### 46374 Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 150 / Friday, August 3, 2012 / Notices

• Postal Mail/Commercial Delivery: Send your comment to Docket No. APHIS–2012–0060, Regulatory Analysis and Development, PPD, APHIS, Station 3A–03.8, 4700 River Road Unit 118, Riverdale, MD 20737–1238.

Supporting documents and any comments we receive on this docket may be viewed at http:// www.regulations.gov/ #!docketDetail;D=APHIS–2012–0060 or in our reading room, which is located in room 1141 of the USDA South Building, 14th Street and Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC. Normal reading room hours are 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, except holidays. To be sure someone is there to help you, please call (202) 799–7039 before coming.

**FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT :**  Dr. Shirley A. Wager-Page, Chief, Pest Permitting Branch, Registration, Identification, Permitting, and Plant Safeguarding, APHIS, 4700 River Road Unit 133, Riverdale, MD 20737–1236; (301) 851–2323.

**SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION :** 

The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is proposing to issue permits for the release of Scymnus coniferarum, a native predaceous beetle from the western United States, into the eastern United States for use as a biological control agent to reduce the severity of hemlock woolly adelgid (Adelges tsugae ) infestations on hemlock.

Hemlock woolly adelgid was accidentally introduced to the eastern United States from Asia. Although native to the western United States, in the eastern United States, hemlock woolly adelgid is a destructive pest of the eastern hemlock ( Tsuga canadensis ), where it causes needle loss, abortion of buds, and the eventual death of infested
trees.

Four predatory beetles have been introduced to the eastern United States as biological controls of hemlock woolly adelgid with two of these considered established in the eastern United States. However, because hemlock woolly adelgid has a multigenerational lifestyle with multiple forms appearing at different times during the year, a group of natural predators similar to that found in areas in which it is native is needed in order to provide more efficient control. Therefore, APHIS is proposing to issue permits for the release of S. coniferarum into the eastern United States in order to reduce the severity and extent of hemlock woolly adelgid infestations.

The proposed biological control agent, S. coniferarum, is a small lady beetle about 2 millimeters long and covered in fine, short hairs. In the wild it feeds on all hemlock woolly adelgid stages except nymphs that are in diapause during the summer. Because the larvae of S. coniferarum primarily target the egg stage of the hemlock woolly adelgid in late spring to early summer, the release of S. coniferarum will provide a predator that the spring generation of hemlock woolly adelgid currently lacks in the eastern United States.

APHIS’ review and analysis of the potential environmental effects associated with the proposed action are documented in detail in an environmental assessment (EA) entitled ‘‘Release of the Predatory Beetle Scymnus coniferarum (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae), for Biological Control of the Hemlock Woolly Adelgid (Adelges tsugae ) in the Eastern United States’’ (February 2012). We are making the EA available to the public for review and comment. We will consider all comments that we receive on or before the date listed under the heading **DATES** at the beginning of this notice.

The EA may be viewed on the Regulations.gov Web site or in our reading room. (Instructions for accessing Regulations.gov and information on the location and hours of the reading room are provided under the heading

**ADDRESSES** at the beginning of this notice.) In addition, copies may be obtained by calling or writing to the individual listed under **FOR FURTHER**
**INFORMATION CONTACT**

.

The EA has been prepared in accordance with: (1) The National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA), as amended (42 U.S.C. 4321 et
seq. ); (2) regulations of the Council on Environmental Quality for implementing the procedural provisions of NEPA (40 CFR parts 1500–1508); (3) USDA regulations implementing NEPA (7 CFR part 1b); and (4) APHIS= NEPA Implementing Procedures (7 CFR part 372).

Done in Washington, DC, this 30th day of July 2012. Kevin Shea, Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 2012–19029 Filed 8–2–12; 8:45 am]

**BILLING CODE 3410–34–P DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE** 

**Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service** 

**[Docket No. APHIS–2012–0044]**

**National Poultry Improvement Plan; General Conference Committee**  **Meeting and 41st Biennial Conference**

**AGENCY :**  Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA.

**ACTION :**  Notice of meeting.

**SUMMARY :**  We are giving notice of a meeting of the General Conference Committee of the National Poultry Improvement Plan (NPIP) and the NPIP’s 41st Biennial Conference.

**DATES :**  The General Conference Committee meeting will be held on September 25, 2012, from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. The Biennial Conference will meet on September 26, 2012, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and on September 27, 2012, from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m.

**ADDRESSES :**  The meeting will be held at the Loews New Orleans Hotel, 300 Poydras Street, New Orleans, LA.

**FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT :**  Dr. C. Stephen Roney, Senior Coordinator, National Poultry Improvement Plan, VS, APHIS, 1506 Klondike Road, Suite 300, Conyers, GA 30094–5173, (770) 922–
3496.

**SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION :**  The General Conference Committee (the Committee) of the National Poultry Improvement Plan (NPIP), representing cooperating State agencies and poultry industry members, serves an essential function by acting as a liaison between the poultry

industry and the Department in matters pertaining to poultry health. The Committee meets to discuss significant poultry health issues and makes recommendations to improve the NPIP program.

Topics for discussion at the upcoming meetings include:

1. Salmonella testing. 2. Technical Committee report. 3. Avian influenza. 4. USDA regulatory review. The meetings will be open to the public. However, due to time constraints, the public will not be allowed to provide oral comments pertaining to the discussions during either of the meetings. Written statements on meeting topics may be filed with the Committee before or after the meeting by sending them to the person listed under **FOR FURTHER**
**INFORMATION CONTACT** . Written statements may also be filed at the meeting. Please refer to Docket No.


### 46375 Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 150 / Friday, August 3, 2012 / Notices

APHIS–2012–0044 when submitting your statements.

If you require special accommodations, such as a sign language interpreter, please call or write the individual listed under **FOR FURTHER**
**INFORMATION CONTACT**

.

This notice of meeting is given pursuant to section 10 of the Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App. 2).

Done in Washington, DC, this 30th day of July 2012. Kevin Shea, Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 2012–19025 Filed 8–2–12; 8:45 am]

**BILLING CODE 3410–34–P**

**DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE**

**Forest Service**

**Chippewa National Forest Resource Advisory Committee** 

**AGENCY :**  Forest Service, USDA.

**ACTION :**  Notice of meeting.

**SUMMARY :**  The Chippewa National Forest Resource Advisory Committee will meet in Walker, Minnesota. The committee is authorized under the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act (Pub. L. 110– 343) (the Act) and operates in compliance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act. The purpose of the committee is to improve collaborative relationships and to provide advice and recommendations to the Forest Service concerning projects and funding consistent with the title II of the Act. The meeting is open to the public. The purpose of the meeting is to review with the Chippewa National Forest Resource Advisory Committee members their roles and responsiblities, review project proposals and develop project priorities.

**DATES :**  The meeting will be held Wednesday, August 29, 2012, 9:00 a.m.

**ADDRESSES :**  The meeting will be held at Chase on the Lake, Meeting Room, 502 Cleveland Blvd. West, Walker, Minnesota 56484. Written comments should be sent to Chippewa National Forest RAC, 200 Ash Avenue NW., Cass Lake, MN 56633. Comments may also be sent via email to ttisler@fs.fed.us , or via facsimile to 218–335–8637.

All comments, including names and addresses when provided, are placed in the record and are available for public inspection and copying. The public may inspect comments received at the Chippewa National Forest Supervisors Office. Please call ahead to 218–335– 8600 to facilitate entry into the building to view comments.

**FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT :**  Todd Tisler, Forest Ecologist, Chippewa National Forest Forest Supervisor’s Office, 218–335–8600.

Individuals who use telecommunication devices for the deaf (TDD) may call the Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1–800–877–8339 between 8:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m., Eastern Standard Time, Monday through Friday. Requests for reasonable accomodation for access to the facility or procedings may be made by contacting the person listed **FOR**
**FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT**

. **SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION :**  The meeting is open to the public. The following business will be conducted: review project proposals and develop project priorities. The agenda and any applicable documents may be previewed at http://www.fs.usda.gov/ chippewa . Anyone who would like to bring related matters to the attention of the committee may file written statements with the committee staff before or after the meeting.

Dated: July 27, 2012. Darla Lenz, Chippewa National Forest Supervisor.
[FR Doc. 2012–19010 Filed 8–2–12; 8:45 am]

**BILLING CODE 3410–11–P**

**DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE**

**National Agricultural Statistics Service**

**Notice of Intent to Seek Approval To Conduct an Information Collection** 

**AGENCY :**  National Agricultural Statistics Service, USDA.

**ACTION :**  Notice and request for
comments.

**SUMMARY :**  In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice announces the intention of the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) to seek approval to conduct a new information collection, the 2013 Residue and Biomass Field Survey.

**DATES :**  Comments on this notice must be received by October 2, 2012 to be assured of consideration.

**ADDRESSES :**  You may submit comments, identified by docket number 0535– NEW, 2013 Residue and Biomass Field Survey by any of the following methods:

• Email: ombofficer@nass.usda.gov

. Include docket number and title above in the subject line of the message.

• Fax: (202) 720–6396

• Mail: Mail any paper, disk, or CD– ROM submissions to: David Hancock, NASS Clearance Officer, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Room 5336A, Mail Stop 2024, South Building, 1400 Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20250–2024.

• Hand Delivery/Courier: Hand deliver to: David Hancock, NASS Clearance Officer, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Room 5336, South Building, 1400 Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20250–2024.

**FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT :**  Joseph T. Reilly, Associate Administrator, National Agricultural Statistics Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, (202) 720–4333.

**SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION :** 

Title: Residue and Biomass Field Survey.

OMB Control Number: 0535—NEW. Type of Request: Intent to Seek Approval to Conduct a new Information Collection: The National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) will request approval from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for the Residue and Biomass Field Survey.

The Residue and Biomass Field Survey will use as a sampling universe fields in the South Fork watershed in central Iowa (Buckeye, IA). This study will investigate the effect crop residue removal has on soil and water quality. With the respondent’s permission, measurements of crop residues will be compared with remote sensed data to measure crop residue cover and soil tillage intensity for the entire watershed. The survey will be conducted in several phases. The farm operator will only be involved in part of the survey. With the farmers permission the field enumerators will return several times during the growing season to measure and collect samples from the target

areas.

The primary objectives of the National Agricultural Statistics Service are to prepare and issue State and national estimates of crop production, livestock production, economic statistics, and environmental statistics related to agriculture and to conduct the Census of Agriculture and it’s follow-on surveys. This project is conducted as a cooperative effort with USDA’s Agricultural Research Service (ARS).

Authority: These data will be collected under the authority of 7 U.S.C. 2204(a). Individually identifiable data collected under this authority are governed by Section 1770 of the Food Security Act of 1985 as amended, 7 U.S.C. 2276, which requires USDA to afford strict confidentiality to non-aggregated data provided by respondents. This Notice is submitted in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104–13) and