This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER

contains documents other than rules or

proposed rules that are applicable to the

public. Notices of hearings and investigations,

committee meetings, agency decisions and

rulings, delegations of authority, filing of

petitions and applications and agency

statements of organization and functions are

examples of documents appearing in this

section.

Notices Federal Register

52001 

Vol. 73, No. 174 

Monday, September 8, 2008 

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 

Office of the Secretary 

Privacy Act of 1974; Abolish Obsolete 

System of Records 

AGENCY: Office of the Secretary, U.S. 

Department of Agriculture (USDA). 

ACTION: Notice of abolishment for 

USDA/FS–13 Geometronics Skills 

Inventory record system. 

SUMMARY: A review of this Privacy Act 

System of Records has concluded that 

this system is no longer in effect and 

obsolete. This system is being abolished 

from the Forest Service System of 

Records in accordance with the Privacy 

Act of 1974 (5 U.S.C. 552a), as amended. 

DATES: This notice is effective on 

September 8, 2008. 

ADDRESSES: For additional information 

contact the Director of Engineering, 

1400 Independence Avenue, SW., 

Mailstop 1101, Washington, DC 20250– 

1101. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Richard W. Sowa, P.E., Director of 

Engineering, Telephone: (703) 605– 

4646. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The 

Privacy Act of 1974 (5 U.S.C. 552a), as 

amended, requires that each agency 

publish a notice of the existence and 

character of each new or altered ‘‘system 

of records.’’ 5 U.S.C. 552a(a)(5). This 

notice identifies and abolishes a Forest 

Service discontinued and obsolete 

system of records. The Forest Service is 

abolishing the following system of 

records which, upon review, is no 

longer used and is obsolete: USDA/FS– 

13 Geometronics Skills Inventory. The 

records have been destroyed according 

to the Federal Records Disposal Act of 

1943 (44 U.S.C. 366–380) and the 

Federal Records Act of 1950, and as 

designated in the Forest Service Records 

Management Handbook (FSH) 6209.11. 

Dated: August 22, 2008. 

Edward T. Schafer, 

Secretary. 

[FR Doc. E8–20685 Filed 9–5–08; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3410–11–P 

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 

Food Safety Inspection Service 

[Docket No. FSIS 2008–0028] 

Irradiation as a Processing Aid 

AGENCY: Food Safety and Inspection 

Service (FSIS), USDA. 

ACTION: Notice of availability of petition 

and public meeting; request for 

comments. 

SUMMARY: The Food Safety and 

Inspection Service (FSIS) is announcing 

that it has received a petition from the 

American Meat Institute (AMI) to 

recognize the use of low penetration and 

low dose electron beam irradiation on 

the surface of chilled beef carcasses as 

a processing aid. Based on its 

consideration of the data and 

information contained in the petition, 

FSIS believes that the petition has merit. 

FSIS will hold a public meeting on 

September 18, 2008, to review the 

information contained in the petition 

and to receive public comments on what 

action it should take with respect to the 

petition. A copy of the petition is 

available on the FSIS Web site. 

DATES: The public meeting will be held 

on September, 18, 2008. Comments 

must be received by October 18, 2008. 

ADDRESSES: The public meeting will be 

held from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at: L’Enfant 

Plaza Hotel, 480 L’Enfant Plaza, SW., 

Washington, DC 20024, (202) 484–1000. 

FSIS invites interested persons to 

submit comments on the petition and its 

reaction to the petition. FSIS will 

finalize an agenda on or before the 

meeting date and will post it on the 

FSIS Web page http:// 

www.fsis.usda.gov/News?Meetings_&_

Events/. The petition discussed in this 

notice is available for viewing by the 

public in the FSIS Docket Room and on 

the FSIS Web site http:// 

www.fsis.usda.gov/News?Meetings_&_

Events/ and http://www.usda.gov/ 

regulations_&policies/Petitions/ 

index.asp. The official transcript of the 

meeting will be available for viewing by 

the public in the FSIS Docket Room and 

on the FSIS Web site http:// 

www.fsis.usda.gov/News?Meetings_&_

Events/ when it becomes available. 

Comments may be submitted by either 

of the following methods: 

Federal eRulemaking Portal: This Web 

site provides the ability to type short 

comments directly into the comment 

field on this Web page or attach a file 

for lengthier comments. FSIS prefers to 

receive comments through the Federal 

eRulemaking portal. Go to http:// 

www.regulations.gov and, in the 

‘‘Search for Open Regulations’’ box, 

select ‘‘Food Safety and Inspection 

Service’’ from the agency drop-down 

menu, then click on ‘‘Submit.’’ In the 

Docket ID column, select the FDMS 

Docket Number FSIS–2008–0028 to 

submit or view public comments and to 

view supporting and related materials 

available electronically. After the close 

of the comment period, the docket can 

be viewed using the ‘‘Advanced Search’’ 

function in Regulations.gov. 

Mail, including floppy disks or CDROMs, and hand- or courier-delivered 

items: Send to Docket Clerk, U.S. 

Department of Agriculture, Food Safety 

and Inspection Service, FSIS Docket 

Room, 1400 Independence Avenue, 

SW., Room 2534, Washington, DC 

20250. 

All submissions received must 

include the Agency name and docket 

number FSIS–2008–0028. Documents 

referred to in this notice, and all 

comments submitted in response to this 

notice will be available for public 

inspection in the FSIS Docket Room at 

the address listed above between 8:30 

a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday through 

Friday, except Federal holidays. 

Comments also will be posted on the 

Agency’s Web site at http:// 

www.fsis.usda.gov/regulations_&_

policies/2008_Notices_Index/index.asp. 

Individuals who do not wish FSIS to 

post their personnel contact 

information—mailing address, e-mail 

address, telephone number-on the 

Internet may leave this information off 

of their comments. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For 

technical information, Patrick Burke: 

telephone—202/720–7974 and e-mail— 

patrick.burke@fsis.usda.gov. 

Pre-registration for this meeting is 

recommended. To pre-register, please 

contact Robert Tynan by telephone at 

(202) 720–3884 or by e-mail at 

Robert.Tynan@fsis.usda.gov, Persons 

mstockstill on PROD1PC66 with NOTICES

52002 Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 174 / Monday, September 8, 2008 / Notices 

requiring a sign language interpreter or 

special accommodations should contact 

Robert Tynan as soon as possible. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background 

A. Food Irradiation 

Food is most often irradiated 

commercially to extend shelf-life, 

eliminate insect pests, or reduce 

numbers of pathogenic microorganisms. 

Food irradiation for these purposes is 

practiced in many countries, including 

the United States. Food irradiation is 

the process of exposing food to high 

levels of radiant energy. One form of 

radiant energy used commercially is 

electron beam (e-beam). Energy from 

accelerated electrons is absorbed as they 

enter the surface of the product being 

irradiated. The electrons cause chemical 

bond breakage in the microorganisms 

immediately, in addition to damaging 

their deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA). 

However, not all microorganisms are 

destroyed at the same energy dose 

because of the differences in the amount 

of genetic material or their ability to 

repair their genetic material. 

In 1999, FSIS amended its regulations 

(64 FR 72168, December 23, 1999) to 

permit the use of ionizing radiation for 

treating refrigerated or frozen, uncooked 

meat, meat by products, and certain 

other meat food products to reduce 

levels of foodborne pathogens and to 

extend shelf-life. The FSIS regulations 

require the use of sources of ionizing 

radiation identified in FDA’s regulations 

(21 CFR 179.261(a)). These sources 

include gamma rays, electrons generated 

from machine sources (e-beam), and xrays. In 9 CFR 424.22(c), FSIS details 

the requirements for the use of 

irradiation by official establishments, 

including the labeling requirements for 

irradiated meat (9 CFR 424.22(c)(4)). 

The Agency requires that labeling for 

packaged meat food products irradiated 

in their entirety bear the radura logo 

along with a statement such as ‘‘Treated 

with radiation’’ or ‘‘Treated by 

irradiation.’’ FSIS requires that the logo 

be placed prominently and 

conspicuously in conjunction with the 

required statement, and that the 

statement appear as a qualifier 

contiguous to the product name (9 CFR 

424.22(c)(4)(i)). Also, FSIS requires that 

inclusion of an irradiated meat food 

product ingredient in any multiingredient product be reflected in the 

ingredient statement on the finished 

product labeling (9 CFR 

424.22(c)(4)(iii)). FSIS requires that for 

unpackaged meat food products 

irradiated in their entirety, the logo and 

a statement be prominently and 

conspicuously displayed to purchasers 

either through labeling on a bulk 

container or some other appropriate 

device (9 CFR 424.22 (c)(4)(iii)). 

In 21 CFR 179.26 (b), FDA lists the 

conditions under which ionizing 

radiation can be safety used. For the 

control of foodborne pathogens in, and 

extension of the shelf-life of, refrigerated 

uncooked meat, the amount of 

irradiation is not to exceed 4.5 kGy 

maximum for refrigerated products. The 

regulation does not list a minimum 

dose. 

B. Processing Aids 

Under FDA’s regulations, processing 

aids include substances that are added 

to a food for their technical or 

functional effect during processing but 

are present in the finished food at 

insignificant levels and do not have any 

technical or functional effect in that 

food (21 CFR 101.100 (a)(3)(ii)(c)). 

FDA’s regulations provide that 

processing aids are not required to be 

included on product labels. 

FSIS has relied on the FDA 

regulations on processing aids in 

regulating the labeling of meat and 

poultry products (http:// 

www.fsis.usda.gov/PDF/ 

Determination_of_Processing_Aids.pdf). 

FSIS does not require that the use of 

substances determined to be processing 

aids be declared on product labels. For 

example, for over a decade, the Agency 

has permitted the use of lactic acid and 

certain other organic acids as 

antimicrobial carcass washes applied 

post-slaughter but pre-chiller. In this 

application, lactic acid and the other 

organic acids are classified as a 

processing aid, and no labeling is 

needed, because the effect of application 

of the substance is momentary and not 

lasting. 

AMI Petition 

On July 8, 2005, AMI submitted a 

citizen’s petition to FSIS requesting that 

the Agency officially recognize low 

dose, low penetration e-beam irradiation 

applied to the surface of chilled beef 

carcasses as a ‘‘processing aid.’’ The 

petition requested that information 

concerning irradiation treatment not be 

required on the label of any products 

derived from the carcass. 

The petition argues that low dose (≤ 

1.0 kGy surface dose), low penetration 

(20mm) e-beam irradiation is a 

processing aid because the electron 

beam has a functional effect of reducing 

pathogens on the carcass surface, but 

that once the energy from the electrons 

is absorbed, there were no further 

functional effects from the irradiation. 

According to the petition, low dose, low 

penetration e-beam application results 

in only a small portion of the carcass 

receiving the e-beam irradiation 

exposure. The petition presents 

evidence that the use of e-beam 

irradiation is effective in reducing levels 

of Escherichia coli O157:H7 on the 

carcass; has no effect on organoleptic 

properties or appearance of the carcass; 

has no lasting effect on shelf life of the 

carcass or of product derived from the 

carcass; and produces no significant loss 

of either macro- or micro-nutrients in 

the carcass or the product derived from 

the carcass. A summary of the scientific 

data presented in the petition follows: 

1. The Process Is Effective at Reducing 

Levels of E. coli O157:H7 

The USDA Agricultural Research 

Service’s Meat Animal Research Center 

(MARC) conducted a study on the 

effectiveness of low-dose, low 

penetration e-beam irradiation in 

reducing levels of E. coli O157:H7 on 

chilled beef carcass surface cuts. 

(Arthur, Terrance M. and et al. 2005. 

Effects of Low-Dose, Low-Penetration 

Electron Beam Irradiation of Chilled 

Beef Carcass Surface Cuts on 

Escherichia coli O157:H7 and Meat 

Quality. Journal of Food Protection, Vol. 

68, No. 4 2005, Pages 666–672.) 

In the study, portions of beef 

cutaneous trunci muscle were selected 

to represent the carcass surface because 

the muscle, which covers portions of the 

beef plate and beef flank, is the 

outermost surface muscle and thus 

approximates the surface matrix of a 

beef carcass. Forty cutaneous trunci 

pieces were inoculated with E. coli 

O157:H7, twenty with a high 

concentration of 6 log cfu/cm2 (high 

inoculation) and twenty with a low 

concentration of 3 log cfu/cm2 (low 

inoculation). The forty samples were cut 

into equal portions for a total of eighty 

samples. One half of the high inoculated 

and low inoculated samples were 

treated with surface dosage of 1 kGy 

with approximately 15 mm of 

penetration. The remaining samples 

were not treated. 

Results for direct cell count plating 

show that while the E. coli O157:H7 

contamination of the untreated samples 

remained around the high inoculation 

level (7.2 logs after attachment, 6.6 logs 

at 48 hours and 5.9 logs at 120 hours) 

and the low inoculation level (3.9 logs 

after attachment, 2.9 logs after 48 hours, 

and 2.6 logs after 120 hours), E. coli 

O157:H7 was undetectable after 48 

hours in irradiated samples that had 

been inoculated at the high level and 

was present at approximately 0.1 log 

after 120 hours. For the low inoculation 

level, the irradiation treated samples 

mstockstill on PROD1PC66 with NOTICES

Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 174 / Monday, September 8, 2008 / Notices 52003 

were undetectable for E. coli O157:H7 

after 48 and 120 hours. In addition to 

direct plating, researchers conducted 

enumeration of positive samples using 

the most probable number (MPN) 

technique. The results of the MPN 

analysis were similar to that from direct 

plating, indicating that the numbers of 

viable E. coli O157:H7 cells following 

irradiation were very low. There was no 

low-inoculation sample at 48 hours and 

only one low-inoculation sample at 120 

hours that had a MPN value above the 

limit of detection (minimum level of 

detection was 0.036 CFU/cm2). All of 

the high-inoculation samples were 

above the limit of detection. 

These data appear to support the 

conclusion that a low dose (≤ 1.0 kGy 

surface dose), low penetration (20mm) 

surface e-beam irradiation process will 

produce a significant surface reduction 

of E. coli O157:H7 on chilled beef 

carcasses. FSIS solicits comment on 

whether this conclusion is correct, and 

on whether there are data available that 

would support a different conclusion. 

2. The Process Does Not Have Any 

Affect on Quality or Appearance 

The MARC’s study also addressed 

effects of low dose, low penetration ebeam process on organoleptic properties 

of treated product. Spilt beef carcasses 

have thin external muscles that may be 

partially exposed from the carcass 

splitting process. During low dose ebeam irradiation of carcass sides, these 

muscles will receive various doses of 

radiation depending on their location 

and the extent of fat cover. In MARC’s 

assessment of organoleptic impact, the 

flank steak was used as the model 

muscle because it is partially surface 

exposed; consistent in size, shape, and 

location; easy to access and remove; and 

possesses sufficient surface fat and 

surface layer molding to achieve 

variable penetration. 

None of the flank steak sensory 

attributes (aroma intensity, off-aroma, 

tenderness, juiciness, flavor intensity, 

and off-flavor) were affected by any 

penetration treatment (10%–75% 

penetration). Three Hunter Color 

measurements (lightness, redness, and 

yellowness) were made in the MARC 

study, and all showed some treatment 

effects. However, the effects on lightness 

and yellowness were not linear with 

dose, and thus the investigators did not 

consider them to be meaningful 

treatment-related differences. The 

effects of treatment on redness values 

were linear. However, the researchers 

concluded that the magnitude of the 

effect was slight and would likely have 

no impact on consumer acceptance. 

These data appear to support that a 

low dose, low penetration surface ebeam process does not have any affect 

on quality or appearance. FSIS asks for 

comment on whether the available data 

support this conclusion. 

3. The Process Does Not Have an Effect 

on Shelf Life 

A study of the effects of low dose, 

low-penetration e-beam surface 

exposure on the shelf life of beef was 

performed by Silliker Inc. 

Twelve chilled beef plates from a 

commercial beef slaughter facility were 

removed from beef carcasses and 

transported to a commercial irradiation 

facility. Six beef plates were designated 

‘‘air-exposed,’’ and three of these six 

were left untrimmed. Six beef plates 

were designated ‘‘vac-pac,’’ and all were 

trimmed. Six of these twelve were 

treated with low level (1 kGy), low 

penetration (15 mm) surface e-beam 

irradiation. The other six were left 

untreated as controls. 

After the six beef plates were 

irradiated, the irradiated and control 

plates were randomly subdivided into 

four equal segments. Each segment was 

allocated into time slots of 1, 3, 6, and 

9 days for air exposed, and 1, 10, 20, 

and 30 days for vac-pac. The following 

microbiological tests were performed at 

each measurement time: total aerobic 

plate count (APC) (35°C with aerobic 

atmosphere), hetero- and homo-lactic 

acid bacteria (LAB) (30°C with microaerobic atmosphere), total coliforms 

(35°C with aerobic atmosphere), and 

Biotype I E. coli (35–45°C with aerobic 

atmosphere). To provide a measure of 

oxidative rancidity, thiobarbituric acid 

(TBA) was analyzed throughout shelf 

life. 

For APC, LAB, and total coliform 

counts of air-exposed beef after nine 

days, the irradiated samples were 

within 1.5 logs of the non-irradiated 

samples. For APC and LAB counts of 

vacuum packed beef after thirty days, 

the irradiated samples were within 1 log 

of the non-irradiated samples, while the 

total coliform counts were equivalent. 

The vacuum packed beef TBA values 

ranged from limited, tolerably oxidized 

to somewhat oxidized over 30 days of 

shelf life. The air exposed beef TBA 

values ranged from limited, tolerably 

oxidized at 2 days of shelf life to 

oxidized at 9 days of shelf life. All 

samples were below the range of 

rancidity. 

Based on the results of this study, the 

initial antimicrobial effects of the 

treatment appear to have been minimal, 

and over the course of shelf life, the 

APC and LAB counts on the surface ebeam treated product increased to the 

point that quantitative levels nearly 

approximated the non-treated controls 

at the end of the storage period. In 

addition, one of the principal 

measurements of shelf life and product 

spoilage—rancidity—as measured by 

TBA indicated that the treated samples 

would turn rancid slightly before the 

non-treated controls. These data appear 

to demonstrate that the e-beam surface 

treatment of beef plates does not have a 

lasting effect on the product shelf-life. 

Based on all of these data, a low dose, 

low penetration surface e-beam process 

appears not to have any affect on shelflife. FSIS asks for comment on this 

tentative conclusion. 

4. The Process Does Not Produce 

Significant Losses of Nutrients 

A literature review and analysis on 

the effects of low dose, low-penetration 

e-beam irradiation on the levels of micro 

and macro nutrients was conducted by 

Dr. Donald W. Thayer, a retired USDA—

ARS researcher (Thayer, Donald. 2004. 

Literature Review and Analysis of the 

Effects of Beef Carcass Surface 

Irradiation on Micro- and MacroNutrients). 

Concerning macro-nutrients, Dr. 

Thayer found that there were no 

significant differences in the peroxide 

and iodine values of lipids following 

irradiation up to 10 kGy of the m. 

longissimus dorsi of beef. Also, there 

were no significant changes following 

irradiation in the malonaldehyde 

concentration in beef m. longissimus 

dorsi (Hampson, J.W., et al., 1996. Effect 

of low dose gamma radiation on lipids 

in five different meats. Meat Science. 

42:271–276). Concerning micronutrients, Dr. Thayer found that several 

authors studied the effects of 

sterilization doses of gamma irradiation 

on vitamins in ground beef at 1 kGy 

dose. According to Dr. Thayer’s review, 

the water soluble vitamins in beef 

(niacin, vitamin B12, chorine, instill, 

and folacin) were ‘‘unaltered.’’ One 

water soluble and one fat soluble 

vitamin (thiamin and tocopherol) would 

likely be decreased. For these two 

vitamins, Dr. Thayer estimated, worse 

case, that the maximum net decrease in 

the U.S. diet would be only 0.021% for 

thiamin and 0.014% for tocopherol. 

Dr. Thayer concluded that ‘‘beef 

carcass surface, low dosage (1.0 kGy) 

electron beam irradiation will not 

produce a significant loss of either 

micro- or macro-nutrients from the U.S. 

diet.’’

Based on these findings, it appears 

that a low dose, low penetration surface 

e-beam process does not have any 

significant effect on micro and macro 

mstockstill on PROD1PC66 with NOTICES

52004 Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 174 / Monday, September 8, 2008 / Notices 

nutrients. FSIS asks for comment on this 

tentative conclusion. 

Processing Aid 

The AMI petition raised the issue of 

considering low dose, low penetration 

e-beam irradiation of the surface of beef 

carcasses to be a ‘‘processing aid’’

whose use would not need to be 

disclosed in the labeling of products 

derived from the carcasses that were 

irradiated. FSIS has consulted with FDA 

about this issue, and FDA has advised 

FSIS that, tentatively, it would not 

object to treating low dose, low 

penetration e-beam irradiation on the 

surface of chilled beef carcasses as a 

processing aid. FDA is still considering 

this issue and will likely consult further 

with FSIS. 

Issues To Be Discussed at the Public 

Meeting 

After considering the AMI petition, 

FSIS has tentatively concluded that 

there is merit to consider low dose (≤1.0 

kGy) and low penetration (20mm) ebeam irradiation on the surface of 

chilled beef carcasses as a processing 

aid. 

Data submitted showed that low dose, 

low penetration surface e-beam 

irradiation will produce a significant 

surface reduction of E. coli 0157:H7 on 

chilled beef carcasses. The e-beam 

treatment does not appear to have a 

lasting antimicrobial effect that would 

extend the shelf-life of the products, and 

it appears that there is no significant 

difference in color, odor, or taste 

between treated and untreated products. 

Relevant studies appear to support the 

assertion that the low dose, low 

penetration e-beam irradiation treatment 

would not produce any significant 

changes in the macro and micro nutrient 

content of the treated products. Further, 

the entire beef carcass is not irradiated, 

only the surface of the carcass. 

Public Meeting and Comments 

FSIS is seeking comment both at the 

public meeting and during the comment 

period on the following questions and 

those raised throughout this document: 

• Is there any additional evidence to 

support or contradict the evidence 

presented in the AMI petition on the 

specific application of a low penetration 

of 20mm and low surface dosage of ≤1.0 

kGy electron beam irradiation on the 

surfaces of chilled beef carcasses as a 

processing aid? 

• Is there any evidence indicating 

that FSIS should consider the 

cumulative effects of the absorbed dose 

delivered in accordance with the AMI 

petition and any subsequent absorbed 

dose, such as a result of further 

irradiation of ground beef? 

• Should FSIS consider requiring 

irradiation process controls if 

irradiation is considered a processing 

aid? If so, what would they be and what 

impact would they have on the low dose 

irradiation of chilled carcasses? 

• Are there factors that FSIS has not 

considered? If so, what are they and 

what impact would they have? 

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 online through the FSIS Web page located 

at http://www.fsis.usda.gov/regulations/ 

2008_Notices_Index/. 

FSIS also will 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, 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 the 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 2, 

2008. 

Alfred V. Almanza, 

Administrator. 

[FR Doc. E8–20653 Filed 9–5–08; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3410–DM–P 

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 

Forest Service 

Recreation Resource Advisory 

Committees 

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA. 

ACTION: Notice of intent to renew the 

Recreation Resource Advisory 

Committees. 

SUMMARY: The Secretary of Agriculture 

intends to renew five Forest Service 

Recreation Resource Advisory 

Committees (Recreation RACs) pursuant 

to Section 4 of the Federal Lands 

Recreation Enhancement Act passed 

into law as part of the 2005 

Consolidated Appropriations Act (Pub. 

L. 108–447) on December 8, 2004. The 

Recreation RACs operate in the Pacific 

Northwest, Pacific Southwest, Eastern, 

and Southern Regions of the Forest 

Service and the State of Colorado, and 

provide recreation fee recommendations 

to both the Forest Service and the 

Bureau of Land Management (BLM) as 

appropriate. As required by the Federal 

Advisory Committee Act, charters for 

Federal advisory committees must be 

renewed every two years. 

DATES: The current charter for the 

Recreation RACs expires September 28, 

2008. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Julie 

Cox, National Recreation RAC 

Coordinator, USDA Forest Service, 

Pacific Northwest Region, 333 SW. 1st 

Avenue, Portland, OR 97208, (503) 808–

2984. 

Individuals who use 

telecommunication devices for the deaf 

(TDD) may call the Federal Information 

Relay Service (FIRS) at 1–800–877–8339 

between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m., Eastern 

Standard Time, Monday through Friday. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background 

The Federal Lands Recreation 

Enhancement Act (REA), signed in 

December 2004, directs the Secretary of 

Agriculture, the Secretary of the 

Interior, or both to establish Recreation 

RACs, or use existing advisory 

committees to perform the duties of 

Recreation RACs, in each State or region 

for Federal recreation lands and waters 

managed by the Forest Service or the 

BLM. These committees make recreation 

fee program recommendations on 

implementing or eliminating standard 

amenity fees; expanded amenity fees; 

and noncommercial, individual special 

recreation permit fees; expanding or 

limiting the recreation fee program; and 

fee-level changes. 

mstockstill on PROD1PC66 with NOTICES