Agencies and Commissions May 2008 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

Under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 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.

The Commission hereby gives notice of the scheduling of the final phase of countervailing duty investigation No. 701-TA-453 (Final) under section 705(b) of the Tariff Act of 1930 (19 U.S.C. 1671d(b)) (the Act) and the final phase of antidumping investigation Nos. 731-TA- 1136-1137 (Final) under section 735(b) of the Act (19 U.S.C. 1673d(b)) to determine whether an industry in the United States is materially injured or threatened with material injury, or the establishment of an industry in the United States is materially retarded, by reason of subsidized and less-than-fair-value imports from China and Germany of sodium nitrite, provided for in subheading 2834.10.10 of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States.\1\

Notice is hereby given of a change in agency practice. Former employees of the U.S. International Trade Commission (``Commission'') may now represent a party in a five-year review conducted under title VII of the Tariff Act of 1930 even if they participated personally and substantially in the corresponding underlying original title VII investigation while a Commission employee. The five-year review is not the same particular matter as the underlying original investigation for the purpose of applying post employment restrictions. In addition, former employees seeking to appear in a five-year review will no longer be required to seek approval to appear from the Commission, pursuant to Commission rule 201.15(b) (19 CFR 201.15(b)), even if the underlying original investigation had been pending when they were employed by the Commission.

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) intends to submit to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) a request for review of a NEW information collection. The INV 16A, Specific Medical Release, and INV 16B, Authorization for Access to Financial Records, are used continuously by Federal and contract investigators as a routine part of background investigations. The collection is completed when it is determined that further inquiry into the respondents' medical record is needed pertaining to mental health counseling and/or drug/alcohol treatment OR upon an affirmative answer on the Standard Form (SF) 86 or SF 85PS regarding mental health. The Customer Consent and Authorization for Access to Financial Records (INV 16B) is used by Federal agencies when conducting a credit inquiry on federal and contract employees, as well as military personnel, who are working in support of Federal Government programs and contracts. The INV 16A and INV 16B will replace current forms OFI 16A; OPM Form 329; OPM Form 329-A; OPM Form 329-B; and OPM 329-C. Previous editions of related forms are not usable. Comments Are Particularly Invited On: Whether this information is necessary for the proper performance of functions of the OPM and its Federal Investigative Services Division, which administers background investigations; Whether our estimate of the public burden of this collection of information is accurate, and based on valid assumptions and methodology; 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; and Ways in which we can enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected. The INV 16A and INV 16B are completed by both employees of the Federal Government and individuals not employed with the Federal Government, including Federal contractors, and military personnel. Federal employees are defined as those individuals who are employed as civilians or military personnel with the Federal Government. Non- Federal employees include members of the general public and all individuals employed as Federal and military contractors, or individuals otherwise not directly employed by the Federal Government. Approximately 45,500 INV 16A and 210,000 INV 16B forms will be completed annually by non-Federal individuals. Each form requires approximately 5 minutes to complete. The annual estimated burden is 3,800 and 17,500 hours for the 16A and 16B respectively. For copies of this proposal, contact Mary Beth Smith-Toomey on (202) 606-8358, FAX (202) 418-3251 or via E-mail to mbtoomey@opm.gov. Please include a mailing address with your request.

The actions taken in this document represent another step in the Commission's ongoing efforts to complete the transition from analog to digital television. In this document, we amend the rules to require satellite carriers to carry digital-only stations upon request in markets in which they are providing any local-into-local service pursuant to the statutory copyright license, and to require carriage of all high definition (``HD'') signals in a market in which any station's signals are carried in HD.

Notice is hereby given that a complaint was filed with the U.S. International Trade Commission on April 1, 2008, under section 337 of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended, 19 U.S.C. 1337, on behalf of Maquet Cardiovascular LLC of San Jose, California. The complaint was supplemented on April 22, 2008. The complaint alleges violations of section 337 in the importation into the United States, the sale for importation, and the sale within the United States after importation of certain vein harvesting surgical systems and components thereof by reason of infringement of certain claims of U.S. Patent No. Re. 36,043 and U.S. Patent No. 6,830,546. The complaint further alleges that an industry in the United States exists as required by subsection (a)(2) of section 337. The complainant requests that the Commission institute an investigation and, after the investigation, issue an exclusion order and cease and desist orders.

Notice is hereby given, pursuant to the Government in the Sunshine Act (5 U.S.C. 552b(e)(3)), of the regular meeting of the Farm Credit Administration Board (Board).

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) seeks comments on its intention to request an extension of two currently approved information collections. OPM uses the two collections, a Price Survey and a Background Survey, to gather data it uses to determine cost-of-living allowances the Government provides to certain Federal employees in Alaska, Hawaii, Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. OPM conducts Price Surveys in the Washington, DC, area on an annual basis and once every 3 years in each allowance area on a rotating basis. Prior to these surveys, OPM conducts Background Surveys that are similar to the Price Survey, but much more limited in scope. OPM uses the results of the Background Surveys to prepare for the Price Surveys.

The Federal Communications Commission, as part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork burdens, invites the general public and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on the following information collection, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995, Public Law No. 104-13. An agency may not conduct or sponsor a collection of information unless it displays a currently valid control number. Pursuant to the PRA, no person shall be subject to any penalty for failing to comply with a collection of information that does not display a valid control number. 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; and (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.

The Committee is proposing to add to the Procurement List services to be furnished by nonprofit agencies employing persons who are blind or have other severe disabilities. Comments Must Be Received On or Before: June 1, 2008.

This is an amendment of the Presidential declaration of a major disaster for the State of Arkansas (FEMA-1751-DR), dated 03/28/ 2008. Incident: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding. Incident Period: 03/18/2008 and continuing. Effective Date: 04/21/2008. Physical Loan Application Deadline Date: 05/27/2008. EIDL Loan Application Deadline Date: 12/29/2008.

The Office of the Federal Register (OFR) published a Department of Energy, Bonneville Power Administration document (FR Doc. E8-9572, 73 FR 24059, May 1, 2008), in error, prior to the requested publication date. The OFR received this notice from the Bonneville Power Administration, as sent to interested parties: ``The Federal Register notice announcing the commencement of the Tiered Rate Methodology (TRM-12) rate case was prematurely published yesterday (May 1, 2008). BPA wishes to inform all potential rate case parties that it is withdrawing the May 1, 2008 Federal Register notice. Another notice, formally announcing the initiation of the Tiered Rates Methodology rate case will be published on May 6, 2008. We regret any confusion created by the early publication of the notice.''

The National Prison Rape Elimination Commission is announcing the release and availability for public comment on its Draft Standards for the Prevention, Detection, Response, and Monitoring of Sexual Abuse in Adult Prisons, Jails, and supplemental standards for facilities holding Immigration Detainees.

The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is granting a waiver of the Nonmanufacturer Rule for Trash Bags Manufacturing. The basis for waiver is that no small business manufacturers are supplying this class of product to the Federal government. The effect of a waiver would be to allow otherwise qualified regular dealers to supply the products of any domestic manufacturer on a Federal contract set aside for small businesses; service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses or SBA's 8(a) Business Development Program.