Agencies and Commissions 2008 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents
Results 101 - 150 of 7,085
Allocation of Assets in Single-Employer Plans; Interest Assumptions for Valuing Benefits
Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation's regulation on Allocation of Assets in Single-Employer Plans prescribes interest assumptions for valuing benefits under terminating single-employer plans. This final rule amends the asset allocation regulation to adopt interest assumptions for plans with valuation dates in the first quarter of 2009. As discussed below, PBGC has published a separate final rule dealing with interest assumptions under its regulation on Benefits Payable in Terminated Single-Employer Plans for January 2009. Interest assumptions are also published on PBGC's Web site (https:// www.pbgc.gov).
New Standards for Letter-Size Booklets and Folded Self-Mailers
On March 14, 2008, we published in the Federal Register (Volume 73, Number 51, pages 13812-13813) an advance notice of our intent to develop new mailing standards for folded self-mailers and booklets mailed at automation and machinable letter prices. In that advance notice, we provided justification for these changes, announced a two-phase testing initiative, and reported the results of the first phase of testing. We invited comments from customers and asked that they suggest alternative booklet designs that could improve mailpiece performance. The following proposed rule is based on the results of completed testing. We propose revisions to tab size, tab location, paper weight, and dimensions for folded self-mailers and booklets mailed at automation or machinable letter prices.
Meetings
The Architectural and Transportation Barriers Compliance Board (Access Board) plans to hold its regular committee and Board meetings in Washington, DC, Monday through Wednesday, January 12-14, 2009, at the times and location noted below.
International Mail Contracts
The Commission is adding Global Direct Contracts to the Competitive Product List and announcing the Postal Service's execution of two related contracts. These actions are consistent with changes in a recent law governing postal operations and a recent Postal Service request. Republication of the lists of market dominant and competitive products is also consistent with new requirements in the law.
Notice of Information Collection
We are cancelling FR Notice 08-093, Information Collection Title: TITLE IX Survey, published at 73 FR 70678, November 21, 2008, because we determined the need to implement compliance programs under three additional grant-related civil rights laws for which NASA has regulations, i.e., Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and the Age Discrimination Act of 1975. In FY 2009, NASA will stand-up compliance programs involving at least one onsite compliance review pursuant to each of these laws. We also need to issue a notice of information collection that can support our compliance activities under all four laws, reflecting the differing coverage under each of the laws.
Television Broadcasting Services; Scranton, PA
The Commission requests comments on a channel substitution proposed by MPS Media of Scranton License, LLC (``MPS Media''), the licensee of station WSWB-DT, pre-transition DTV channel 31, Scranton, Pennsylvania. MPS Media has been assigned DTV channel 38 for post- transition use and now requests the substitution of its pre-transition DTV channel 31 for DTV channel 38 at Scranton.
Credit Union Service Organizations
NCUA is issuing a final rule amending its credit union service organization (CUSO) regulation. The amendment adds two new categories of permissible CUSO activities: Credit card loan origination and payroll processing services. The amendment also adds new examples of permissible CUSO activities within existing categories and expands the permissible scope of certain services to include persons eligible for credit union membership. The amendment imposes new regulatory limits on the ability of credit unions to recapitalize their CUSOs in certain circumstances. Although the CUSO rule generally only applies to federal credit unions (FCUs), the amendment revises and extends to all federally insured credit unions the provisions ensuring that credit union regulators have access to books and records and that CUSOs are operated as separate legal entities; however, the rule also contains a procedure through which state regulators may seek an exemption from the access to records provisions for credit unions in their state. The amendment clarifies that CUSOs may buy and sell participations in loans they are authorized to originate. Finally, the amendment deletes as unnecessary the section in the current rule concerning amendment requests. These amendments clarify the rule, enhance CUSO operations, and address safety and soundness concerns.
Universal Postal Service
This document provides notice that the Commission has issued a report on universal postal service and the postal monopoly. It describes how copies of the report and related material can be accessed. It also establishes a new docket for submission of comments addressing the report.
Television Broadcasting Services; Clovis, NM
The Commission requests comments on a channel substitution proposed by Barrington Amarillo License LLC (``Barrington''), the licensee of KVIH-TV, analog channel 12, and permittee of KVIH-DT, post- transition DTV channel 20, Clovis, New Mexico. Barrington requests the substitution of its current analog channel, channel 12, for post-transition use at Clovis.
Office of Citizen Services and Communications; Information Collection; Market Research Collection
Under the provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. Chapter 35), the General Services Administration will be submitting to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) a request to review and approve a renewal of a currently approved information collection requirement regarding Market Research for the Office of Citizen Services and Communications. The OMB clearance currently expires on April 30, 2009. This information collection will be used to determine the utility and ease of use of GSA's Web site, https://www.gsa.gov. The respondents include individuals and representatives from businesses currently holding GSA contracts. Public comments are particularly invited on: Whether this collection of information is necessary and whether it will have practical utility; whether our estimate of the public burden of this collection of information is accurate, and based on valid assumptions and methodology; ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected.
Advisory Committee on the Medical Uses of Isotopes: Meeting Notice
The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission will convene a teleconference meeting of the Advisory Committee on the Medical Uses of Isotopes (ACMUI) on January 22, 2009, to discuss a subcommittee recommendation for individuals to achieve Authorized User status via a board certification pathway when a gap exists between the completion of training and experience and issuance of the board certificate. A copy of the agenda for the meeting will be available at https://www.nrc.gov/ reading-rm/doc-collections/acmui/agenda or by contacting Ms. Ashley Tull using the information below.
Office of Small Business Utilization; Small Business Advisory Committee; Notification of a Public Meeting of the Small Business Advisory Committee, Subcommittee on Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Businesses
The General Services Administration (GSA) is announcing a public meeting of the GSA Small Business Advisory Committee, Subcommittee on Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Businesses (the Subcommittee).
Policy on Payment System Risk; Daylight Overdraft Posting Rules
The Board has decided not to pursue at this time its proposal to change the posting time to 8:30 a.m. for commercial and government automated clearinghouse (ACH) debit transfers that are processed by the Federal Reserve Banks' (Reserve Banks) FedACH service. (All times are eastern time.) The proposal would have aligned the posting time for ACH debit transfers with the posting time for ACH credit transfers, which are currently posted at 8:30 a.m. on the settlement date. Commercial and government ACH debit transfers processed by the Reserve Banks' FedACH service will continue to be posted at 11 a.m., while commercial and government ACH credit transfers will continue to be posted at 8:30 a.m. The credit and debit accounting entries associated with ACH credit transfers and ACH debit transfers are posted simultaneously at the appointed posting time. In line with this decision, the Board will not move the posting time for Treasury Tax and Loan (TT&L) investments associated with Electronic Federal Tax Payment System (EFTPS) ACH debit transfers. These transactions will continue to be posted at 11 a.m. The Board will reconsider the proposal in the future.
Policy on Payment System Risk
The Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (Board) has adopted revisions to part II of its Policy on Payment System Risk (PSR) that are designed to improve intraday liquidity management and payment flows for the banking system, while also helping to mitigate credit exposures of the Federal Reserve Banks (Reserve Banks) from daylight overdrafts. The adopted changes to the PSR policy are substantially the same as those proposed for comment, including a new approach that explicitly recognizes the role of the central bank in providing intraday balances and credit to healthy depository institutions, a zero fee for collateralized daylight overdrafts, a 50 basis point (annual rate) charge for uncollateralized daylight overdrafts, and a biweekly daylight overdraft fee waiver of $150. The implementation of the changes will take place between the fourth quarter of 2010 and first quarter of 2011. A specific date will be announced by the Board at least 90 days in advance. The Board also approved for foreign banking organizations (FBO) an interim policy change related to the calculation of the deductible amount from daylight overdraft fees under the existing policy and early implementation of the proposed streamlined procedure for maximum daylight overdraft capacity (max cap). The interim policy change for the deductible and streamlined max cap procedure will be effective on March 26, 2009. In addition, the Board endorsed a four-prong strategy, which includes these policy changes, through which the Federal Reserve and industry will address related intraday liquidity, operational, and credit risks in the wholesale payment system.
Appointments to Performance Review Board for Senior Executive Service
The Committee for Purchase from People Who Are Blind or Severely Disabled (Committee) has announced the following appointments to the Committee Performance Review Board. The following individuals are appointed as members of the Committee Performance Review Board responsible for making recommendations to the appointing and awarding authorities on performance appraisal ratings and performance awards for Senior Executive Service employees: Perry E. Anthony, Ph.D., Deputy Commissioner, Rehabilitation Services Administration, Department of Education. James E. House, Director, Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization, Department of Agriculture. Paul M. Laird, Assistant Director, Industries, Education and Vocational Training and Chief Operating Officer/FPI, Department of Justice. All appointments are made pursuant to Section 4314 of Chapter 43 of Title 5 of the United States Code.
In the Matter of Certain Semiconductor Integrated Circuits and Products Containing Same; Notice of Investigation
Notice is hereby given that a complaint was filed with the U.S. International Trade Commission on November 20, 2008, under section 337 of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended, 19 U.S.C. 1337, on behalf of Qimonda AG of Munich, Germany. A supplement to the complaint was filed on December 11, 2008. The complaint, as supplemented, alleges violations of section 337 based upon the importation into the United States, the sale for importation, and the sale within the United States after importation of certain semiconductor integrated circuits and products containing same that infringe certain claims of U.S. Patent Nos. 5,213,670; 5,646,434; 5,851,899; 6,103,456; 6,495,918; 6,593,240; and 6,714,055. 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.
Accounting and Periodic Reporting Rules
The Commission is adopting final rules on accounting practices, an assumed Federal income tax, and periodic reporting for the Postal Service's theoretical competitive products enterprise. The rules incorporate several changes based on consideration of comments filed in response to an earlier proposal. Adoption of the rules will promote several statutory goals, including transparency and accountability.
Product Change-Priority Mail Contract 4 Negotiated Service Agreements
Postal Service notice of filing a request with the Postal Regulatory Commission to add Priority Mail Contract 4 to the list of Negotiated Service Agreements in the Mail Classification Schedule's Competitive Products List pursuant to 39 U.S.C. 3642 and 3632(b)(3).
Product Change-Priority Mail Contract 2 Negotiated Service Agreements
Postal Service notice of filing a request with the Postal Regulatory Commission to add Priority Mail Contract 2 to the list of Negotiated Service Agreements in the Mail Classification Schedule's Competitive Products List pursuant to 39 U.S.C. 3642 and 3632(b)(3).
Product Change-Parcel Return Service Contract 1 Negotiated Service Agreements
Postal Service notice of filing a request with the Postal Regulatory Commission to add Parcel Return Service Contract 1 to the list of Negotiated Service Agreements in the Mail Classification Schedule's Competitive Products List pursuant to 39 U.S.C. 3642 and 3632(b)(3).
Product Change-Express Mail Contract 2 Negotiated Service Agreements
Postal Service notice of filing a request with the Postal Regulatory Commission to add Express Mail Contract 2 to the list of Negotiated Service Agreements in the Mail Classification Schedule's Competitive Products List pursuant to 39 U.S.C. 3642 and 3632(b)(3).
Product Change-Express Mail & Priority Mail Contract 1 Negotiated Service Agreements
Postal Service notice of filing a request with the Postal Regulatory Commission to add Express Mail & Priority Mail Contract 1 to the list of Negotiated Service Agreements in the Mail Classification Schedule's Competitive Products List pursuant to 39 U.S.C. 3642 and 3632(b)(3).
Product Change-Priority Mail Contract 3 Negotiated Service Agreements
Postal Service notice of filing a request with the Postal Regulatory Commission to add Priority Mail Contract 3 to the list of Negotiated Service Agreements in the Mail Classification Schedule's Competitive Products List pursuant to 39 U.S.C. 3642 and 3632(b)(3).
General Services Administration Acquisition Regulation; Information Collection; GSA Form 527, Contractor's Qualifications and Financial Information
Under the provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. Chapter 35), the General Services Administration will be submitting to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) a request to review and approve a renewal of a currently approved information collection requirement regarding GSA Form 527, Contractor's Qualifications and Financial Information. Public comments are particularly invited on: Whether this collection of information is necessary and whether it will have practical utility; whether our estimate of the public burden of this collection of information is accurate, and based on valid assumptions and methodology; ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected.
Multiple Award Schedule Advisory Panel; Notification of Public Advisory Panel Meetings
The U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) Multiple Award Schedule Advisory Panel (MAS Panel), a Federal Advisory Committee, will hold public meetings on the following dates: Friday, January 30, 2009 and Monday February 2, 2009. GSA utilizes the MAS program to establish long-term Governmentwide contracts with responsible firms to provide Federal, State, and local government customers with access to a wide variety of commercial supplies (products) and services. The MAS Panel was established to develop advice and recommendations on MAS program pricing policies, provisions, and procedures in the context of current commercial pricing practices. The Panel will be developing recommendations for MAS program pricing provisions for the acquisition of (1) professional services; (2) products; (3) total solutions which consist of professional services and products; and (4) non professional services. In developing the recommendations, the Panel will, at a minimum, address these 5 questions for each of the 4 types of acquisitions envisioned above: (1) Where does competition take place?; (2) If competition takes place primarily at the task/delivery order level, does a fair and reasonable price determination at the MAS contract level really matter?; (3) If the Panel consensus is that competition is at the task order level, are the methods that GSA uses to determine fair and reasonable prices and maintain the price/discount relationship with the basis of award customer(s) adequate?; (4) If the current policy is not adequate, what are the recommendations to improve the policy/guidance; and (5) If fair and reasonable price determination at the MAS contract level is not beneficial and the fair and reasonable price determination is to be determined only at the task/delivery order level, then what is the GSA role? To that end, the Panel would like to hear from the many stakeholders of the MAS program. The MAS program stakeholders include, but are not limited to, ordering agency contracting officers, GSA contracting officers, schedule contract holders, Congress, program managers, the General Accountability Office, and Federal agency Inspector General Offices. The panel is particularly interested in stakeholder views as to how the issues discussed above may relate differently to the purchase of goods, services, or goods and services that are configured to propose an integrated solution to an agency's needs. Written comments may be submitted at any time in accordance with the guidance below. The meeting will be held at U.S. General Services Administration, Federal Acquisition Service, 2200 Crystal Drive, Room L1301, Arlington, VA 22202. The location is within walking distance of the Crystal City metro stop. The meeting start time is 9:00 a.m., and will adjourn no later than 5:00 p.m. For presentations before the Panel, the following guidance is provided: Oral comments: The Panel will no longer entertain oral presentations. Written Comments: Written comments must be received ten (10) business days prior to the meeting date so that the comments may be provided to the Panel for their consideration prior to the meeting. Comments should be supplied to Ms. Brooks at the address/contact information noted below in the following format: one hard copy with original signature and one electronic copy via email in Microsoft Word. Subsequent meeting dates, locations, and times will be published at least 15 days prior to the meeting date.
Testimony by FLRA Employees and Production of Official Records in Legal Proceedings
The Federal Labor Relations Authority (FLRA) seeks public comment on a proposed rule that would set out procedures for requesters to follow when making demands on or requests to an employee of the FLRA, the General Counsel of the FLRA (General Counsel) or the Federal Service Impasses Panel (Panel) to produce official records or provide testimony relating to official information in connection with a civil legal proceeding in which the FLRA is not named as a party. The rule would establish procedures to respond to such demands and requests in an orderly and consistent manner. The proposed rule will promote uniformity in decisions, protect confidential information, provide guidance to requesters, and reduce the potential for both inappropriate disclosures of official information and wasteful allocation of agency resources.
Bylaws of the Board of Governors
The Board of Governors of the United States Postal Service has adopted a considerable number of amendments to its Bylaws, set forth in subchapter A, parts 1 through 11, of title 39 of the Code of Federal Regulations. These amendments implement changes in the authority, responsibilities, and procedures of the Board made necessary by the Postal Accountability and Enhancement Act of 2006 (PAEA), Public Law 109-435. The Postal Service hereby publishes this final rule revising subchapter A to reflect the changes in the Board's Bylaws.
Establishment of the Occupational Information Development Advisory Panel
We are establishing the Occupational Information Development Advisory Panel (Panel) under the provisions of the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA). The creation of the Panel, while discretionary, is necessary and in the public interest. It will help us to perform our statutory duties. We have consulted with the Committee Management Secretariat, General Services Administration.
Proposed Agency Information Collection Activities; Comment Request
In accordance with the requirements of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. chapter 35), the OCC, the Board, the FDIC, and the OTS (the ``agencies'') may not conduct or sponsor, and the respondent is not required to respond to, an information collection unless it displays a currently valid Office of Management and Budget (OMB) control number. The Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council (FFIEC), of which the agencies are members, has approved the agencies' publication for public comment of a proposal to extend, with revision, the Consolidated Reports of Condition and Income (Call Report) for banks, the Thrift Financial Report (TFR) for savings associations, the Report of Assets and Liabilities of U.S. Branches and Agencies of Foreign Banks (FFIEC 002), and the Report of Assets and Liabilities of a Non-U.S. Branch that is Managed or Controlled by a U.S. Branch or Agency of a Foreign (Non-U.S.) Bank (FFIEC 002S), all of which are currently approved collections of information. At the end of the comment period, the comments and recommendations received will be analyzed to determine the extent to which the FFIEC and the agencies should modify the proposed revisions prior to giving final approval. The agencies will then submit the revisions to OMB for review and approval.
Public Information Collection Requirement Submitted to OMB for Review and Approval, Comments Requested
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, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 104-13. 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.
Notice of Public Information Collection(s) Being Submitted for Review to the Office of Management and Budget
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. 3501-3520. 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.
Television Broadcasting Services; Canton, Ohio
The Commission requests comments on a channel substitution proposed by Trinity Christian Center of Santa Ana, Inc., d/b/a Trinity Broadcast Network (``Trinity''), the licensee of WDLI-DT, post- transition DTV channel 39, Canton, Ohio. Trinity requests the substitution of DTV channel 49 for post-transition DTV channel 39 at Canton.
Notice of Public Information Collection(s) Being Reviewed by the Federal Communications Commission for Extension Under Delegated Authority, Comments Requested
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 of 1995, 44 U.S.C. 3501-3520. 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.
Television Broadcasting Services; Kearney, NE
The Commission grants a petition for rulemaking filed by Pappas Telecasting of Central Nebraska, L.P., permittee of station KHGI-DT, to substitute DTV channel 13 for post-transition DTV channel 36 at Kearney, Nebraska.
Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection, Comment Request; Uniform Administrative Requirements for Grants and Cooperative Agreements to State and Local Governments
The EAC, as part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, invites the general public and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on proposed information collections; and recordkeeping requirements. Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the proposed collections of information and/or recordkeeping requirements are necessary for the proper performance of the agency's functions, including whether the information has practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of the proposed information collections and/or recordkeeping requirements, including the validity of the methodology and assumptions used; (c) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected or records to be kept; and (d) ways to minimize the burden of the information collections and/or recordkeeping requirements on respondents. Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized and/or included in the request for OMB approval.
General Services Administration Acquisition Regulation; Information Collection; Commercial Delivery Schedule Clause and Notice of Shipment
Under the provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. Chapter 35), the General Services Administration will be submitting to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) a request to review and approve an extension of a currently approved information collection requirement regarding commercial delivery schedule clause and notice of shipment. The clearance currently expires on December 31, 2008. Public comments are particularly invited on: Whether this collection of information is necessary and whether it will have practical utility; whether our estimate of the public burden of this collection of information is accurate and based on valid assumptions and methodology; and ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected.
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