Agencies and Commissions July 2009 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

On June 12, 2009, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (``CFTC'' or ``Commission'') published for comment in the Federal Register \1\ a notice of its intent to undertake a determination whether the Henry Financial LD1 Fixed Price contract, traded on the IntercontinentalExchange, Inc. (``ICE''), an exempt commercial market (``ECM'') under sections 2(h)(3)-(5) of the Commodity Exchange Act (``CEA'' or the ``Act''), performs a significant price discovery function pursuant to section 2(h)(7) of the CEA. The Commission undertook this review based upon an initial evaluation of information and data provided by ICE as well as a Commission report on ECMs. The Commission has reviewed public comments and the entire record in this matter and has determined to issue an order finding that the ICE Henry Financial LD1 Fixed Price contract performs a significant price discovery function. Authority for this action is found in section 2(h)(7) of the CEA and Commission rule 36.3(c) promulgated thereunder.

Under the provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. Chapter 35), the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Secretariat 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 concerning use of data universal numbering system (DUNS) as primary contractor identification. The Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number is the nine-digit identification number assigned by Dun and Bradstreet Information Services to an establishment. A request for public comments was published in the Federal Register at 74 FR 18719 on April 24, 2009.

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

The Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act of 1994 (``USERRA'') provides that an individual who leaves his or her job to serve in the uniformed services is generally entitled to reemployment by his or her previous employer and, upon reemployment, to receive credit for benefits, including employee pension plan benefits, that would have accrued but for the employee's absence due to the military service. This proposed rule would amend PBGC's regulation on Benefits Payable in Terminated Single-Employer Plans (29 CFR part 4022)

The Commission is adding a new postal product to the Competitive Product List. This action is consistent with changes in a recent law governing postal operations. Republication of the lists of market dominant and competitive products is also consistent with new requirements in the law.

The National Science Foundation (NSF) is considering whether to approve a proposal submitted by the National Solar Observatory to fund the construction of the Advanced Technology Solar Telescope (ATST) Project at the Haleakal[amacr] High Altitude Observatory site on the Island of Maui, Hawai`i. The NSF has prepared a Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) for the proposed ATST Project that serves as a joint Federal and State of Hawai`i document prepared in compliance with the Federal National Environmental Policy Act, 42 U.S.C. 4321, et seq. (NEPA), and the State of Hawai`i Chapter 343, Hawai`i Revised Statutes. This FEIS was also prepared to evaluate the potential environmental impacts associated with the issuance of a National Park Service Special Use Permit, pursuant to 36 CFR 5.6, to operate commercial vehicles on the Haleakal[amacr] National Park road during the construction and operation of the proposed ATST Project, if approved.

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.

NARA is giving public notice that the agency has submitted to OMB for approval the information collections described in this notice. The public is invited to comment on the proposed information collections pursuant to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.

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.