Agencies and Commissions July 2, 2013 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

Under the provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. Chapter 35), agencies are required to submit proposed reporting and recordkeeping requirements to OMB for review and approval, and to publish a notice in the Federal Register notifying the public that the agency has made such a submission.

The Commission is noticing a recently-filed Postal Service request to add a new product to the competitive product list. This document invites public comments on the request and addresses several related procedural steps.

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is issuing a draft report for public comment, titled Consequence Study of a Beyond- Design-Basis Earthquake Affecting the Spent Fuel Pool for a U.S. Mark I Boiling Water Reactor (also referred to as the Spent Fuel Pool Study). The purpose of this study was to examine if faster removal of older, colder spent reactor fuel from pools to dry cask storage significantly reduces risks to public health and safety. Based on previous research showing earthquakes present the dominant risk for spent fuel pools, the draft study evaluated how a potential pool leakage from an unlikely severe earthquake might cause the used fuel to overheat and release radioactive material to the environment. This study provides publicly available consequence estimates of a hypothetical spent fuel pool accident initiated by a low likelihood seismic event at a specific reference plant. The study compares high-density and low-density spent fuel pool loading conditions and assesses the benefits of post-9/11 mitigation measures. Past risk studies have shown that storage of spent fuel in a high-density configuration is safe and risk of a large release due to an accident is very low. This draft study's results are consistent with earlier research conclusions that spent fuel pools are robust structures that are likely to withstand severe earthquakes without leaking. The NRC continues to believe, based on this study and previous studies that spent fuel pools provide adequate protection of public health and safety. The study's results will help inform the Commission's evaluation of whether expedited movement of spent fuel from spent fuel pools to dry storage sooner than current practice provides a substantial increase in safety. The insights from this analysis will inform a broader regulatory analysis of the spent fuel pools at all U.S. operating nuclear reactors as part of the NRC's Japan Lessons-learned Tier 3 plan.

This is a Notice of the Presidential declaration of a major disaster for Public Assistance Only for the State of Arkansas (FEMA- 4124-DR), dated 06/25/2013. Incident: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding. Incident Period: 05/30/2013 through 06/03/2013. Effective Date: 06/25/2013. Physical Loan Application Deadline Date: 08/26/2013. Economic Injury (EIDL) Loan Application Deadline Date: 03/25/2014.

This is a notice of an Administrative declaration of a disaster for the State of Texas dated 06/25/2013. Incident: Severe Flooding Incident Period: 06/14/2013 through 06/15/2013 Effective Date: 06/25/2013 Physical Loan Application Deadline Date: 08/26/2013 Economic Injury (EIDL) Loan Application Deadline Date: 03/25/2014

The SBA is issuing this notice to announce the location, date, time and agenda for the 4th quarter meetings of the National Small Business Development Center (SBDC) Advisory Board.

The Postal Service hereby gives notice that it has filed a request with the Postal Regulatory Commission to add Priority Mail International[supreg] Regional Rate BoxesNon-Published Rates to the Competitive Products List.

The Commission affirms, modifies, and clarifies certain decisions adopted in the Report and Order in MB Docket No. 11-154 regarding closed captioning requirements for video programming delivered using Internet protocol (``IP'') and apparatus used by consumers to view video programming. The action is taken in response to three petitions for reconsideration of the Report and Order, which adopted rules governing the closed captioning requirements for the owners, providers, and distributors of IP-delivered video programming and rules governing the closed captioning capabilities of certain apparatus on which consumers view video programming.

The Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB or the Board) hereby amends its rules of practice and procedure to conform the Board's regulations to legislative changes that amended whistleblower protections for Federal employees and the penalties available in cases where the MSPB determines that a Federal employee or a State or local officer or employee violated restrictions on partisan political activity.