June 25, 2010 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

Pursuant to the Federal Advisory Committee Act, Public Law 92- 463, the Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research and Development (ORD), gives notice of a meeting of the Board of Scientific Counselors (BOSC) Executive Committee.

The Federal Communications Commission, as part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork burden invites the general public and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on the following information collection(s), as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995, 44 U.S.C. 3501 - 3520. 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; (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; and (e) ways to further reduce the information collection burden for small business concerns with fewer than 25 employees.

On Monday, June 14, 2010, we published in the Federal Register (75 FR 33608) a notice of an altered system of records to revise the system of records notice for the Investigative Files of the Inspector General (18-10-01), 68 FR 38154 (June 26, 2003). This document corrects errors in the June 14, 2010 notice.

The Committee is proposing to add products and services to the Procurement List that will be furnished by nonprofit agencies employing persons who are blind or have other severe disabilities and to delete products previously furnished by such agencies.

The New England Fishery Management Council's (Council) Groundfish/Scallop Advisory Panel will meet to consider actions affecting New England fisheries in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ).

The FHWA, on behalf of Caltrans, is issuing this notice to announce actions taken by Caltrans and other Federal agencies that are final within the meaning of 23 U.S.C. 139(l)(1). The actions relate to a proposed highway project, Towne Pass Rockfall project between post miles 65.9 to 66.5 within Death Valley National Park in the County of Inyo, State of California. Those actions grant licenses, permits, and approvals for the project.

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.

Pursuant to the Federal Advisory Committee Act, 5 U.S.C. app. 2, notice is hereby given that the Panel of Judges of the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award will meet Monday, November 15, 2010, 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Tuesday, November 16, 2010, 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Wednesday, November 17, 2010, 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Thursday, November 18, 2010, 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., and Friday, November 19, 2010, 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. The Panel of Judges is composed of twelve members prominent in the fields of quality, innovation, and performance management and appointed by the Secretary of Commerce, assembled to advise the Secretary of Commerce on the conduct of the Baldrige Award. The purpose of this meeting is to conduct final judging of the 2010 applicants. The review process involves examination of records and discussions of applicant data, and will be closed to the public in accordance with Section 552b(c)(4) of Title 5, United States Code.

Pursuant to the Federal Advisory Committee Act, 5 U.S.C. app. 2, notice is hereby given that the Panel of Judges of the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award will meet on Tuesday, September 7, 2010. The Panel of Judges is composed of twelve members prominent in the fields of quality, innovation, and performance management and appointed by the Secretary of Commerce, assembled to advise the Secretary of Commerce on the conduct of the Baldrige Award. The purpose of this meeting is to review applicant consensus scores and select applicants for site visit review. The applications under review by Judges contain trade secrets and proprietary commercial information submitted to the Government in confidence.

The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) is clarifying the procedure for seeking review of a determination that a substantial new question of patentability (SNQ) has been raised in an ex parte reexamination proceeding. This notice clarifies that while issues related to a SNQ determination are procedural, the Chief Judge of the Board of Patent Appeals and Interferences (BPAI) has been delegated the authority to review issues related to the examiner's determination that a reference raises a SNQ in an ex parte reexamination proceeding. The Chief Judge of the BPAI may further delegate that authority to the panel of Administrative Patent Judges who are deciding the appeal in an ex parte reexamination proceeding. This clarification of procedure will facilitate more efficient resolution of SNQ issues.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published a document in the Federal Register of June 21, 2010, announcing public meetings for the Hydraulic Fracturing Research Study. The document contained an

On May 28, 2010, DoD published a notice (75 FR 30003) announcing a meeting of the Defense Science Board Task Force. That notice omitted one agenda item. All other aspects of the meeting agenda remain valid. This notice adds the omitted agenda topic.

Under the provisions of the Federal Advisory Committee Act of 1972 (5 U.S.C., Appendix, as amended), the Government in the Sunshine Act of 1976 (5 U.S.C. 552b, as amended), and 41 CFR 102-3.150, the Department of Defense announces that the Advisory Council on Dependents' Education will meet on September 8, 2010, in Arlington, VA.

The Department of Defense (DOD) announces the availability of the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) as part of the environmental planning process for a Campus Development Project at Fort George G. Meade, Maryland (hereafter referred to as Fort Meade). The DOD proposes the development of a portion of Fort Meade (referred to as ``Site M'') as an operational complex and to construct and operate consolidated facilities to meet the National Security Agency's (NSA) continually evolving requirements and for Intelligence Community use. The purpose of the proposed action is to provide facilities that are fully-supportive of the Intelligence Community's mission. The action is driven by the need to co-locate key partnering organizations to ensure required capabilities for current and future missions are achieved.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice announces the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service's intention to request an extension of approval of an information collection associated with regulations for the importation of Unshu oranges from Kyushu Island, Honshu Island, and Shikoku Island, Japan.