[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 234 (Tuesday, December 7, 2010)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 75867]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-30534]



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  Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 234 / Tuesday, December 7, 2010 / 
Rules and Regulations  

[[Page 75867]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Agricultural Marketing Service

7 CFR Part 63

[Doc. No. AMS-LS-08-0064]


National Sheep Industry Improvement Center

AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA.

ACTION: Affirmation of interim rule as a final rule.

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SUMMARY: The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) is affirming without 
changes, its interim rule to promulgate rules and regulations 
establishing a National Sheep Industry Improvement Center (NSIIC) 
program, consistent with the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 
(Farm Bill). This rule establishes the NSIIC and a Board of Directors 
(Board) that will manage and be responsible for the general supervision 
of the activities of the NSIIC, with oversight from the U.S. Department 
of Agriculture (USDA). The NSIIC is authorized to use funds to make 
grants to eligible entities in accordance with a strategic plan. No 
comments were received. Accordingly, AMS is issuing this final rule 
without changes.

DATES: Effective Date: December 8, 2010.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kenneth R. Payne, Chief, Marketing 
Programs Branch; Telephone 202/720-1115; Fax to 202/720-1125; or e-mail 
to [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This final rule is published pursuant to 7 
U.S.C.2008j as amended by section 11009 of the Food, Conservation, and 
Energy Act of 2008 (Pub. L. 110-246). This section also affirms 
information contained in the interim rule concerning Executive Order 
12866, Public Law 104-4, Executive Order 12988, Executive Order 13132, 
and the Regulatory Flexibility Act. Further, for this action, the 
Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has determined that this action 
is not significant under Executive Order 12866 and therefore has not 
been reviewed by OMB.

Paperwork Reduction Act

    In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA), AMS 
previously requested approval from OMB of a new information collection. 
In the interim rule, comments were requested on three forms concerning 
the Board nomination process. None were received. The information 
collection has been approved by OMB under OMB control number 0581-002.

Background Information

    The NSIIC was initially authorized under the Consolidated Farm and 
Rural Development Act (Act) (7 U.S.C. 2008j). 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 million in mandatory 
funding for fiscal year (FY) 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 FY 2008 through FY 2012.
    The authorizing legislation established in the U.S. Department of 
the Treasury (Treasury) the NSIIC Revolving Fund (Fund). The Fund is to 
be 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. This rulemaking will establish the NSIIC 
and use of the Fund for making only grants to eligible entities.
    The purpose of the NSIIC is to: (1) Promote strategic development 
activities and collaborative efforts by private and State entities to 
maximize the impact of Federal assistance to strengthen and enhance 
production and marketing of sheep or goat products in the United 
States; (2) Optimize the use of available human capital and resources 
within the sheep or goat industries; (3) Provide assistance to meet the 
needs of the sheep or goat industry for infrastructure development, 
business development, production, resource development, and market and 
environmental research; (4) Advance activities that empower and build 
the capacity of the U.S. sheep or goat industry to design unique 
responses to the special needs of the sheep or goat industries on both 
a regional and national basis; and (5) Adopt flexible and innovative 
approaches to solving the long-term needs of the U.S. sheep or goat 
industry. The final rule authorizes a grant only program to be 
administered by the NSIIC Board.

Comments

    On July 23, 2010, USDA published in the Federal Register (75 FR 
43031) an interim rule with a request for comments to be received by 
September 21, 2010. 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

0
Accordingly, the interim rule that added part 63 to chapter 1 of title 
7, which was published on July 23, 2010 (75 FR 43031), is adopted as a 
final rule without change.

    Dated: December 1, 2010.
David R. Shipman,
Acting Administrator.
[FR Doc. 2010-30534 Filed 12-6-10; 8:45 am]
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