July 21, 2006 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

In accordance with the requirements of the Privacy Act of 1974, we are proposing to establish a new system titled, ``Medicare Chiropractic Coverage Demonstration and Evaluation (MCCDE), System No. 09-70-0577.'' The demonstration entitled, ``Expansion of Coverage of Chiropractic Services Demonstration'' was established under provisions of Section 651 (d) of the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act (MMA) of 2003 (Public Law (Pub. L.) 108-173). The MCCDE will focus on selected beneficiaries, residing within the four demonstration regions or their respective control regions, who have Medicare chiropractic-eligible diagnoses [i.e., neuromusculoskeletal conditions (NMS)]. The system will contain: Demographic information from Medicare enrollment files; Medicare claims data on utilization of NMS-related Medicare services with associated costs, for demonstration participants and their matched, non-participant controls; and participant satisfaction survey data for the subset randomly surveyed. The MCCDE has four goals: (1) To determine whether eligible beneficiaries who use chiropractic services under the demonstration use a lesser overall amount of items and services for which payment is made under the Medicare program than eligible beneficiaries who do not use such services; (2) to determine the cost of providing payment for chiropractic services under the Medicare program; (3) to further determine whether the demonstration achieves budget neutrality, and if not, the amount of any cost excess to be recouped by Medicare from the chiropractic profession; and (4) finally, to ascertain the satisfaction of eligible beneficiaries participating in the demonstration projects and their perceived quality of care received. The primary purpose of the system is to collect and maintain individually identifiable information on beneficiaries, physicians, participating chiropractors, and providers of service participating in the demonstration and evaluation program. Information retrieved from this system may be disclosed to: (1) Support regulatory, reimbursement, and policy functions performed within the agency or by a contractor, consultant or grantee; (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 litigation involving the agency; and (5) 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.

This notice announces an administrative hearing to be held on August 29, 2006, at the Blanchard Plaza Building, 2201 Sixth Avenue, 11th Floor Conference Room, Seattle, WA 98121, to reconsider CMS' decision to disapprove Alaska State plan amendment 05-06. Closing Date: Requests to participate in the hearing as a party must be received by the presiding officer by August 7, 2006.

Pursuant to statute (see below), the Commission monitors U.S. imports of fresh or chilled tomatoes and fresh or chilled peppers, other than chili peppers, for the purpose of expediting an investigation under certain U.S. safeguard laws, should an appropriate petition be filed. As part of that monitoring, the Commission compiles data on imports and the domestic industry, and has made its data series available electronically to the public on an annual basis since 1994. The Commission is in the process of preparing its data series for the period ending June 30, 2006, and is seeking input from interested members of the public. The Commission expects to make its data series available to the public in November 2006 in electronic format, posted on the Commission's Web site.

The National Marine Fisheries Service announces the availability of approximately $4.5 million in grant funds for fiscal year (FY) 2006 for vessel owners and/or operators who have purchased an Mobile Transmitter Unit (MTU) or Enhanced-Mobile Transmitter Unit (E- MTU) for the purpose of complying with fishery regulations requiring the use of Vessel Monitoring System (VMS) that became effective during FY 2006. The funds will be used to reimburse vessel owners and/or operators for the purchase price of the MTU or E-MTU. The maximum award per reimbursement is dependent upon the requirements of the applicable fishery management rule.

This document contains final regulations under section 410(b) of the Internal Revenue Code. The final regulations permit, in certain circumstances, employees of a tax-exempt organization described in section 501(c)(3) to be excluded for the purpose of testing whether a section 401(k) plan (or a section 401(m) plan that is provided under the same general arrangement as the section 401(k) plan of the employer) meets the requirements for minimum coverage specified in section 410(b). These regulations affect tax-exempt employers described in section 501(c)(3), retirement plans sponsored by these employers, and participants in these plans.

Six Technical Advisory committees (TACs) advise the Department of Commerce on the technical parameters for export controls applicable to dual-use commodities and technology and on the administration of those controls. The TACs are composed of representatives from industry and Government representing diverse points of view on the concerns of the exporting community. Industry representatives are selected from firms producing a broad range of goods, technologies, and software presently controlled for national security, non-proliferation, foreign policy, and short supply reasons or that are proposed for such controls, balanced to the extent possible among large and small firms. TAC members are appointed by the Secretary of Commerce and serve terms of not more than four consecutive years. The membership reflects the Department's commitment to attaining balance and diversity. TAC members must obtain secret-level clearances prior to appointment. These clearances are necessary so that members may be permitted access to the classified information needed to formulate recommendations to the Department of Commerce. Each TAC meets approximately 4 times per year. Members of the Committees will not be compensated for their services. The six TACs are responsible for advising the Department of Commerce on the technical parameters for export controls and the administration of those controls within the following areas: Information Systems TAC: Control List Categories 3 (electronics), 4 (computers), and 5 (telecommunications and information security); Materials TAC: Control List Category 1 (materials, chemicals, microorganisms, and toxins); Materials Processing Equipment TAC: Control List Category 2 (materials processing); Regulations (EAR) and procedures for implementing the EAR; Sensors and Instrumentation TAC: Control List Category 6 (sensors and lasers); Transportation and Related Equipment TAC: Control List Categories 7 (navigation and avionics), 8 (marine), and 9 (propulsion systems, space vehicles, and related equipment). To respond to this recruitment notice, please send a copy of your resume to Ms. Yvette Springer at Yspringer@bis.doc.gov. Deadline: This Notice of Recruitment will be open for one year from its date of publication in the Federal Register. For Further Information Contact: Ms. Yvette Springer on (202) 482- 4814.

Pursuant to Public Law 92-463, notice is hereby given that a meeting of the Defense Advisory Committee on Military Personnel Testing is scheduled to be held. The purpose of the meeting is to review planned changes and progress in developing computerized and paper-and- pencil enlistment tests.

The Glenn/Colusa County Resource Advisory Committee (RAC) will meet in Willows, California. Agenda items to be covered include: (1) Introductions, (2) Approval of Minutes, (3) Public Comment, (4) Project Proposals/Possible Action, (5) General Discussion, (6) Next Agenda.

The proposed information collection requirement described below will be submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act. The Department is soliciting public comments on the subject proposal.

This amendment amends Standard Instrument Approach Procedures (SIAPs) for operations at certain airports. These regulatory actions are needed because of changes occurring in the National Airspace System, such as the commissioning of new navigational facilities, addition of new obstacles, or changes in air traffic requirements. These changes are designed to provide safe and efficient use of the navigable airspace and to promote safe flight operations under instrument flight rules at the affected airports.

This document contains proposed amendments to Department of Labor (Department) regulations relating to annual reporting and disclosure requirements under Part 1 of Subtitle B of Title I of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (ERISA or Act). The proposed amendments contained in this document are necessary to conform the annual reporting and disclosure regulations to proposed revisions to the Form 5500 Annual Return/Report of Employee Benefit Plan forms and instructions. The proposed changes to the Form 5500 and implementing regulatory amendments are intended to facilitate the transition to an electronic filing system, separately proposed at 70 FR 51542 (August 30, 2005), reduce and streamline annual reporting burdens, especially for small businesses, and update the annual reporting forms to reflect current issues and agency priorities. The regulatory amendments thus would, upon adoption, apply for the reporting year for which the electronic filing requirement is implemented. The proposed regulatory amendments will affect the financial and other information required to be reported and disclosed by employee benefit plans filing the Form 5500 Annual Return/Report of Employee Benefit Plan under Part 1 of Subtitle B of Title I of ERISA.

Pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, 42 U.S.C. 4332(2)(C), the National Park Service and the University of Utah announce the availability of a Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the Construction and Operation of a Proposed New Utah Museum of Natural History at the University of Utah, Salt Lake County, Utah.

This proposed rule would revise the Bureau of Land Management's existing geothermal resources leasing and unit agreement regulations to implement the Energy Policy Act of 2005. The proposed rule would restructure existing regulations concerning the general geothermal leasing process and would revise existing regulations on royalties and readjustment of lease terms, conditions, and rentals. The rule would also revise existing regulations on lease duration and work commitment requirements, annual rental and credit of rental towards royalty, unit and communitization agreements, and acreage limitations. Additional revisions required by the Energy Policy Act include various technical corrections. Other proposed changes in sections unaffected by changes in the statute would clarify existing procedures, improve grammatical construction, conform the regulations to new administrative regulatory standards, and correct existing errors.