February 14, 2008 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The inventions listed below are owned by an agency of the U.S. Government and are available for licensing in the U.S. in accordance with 35 U.S.C. 207 to achieve expeditious commercialization of results of federally-funded research and development. Foreign patent applications are filed on selected inventions to extend market coverage for companies and may also be available for licensing.

The FHWA and FTA are jointly issuing this Revised Notice of Intent (NOI) to advise the public of modifications to the environmental review process for the Tappan Zee Bridge/I-287 Corridor Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). These revisions include the intent of FHWA and FTA to use a tiered process to facilitate project decision-making, and the intent of FHWA and FTA to utilize the environmental review provisions afforded under Section 6002 of the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU). The EIS will build upon the extensive alternatives analysis, environmental and technical studies and public comments and outreach conducted to date, which are available online at the project's Web site (www.tzbsite.com). This NOI revises the NOI that was published in the Federal Register on December 23, 2002. The proposed tiering approach will allow the joint lead agencies to focus on both broad overall corridor issues in a Tier 1 transit analysis of general alignment and mode choice while simultaneously assessing site specific impacts, costs and mitigation measures in a Tier 2 bridge and highway analysis. The scope of analysis in the Tier 1 and Tier 2 will be appropriate to the level of detail necessary for those documents and will receive input from the public and reviewing agencies. The intent of the joint lead agencies is for the Tier 1 and Tier 2 analyses to be developed concurrently in order to maximize the efficiencies and potential for multimodal solutions. The Tier 1 transit analysis will provide the basis for a corridor level decision on transit mode(s), alignment(s), and logical termini within the Corridor and sufficient detail of impact assessments and preliminary engineering to allow the Tier 2 highway and bridge elements to proceed to final design and construction. Because the transportation needs of the corridor require a multimodal solution, the highway, bridge, and transit elements are intricately tied to one another and require iterative and concurrent development, analysis and consideration up to the decision on mode and alignment. Once the transit mode and alignment decisions are made, the analysis can focus on the needs of the corridor which includes the structural needs of the existing Tappan Zee Bridge and associated highway network, while preserving the transit corridor within the existing right of way. Additional purposes of this revised NOI are to: Advise the public of lead agency roles. Outline how the provisions of SAFETEA-LU Section 6002 will be met. Update interested parties regarding the current approach to preparing the EIS. Provide updated information on the proposed project, purpose and need for the project, and range of alternatives. Re-invite participation in the EIS process, including comments on the refined scope of the EIS proposed in this notice. Announce the dates, times and locations of upcoming scoping update meetings.

In compliance with the requirements of section 3506(c) (2) (a) of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104-13), the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (Commission) is soliciting public comment on the specific aspects of the information collection described below.

Notice is hereby given that the U.S. International Trade Commission has determined that there is no violation of 19 U.S.C. 1337 by respondents Belkin International, Inc., Belkin, Inc., and Emine Technology Co., Ltd. in the above-referenced investigation.

The Coast Guard proposes to establish Crotch Island Special Anchorage in Stonington, Maine, on Deer Island Thorofare, Penobscot Bay. This action is necessary to facilitate safe navigation in that area and to provide safe and secure anchorage for vessels of not more than 65 feet. This proposal is intended to increase the safety for life and property on Deer Island Thorofare, improve the safety of anchored vessels, create workable boundaries for future mooring expansion, and provide for the overall safe and efficient flow of recreational vessels and commerce.

The Department of Commerce, as part of its continuing effort 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.

This notice lists the location and time of the ninth meeting of the National Surface Transportation Infrastructure Financing Commission.

OSHA solicits public comment concerning its proposal to extend OMB approval of the information collection requirements specified in its subparts entitled Subpart A (``General Provisions'') and Subpart B (``Confined and Enclosed Spaces and Other Dangerous Atmospheres in Shipyard Employment'') (29 CFR part 1915).

The Federal Communications Commission, as part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork burdens, invites the general public and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on the following information collection, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), Public Law 104-13. An agency may not conduct or sponsor a collection of information unless it displays a currently valid control number. Subject to the PRA, no person shall be subject to any penalty for failing to comply with a collection of information that does not display a valid control number. Comments are requested concerning (a) Whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the Commission, including whether the information shall have practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the Commission's burden estimate; (c) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information collected; and (d) ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on the respondents, including the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology.

The FAA is correcting typographical errors in three existing airworthiness directives (ADs) that were published in the Federal Register on January 8, 2008 (73 FR 1269); January 7, 2008 (73 FR 1052); and January 7, 2008 (73 FR 1055). The errors resulted in incorrect docket numbers. One AD applies to all Viking Air Limited Model (Caribou) DHC-4 and (Caribou) DHC-4A airplanes. The other two ADs apply to all Boeing Model 747-100, 747-100B, 747-100B SUD, 747-200B, 747- 200C, 747-200F, 747-300, 747-400, 747-400D, 747-400F, 747SR, and 747SP series airplanes. The Viking Air AD requires doing a fluorescent penetrant inspection for cracking of certain upper engine mount bracket assemblies, and corrective actions if necessary. One of the Boeing ADs requires revising the FAA-approved maintenance inspection program to include inspections that will give no less than the required damage tolerance rating for each structural significant item, and repair of cracked structure. The other Boeing AD requires implementing a corrosion prevention and control program.

NHTSA is publishing this notice to inform the public that there may be a vote to adopt the Global Technical Regulation (GTR) on Head Restraints at the March 2008 session of the World Forum for Harmonization of Vehicle Regulations (WP.29). In anticipation of this vote, NHTSA is requesting comments on this GTR to inform its decision for the vote. Publication of this information is in accordance with NHTSA's Statement of Policy regarding Agency Policy Goals and Public Participation in the Implementation of the 1998 Global Agreement on Global Technical Regulations.

The Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) is issuing a proposed rule to update its Freedom of Information Act regulations. USTR's last made changes to its FOIA regulations in 1975. Since that time the information relating to USTR has changed and there have been several changes to the Freedom of Information Act, which needed to be reflected in the regulations.

North Dakota has applied to EPA for final authorization of the changes to its hazardous waste program under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA). The EPA proposes to grant final authorization to the hazardous waste program changes submitted by North Dakota. In addition, EPA is proposing to codify in the regulations entitled ``Approved State Hazardous Waste Management Programs'', North Dakota's authorized hazardous waste program. EPA will incorporate by reference into the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) those provisions of the State statutes and regulations that are authorized and that EPA will enforce under the Solid Waste Disposal Act, as amended and commonly referred to as RCRA. In the ``Rules and Regulations'' section of this Federal Register, we are authorizing the State's program changes and codifying and incorporating by reference the authorized hazardous waste program as an immediate final rule. EPA did not make a proposal prior to the immediate final rule because we believe these actions are not controversial and do not expect comments to oppose them. We have explained the reasons for this authorization and incorporation-by- reference in the preamble to the immediate final rule. Unless we get written comments opposing this authorization and incorporation by reference during the comment period, the immediate final rule will become effective and the Agency will not take further action on this proposal. If we receive comments that oppose these actions, we will publish a document in the Federal Register withdrawing this rule before it takes effect. EPA will then address public comments in a later final rule based on this proposal. Any parties interested in commenting on these actions must do so at this time. EPA may not provide further opportunity for comment.

As mandated by provisions of the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2002 (``BCRA''), the Federal Election Commission (``FEC'' or ``the Commission'') is adjusting certain expenditure limitations set forth in the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971, as amended (``FECA'' or ``the Act''), to account for increases in the consumer price index. Additional details appear in the supplemental information that follows.

The Assistant Administrator for Fisheries (AA), NOAA, announces temporary restrictions consistent with the requirements of the Atlantic Large Whale Take Reduction Plan's (ALWTRP) implementing regulations. These regulations apply to lobster trap/pot and anchored gillnet fishermen in an area totaling approximately 2,708 nm\2\ (9,288 km\2\) in February and 2,648 nm\2\ (9,082 km\2\) in March, southeast of Portland, Maine, for 15 days. The purpose of this action is to provide protection to an aggregation of northern right whales (right whales).