January 10, 2008 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

This document provides notice of a public hearing on a notice of proposed rulemaking relating to the disclosure of reportable transactions under sections 6011 and 6111 of the Internal Revenue Code. These regulations propose to add the patented transactions category of reportable transaction to the regulations under Sec. 1.6011-4 of the Income Tax Regulations. The regulations also include conforming changes to the rules relating to the disclosure of reportable transactions by material advisors under section 6111.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104-13, May 22, 1995), this notice announces that the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) has submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) a request for review of a revised information collection. RI 94-7, Death Benefit Payment Rollover Election for Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS), provides FERS surviving spouses and former spouses with the means to elect payment of FERS rollover-eligible benefits directly or to an Individual Retirement Arrangement. Approximately 3,444 RI 94-7 forms will be completed annually. The form takes approximately 60 minutes to complete. The annual burden is 3,444 hours. For copies of this proposal, contact Mary Beth Smith-Toomey on (202) 606-8358, FAX (202) 418-3251 or via E-mail to MaryBeth.Smith- Toomey@opm.gov. Please include a mailing address with your request.

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this request for comments announces that the U.S. Coast Guard is forwarding an Information Collection Request (ICR), abstracted below, to the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA) of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) requesting an extension of their approval for the following collection of information: 1625-0108, Standard Numbering System for Undocumented Vessels. Our ICR describes the information we seek to collect from the public. Review and comments by OIRA ensure we only impose paperwork burdens commensurate with our performance of duties.

MMS prepared the ROD for the establishment of an alternative energy and alternate use (AEAU) program on the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS), as authorized by Section 388 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (EPAct), and codified in subsection 8(p) of the OCS Lands Act. In accordance with the regulations implementing the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the MMS is announcing the availability of this ROD. The decision is to select the Preferred Alternative described in the Final Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). This decision establishes an AEAU program for the issuance of leases, easements and rights-of-way (ROW) for alternative energy activities and the alternate use of structures on the OCS and the promulgation of regulations to govern the program. Selection of the Preferred Alternative also provides MMS the option to authorize individual projects on a case-by-case basis before promulgation of the final rule. The Director, MMS signed the ROD on December 21, 2007.

DoD has adopted as final, without change, an interim rule amending the Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS) to implement the Dominican Republic-Central America-United States Free Trade Agreement with respect to the Dominican Republic. The rule also includes Bulgaria and Romania on the list of countries covered by the World Trade Organization Government Procurement Agreement.

In compliance with Section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. Chapter 35), DoD announces the proposed extension of a public information collection requirement and seeks public comment on the provisions thereof. DoD invites comments on: (a) Whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of DoD, including whether the information will have practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the estimate of the burden of the proposed information collection; (c) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (d) ways to minimize the burden of the information collection on respondents, including the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology. The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has approved this information collection requirement for use through March 31, 2008. DoD proposes that OMB extend its approval for use for three additional years.

In this order, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (Commission) grants in part, and denies in part, rehearing and clarifies the information to be reported in the Electric Quarterly Report's (EQR'S) fields for Contract Execution Date (Field No. 21), Contract Commencement Date (Field No. 22) and Rate Description (Field No. 37). In addition, the order corrects an error relating to Increment Name (Field Nos. 28 and 60).

DoD has issued a final rule amending the Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS) to address the DFARS provisions included in the Online Representations and Certifications Application (ORCA). Use of ORCA eliminates the need for offerors to repetitively submit the same information in response to Government solicitations.

DoD has issued an interim rule amending the Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS) to implement Section 807 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2007. Section 807 places limitations on contractors acting as lead system integrators in the acquisition of major DoD systems. Such contractors may have no direct financial interest in the development or construction of any individual system or element of any system of systems unless an exception applies.

DoD has issued an interim rule amending the Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS) to implement Section 130 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2007. Section 130 requires DoD to establish a quality control policy for the procurement, modification, repair, and overhaul of ship critical safety items.

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Learjet Model 45 airplanes. This AD requires revising the Airworthiness Limitations section of the airplane maintenance manual to incorporate certain inspections and compliance times to detect fatigue cracking of certain principal structural elements (PSEs). This AD results from new and more restrictive life limits and inspection intervals for certain PSEs. We are issuing this AD to ensure that fatigue cracking of various PSEs is detected and corrected; such fatigue cracking could adversely affect the structural integrity of these airplanes.

The FAA is correcting an error in an existing airworthiness directive (AD) that was published in the Federal Register on November 13, 2007 (72 FR 63800). The error resulted in the wrong appendix information. This AD applies to all Boeing Model 707 airplanes and Model 720 and 720B series airplanes. This AD requires accomplishing an airplane survey to define the configuration of certain system installations, and repair of any discrepancy found. This AD also requires modifying the fuel system by installing lightning protection for the fuel quantity indication system (FQIS), ground fault relays for the fuel boost pumps, and additional power relays for the center tank fuel pumps and uncommanded on-indication lights at the flight engineer's panel.

The Oregon Coast Province Advisory Committee will meet at Siuslaw National Forest Headquarters, Siuslaw River Room. The theme of the meeting is 2008 overview. The agenda includes: Brief WOPR Public involvement, Recreation Facility Assessment, WOPR Progress, Monitoring Field Trip and Public comments.