September 3, 2010 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

NMFS has received an application from the Scripps Institution of Oceanography (SIO) of the University of California for an Incidental Harassment Authorization (IHA) to take marine mammals, by harassment, incidental to conducting a low-energy marine seismic survey. Pursuant to the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA), NMFS is requesting comments on its proposal to issue an IHA to SIO to take, by Level B Harassment only, 21 species of marine mammals during the specified activity.

NMFS is proposing regulations under the Tuna Conventions Act of 1950 (Act), as amended, to increase the vessel capacity limit for the U.S. purse seine fishery operating in the eastern Pacific Ocean (EPO) and make U.S. regulations more consistent with the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission (IATTC) Resolution on the Capacity of the Tuna Fleet Operating in the Eastern Pacific Ocean. These revisions would ensure that the United States is satisfying its obligations under the Tuna Conventions Act while dismantling regulatory constraints preventing economic development of the U.S. industry.

Notice is hereby given that Brent Stewart, Hubbs-Sea World Research Institute, 2595 Ingraham Street, San Diego, California 92109 has been issued a minor amendment to Scientific Research Permit No. 486-1790-00.

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.), this document announces that EPA is planning to submit a request to renew an existing approved Information Collection Request (ICR) to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). This ICR is scheduled to expire on 02/28/2011. Before submitting the ICR to OMB for review and approval, EPA is soliciting comments on specific aspects of the proposed information collection as described below.

The Farm Service Agency (FSA) is implementing the new Conservation Loan (CL) Program authorized by the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 (the 2008 Farm Bill). This interim rule adds the CL Program provisions to the existing direct and guaranteed loan regulations. These provisions will provide CL Program eligibility and servicing options for the direct and guaranteed loans made through the CL Program.

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) is initiating the rulemaking and data collection process to develop a test procedure for televisions. To inform interested parties and to facilitate this process, DOE has gathered data, identifying several issues associated with the currently available test procedures on which DOE is particularly interested in receiving comment. The issues outlined in this document mainly concern televisions in active mode (they do not, for example, include issues related to low power modes). DOE welcomes written comments from the public on any subject within the scope of this rulemaking (including topics not raised in this request for information).

Powerex Corp. (Powerex) has applied to renew its authority to transmit electric energy from the United States to Canada pursuant to section 202(e) of the Federal Power Act (FPA).

The Department of Energy (DOE or Department) has preliminarily determined that the 2009 version of the International Code Council (ICC) International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) would achieve greater energy efficiency in low-rise residential buildings than the 2006 IECC. Also, DOE has preliminarily determined that the 2006 version of the IECC would achieve greater energy efficiency than the 2003 IECC. Finally, DOE has preliminarily determined that the 2003 version of the IECC would not achieve greater energy efficiency than the 2000 IECC. If these determinations are finalized, States would be required to file certification statements to DOE that they have reviewed the provisions of their residential building code regarding energy efficiency and made a determination as to whether to update their code to meet or exceed the most recent code with an affirmative determination, the 2009 IECC. Additionally, this Notice provides guidance to States on how the codes have changed from previous versions, how to submit certifications, and how to request extensions of the deadline to submit certifications, should the preliminary determinations be adopted as final.

The Department of Energy (DOE) has preliminarily determined that the 2007 edition of the Energy Standard for Buildings, Except Low- Rise Residential Buildings, American National Standards Institute (ANSI)/American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) Illuminating Engineering Society of North America (IESNA) Standard 90.1-2007, (Standard 90.1-2007) would achieve greater energy efficiency in buildings subject to the code, than the 2004 edition (Standard 90.1-2004 or the 2004 edition). Also, DOE has preliminarily determined that the quantitative analysis of the energy consumption of buildings built to Standard 90.1-2007, as compared with buildings built to Standard 90.1-2004, indicates national source energy savings of approximately 3.7 percent of commercial building energy consumption. Additionally, DOE has preliminarily determined site energy savings are estimated to be approximately 4.4 percent. If these determinations are finalized, States would be required to certify that they have reviewed the provisions of their commercial building code regarding energy efficiency, and as necessary, updated their code to meet or exceed Standard 90.1-2007. Additionally, this Notice provides guidance to States on Certifications, and Requests for Extensions of Deadlines for Certification Statements, should the preliminary determination by adopted as final.

OSHA is proposing to revise its regulations for the federally- funded On-site Consultation Program to: Clarify the ability of the Assistant Secretary to define sites which would receive inspections regardless of Safety and Health Achievement and Recognition Program (SHARP) exemption status; allow Compliance Safety and Health Officers to proceed with enforcement visits resulting from referrals at sites undergoing Consultation visits and at sites that have been awarded SHARP status; and, limit the deletion period from OSHA's programmed inspection schedule for those employers participating in the SHARP program.

The Committee is proposing to add 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 agency. Comments must be received on or before: 10/4/2010.

To comply with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), we are notifying the public that we have submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) an information collection request (ICR) to renew approval of the paperwork requirements in 30 CFR parts 202, 204, 206, and 210. This notice also provides the public a second opportunity to comment on the paperwork burden of these regulatory requirements. We consolidated this ICR and ICR 1010-0090, Stripper Royalty Rate Reduction Notification, in order to facilitate program wide review of Federal oil and gas valuation. The new title of this ICR is ``30 CFR Parts 202, 204, 206, and 210, Federal Oil and Gas Valuation.''

In accordance with 37 CFR 404.7(a)(1)(i), announcement is made of a prospective partially exclusive license of the following U.S. Patent Application 12/243,084, Filed October 01, 2008, to Green & Grow LLC for use in agricultural applications and products (to include crop preparation, cover crop, seed germination, seed coatings, side dressing, lawn application and starter ground cover) and applications in the fields of soil and slope stabilization, enhanced bioremediation, dust and run-off control, fly ash removal, emissions particulate removal, metal and inorganic chelation in soils and water, soil erosion, road stabilizer, and dust suppression.

By this Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is proposing a technical correction to the FEMA, Federal Insurance and Mitigation Administration, Standard Flood Insurance Policy regulations. In this proposed rule, FEMA intends to increase the clarity of one of the provisions of the Standard Flood Insurance Policy by adding in two unintentionally omitted words.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is amending the animal drug regulations to reflect approval of a supplemental new animal drug application (NADA) filed by Bayer HealthCare LLC. The supplement provides for two new sizes of praziquantel and pyrantel pamoate tablets used in cats and kittens for the removal of various internal parasites and for a revised kitten age and weight restriction.

The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), 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 this new information collection, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 104-13 (44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)).

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is amending the animal drug regulations to reflect approval of a supplemental new animal drug application (NADA) filed by Intervet, Inc. The supplemental NADA adds Mycoplasma bovis to the bovine respiratory disease (BRD) pathogens for which use of an injectable solution containing florfenicol and flunixin meglumine is an approved treatment.

The Commander, Fifth Coast Guard District, has issued a temporary deviation from the regulations governing the operation of the US70 (Alfred C. Cunningham) Bridge across Trent River, mile 0.0, at New Bern, NC, to accommodate a bike race and parade. This deviation allows the drawbridge to be maintained in the closed position to vessels at specific dates and times.

The Coast Guard is withdrawing its notice of proposed rulemaking concerning the operation of the Pennington Avenue Bridge, at mile 0.9, across Curtis Creek at Baltimore, MD. The requested change would have allowed the bridge to operate from a remote location at the City of Baltimore Transportation Management Center. The proposed rule is being withdrawn because of the many concerned comments sent from the primary waterway users that transit the bridge.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone in an area of the Delaware River, Camden, NJ, described as North of the Wiggins park Marina and South of the Benjamin Franklin Bridge. The safety zone will restrict vessel traffic from a portion of the Delaware River during the Red Bull Flugtag event. The safety zone is necessary to protect event participants, life, and property.