August 11, 2008 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

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.

To comply with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) is inviting comments on collection of information that we have sent to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval. The Information Collection Request (ICR) concerns the paperwork requirements for the National Spatial Data Infrastructure, Cooperative Agreements Program (NSDI CAP) and describes the nature of the collection and the estimated burden and cost.

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) submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) a request for clearance of a revised information collection. OPM Online Form 1417, the Combined Federal Campaign (CFC) Information System form, collects information from the 247 local CFC campaigns to verify campaign results and collect contact information. Revisions to the form include clarifying edits to items numbered 2-6, 9 and 10 of the Campaign Results Total Page, the elimination of questions numbered 13-15 of the Campaign Results Total Page and the return of one question edited to collect pledge amounts designated specifically for federal emergency or disaster relief, if any, on the Campaign Results Total Page. We estimate 247 online OPM Forms 1417 are completed annually. Each form takes approximately 20 minutes to complete. The annual estimated burden is 82.3 hours. For copies of this proposal, contact Margaret A. Miller at (202) 606-2699 or FAX (202) 418-3251 or e-mail mamiller@opm.gov. Please be sure to include a mailing address with your request.

This is a Notice of the Presidential declaration of a major disaster for the State of Texas (FEMA-1780-DR), dated 07/31/2008. Incident: Hurricane Dolly. Incident Period: 07/22/2008 and continuing.

In June 2008, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) issued its findings on the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) Historically Underutilized Business Zone (HUBZone) Program. One of GAO's findings is that the SBA does not assess the Program's economic impact. The GAO noted the importance of this given that the HUBZone Program is primarily defined by economic factors (household income, unemployment rate, and poverty rate). On June 6, 2008, the SBA responded to GAO's findings, and provided several steps to address them. One of these steps is to develop a methodology for assessing the Program's economic impact. This paper outlines the anticipated methodology for this assessment. The paper will provide a brief description of the different methodological options currently available for undertaking an impact assessment. It will then provide a basic description of the HUBZone Program. Finally, it will detail the specific methodology chosen for measuring the Program's economic impact. The complexity of assessing the Program's economic impact lies in that there are multiple government agencies using three relevant procurement mechanisms, and five classes of HUBZones. In addition, the required data for this assessment will be derived from four different databases. This multiple database feature, as well as other documented data issues of the HUBZone Program, increases the difficulty of correctly identifying the assessment's relevant data elements. This methodology assumes that these data issues will be addressed. This methodology will trace Federal contract dollars as they flow to the various HUBZone areas. It will then estimate the impact of these contract dollars on the HUBZone areas' employment and household income. To isolate the impact of the HUBZone Program, the methodology differentiates Federal contract dollar-flows in three ways: (1) Via the HUBZone Direct Mechanism, where Federal contract dollar-flows are directly attributable to the HUBZone Program; (2) Via the Non-HUBZone SBA Contract Mechanisms, where Federal contract dollar-flows are directly attributable to SBA programs, but exclude the HUBZone Program; (3) Via the Non-SBA Federal Contract Mechanisms, where Federal contract dollar-flows are not associated with any SBA program. This differentiation addresses GAO's recommendation to develop measures that take into account factors such as (1) the economic characteristics of the HUBZone areas and (2) Federal contracts being counted under multiple socioeconomic subcategories.

This notice amends the notice of a major disaster declaration for the State of Missouri (FEMA-1773-DR), dated June 25, 2008, and related determinations.

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) will file the plat of survey of the lands described below in the BLM-Eastern States, Springfield, Virginia, 30 calendar days from the date of publication in the Federal Register. Contact Information: Bureau of Land Management, 7450 Boston Boulevard, Springfield, Virginia 22153. Attn: Cadastral Survey.

The FAA proposes to supersede an existing airworthiness directive (AD) that applies to all AvCraft Dornier Model 328-300 airplanes. The existing AD currently requires modifying the electrical wiring of the fuel pumps; installing insulation at the flow control and shut-off valves, and other components of the environmental control system; installing markings at fuel wiring harnesses; replacing the wiring harness of the auxiliary fuel system with a new wiring harness; and installing insulated couplings in the fuel system; as applicable. The existing AD also requires revising the Airworthiness Limitations section of the Instructions for Continued Airworthiness to incorporate new inspections of the fuel tank system. This proposed AD would replace the flight-hour-based threshold for conducting certain initial inspections, with a calendar-based threshold. This proposed AD results from fuel system reviews conducted by the manufacturer. We are proposing this AD to reduce the potential of ignition sources inside fuel tanks, which, in combination with flammable fuel vapors, could result in fuel tank explosions and consequent loss of the airplane.

This notice amends the notice of a major disaster declaration for the State of Indiana (FEMA-1766-DR), dated June 8, 2008, and related determinations.

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is considering the adoption of provisions regarding applicability of the rule and new provisions regarding procedures to perform surveillance data checks related to the updated fracture toughness requirements for protection against pressurized thermal shock (PTS) events for pressurized water reactor (PWR) pressure vessels. The NRC is considering these provisions as an alternative to the provisions previously noticed for public comment on October 3, 2007 (72 FR 56275).

This notice amends the notice of a major disaster declaration for the State of Nebraska (FEMA-1770-DR), dated June 20, 2008, and related determinations.

The National Institute of Corrections (NIC) is soliciting proposals from organizations, groups or individuals who would like to enter into a cooperative agreement with NIC to work with an advisory team of experts on gender-informed policy and practice to complete the design and initial testing of a women offender policy and practice assessment protocol.

On July 30, 2008, the President signed into law the Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008 (HERA). Section 2503 of the HERA revises the community development investment authority in 12 U.S.C. 24(Eleventh) to permit a national bank to make a broader range of investments designed primarily to promote the public welfare. This interim final rule implements the changes made to section 24(Eleventh) by the HERA.

NMFS extends the comment period on the proposed rule to establish the National Saltwater Angler Registry Program. NMFS has received a request from the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council to extend the deadline beyond its current 60-day comment period until a date following the Council's August 11-15 meeting. The extension of the comment period for ten days will allow the Council to adopt comments during its meeting and to submit them before the comment period closes, and will allow other interested parties additional time to submit comments. The comment deadline is extended from August 11, 2008, to August 21, 2008.

The Assistant Regional Administrator for Sustainable Fisheries, Northeast Region, NMFS (Assistant Regional Administrator), has made a preliminary determination that the subject exempted fishing permit (EFP) application submitted by the Gulf of Maine Research Institute (GMRI), which would exempt Atlantic sea scallop (scallop) vessels from small dredge program gear restrictions, should be issued for public comment. The Assistant Regional Administrator has also made a preliminary determination that the activities authorized under the EFP would be consistent with the goals and objectives of the Atlantic Sea Scallop Fishery Management Plan (FMP). However, further review and consultation may be necessary before a final determination is made.

NMFS announces that the Western Pacific Fishery Management Council proposes to amend the Fishery Management Plan for Pelagic Fisheries of the Western Pacific Region. If approved by the Secretary of Commerce, Amendment 15 would add three species of pelagic squid to the management unit, and establish Federal permitting and reporting requirements for squid jig fishing vessels over 50 ft in length. These vessels would also be required to carry observers if requested by NMFS. Combined, these measures are intended to enable the Council and NMFS to better monitor and manage the U.S. domestic pelagic squid fisheries.