March 6, 2008 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

This notice advises the public that the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) as Lead Agency, with the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe (Tribe) as Cooperating Agency, will be gathering information needed for an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the proposed trust acquisition of approximately 679 acres of land as the Tribe's initial reservation. The proposed acquisition includes approximately 140 acres in the Town of Mashpee, Barnstable County, Massachusetts, and approximately 539 acres in the Town of Middleboro, Plymouth County, Massachusetts. The property in Mashpee would be used for tribal administrative and cultural purposes and housing for tribal members. For the property in Middleboro, the Tribe plans the construction of a gaming facility with related facilities. The purposes of the proposed federal action are to provide a land base for the Tribe and to help meet the economic needs of the Tribe and its members. This notice also announces public scoping meetings to identify potential issues, alternatives and content for inclusion in the EIS.

Notice is hereby given that the State of South Carolina is revising their Public Water System Supervision (PWSS) program to meet the requirements of the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA). South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control adopted drinking water regulations for the Long Term 2 Surface Water Treatment and the Stage 2 Disinfection By-Products Rules. EPA has determined that these revisions are no less stringent than the corresponding federal regulations. Therefore, EPA intends to approve South Carolina's PWSS program for these rules.

This rule finalizes EPA's finding that the Atlanta, Georgia marginal 8-hour ozone nonattainment area (Atlanta Area) has failed to attain the 8-hour ozone national ambient air quality standard (``NAAQS'' or ``standard'') by June 15, 2007, the attainment deadline set forth in the Clean Air Act (CAA) and Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) for marginal nonattainment areas. As a result of this finding, the Atlanta Area will be reclassified from a marginal to a moderate 8- hour ozone nonattainment area by operation of law, on the effective date of this rule. The effect of this reclassification will be to change the classification of the Atlanta Area, and to require continued progress towards attainment of the 8-hour ozone NAAQS through development of a revision to the Georgia State Implementation Plan (SIP) addressing the CAA's pollution control requirements for moderate ozone nonattainment areas. The SIP revision is due as expeditiously as practicable, but no later than December 31, 2008. The moderate area attainment date for the Atlanta Area is as expeditiously as practicable, but no later than June 15, 2010. This determination was proposed on October 16, 2007, and no comments were received.

The Department of Labor, as part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, conducts a pre-clearance 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 and Training Administration is soliciting comments concerning Form ETA 9033A Attestation by Employers Using Alien Crewmembers for Longshore Activities in the State of Alaska. A copy of the proposed information collection request (ICR) can be obtained by contacting the office listed below in the addressee section of this notice or at this Web site: https://www.doleta.gov/OMBCN/ OMBControlNumber.cfm.

This notice announces receipt of an application 524-EUP-1 from Monsanto Company requesting to amend and extend an experimental use permit (EUP) for the plant-incorporated protectant Bacillus thuringiensis Cry1Ac protein and the genetic material necessary for its production (vector PV-GMIR9) in event MON 87701 soybean. The Agency has determined that the application may be of regional and national significance. Therefore, in accordance with 40 CFR 172.11(a), the Agency is soliciting comments on this application.

The National Science Foundation (NSF) is announcing plans to request clearance of this collection. In accordance with the requirement of Section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104-13), we are providing an opportunity for public comment on this action. After obtaining and considering public comment, NSF will prepare the submission requesting that OMB approve clearance of this collection for no longer than 3 years.

The Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 (CERCLA or Superfund), as amended by the Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act of 1986 (SARA), requires that ATSDR and the Environmental Protection Agency(EPA) prepare a Priority List of Hazardous Substances commonly found at facilities on the CERCLA National Priority List (NPL). The Priority List of Hazardous Substances includes substances that have been determined to be of greatest public health concern to persons at or near NPL sites. CERCLA as amended also requires that ATSDR and EPA periodically revise the Priority List of Hazardous Substances. Pursuant to these CERCLA mandates, the agencies announce that based on the most recent information available, they have developed and now make available a revised CERCLA Priority List of 275 Hazardous Substances. Because CERCLA as amended also requires ATSDR to prepare and to periodically revise toxicological profiles on hazardous substances included in the priority list, each priority list substance is a potential toxicological profile subject, as well as a candidate for identification of priority data needs. In addition to the Priority List of Hazardous Substances, ATSDR has developed a Completed Exposure Pathway Site Count Report. This report lists the number of sites or events at which ATSDR is involved and wherein a substance has been found in a completed exposure pathway (CEP). This report is included in the Support Document of the Priority List.

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announces the availability of the following meeting and request for information: Opportunity To Provide Input regarding a protocol for the following: (1) An industry wide research study to evaluate occupational exposure to flavorings in the flavorings and food production industries; (2) an industry wide study of engineering controls for protection against exposure to flavorings in the flavorings and food manufacturing industries; and (3) research concerning improved analytical laboratory methods for use in flavorings and food production exposure assessment. Public Meeting Time and Date: 9 a.m.-4 p.m., April 2, 2008. Place: NIOSH Hamilton Laboratory, 5555 Ridge Ave, Cincinnati, OH, 45213, telephone (513) 841-4366, fax (513) 841-4483. Status: Meeting is open to the public, limited only by the space available (the room accommodates approximately 80 people). Persons who are not U.S. citizens will need approval to enter the NIOSH building and should contact Douglas Trout, MD, MHS, by March 5, 2008, to arrange for this. Those who cannot attend in person are encouraged to email comments. Deadline for e-mailed comments is April 16, 2008. Background: According to 2002 U.S. Census data, there were approximately 21,000 employees working in flavoring production and about 1.5 million workers in food manufacturing nationwide. Employees have complex exposures in terms of the physical form of the agents (solid, liquid, and gas) and the number of different chemicals used. Severe respiratory health effects have been identified among workers after exposure to flavoring chemicals such as diacetyl (a component of butter flavoring). NIOSH investigators have begun a research effort evaluating analytical methods, exposure assessment, and engineering controls in the flavoring and food production industries. This research is intended to provide information necessary to reduce occupational exposures and prevent health effects among workers in these industries. The meeting will consist of two parts: (1) External peer review of the research protocol. Peer reviewers external to CDC will be present to provide technical (scientific) review comments for the project officers to maximize the relevance and quality of the proposed research; and (2) Stakeholder meeting. The latter part of the meeting will be structured to hear stakeholder comments on important occupational safety and health issues related to this research. Participants wishing to provide stakeholder comments may do so via E-mail or may request an opportunity to make a five minute presentation. Participants making a presentation at the meeting must submit their comments in writing at the time of the meeting. All participants (whether making a presentation or not) are requested to register for the free meeting by sending an E-mail to DTrout@cdc.gov with their name, affiliation, whether they are requesting time to speak briefly, and, if so, the general topic(s) on which they wish to speak. Participants wishing to speak are encouraged to register early. The public meeting is open to everyone, including all workers, representatives of professional societies, organized labor, employers, researchers, health professionals, government officials and elected officials. Broad participation is desired. Contact Person For Technical Information: Dr. Douglas Trout, MD, MHS, Associate Director for Science, Division of Surveillance, Hazard Evaluations, and Field Studies, NIOSH, telephone (513) 841-4428. Comments and meeting registrations may also be E-mailed to DTrout@cdc.gov, or sent via mail to: Dr. Douglas Trout, NIOSH, 4676 Columbia Parkway, R-12, Cincinnati, OH 45226.

This notice sets forth the schedule and proposed agenda of an upcoming open teleconference meeting of the National Institute for Literacy Advisory Board. The notice also describes the functions of the Committee. Notice of this meeting is required by Section 10(a)(2) of the Federal Advisory Committee Act and is intended to notify the public of its opportunity to attend.

We are revising an earlier NPRM for the products listed above. This action revises the earlier NPRM by expanding the scope. This proposed AD results from mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) originated by an aviation authority of another country to identify and correct an unsafe condition on an aviation product. The MCAI describes the unsafe condition as:

The Lake Tahoe Basin Federal Advisory Committee will hold a meeting on March 24, 2008 at the Sierra Nevada College, 999 Tahoe Boulevard, Incline Village, NV, 89451. This Committee, established by the Secretary of Agriculture on December 15, 1998 (64 FR 2876), is chartered to provide advice to the Secretary on implementing the terms of the Federal Interagency Partnership on the Lake Tahoe Region and other matters raised by the Secretary.

This notice sets forth the schedule and proposed agenda of an upcoming meeting, including a public hearing, with members of the National Mathematics Advisory Panel. The notice also describes the functions of the Panel. Notice of this meeting is required by section 10(a)(2) of the Federal Advisory Committee Act and is intended to notify the public of their opportunity to attend. Due to scheduling difficulties, this notice is appearing in the Federal Register less than 15 days prior to the meeting date.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce the reopening of the public comment period and the scheduling of public hearings on the revised proposed rule to designate critical habitat for 12 species of Hawaiian picture-wing flies (Drosophila aglaia, D. differens, D. hemipeza, D. heteroneura, D. montgomeryi, D. mulli, D. musaphilia, D. neoclavisetae, D. obatai, D. ochrobasis, D. substenoptera, and D. tarphytrichia) on the islands of Hawaii, Kauai, Maui, Molokai, and Oahu, under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). The reopened comment period will provide the public, other concerned governmental agencies, the scientific community, industry, or any other interested parties with an additional opportunity to submit written comments on the revised proposed rule. Comments previously submitted need not be resubmitted as they have already been incorporated into the public record and will be fully considered in any final decisions.

In accordance with section 102(a)(4)(C) of the Department of Housing and Urban Development Reform Act of 1989, this announcement notifies the public of funding decisions made by the Department in a competition for funding under the Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) for the Community Development Technical Assistance programs. This announcement contains the names of the awardees and the amounts of the awards made available by HUD.

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. The requested information will detail the issues and reasons why a review of the Counsel's decision denying a request for documents or testimony is appropriate.

Rural Business-Cooperative Service (RBS), an Agency within the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development, announces it is accepting applications for fiscal year (FY) 2008 to purchase renewable energy systems and make energy efficiency improvements for agriculture producers and rural small businesses in eligible rural areas. Funding will be available in the form of grants and loan guarantees. In addition to stand-alone grants and loan guarantees, applicants may apply for combination loan guarantee and grant funding (combination package). For renewable energy systems, the minimum grant is $2,500 and the maximum is $500,000. For energy efficiency improvements, the minimum grant is $1,500 and the maximum is $250,000. Funding for grant and loan combination packages will be funded from the same allocation as loan guarantees. Fifty percent of the appropriated grant funding will be reserved for the first grant-only competition. Any unused grant only funds from the first competition will be made available for the second grant-only competition. The maximum amount of a guarantee to be provided to a borrower will be $10 million. For FY 2008, the guarantee fee amount is 1 percent of the guaranteed portion of the loan and the annual renewal fee is 0.250 percent (one-quarter of one percent) of the guaranteed portion of the loan. For FY 2008, the following are the funds provided by Congress for the Section 9006 program: For grants, $15,888,000, and for loans, $204,953,560.

An open meeting of the Taxpayer Advocacy Panel Earned Income Tax Credit Issue Committee will be conducted. The Taxpayer Advocacy Panel is soliciting public comments, ideas and suggestions on improving customer service at the Internal Revenue Service.