Revolving Fund (Fund). The Fund was 

available to the NSIIC, without fiscal 

year limitation, to carry out the 

authorized programs and activities of 

the NSIIC. The law provides authority 

for amounts in the Fund to be used for 

direct loans, loan guarantees, 

cooperative agreements, equity interests, 

investments, repayable grants, and 

grants to eligible entities, either directly 

or through an intermediary, in 

accordance with a strategic plan 

submitted by the NSIIC to the Secretary. 

In accordance with the 2014 Farm Bill, 

AMS amends the NSIIC regulations at 7 

CFR part 63 as provided for herein. 

The current program authorizes a 

grant-only program administered by the 

NSIIC Board. Based on funding, the 

Board announces that proposals may be 

submitted to the Board for consideration 

from eligible entities. The Board 

determines how funds are allocated. 

Proposals submitted to the Board must 

be consistent with the purpose of the 

NSIIC. 

Comments 

On June 3, 2014, USDA published in 

the Federal Register (79 FR 31843) an 

interim rule with a request for 

comments to be received by July 3, 

2014. USDA received no comments. 

List of Subjects in 7 CFR Part 63 

Administrative practice and 

procedure, Advertising, Lamb and Lamb 

products, Goat and Goat products, 

Consumer Information, Marketing 

agreements, Reporting and 

recordkeeping requirements. 

PART 63—NATIONAL SHEEP 

INDUSTRY IMPROVEMENT CENTER 

■ Accordingly, the interim rule that 

amended 7 CFR part 63, which was 

published on June 3, 2014, (79 FR 

31843), is adopted as a final rule 

without change. 

Dated: September 11, 2014. 

Rex A. Barnes, 

Associate Administrator. 

[FR Doc. 2014–22125 Filed 9–16–14; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3410–02–P 


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