Document headings vary by document type but may contain
                    the following: the agency or agencies that issued and signed a document
the number of the CFR title and the number of each part
                      the document amends, proposes to amend, or is directly
                      related to
the agency docket number / agency internal file number
the RIN which identifies each regulatory action listed in
                      the Unified Agenda of Federal Regulatory and Deregulatory
                      Actions See the
                    Document Drafting Handbook
                    for more details.
 Department of Agriculture Office of the Secretary 7 CFR Subtitles A and B
9 CFR Chapters I, II, and III
 AGENCY: Office of the Secretary, USDA.
 ACTION: Notice of withdrawal.
 SUMMARY: The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is announcing that it has withdrawn certain advance notice of proposed rulemakings (ANPRM) and proposed rules that were either published in the 
                        **Federal Register**
                         more than 4 years ago without subsequent action or determined to no longer be candidates for final action. USDA is taking this action to reduce its regulatory backlog and focus its resources on higher priority actions. The Department's actions are part of an overall regulatory reform strategy to reduce regulatory burden on the public and to ensure the Spring and Fall 2017 Unified Agendas of Regulatory and Deregulatory Actions provided the public accurate information about rulemakings the Department intends to undertake.
 DATES: The advance notice of proposed rulemakings and proposed rules are withdrawn on January 4, 2018.
 FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Michael Poe, Telephone Number: (202) 720-3323. Email: 
                        *Michael.poe@obpa.usda.gov.*


SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Background USDA reviewed its pending proposed rules and other notices that published in the 
                    **Federal Register**
                     more than 4 years ago, and for which no final rule or notice of withdrawal has been issued. The agency identified 14 such regulatory proposals for withdrawal. Additionally, USDA identified two proposed rules for withdrawal because they are not considered candidates for final action at this time. Although not required to do so by the Administrative Procedure Act or by regulations of the Office of the Federal Register, the agency believes the public interest is best served by announcing in the 
                    **Federal Register**
                     that it has withdrawn these 16 items. Therefore, for the reasons set forth above, USDA announces that it has withdrawn the following documents, published in the 
                    **Federal Register**
                     on the dates indicated in the table below. Agency
RIN
Title
Published
                             action
Date
FR citeFAS
0551-AA68
Quality Samples Program
NPRM
8/03/2006
71 FR 43992FAS
0551-AA81
Export Sales Reporting Program
NPRM
3/19/2013
78 FR 16819RUS
0572-AC21
Project Financing—Renewable Energy Loans
ANPRM
6/5/2013
78 FR 33755RUS
0572-AC32
Rural Determination and Financing Percentage
NPRM
6/5/2013
78 FR 33757APHIS
0579-AC28
Viruses, Serums, Toxins, and Analogous Products; Detection of Avian Lymphoid Leukosis Virus
NPRM
1/31/2007
72 FR 4467APHIS
0579-AC65
Tuberculosis: Require Approved Herd Plans Prior to Payment of Indemnity
NPRM
7/24/2008
73 FR 43171APHIS
0579-AD50
Forfeiture Procedures Under the Endangered Species Act and the Lacey Act Amendments
NPRM
5/21/2013
78 FR 29659APHIS
0579-AD67
Chrysanthemum White Rust Regulatory Status Restrictions
ANPRM
8/3/2012
77 FR 46339AMS
0581-AC83
Farmers' Market Promotion Program
NPRM
1/19/2011
76 FR 3046AMS
0581-AD24
Hardwood Lumber and Hardwood Plywood Research and Promotion Program
NPRM
11/13/2013
78 FR 68297AMS
0581-AD63
Soybean Promotion, Research, and Consumer Information; Beef Promotion and Research; Amendments to Allow Redirection of State Assessments to the National Program; Technical Amendments
NPRM
7/15/2016
81 FR 45984FNS
0584-AC72
National School Lunch Program: Reimbursement for snacks in afterschool care programs
NPRM
10/11/2000
65 FR 60502Forest Service
0596-AC46
Small Business Administration Timber Sale Set-Aside Program
NPRM
8/1/2006
71 FR 43435Forest Service
0596-AC71
Proposed Directive on Groundwater Resource Management, Forest Service Manual 2560
NPRM
5/6/2014
79 FR 25824Forest Service
0596-AC89
Enhancing Policies Relating to Partnerships
ANPRM
9/14/2010
75 FR 55710Forest Service
0596-AD03
Management of Surface Activities Associated with Outstanding Mineral Rights on National Forest System Lands (Directive)
ANPRM
12/29/2008
73 FR 79424
 The withdrawal of these proposals identified in this document does not preclude the Department from reinstituting rulemaking concerning the issues addressed in the proposals listed in the chart. Should we decide to undertake such rulemakings in the future, we will re-propose the actions and provide new opportunities for comment. Furthermore, this notice is only intended to address the specific actions identified in this document, and 
                    ( print page 475)
                    not any other pending proposals that USDA has issued or is considering. The Department notes that withdrawal of a proposal does not necessarily mean that the preamble statement of the proposal no longer reflects the current position of USDA on the matter addressed. You may wish to review the Department's website (
                    *http://www.USDA.gov*) for any current guidance on these matter matters. Dated: December 26, 2017. Rebeckah Adcock, Regulatory Reform Officer and Senior Advisor to the Secretary.


[FR Doc. 2017-28433 Filed 1-3-18; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3410-90-P