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

This gives notice of OPM decisions granting authority to make appointments under Schedules A, B, and C in the excepted service as required by 5 CFR 6.6 and 213.103.

Following receipt on August 9, 2005 of a request form 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. 332-470, Advice Concerning Possible Modifications to the U.S. Generalized System of Preferences, 2005 Review. 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 HTS subheading 1302.39.0010. 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, on a different time schedule, with respect to the probable economic effect of the elimination of U.S. duties on certain watches. The Commission will provide that advice in February 2006 in its report on investigation No. 332-471, Advice Concerning Possible Modifications to the U.S. Generalized System of Preferences, 2005 Special Review on Watches. As requested by the USTR, the Commission will provide advice as to the probable economic effect on United States industries producing like or directly competitive articles and on consumers of the restoration of India for duty-free treatment under the GSP for HTS subheading 2916.39.15. As requested by the USTR and in accordance with section 503(d)(1)(A) of the 1974 Act, the Commission will provide advice on whether any industry in the United States is likely to be adversely affected by a waiver of the competitive need limits specified in section 503(c)(2)(A) of the 1974 Act for the Philippines for HTS subheading 0804.50.80; for Brazil for HTS subheading 4412.19.40; and for Turkey for HTS subheadings 6802.21.10 and 6802.91.20. As requested by the USTR, the Commission will provide its advice no later than November 10, 2005. With respect to the competitive need limit in section 503(c)(2)(A)(i)(I) of the 1974 Act, the Commission, as requested, will use the dollar value limit of $115,000,000.

Following receipt of a request on July 29, 2005, from the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR), the Commission instituted investigation No. 332-472, Probable Economic Effect of the Reduction of U.S. Tariffs: Update of Advice for Certain Items, under section 332(g) of the Tariff Act of 1930 (19 U.S.C. 1332(g)). Background: In August 2002, at the request of the USTR, the Commission provided advice as to the probable economic effect of implementing certain tariff reduction scenarios (Inv. No. 332-440, Probable Economic Effect of the Reduction or Elimination of U.S. Tariffs). The advice was based on 2002 U.S. Harmonized Tariff System (HTS) nomenclature and 2000 trade data. In his letter of July 29, 2005, the USTR noted that U.S. imports of certain products have risen significantly since 2000, and directed that the Commission update its advice on products that have experienced a substantial increase in imports as defined by certain criteria. As requested by the USTR, the Commission will provide advice as to the probable economic effect on industries producing like or directly competing articles and on consumers of reducing U.S. tariffs by 75 percent on dutiable imports from all U.S. trading partners for products (8-digit HTS items) that meet all of the following criteria: At least a 50-percent increase in the value of dutiable imports from 2000-2004; At least a $10 million increase in the value of dutiable imports from 2000-2004; Dutiable imports were valued at more than $500,000 in 2000; A 2004 ad valorem equivalent U.S. tariff on dutiable imports of at least 5 percent; and The Commission's 2002 advice for the item did not indicate a substantial adverse effect on U.S. industry as a result of U.S. tariff elimination. The USTR requested that the Commission base its advice on 2005 HTS nomenclature and 2004 trade data. He also asked that the advice include a concordance to the 1996 Harmonized System nomenclature that is being used in the WTO negotiations. In addition, he requested that the report identify the five largest sources of dutiable imports (including import values) for each item analyzed under the criteria identified above. The USTR also asked that the Commission provide supplementary analysis that examines factors affecting trade and the competitive position of U.S. industry if, in conducting its analysis based on the more recent data, the Commission identifies items for which the 75 percent tariff reduction scenario indicates a greater adverse effect on U.S. industry than was indicated for those items under the tariff elimination scenario presented in the 2002 report. As requested, the Commission will transmit its report by no later than December 13, 2005.

The Corporation for National and Community Service (hereinafter the ``Corporation'') is correcting a final rule that appeared in the Federal Register of July 8, 2005. The document amended several provisions relating to the AmeriCorps national service program, and added rules to clarify the Corporation's requirements for program sustainability, performance measures and evaluation, capacity-building activities by AmeriCorps members, qualifications for tutors, and other requirements.

The Board of Governors is correcting the Paperwork Reduction Act information that it provided in connection with a final rule amending certain provisions of Regulation BB, which was published in the Federal Register of August 2, 2005.

This action adds to the Procurement List services to be furnished by nonprofit agencies employing persons who are blind or have other severe disabilities.

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 a request to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for emergency clearance and review for a reinstatement, with change, of a previously approved collection for the OPM Form 1300, Presidential Management Fellows (PMF) Program Online Application and Resume Builder. Approval of the PMF Online Application and Resume Builder is necessary to facilitate the timely registration, nomination, selection, and placement of PMF finalists in Federal agencies. This also serves as the 60 Day Notice for review for full clearance. As a result of Executive Order 13318, the OPM issued a final rule on May 19, 2005 (FR, Vol. 70, No. 96, Page 28775) implementing new program regulations effective June 20, 2005. Consistent with these new regulations, the following significant changes have been made to the application and nomination process: (1) The programmatic guidance in the Program and Application Overview, found under the PMF Web site's ``How to Apply'' section, was rewritten to reflect myriad changes resulting from the new regulations; (2) the nomination process was modified to clarify that eligible graduate students are to be nominated by their school's Dean, Chairperson, or Academic Program Director (i.e. a nominating official), and not by a designee or nomination coordinator; and (3) the dates and times were revised from last year to reflect the current academic year of 2005/2006. We estimate 3,500 to 4,000 applications will be received and processed in the 2005/2006 open season for PMF applications. During the 2004/2005 open season OPM received approximately 3,321 applications, leading to 3,073 nominations by colleges and universities. We estimate students will need 2 hours to complete the OPM Form 1300 and electronically submit it to their school's nominating official. In addition, we estimate school nominating officials will need one-half hour to receive, review, and render a decision on the student's application for nomination into the PMF Program. The annual estimated burden for nominees is 8,000 hours and 2,000 hours for school nominating officials, for a total of 10,000 hours. Comments are particularly invited on: whether this information is necessary for the proper performance of functions on the Office of Personnel Management, and whether it will have practical utility; whether our estimate of the public burden of this collection of information is accurate, and based on valid assumptions and methodology; and ways in which we can minimize the burden of the collection of information on those who are to respond, through the use of appropriate technological collection techniques or other forms of information technology. For copies of this proposal, contact Mary Beth Smith-Toomey at (202) 606-8358, fax (202) 418-3251, or e-mail to mbtoomey@opm.gov. Please include your complete mailing address with your request.

Pursuant to the provisions of the Federal Advisory Committee Act (Pub. L. 92-463, as amended), notice is hereby given that the following meetings of the Humanities Panel will be held at the Old Post Office, 1100 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20506.

In accordance with the requirement of Section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 which provides opportunity for public comment on new or revised data collections, the Railroad Retirement Board (RRB) will publish periodic summaries of proposed data collections. Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the proposed information collection is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including whether the information has practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the RRB's estimate of the burden of the collection of the information; (c) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (d) ways to minimize the burden related to the collection of information on respondents, including the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology. Title and purpose of information collection: Medicare; OMB 3220- 0082. Under section 7(d) of the Railroad Retirement Act (RRA), the Railroad Retirement Board (RRB) administers the Medicare program for persons covered by the railroad retirement system. The RRB uses Form AA-6, Employee Application for Medicare; Form AA-7, Spouse/Divorced Spouse Application For Medicare; and Form AA-8, Widow/Widower Application for Medicare; to obtain the information needed to determine whether individuals who have not yet filed for benefits under the RRA are qualified for Medicare payments provided under Title XVIII of the Social Security Act. Further, in order for the RRB to determine if a qualified railroad retirement beneficiary who is claiming supplementary medical insurance coverage under Medicare is entitled to a Special Enrollment Period (SEP) and/or premium surcharge relief because of coverage under an Employer Group Health Plan (EGHP), it needs to obtain information regarding the claimant's EGHP coverage, if any. The RRB uses Form RL- 311-F, Evidence of Coverage Under An Employer Group Health Plan, to obtain the basic information needed by the RRB to establish EGHP coverage for a qualified railroad retirement beneficiary. Completion of the forms is required to obtain a benefit. One response is requested of each respondent. The RRB proposes no changes to Forms AA-6, AA-7 and AA-8. The RRB proposes revising Form RL-311-F by adding a new item, Item 2, ``Name of the Group Health Plan''. In addition the RRB proposes minor, non-burden impacting, editorial and formatting changes. The RRB estimates that 180 Form AA-6's, 50 Form AA-7's, 10 Form AA-8's, and 800 RL-311-F's are completed annually. The completion time for Forms AA-6, AA-7 and AA-8 is estimated at 8 minutes. The completion time for Form RL-311-F is estimated at 10 minutes. Additional Information or Comments: To request more information or to obtain a copy of the information collection justification, forms, and/or supporting material, please call the RRB Clearance Officer at (312) 751-3363 or send an e-mail request to Charles.Mierzwa@RRB.GOV. Comments regarding the information collection should be addressed to Ronald J. Hodapp, Railroad Retirement Board, 844 North Rush Street, Chicago, Illinois 60611-2092 or send an e-mail to Ronald.Hodapp@RRB.GOV. Written comments should be received within 60 days of this notice.

The Legal Services Corporation is beginning the process of developing its FY 2007 budget request to Congress and is soliciting suggestions as to what the request should be.

Notice is hereby given that the U.S. International Trade Commission has determined to review in part an enforcement initial determination (EID) of the presiding administrative law judge (ALJ) in the above-captioned investigation finding a violation of a limited exclusion order, but declining to recommend any enforcement measures. On review, the Commission has determined to modify the ID by correcting the ALJ's finding that the Commission intended to foreclose the possibility of issuing a general exclusion order as a remedy in the above-captioned proceedings when it denied complainant's petition for modification of the existing limited exclusion order. The Commission has determined not to review the reminder of the EID.

This is a Notice of the Presidential declaration of a major disaster for public assistance only for the State of Utah (FEMA-1598- DR), dated 08/01/2005. Incident: Flooding and Landslides. Incident Period: 04/28/2005 through 06/29/2005.