January 2008 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Department of Labor, as part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, conducts a preclearance consultation program to provide the general public and Federal agencies with an opportunity to comment on proposed and/or continuing collections of information in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA95) [44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)]. This program helps to ensure that requested data can be provided in the desired format, reporting burden (time and financial resources) is minimized, collection instruments are clearly understood, and the impact of collection requirements on respondents can be properly assessed. Currently, the Employment Standards Administration is soliciting comments concerning its proposal to extend OMB approval of the information collection for the following medical reports: Roentgenographic Interpretation (CM-933), Roentgenographic Quality Rereading (CM-933b), Medical History and Examination for Coal Mine Workers' Pneumoconiosis (CM-988), Report of Arterial Blood Gas Study (CM-1159), and Report of Ventilatory Study (CM-2907). A copy of the proposed information collection request can be obtained by contacting the office listed below in the addresses section of this Notice.

The Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) enforces mine operator compliance with mandatory safety and health standards that protect miners and improve safety and health conditions in U.S. Mines. This Federal Register Notice (FR Notice) notifies the public that it has investigated and issued a final decision on certain mine operator petitions to modify a safety standard.

The East Administrative Unit of the Hiawatha National Forest intends to prepare an environmental impact statement (EIS) to disclose the environmental consequences of a vegetation and transportation management project. See the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section for the purpose of and need for the action.

The following applicants have applied for scientific research permits to conduct certain activities with endangered species pursuant to section 10(a) (1) (A) of the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended.

The Pacific Fishery Management Council's (Council) Groundfish Allocation Committee (GAC) will hold a working meeting, which is open to the public.

The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council (Council), in partnership with Duke University, Nicholas School of the Environment and Earth Sciences and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, is conducting a South Atlantic Ecosystem Tools and Model Development Workshop in Beaufort, NC.

In compliance with the requirements of section 3506(c)(2)(a) of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub. L. No. 104-13), the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (Commission) is soliciting public comment on the specific aspects of the information collection described below.

The proposed information collection requirement described below has been 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. Application for technical assistance funds with which CPD grantees will engage providers to supply expertise to shape their resources into effective, coordinated, neighborhood and community development strategies to revitalize and physically, socially and economically strengthen their communities.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice announces Rural Development's intention to request a revision for a currently approved information collection in support of loan programs administered by the Rural Housing Service, Business- Cooperative Service, and Rural Utilities Service.

An open forum on the FY 2007 Performance and Accountability Report (PAR) pilot will be held at the National Academy of Public Administration (NAPA) on April 14, 2008 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. The PAR pilot allows agencies to explore different formats to enhance the presentation of financial and performance information and make this information more meaningful and transparent to the public. As an alternative to the traditional PAR, agencies that participated in the pilot had to prepare and submit to OMB three component documents. The component documents included an Agency Financial Report (AFR), an Annual Performance Report (APR), and a Highlights document that presents performance and financial information in a summary fashion. The purpose of the forum is to obtain feedback from individual users and stakeholders regarding the results of the pilot. Those interested in participating should respond to the questions listed below by e-mail to either Regina Kearney at rkearney@omb.eop.gov, or Pat Harris at pharris@omb.eop.gov by close of business March 28, 2008. Do the PAR pilot component documents (Annual Financial Report, Annual Performance Report, and Highlights): [cir] Provide an enhanced presentation of the financial and performance information in a more transparent way (i.e., information is presented in a manner that is user friendly and easy enough for a novice reader to understand)? [cir] Report financial and performance information more meaningfully (i.e., financial and performance data is reliable, relevant, and include measurable results linked to strategic goals)? [cir] Tailor financial and performance information to meet stakeholder needs? [cir] Report performance and financial results candidly and clearly articulate remedies to performance or financial shortfalls? Are the PAR pilot component documents easily accessible via the web and are they easy to use? Did the development of the PAR pilot component documents: [cir] Improve internal and external communications? [cir] Increase/decrease the burden on preparers? What are individuals' recommendations for improving performance and financial reporting?

Certain public lands located in the Pine Nut Mountain range of Douglas County, Nevada, will be temporarily closed to motorized vehicles. An emergency closure is necessary to prevent further adverse effects to paleontological resources in the Ruhenstroth paleontological area where resource damage is occurring. The potential for additional adverse effects as a result of unrestricted off-highway vehicle use within the area is substantial and significant. Major roads in the area will remain open.

One parcel of public land (N-76426) located in Beatty, Nevada, and totaling 0.46 acres, has been examined and found suitable for disposal utilizing direct sale procedures. The authority for the sale is under Sections 203 and 209 of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (FLPMA), 43 U.S.C. 1713 and 1719.

The Federal Election Commission is revising its written rules for conducting its activities to provide for the circumstance when the Commission has fewer than four Members. Further information is provided in the supplementary information that follows.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is announcing the availability of the guidance entitled ``Recommendations for Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments of 1988 (CLIA) Waiver Applications for Manufacturers of In Vitro Diagnostic Devices.'' FDA is issuing this guidance to recommend approaches for determining whether a laboratory test may be performed by laboratories with a certificate of waiver under CLIA.