August 12, 2010 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.), this document announces that an Information Collection Request (ICR) has been forwarded to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval. This is a request to renew an existing approved collection. The ICR which is abstracted below describes the nature of the collection and the estimated burden and cost.

Under the authority of the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act), we, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), propose to remove the plant Echinacea tennesseensis (Tennessee purple coneflower) from the Federal List of Endangered and Threatened Plants due to recovery. This action is based on a thorough review of the best available scientific and commercial data, which indicate that this species' status has improved to the point that E. tennesseensis is not likely to become endangered within the foreseeable future throughout all or a significant portion of its range. Our review of the status of this species shows that all of the threats to the species have been eliminated or significantly reduced, adequate regulatory mechanisms exist, and populations are stable. We also announce the availability of the draft post-delisting monitoring plan. This proposed rule completes the 5-year status review for the species, initiated on September 21, 2007.

The National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) is issuing a revised Administrative Guidance for Multistate Extension Activities and Integrated Research and Extension Activities as interim with a 60-day comment period. The Administrative Guidance has been

The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) solicits written comment on a proposed rule to implement the Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008 (HERA) amendments to the Federal Housing Enterprises Financial Safety and Soundness Act of 1992 (Safety and Soundness Act) and the Federal Home Loan Bank Act (Bank Act) pertaining to the civil enforcement powers of FHFA, and the Rules of Practice and Procedure for enforcement proceedings. The Safety and Soundness Act, as amended by sections 1151-1158 of HERA, authorizes FHFA to initiate enforcement proceedings against the Federal National Mortgage Association and the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (together, the Enterprises) and the Federal Home Loan Banks (the Banks) (collectively, the regulated entities), and entity-affiliated parties as defined in the Safety and Soundness Act. When final, the rule will replace the existing Rules of Practice and Procedure promulgated by the Office of Federal Housing Enterprise Oversight (OFHEO) and the Federal Housing Finance Board (Finance Board) formerly charged with overseeing the regulated entities. The proposed rule may provide FHFA personnel, the regulated entities, entity-affiliated parties, and other interested parties with the clear guidance necessary to prepare for and participate in the administrative enforcement action process to increase the efficiency and transparency of FHFA's administrative enforcement hearings.

This proposed rule proposes to implement a quality incentive program (QIP) for Medicare outpatient end-stage renal disease (ESRD) dialysis providers and facilities with payment consequences beginning January 1, 2012, in accordance with section 1881(h) of the Act (added on July 15, 2008 by section 153(c) of the Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act (MIPPA)). The proposed ESRD QIP would reduce ESRD payments by up to 2.0 percent for dialysis providers and facilities that fail to meet or exceed a total performance score for performance standards established with respect to certain specified measures.