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

This is a Notice of the Presidential declaration of a major disaster for Public Assistance Only for the U.S. Virgin Islands (FEMA- 1807-DR), dated 10/29/2008. Incident: Hurricane Omar. Incident Period: 10/14/2008 through 10/16/2008. Effective Date: 10/29/2008. Physical Loan Application Deadline Date: 12/29/2008. Economic Injury (EIDL) Loan Application Deadline Date: 07/29/2009.

This is a notice of the Military Reservist Economic Injury Disaster Loan Program (MREIDL), dated 10/28/2008.

The U.S. Office of Personnel Management is issuing final regulations on pay setting rules for General Schedule employees. The final regulations revise the interim regulations by making a number of technical modifications, corrections, and clarifications.

The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) is eliminating the time-in-grade restriction on advancement to competitive service positions in the General Schedule. The rule eliminates the 52-week time-in-grade requirement for promotions. Employees must continue to meet occupational qualification standard requirements and any additional job-related qualification requirements established for the position.

The Commission grants a petition for rulemaking filed by Fisher Radio Regional Group, Inc., permittee of station KUNP-DT, to substitute DTV channel 16 for post-transition DTV channel 29 at La Grande, Oregon.

The Commission is noticing a recently-filed Postal Service request to add Express Mail & Priority Mail Contract 1 to the Competitive Product List. The Postal Service has also filed a related contract. This notice addresses procedural steps associated with these filings.

The Commission is noticing a recently-filed Postal Service request to add Priority Mail Contract 2 to the Competitive Product List. The Postal Service has also filed a related contract. This notice addresses procedural steps associated with these filings.

The Commission is noticing a recently-filed Postal Service request to add Priority Mail Contract 3 to the Competitive Product List. The Postal Service has also filed a related contract. This notice addresses procedural steps associated with these filings.

The Commission requests comments on a channel substitution proposed by Pappas Telecasting of Central Nebraska, L.P. (``Pappas''), the permittee of KWNB-DT, DTV channel 18, Hayes Center, Nebraska. Pappas requests the substitution of DTV channel 6 for channel 18 at Hayes Center.

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.

Pursuant to section 8(c)(2) and section 12(r)(3) of the Railroad Unemployment Insurance Act (Act) (45 U.S.C. 358(c)(2) and 45 U.S.C. 362(r)(3), respectively), the Board gives notice of the following: 1. The balance to the credit of the Railroad Unemployment Insurance (RUI) Account, as of June 30, 2008, is $122,524,603.90; 2. The September 30, 2008, balance of any new loans to the RUI Account, including accrued interest, is zero; 3. The system compensation base is $3,596,278,039.12 as of June 30, 2008; 4. The cumulative system unallocated charge balance is ($305,933,872.49) as of June 30, 2008; 5. The pooled credit ratio for calendar year 2009 is zero; 6. The pooled charged ratio for calendar year 2009 is zero; 7. The surcharge rate for calendar year 2009 is 1.5 percent; 8. The monthly compensation base under section 1(i) of the Act is $1,330 for months in calendar year 2009; 9. The amount described in sections 1(k) and 3 of the Act as ``2.5 times the monthly compensation base'' is $3,325 for base year (calendar year) 2009; 10. The amount described in section 4(a-2)(i)(A) of the Act as ``2.5 times the monthly compensation base'' is $3,325 with respect to disqualifications ending in calendar year 2009; 11. The amount described in section 2(c) of the Act as ``an amount that bears the same ratio to $775 as the monthly compensation base for that year as computed under section 1(i) of this Act bears to $600'' is $1,718 for months in calendar year 2009; 12. The maximum daily benefit rate under section 2(a)(3) of the Act is $64 with respect to days of unemployment and days of sickness in registration periods beginning after June 30, 2009.

Pursuant to the provisions of the ``Government in the Sunshine Act'' (5 U.S.C. 552b), notice is hereby given of the Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board's (Board) public hearing and meeting described below. The Board will conduct a public hearing and meeting pursuant to 42 U.S.C. 2286b and invites any interested persons or groups to present any comments, technical information, or data concerning safety issues related to the matters to be considered. Time and Date of Meeting: 9 a.m., December 5, 2008. Place: Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board, Public Hearing Room, 625 Indiana Avenue, NW., Suite 300, Washington, DC 20004-2001. Additionally, as a part of the Board's E-Government initiative, the meeting will be presented live through Internet video streaming. A link to the presentation will be available on the Board's Web site (https:// www.dnfsb.gov). Status: Open. While the Government in the Sunshine Act does not require that the scheduled discussion be conducted in a meeting, the Board has determined that an open meeting in this specific case furthers the public interests underlying both the Sunshine Act and the Board's enabling legislation. Matters to be Considered: This public hearing and meeting is the fourth in a series concerning the Department of Energy's (DOE) and National Nuclear Security Administration's (NNSA) incorporation of safety into the design and construction of new DOE defense nuclear facilities and into major modification of existing facilities. The Board is responsible, pursuant to its statutory charter, to review and evaluate the content and implementation of standards relating to the design and construction of such facilities. This public hearing and meeting is a continuation of the Board's interest in integrating safety early into the design process. During the Board's initial public hearing on this subject on December 7, 2005, the Board focused on the adequacy of DOE's existing directives related to the design of new facilities. In preparation for that hearing, DOE outlined its expectations for integrating safety into design and established a framework for achieving needed improvements. During the second public hearing on July 19, 2006, the Board further explored integration of safety into design and the progress being made in implementing DOE's safety in design initiatives. During the third public hearing and meeting on March 27, 2007, the Board considered early issue identification, communication of Board issues to DOE, issue management, and early resolution and closure of design related safety issues. The third hearing also addressed the implementation status of DOE Order 413.3, Program and Project Management for the Acquisition of Capital Assets, DOE Standard (STD)-1189, Integration of Safety into the Design Process, the revision of DOE Manual 413.3-1, and lessons learned with respect to incorporating safety in design at two major Federal projects, the Waste Treatment Plant (WTP) project and the Chemistry and Metallurgy Research Replacement (CMRR) project. This fourth public hearing and meeting will consider implementation of the revised DOE Order 413.3, the related guidance contained in DOE-STD-1189, and commitments made in the July 19, 2007, joint DOE and Board report to Congress titled, Improving the Identification and Resolution of Safety Issues During the Design and Construction of DOE Defense Nuclear Facilities, as those commitments relate to early issue identification, communication of Board issues to DOE, issue management, and early resolution and closure of design related safety issues. This hearing and meeting is intended to further assist the Board and DOE in their collective efforts to evaluate any needed improvements in the timeliness of issue resolution. The Board again expects to hear presentations from both DOE and NNSA senior management officials concerning integration of safety into design. The Board may also collect any other information relevant to health or safety of the workers and the public, with respect to safety in design, that may warrant Board action. The public hearing portion of this proceeding is authorized by 42 U.S.C. 2286b.

The Federal Trade Commission (``FTC'' or ``Commission'') will hold a series of public Workshop sessions at one or more locations to explore how best to distinguish between uses of resale price maintenance (RPM)\1\ that benefit consumers and those that do not, for purposes of enforcing Section 1 of the Sherman Act, 15 U.S.C. Sec. 1, and Section 5 of the Federal Trade Commission Act, 15 U.S.C. Sec. 45 (hereinafter ``Sections 1 and 5''). Among other things, the Workshops will examine when and whether particular market facts or conditions make it more or less likely that the use of RPM will be procompetitive or neutral, and when or whether RPM may harm competition and consumers.