April 2006 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501-21), this notice announces that the Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA), Department of Veterans Affairs, has submitted the collection of information abstracted below to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and comment. The PRA submission describes the nature of the information collection and its expected cost and burden; it includes the actual data collection instrument.

In this notice, the Assistant Secretary of Community Planning and Development redelegates to the Directors and Deputy Directors of Community Planning and Development in HUD Field Offices all powers and authorities necessary to carry out Office of Community Planning and Development programs, except those powers and authorities specifically excluded.

The Director, Regulatory Information Management Services, Office of Management, invites comments on the proposed information collection requests as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.

The Director, Regulatory Information Management Services, Office of Management invites comments on the submission for OMB review as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.

This notice proposes two new systems of records, amends three existing systems of records to include a new system manager, amends one existing system to add two new routine uses and amends Appendix A to reflect current office names and addresses.

The Department of Commerce, as part of its continuing efforts to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, invites the general public and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on proposed and/or continuing information collections, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 104-13 (44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)).

The consent agreement in this matter settles alleged violations of federal law prohibiting unfair or deceptive acts or practices or unfair methods of competition. The attached Analysis to Aid Public Comment describes both the allegations in the draft complaint and the terms of the consent orderembodied in the consent agreementthat would settle these allegations.

The Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) is providing notice that on March 30, 2006, in accordance with the Marrakesh Agreement Establishing the World Trade Organization (WTO Agreement), the United States requested consultations regarding China's treatment of imported motor vehicle parts, components, and accessories (``auto parts''). That request may be found at https://www.wto.org contained in a document designated as WT/DS340/1. USTR invites written comments from the public concerning the issues raised in this dispute.

A notice was published in the Federal Register (FRN) on February 4, 2005 (Vol. 70, No. 23, pp. 6016-6023), detailing proposed changes to the Need for Assistance (NFA) Worksheet criteria being considered for use in future Consolidated Health Center New Access Point (NAP) grant cycles. The FRN requested public comments on these proposed changes and on the degree to which Need should be weighted relative to the other criteria used in the NAP application scoring process. Comments were to be provided to HRSA by March 7, 2005. The proposed changes to the NFA Worksheet criteria and the solicitation of comments were motivated by HRSA's continuous efforts to improve its grant processes. To that end, HRSA sought comment on how to improve its measure of need for comprehensive primary and preventive health care services in the service area or population to be served by a NAP applicant, and whether the weighting of need relative to other application review criteria should be increased. Comments were received from over 50 organizations and/or individuals regarding the proposed changes. These comments were thoroughly evaluated. This FRN presents a summary of the comments received by topic, with HRSA's corresponding responses, and a summary of the final changes HRSA has decided to make to the NFA Worksheet and the weighting of Need in the application review process. Authorizing Legislation: Section 330(e)(1)(A) of the Public Health Service (PHS) Act, as amended, authorizes support for the operation of public and nonprofit private health centers that provide health services to medically underserved populations. Similarly, section 330(g) authorizes grants for delivery of services to Migratory and Seasonal Agricultural Workers; section 330(h) to Homeless populations; and section 330(i) to residents of Public Housing. Reference: For the previous NFA Worksheet criteria and previously used application weights, see Program Information Notice (PIN) 2005-01, entitled (Requirements of Fiscal Year 2005 Funding Opportunity for Health Center New Access Point Grant Applications.'' Background: The goal of the President's Health Centers Initiative, which began in fiscal year (FY) 2002, is to increase access to comprehensive primary and preventive health care services through development of new and/or significantly expanded health center access points in 1,200 of the Nation's neediest communities. Funded health centers are expected to provide comprehensive primary and preventive health care services in areas of high need that will improve the health status of the medically underserved populations to be served and decrease health disparities. Services at these new access points may be targeted toward an entire community or service area or toward a specific population group in the service area that has been identified as having unique and significant barriers to affordable and accessible health care services. It is important that NAP grant awards be made to entities that will successfully implement a viable and legislatively compliant program for the delivery of comprehensive primary health services. It is also essential that all NAP applicants demonstrate the need for such services in the community/population to be served and be evaluated on that need. As part of its efforts to improve the needs assessment process, HRSA arranged for an external evaluation of the NFA Worksheet criteria and the use of need factors in the overall application review process. The evaluation was conducted by a team consisting of HSR, Inc. and the University of North Carolina's Cecil G. Sheps Center for Health Services Research. Key results of the evaluation analyses were presented in the FRN, as well as recommendations for proposed changes. Comments were solicited for the proposed changes. A summary of the comments received from the public and HRSA's response to these comments are presented below.

In accordance with the requirements of the Privacy Act of 1974, we are proposing to establish a new system titled, ``Medicare Health Support System (MHS), System No. 09-70-0574.'' The program is mandated by Section 721 of the Medicare Prescription Drug Improvement, and Modernization Act of 2003 (MMA) (Pub. L. 108-173), which was enacted into law on December 8, 2003, and amended Title XVIII of the Social Security Act (the Act). The MHS program seeks to improve beneficiary self-care and provide beneficiaries and their providers enhanced information and support in order to increase adherence to evidence- based care. Improvements in these areas are expected to generate savings to the Medicare program to offset the costs of the payments. The statute is designed to support dynamic evolution of the program over time, based on program experience and outcomes. Section 1807(c)(1) of the Act requires the Secretary of HHS to enter into agreements to expand the implementation of successful programs or components to additional geographic areas, which may include the implementation of the program on a national basis. Prior to widespread implementation of the program, an initial 3-year Phase I must provide proof of concept through an experimental design involving random assignment of beneficiaries to either an intervention or control group. The purpose of this system is to collect and maintain demographic and health related data on the target population of Medicare beneficiaries who are potential participants in the MHS program. We will also collect certain identifying information on Medicare providers who provide services to such beneficiaries. Information retrieved from this system may be disclosed to: (1) Support regulatory, reimbursement, and policy functions performed within the agency or by a contractor, grantee, consultant or other legal agent; (2) assist another Federal or state agency with information to contribute to the accuracy of CMS's proper payment of Medicare benefits, enable such agency to administer a Federal health benefits program, or to enable such agency to fulfill a requirement of Federal statute or regulation that implements a health benefits program funded in whole or in part with Federal funds; (3) support an individual or organization for a research project or in support of an evaluation project related to the prevention of disease or disability, the restoration or maintenance of health, or payment related projects; (4) support constituent requests made to a Congressional representative; (5) support litigation involving the agency; and (6) combat fraud and abuse in certain Federally-funded health benefits programs. We have provided background information about the new system in the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section below. Although the Privacy Act requires only that CMS provide an opportunity for interested persons to comment on the proposed routine uses, CMS invites comments on all portions of this notice. See EFFECTIVE DATES section for comment period.

To comply with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), we are notifying the public that we have submitted to OMB an information collection request (ICR) to renew approval of the paperwork requirements in the regulations under 30 CFR part 202Royalties and part 206Product Valuation. This notice also provides the public a second opportunity to comment on the paperwork burden of these regulatory requirements. The title of this ICR is ``30 CFR part 202 Royalties, subpart CFederal and Indian Oil, and subpart JGas Production From Indian Leases; and part 206Product Valuation, subpart BIndian Oil, and subpart EIndian Gas.'' The title reflects the previous consolidation of portions of six ICRs relating to Indian oil and gas leases. The six ICRs were previously titled: 1010-0061: 30 CFR part 206, subpart BIndian Oil, Sec. 206.55Determination of Transportation Allowances (Form MMS-4110, Oil Transportation Allowance Report). 1010-0075: 30 CFR part 206, subpart EIndian Gas, Sec. 206.178How do I determine a transportation allowance? (Form MMS-4295, Gas Transportation Allowance Report), and Sec. 206.180How do I determine an actual processing allowance? (Form MMS-4109, Gas Processing Allowance Summary Report). 1010-0095: 30 CFR part 206Product Valuation, Subpart B Indian Oil, Sec. 206.54; subpart CFederal Oil, Sec. 206.109; subpart DFederal Gas, Sec. Sec. 206.156 and 206.158; and Subpart E Indian Gas, Sec. 206.177 (Form MMS-4393, Request to Exceed Regulatory Allowance Limitation).

This notice announces that EPA is accepting applications from organizations seeking to become registered printers and distributors of the new national Uniform Hazardous Waste Manifest.

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Bombardier Model CL-600-2B19 (Regional Jet Series 100 & 440) airplanes. This AD requires modifying the wiring on an alternating current (AC) service bus contactor that is located in the avionics bay. This AD results from incidents of short circuit failures of certain AC contactors located in the avionics bay. We are issuing this AD to prevent short circuit failures of certain AC contactors, which could result in arcing and consequent smoke or fire.

The Assistant Secretary for the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS) proposes priorities under the Special Demonstration Programs. The Assistant Secretary may use one or more of these priorities for competitions in fiscal year (FY) 2006 and in later years. The purpose of Proposed Priority 1 is to support projects that will develop models of statewide assistive technology (AT) device reutilization systems to meet the AT needs of individuals with disabilities. The purpose of Proposed Priority 2 is to support the establishment of a National Device Reutilization Coordination and Technical Assistance Center (Center) to assist grantees funded under Proposed Priority 1 with the establishment or expansion of their statewide AT device reutilization systems. This Center would disseminate information about promising practices and successful models for AT device reutilization systems, facilitate information exchange among grantees, and address AT device reutilization issues at the national level. While funding for projects under Proposed Priority 1 would be for a three-year period only, this Center would be funded for five years in order to conduct follow-up activities.