Agencies and Commissions July 29, 2008 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

This document provides the public notice of the delegation of authority for certain investment activities by the Administrator of the Small Business Administration (SBA) to the Deputy Administrator, the Chief of Staff and the Agency Licensing Committee.

As part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork burden and as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501-3520), the Federal Communications Commission invites the general public and other Federal agencies to comment on the following information collection(s). 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. An agency may not conduct or sponsor a collection of information unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number. No person shall be subject to any penalty for failing to comply with a collection of information subject to the Paperwork Reduction Act that does not display a valid OMB control number.

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is considering the issues raised in a petition for rulemaking submitted by David Lochbaum, on behalf of the Union of Concerned Scientists, in the ongoing ``Power Reactor Security Requirements'' rulemaking. The petitioner requested that the NRC amend its regulations to require that licensees implement procedures to ensure that when information becomes known to a licensee about an individual that would prevent that individual from gaining unescorted access to the protected area of a nuclear power plant, the licensee will implement measures to ensure the individual does not enter the protected area, whether escorted, or not; and, when sufficient information is not available to a licensee about an individual to determine whether the criteria for unescorted access are satisfied, the licensee will implement measures to allow that individual to enter the protected area only when escorted at all times by an armed member of the security force who remains in periodic communication with security supervision.

Pursuant to statute (see below), the Commission monitors U.S. imports of fresh or chilled tomatoes and fresh or chilled peppers, other than chili peppers, for the purpose of expediting an investigation under certain U.S. safeguard laws, should an appropriate petition be filed. As part of that monitoring, the Commission has instituted investigations under section 332 of the Tariff Act of 1930 (19 U.S.C. 1332) for the purpose of compiling data on trade and the domestic industry. The Commission is in the process of preparing its reports for the period ending June 30, 2008, and is seeking input from interested members of the public. The Commission expects to make its reports available to the public in electronic form on the Commission's Web site in November 2008.

Notice is hereby given of meetings of the U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission. Name: Larry Wortzel, Chairman of the U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission. The Commission is mandated by Congress to investigate, assess, evaluate and report to Congress annually on the U.S.-China economic and security relationship. The mandate specifically charges the Commission to prepare a report to the Congress ``regarding the national security implications and impact of the bilateral trade and economic relationship between the United States and the People's Republic of China [that] shall include a full analysis, along with conclusions and recommendations for legislative and administrative actions * * *'' Purpose of Meetings: Pursuant to this mandate, the Commission will meet in Washington, DC on August 14, September 24-25, October 6-7, and October 20-22, 2008, to consider the first and later rounds of drafts of material for its 2008 Annual Report to Congress that have been prepared for its consideration by the Commission staff, and to make modifications to those drafts that Commission members believe are needed. Topics to be Discussed: The Commissioners will be considering draft Report sections addressing the following topics: The United States-China trade and economic relationship, including the relationship's current status; significant changes during 2008; the control of China's economy by its government, and the effect of that control on the United States. The implications of China's Sovereign Wealth Fund; seafood imports from China into Louisiana and the U.S. Gulf Coast; and R&D activities in China and resulting technology transfers to China for the U.S. economy and security. China's Activities Directly Affecting U.S. Security Interests, including China's proliferation policies and practices and China's space and cyber activities. China's Energy and Environmental Policies and Activities, including bilateral and multilateral energy and environment agreements; and China's efforts pertaining to climate change. China's Foreign and Regional Activities and Relationships in East Asia including those pertaining to Taiwan, Japan, and South Korea, and to its own special administrative region of Hong Kong. China's Media and Information Controls China's Compliance with the U.S.-China Memorandum of Understanding on China's Use of Prison Labor

Notice is hereby given of the order of succession in the absence of the Chairman of the National Endowment for the Arts.

The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC), Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (Board), Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), and Office of Thrift Supervision (OTS) (collectively, the agencies) propose a new risk-based capital framework (standardized framework) based on the standardized approach for credit risk and the basic indicator approach for operational risk described in the capital adequacy framework titled ``International Convergence of Capital Measurement and Capital Standards: A Revised Framework'' (New Accord) released by the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision. The standardized framework generally would be available, on an optional basis, to banks, bank holding companies, and savings associations (banking organizations) that apply the general risk-based capital rules.