Agencies and Commissions August 2005 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

This document provides notice that the Wireline Competition Bureau has approved the plan to refund interstate access customers of the Ameritech Operating Companies (Ameritech), Nevada Bell Telephone Company (Nevada Bell), and Pacific Bell Telephone Company (Pacific Bell) for refunds associated with their 1993 and 1994 annual interstate access tariffs. It also provides information as to how refunds may be obtained by interstate access customers of Ameritech, Nevada Bell, and Pacific Bell that are either no longer readily identifiable or that are due refunds of less than $100.

By this document, the Commission announces, the FY 2005 regulatory fee payment window is now available to accept the annual regulatory fees from licensees and regulatees.

This document amends the procedures and policies governing the administration of the U.S. Commission of Fine Arts. This document serves to establish a Consent Calendar and to clarify the functions and requirements of a Consent Calendar and Appendices for the review of projects submitted to the Commission in order to address more efficiently the needs of the Federal government and the public.

This is a Notice of the Presidential declaration of a major disaster for Public Assistance Only for the State of South Dakota (FEMA-1596-DR), dated 07/22/2005. Incident: Severe Storm. Incident Period: 06/07/2005 through 06/08/2005. Effective Date: 07/22/2005. Physical Loan Application Deadline Date: 09/20/2005.

Under the paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Pub. L. 104-13 (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.), and as part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, the National Science Foundation (NSF) is inviting the general public or other Federal agencies to comment on this proposed continuing information collection. The National Science Foundation (NSF) will publish periodic summaries of the proposed projects. Comments: Comments are invited on (a) Whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the Foundation, including whether the information will have practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the Foundation's estimate of the burden of the proposed collection of information; (c) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (d) ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on those who are to respond, including through the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology.

In accordance with the Privacy Act (5 U.S.C. 552a(e)(4)), we are issuing public notice of our intent to make housekeeping changes to the system of records entitled, Recovery of Overpayments, Accounting and Reporting (ROAR) SSA/OTSO, 60-0094, to more accurately describe the records maintained in this system of records. The housekeeping changes make the Privacy Act notice of the ROAR system of records accurate and up to date. We invite public comment on this proposal.

Following receipt on August 9, 2005 of a request from the United States Trade Representative (USTR) under section 332(g) of the Tariff Act of 1930 (19 U.S.C. 1332 (g)), the Commission instituted investigation No. 332-471, Advice Concerning Possible Modifications to the U.S. Generalized System of Preferences, 2005 Special Review on Watches. Background: As requested by the USTR, in accordance with sections 503(a)(1)(A), 503(e), and 131(a) of the Trade Act of 1974, as amended (1974 Act), and under section 332(g) of the Tariff Act of 1930, the Commission will provide advice with respect to the probable economic effect on U.S. industries producing like or directly competitive articles and on consumers of the elimination of U.S. import duties for all beneficiary developing countries under the GSP for the following HTS subheadings: 9102.11.10, 9102.11.25, 9102.11.30, 9102.11.45, 9102.19.20, 9102.19.40, and 9102.91.40. In providing its advice on these articles, the USTR asked that the Commission assume that the benefits of the GSP would not apply to imports that would be excluded from receiving such benefits by virtue of competitive need limits specified in section 503(c)(2)(A) of the 1974 Act. In his letter, the USTR also requested that the Commission provide advice concerning other modifications to the GSP as part of the 2005 review. The Commission will provide that advice in November 2005 in its report on investigation No. 332-470, Advice Concerning Possible Modifications to the U.S. Generalized System of Preferences, 2005 Review. In addition, as requested by the USTR, the Commission will provide advice with respect to HTS subheadings 9102.11.10, 9102.11.25, 9102.11.30, 9102.11.45, 9102.19.20, 9102.19.40, and 9102.91.40, as to the probable economic effect on United States industries (defined for watches and watch bands, straps and bracelets as those located in the United States and United States insular possessions) manufacturing or assembling watches, watch bands, straps or bracelets of the elimination of U.S. import duties under the GSP program. In addition to advice on the probable economic effect on these industries as a single geographic unit, the Commission will also provide separate advice on the probable economic effect of such action on the watch manufacturing and assembly industry and the watch band, strap, and bracelet manufacturing and assembly industry and for each geographic area (the United States and the United States insular possessions). As requested, the Commission will also provide, to the extent possible, data and analysis on the following factors for the most recent three year period for the United States industries (as defined above) manufacturing or assembling watches or manufacturing or assembling watch bands, straps or bracelets: annual production, capacity, capacity utilization, domestic shipments, exports, inventories, employment, wages, financial experience (including prices), the potential decline in output, market share, profits, productivity and return on investment, the potential negative effects on cash flow, the ability to raise capital and investment, any rapid increases in import penetration and the likelihood that such penetration will rise to an injurious level, factors affecting domestic prices, and any other factors that the Commission deems relevant. The Commission will also provide data for the most recent three-year period, to the extent possible, on the following factors for current and potential foreign producers: current and potential production capacity and capacity utilization, domestic shipments, and exports to the United States and other markets. As requested by the USTR, the Commission will seek to provide its advice no later than February 17, 2006.

The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) is issuing Final rules that revise the table of reduction factors for early commencing dates of survivor annuities for spouses of separated employees who die before the date on which they would be eligible for unreduced deferred annuities, and to revise the annuity factor for spouses of deceased employees who die in service when those spouses elect to receive the basic employee death benefit in 36 installments under the Federal Employees' Retirement System (FERS) Act of 1986. These rules are necessary to conform the tables to the previously published economic assumptions adopted by the Board of Actuaries.