Agencies and Commissions August 8, 2008 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The General Services Administration's (GSA's) annual per diem review has resulted in lodging and meal allowance changes for locations within the continental United States (CONUS) to provide for the reimbursement of Federal employees' expenses covered by per diem. Per Diem Bulletin 09-01 updates the maximum per diem amounts in existing per diem localities. The CONUS per diem rates prescribed in Bulletin 09-01 may be found at https://www.gsa.gov/perdiem. GSA based the lodging per diem rates on the average daily rate that the lodging industry reports. The use of such data in the per diem rate setting process enhances the Government's ability to obtain policy compliant lodging where it is needed. In conjunction with the annual lodging study, GSA identified two new non-standard areas; Fayetteville, North Carolina (Cumberland) and Fredericksburg, Virginia (City of Fredericksburg), which prompted an out of cycle meal survey for these areas. For a complete listing of pertinent information that must be submitted through a Federal executive agency for GSA to restudy a location, or if a CONUS or standard CONUS per diem rate is insufficient to meet necessary expenses, please review numbers 4 and 5 of our per diem Frequently Asked Questions at https://www.gsa.gov/perdiemfaqs.

The Committee is proposing to add to the Procurement List product(s) and/or service(s) to be furnished by nonprofit agencies employing persons who are blind or have other severe disabilities, and to delete product(s) and/or service(s) previously furnished by such agencies. Comments Must Be Received On or Before: September 7, 2008.

The Federal Communications Commission, as part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork burden invites the general public and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on the following information collection(s), as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995, 44 U.S.C. 35013520. An agency may not conduct or sponsor a collection of information unless it displays a currently valid 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 (PRA) 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 Commission requests comments on a channel substitution proposed by WXOW-WQOW (``WXOW-WQOW''), the permittee of WXOW-DT, DTV channel 14, La Crosse, Wisconsin. WXOW-WQOW requests the substitution of DTV channel 48 for channel 14 at La Crosse.

This bulletin cancels GSA Bulletin FMR Bulletin 2006-B5, Real Property Asset Management Principles, published in the Federal Register on June 16, 2006, that introduced new Guiding Principles case studies to help Federal agencies manage and improve real property performance effectively in support of Executive Order 13327, ``Federal Real Property Asset Management.'' This bulletin updates the case studies to provide current asset management examples and best practices.

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 Commission has initiated a case to address allegations of undue discrimination and other issues raised by Capital One Services, Inc. (Capital One) in a formal complaint. The allegations stem from Capital One's interest in obtaining a rate agreement from the Postal Service on terms that are the same as or similar to those another major mailer has received. Accepting the case will provide an opportunity for review of pertinent issues.

The General Services Administration (GSA) is amending the General Services Administration Acquisition Regulation (GSAR) to revise language pertaining to application of labor laws to Government acquisitions. This rule is a product of the General Services Administration Acquisition Manual (GSAM) Rewrite Initiative, undertaken by GSA to revise the regulation to maintain consistency with the FAR and implement streamlined and innovative acquisition procedures for contractors, offerors, and GSA contracting personnel. The GSAM incorporates the GSAR as well as internal agency acquisition policy.

As part of its statutory authority and responsibility to analyze sentencing issues, including operation of the federal sentencing guidelines, and in accordance with Rule 5.2 of its Rules of Practice and Procedure, the Commission is seeking comment on possible priority policy issues for the amendment cycle ending May 1, 2009.

Notice is hereby given that the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation (ACHP) will meet on Friday, August 15, 2008. The meeting will be held in the New York/Illinois Room at the Hyatt Regency Hotel at One St. Louis Union Station, St. Louis, MO at 9 a.m. The ACHP was established by the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 (16 U.S.C. 470 et seq.) to advise the President and Congress on national historic preservation policy and to comment upon Federal, federally assisted, and federally licensed undertakings having an effect upon properties listed in or eligible for inclusion in the National Register of Historic Places. The ACHP's members are the Architect of the Capitol; the Secretaries of the Interior, Agriculture, Defense, Housing and Urban Development, Commerce, Education, Veterans Affairs, and Transportation; the Administrator of the General Services Administration; the Chairman of the National Trust for Historic Preservation; the President of the National Conference of State Historic Preservation Officers; a Governor; a Mayor; a Native American; and eight non-Federal members appointed by the President. The agenda for the meeting includes the following: Call To Order9 a.m. I. Chairman's Welcome II. Chairman's Award Presentation III. Native American Activities A. Native American Advisory Group B. Native American Program Report IV. Archaeology Task Force A. Proposed Policy Statement on Archaeology and Heritage Tourism V. Preserve America Program Implementation A. Preserve America Stewards Initiative B. Preserve America Communities and Grants C. Preserve America Summit Implementation D. Preserve America/Save America's Treasures Authorizing Legislation VI. Preservation Initiatives Committee A. Legislative Update B. Heritage Tourism Activities VII. Federal Agency Programs Committee A. National Park Service Programmatic Agreement B. Bureau of Land Management Nationwide Programmatic Agreement C. Standard Treatments Update D. Response to Midwest Floods E. Section 106 Cases VIII. Communications, Education, and Outreach Committee A. ACHP Web Site Update IX. Chairman's Report A. ACHP Alumni Foundation B. ACHP FY 2009 Budget Request C. Results of Transition Planning Session X. Executive Director's Report XI. New Business XII. Adjourn Note: The meetings of the ACHP are open to the public. If you need special accommodations due to a disability, please contact the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation, 1100 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW., Room 803, Washington, DC, 202-606-8503, at least seven (7) days prior to the meeting. For further information: Additional information concerning the meeting is available from the Executive Director, Advisory Council on Historic Preservation, 1100 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW., 803, Washington, DC 20004.