July 2006 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

We are announcing the receipt of additional explanatory information pertaining to a previously proposed amendment to the Wyoming regulatory program (hereinafter, ``the Wyoming program'') under the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 (SMCRA or the Act). In lieu of changing the proposed rule language, as we suggested in our issue letter, Wyoming has submitted additional explanatory information about its self-bonding rules (Rule Package 1-U) with respect to the inclusion of foreign assets as part of a company's tangible net worth and the eligibility of foreign companies to self- bond or guarantee a self-bond. We are seeking input on whether the Wyoming explanation provides sufficient basis for us to approve the proposed amendment.

OSM is announcing the receipt of a proposed amendment to the Pennsylvania regulatory program (hereinafter, the ``Pennsylvania program'') under the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 (SMCRA or the Act). The proposed amendment (Administrative Record Number PA 887.00) was submitted to clarify the requirements for shaft and slope development and other issues relating to blasting at a mine site. This document gives the times and locations that the Pennsylvania program and this submittal are available for your inspection, the comment period during which you may submit written comments, and the procedures that we will follow for the public hearing, if one is requested.

On January 20, 2006, Bridgewater Resources, Inc. (BRI) and ECDC Environmental, L.L.C. (ECDC), referred to collectively as the petitioners, filed with the Surface Transportation Board (Board) a joint petition for clarification (petition) as to the limits of the North Jersey Shared Assets Area (NJSAA), established as part of the Conrail control transaction, approved by the Board in CSX Corp. et al.ControlConrail Inc. et al., 3 S.T.B. 196 (1998) (Decision No. 89).\1\ In particular, petitioners seek a determination that BRI's waste transfer facility (BRI facility) is within the NJSAA and/or can be switched by Conrail under the agreements pertaining to the NJSAA. If the Board finds that the BRI facility is not located within the NJSAA, petitioners seek in the alternative a supplemental order that would enable Conrail to provide switching service, which NS currently provides, between the BRI facility and CSXT's Manville Yard.

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

HRSA will be forming a partnership with the Home Safety Council (HSC) to collaborate on reaching America's low literacy population. Through this project, easy to read and comprehend poison prevention material will be developed and distributed to the public, poison centers, safety and injury prevention professionals, health educators, and first responders.

The public is invited to comment on the following applications to conduct certain activities with endangered species and marine mammals.

Rural Business-Cooperative Service programs are administered through USDA Rural Development. USDA Rural Development announces the availability of approximately $495,000 in competitive cooperative agreement funds for fiscal year (FY) 2006 to conduct research on the national economic impact of all types of cooperatives. USDA Rural Development hereby requests proposals from institutions of higher education interested in applying for a competitively awarded cooperative research agreement. The intent of the funding is to encourage research on the critical issue of the economic value of cooperatives.

FMCSA announces that it has received an application from FedEx Ground Package System, Inc. (FedEx) requesting an exemption from the on-duty time definition under the Federal drivers hours-of-service (HOS) regulations for drivers who operate commercial motor vehicles (CMVs). If granted, the exemption would allow FedEx's home-delivery drivers to operate property-carrying CMVs to and from their residence, without being considered ``on duty.'' FedEx states the subject property is normally a package or packages which were expected to be delivered during the workday but, for one reason or another, could not be delivered that day. Thus, the drivers would operate laden CMVs from the point where the final home delivery was made for that workday to their residence, and from their residence the following workday to a FedEx terminal. FedEx believes its drivers would maintain a level of safety equivalent to, or greater than, the level achieved without the exemption. FMCSA requests public comment on the FedEx application for exemption.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is announcing an opportunity for public comment on the proposed collection of certain information by the agency. Under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (the PRA), Federal agencies are required to publish notice in the Federal Register concerning each proposed collection of information, including each proposed extension of an existing collection of information, and to allow 60 days for public comment in response to the notice. This notice solicits comments on the information collection provisions associated with the guidance document entitled ``Establishing and Maintaining a List of U.S. Dairy Product Manufacturers/Processors With Interest in Exporting to Chile.''

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is announcing an opportunity for public comment on the proposed collection of certain information by the agency. Under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (the PRA), Federal agencies are required to publish notice in the Federal Register concerning each proposed collection of information, including each proposed extension of an existing collection of information, and to allow 60 days for public comment in response to the notice. This notice solicits comments on the information collection in the guidance for industry on special protocol assessment.

The Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) is reporting for the quarter April 1, 2006 through June 30, 2006 with respect to both assistance provided under Section 605 of the Millennium Challenge Act of 2003 (Pub. L. 108-199, Division D (the Act)), and transfers of funds to other federal agencies pursuant to Section 619 of that Act. The following report shall be made available to the public by means of publication in the Federal Register and on the Internet Web site of the MCC (www.mcc.gov) in accordance with Section 612(b) of the Act.