Agencies and Commissions July 25, 2008 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is denying a petition for rulemaking (PRM-20-26) submitted by James Salsman (petitioner). The petitioner requested that NRC amend its regulations to modify exposure and environmental limits for heavy metal radionuclides, in particular uranium. NRC is denying the petition because current NRC regulations provide adequate protection of public health and safety. The petitioner has not presented sufficient peer-reviewed data, pertinent to the types and levels of exposures associated with the concentration values used in NRC's regulations, to provide a sufficient reason for NRC to initiate a revision of its regulations. Thus, the NRC has decided not to expend limited resources on initiating a rulemaking at this time.

The Committee is proposing to add to the Procurement List a product and a service to be furnished by nonprofit agencies employing persons who are blind or have other severe disabilities.

Notice is hereby given that the U.S. International Trade Commission has determined not to review an initial determination (``ID'') (Order No. 7) issued by the presiding administrative law judge (``ALJ'') granting a motion by complainant Presstek, Inc. (``Presstek'') to amend the complaint and notice of investigation to add Spicers Paper, Inc. (``Spicers'') as a respondent in the above- captioned investigation.

On December 11, 2007, the General Services Administration (GSA) published FTR Amendment 2007-06 in the Federal Register (72 FR 70234) specifying that the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Standard Mileage Rate for moving purposes would be the rate at which agencies will reimburse an employee for using a privately-owned vehicle for relocation on a worldwide basis. The amendment indicated that the change to the IRS Standard Mileage Rate for moving purposes applied to relocations on and after September 25, 2007, and that GSA would publish a bulletin announcing any changes to that rate made by the IRS thereafter. On June 23, 2008, the IRS announced that as of July 1, 2008, the relocation mileage rate would increase to $0.27 per mile for the 6 month period ending on December 31, 2008. FTR Bulletin 08-06, is attached. FTR Bulletin 08-06 and all other FTR Bulletins may be found at www.gsa.gov/federaltravelregulation.

This is an amendment of the Presidential declaration of a major disaster for Public Assistance Only for the State of Iowa (FEMA- 1763-DR), dated 05/27/2008. Incident: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding. Incident Period: 05/25/2008 and continuing.

This is a Notice of the Presidential declaration of a major disaster for Public Assistance Only for the State of Michigan (FEMA- 1777-DR), dated 07/14/2008. Incident: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding. Incident Period: 06/06/2008 through 06/13/2008.

In accordance with the requirement of Section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the Paperwork Reduction Act of l995 which provides opportunity for public comment on new or revised data collections, the Railroad Retirement Board 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: RUIA Claims Notification and Verification System: OMB 3220-0171. Section 5(b) of the Railroad Unemployment Insurance Act (RUIA), requires that effective January 1, 1990, ``when a claim for benefits is filed with the Railroad Retirement Board (RRB), the RRB shall provide notice of such claim to the claimant's base year employer or employers and afford such employer or employers an opportunity to submit information relevant to the claim before making an initial determination on the claim. When the RRB initially determines to pay benefits to a claimant under the RUIA, the RRB shall provide notice of such determination to the claimant's base-year employer or employers.'' The purpose of the RUIA Claims Notification System is to provide to unemployment and sickness claimant's base year employer or current employer, notice of each application and claim for benefits under the RUIA and to provide an opportunity for employers to convey information relevant to the proper adjudication of the claim. Railroad employers receive notice of applications and claims by one of three options. The first option, Form Letter ID-4K, is a computer generated form letter notice of all unemployment applications, unemployment claims and sickness claims received from employees of a railroad company on a particular day. Form Letters ID-4K are mailed on a daily basis to officials designated by railroad employers. The second option is an Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) version of the Form Letter ID-4K notice. EDI notices of applications are transmitted to participating railroads on a daily basis, generally on the same day that applications are received. The third option, an Internet equivalent ID-4K, provides the required notification by the RRB through the RRB's Internet-based Employer Reporting System (ERS). Completion is voluntary. Railroad employers can respond to RRB notices of applications and claims manually by mailing a completed ID-4K back to the RRB or electronically via EDI or the ERS. No changes are being proposed to any of the ID-4K options. Upon receipt of notice that the RRB has allowed a claim either in whole, or in part, the claimant's base-year employer(s) may request a review of the determination to pay benefits, if the employers believe the determination is incorrect. The RRB utilizes Form Letter ID-4DE, Notice of RUIA Claim Determinations, an Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) version of the Form Letter ID-4K notice and an Internet equivalent ID-4E to notify base-year employers that the RRB has made a determination to pay benefits and to allow them to request the RRB to review the determination. Form Letter ID-4E is mailed on a daily basis, generally on the same day that the claims are approved for payment. The EDI and Internet-equivalent ID-4Es are also sent to participating railroads on a daily basis, generally on the same day that the claims are approved for payment. Railroad employers can then request that the RRB review the determination either by filing a completed ID-4E by mail, EDI, or via the Internet. No changes are being proposed to any of the ID-4E options. Completion is voluntary. The estimated annual respondent burden is as follows:

The National Science Foundation (NSF) is required to publish notice of permits issued under the Antarctic Conservation Act of 1978. This is the required notice.

The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA or Agency) is making two technical changes to the regulations pertaining to grants and agreements. SBA is amending the definitions for the debarring official and the suspending official for nonprocurement debarment and suspension actions for programs other than the financial assistance programs. Currently the debarring official and the suspending official for all programs other than financial assistance is the Director of the Office of Business Operations. This rule will change the debarring official and suspending official to the Associate General Counsel for Procurement Law. SBA is also amending its regulations to change the title of the Agency's Office of Lender Oversight to the Office of Credit Risk Management.