Agencies and Commissions March 2015 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The FDIC, as part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, invites the general public and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on the renewal of an existing information collection, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. Currently, the FDIC is soliciting comment on renewal of the information collection described below.

The NCUA Board (Board) is issuing for public comment this proposed rule (2015 proposal) to amend its regulation governing federal credit union (FCU) ownership of fixed assets. To provide regulatory relief to FCUs, the 2015 proposal eliminates a provision in the current fixed assets rule that established a five percent aggregate limit on investments in fixed assets for FCUs with $1,000,000 or more in assets. It also eliminates the provisions in the current fixed assets rule relating to waivers from the aggregate limit. Further, instead of applying the prescriptive aggregate limit provided by regulation in the current fixed assets rule, the Board proposes to oversee FCU ownership of fixed assets through the supervisory process and guidance. The 2015 proposal also makes conforming amendments to the scope and definitions sections of the current fixed assets rule to reflect this proposed approach, and it amends the title of Sec. 701.36 to more accurately reflect this amended scope and applicability. In addition, the 2015 proposal simplifies the fixed assets rule's partial occupancy requirements for FCU premises acquired for future expansion by establishing a single six-year time period for partial occupancy of such premises and by removing the 30-month requirement for partial occupancy waiver requests. The Board notes that, in July 2014, it issued a proposal regarding the fixed assets rule that addressed, among other things, the partial occupancy provisions of the fixed assets rule (July 2014 proposal), but NCUA did not finalize that proposal. For reasons discussed below, the 2015 proposal incorporates similar partial occupancy proposed amendments from the July 2014 proposal, with one modification to the time period for partial occupancy.

The Federal Trade Commission (``Commission'') amends its Energy Labeling Rule (``Rule'') by publishing new ranges of comparability for required EnergyGuide labels on televisions.

Pursuant to Section 4(h) of the Northwest Power Act, the Council has amended its Columbia River Basin Fish and Wildlife Program (program). The final amended program may be found on the Council's Web site at https://www.nwcouncil.org/fw/program/2014-12. In the Council's earlier notice of the amended program (Doc #2015-06299, published 3/19/ 2015) the URL link was incorrectly stated as https://www.nwcouncil.org/ fw/2014F&WProgram/. Background: Pursuant to Section 4(h) of the Northwest Power Act, in March 2013 the Northwest Power and Conservation Council requested in writing that state and federal fish and wildlife agencies, Indian tribes, and others submit recommendations for amendments to the Council's Columbia River Basin Fish and Wildlife Program. The Council received over 1,500 pages of recommendations and supporting information from 68 entities and 412 individuals. The Council subsequently received extensive written public comment on the program amendment recommendations. In May 2014, after reviewing the recommendations, the supporting information, the comments received on the recommendations, and other information in the administrative record, the Council released for public review a draft revised program. The Council received over 1,500 pages of substantial written comments on the draft amendments. The Council also took oral testimony at ten public hearings around the region and at regularly scheduled Council meetings. Transcripts of these hearings are in the administrative record along with the written comments. As specified in Section 4(h)(5), the Council also held a number of consultations on the recommendations and draft amendments with representatives of state and federal fish and wildlife agencies, Indian tribes, federal hydrosystem agencies, and customers of the Bonneville Power Administration. Notes from these consultations are also in the administrative record. Relevant documents from the program amendment process, including the recommendations, draft program amendments and comments, may be found on the Council's Web site at https://www.nwcouncil.org/fw/program/2014-03. Following this public review process required by the Northwest Power Act, and after deliberations in public over the course of several Council meetings, the Council adopted the final revised program in October 2014 at a regularly scheduled Council meeting in Pendleton, Oregon. The Council based its decisions on the recommendations, supporting documents, and views and information obtained through public comment and participation and consultation with the agencies, tribes, and customers. In the final step of this program amendment process, at its regularly scheduled March 2015 meeting in Eugene, Oregon, the Council adopted written findings as part of the program explaining its disposition of program amendment recommendations along with responses to comments received on the program amendment recommendations and on the draft amended program. The findings and responses have been made part of the program as Appendix S.

The Committee is proposing to add products and a service to the Procurement List that will be furnished by nonprofit agencies employing persons who are blind or have other severe disabilities, and deletes products previously provided by such agency.

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is confirming the effective date of April 14, 2015, for the direct final rule that was published in the Federal Register on January 29, 2015. This direct final rule amended the NRC's spent fuel storage regulations by revising the NAC International MAGNASTOR[supreg] System listing within the ``List of approved spent fuel storage casks'' to include Amendment No. 4 to Certificate of Compliance (CoC) No. 1031.

Summary of Application: Applicants request an order to permit certain registered closed-end management investment companies to issue multiple classes of shares and to impose asset-based distribution fees and early withdrawal charges (``EWCs'').

The Small Business Administration (SBA) is publishing this notice to comply with requirements of the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) (44 U.S.C. chapter 35), which requires agencies 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. This notice also allows an additional 30 days for public comments.

The Commission is noticing a recent Postal Service filing concerning an amendment to Parcel Select Contract 6. This notice informs the public of the filing, invites public comment, and takes other administrative steps.

In this document, the Commission seeks comment on a Petition for Rulemaking filed by the American Cable Association (``ACA'') requesting, among other things, that the Commission extend for an additional three years the exemption from the requirement to carry high definition (``HD'') broadcast signals under the ``material degradation'' provisions of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended (``the Act'') that it granted to certain small cable systems in the 2012 Fifth Report and Order. This exemption is slated to expire on June 12, 2015 absent further action by the Commission. We tentatively conclude that the public interest would be served by extending the HD carriage exemption for three years, or until June 12, 2018.

Pursuant to subsection (e)(4) of the Privacy Act of 1974, as amended (5 U.S.C. 552a), the FCC proposes to add a new system of records, FCC/OMD-32, ``FCC Telework Program.'' The FCC's Human Resources Management (HRM) division in the Office of Managing Director (OMD) will use the information contained in FCC/OMD-32 to cover the personally identifiable information (PII) that is required as part of the FCC's employee telework program. The FCC Telework Program provides employees with the voluntary opportunity to work from home or another FCC approved telework location, including but not limited to other approved alternate worksite(s). This system will cover the personally identifiable information (PII) that employees provide when they complete the FCC Telework Request Form and Agreement, Home Safety Self- Certification Checklist for Home-Based Telecommuters and related documentation to apply voluntarily for permission to telework and any related information that their supervisor may include as part of the terms and conditions for teleworking. The FCC uses the information in this form and related documentation to manage the telework program and to conduct telework evaluations and audits.

The National Science Foundation (NSF) is announcing plans to request reinstatement and approval of this data collection. In accordance with the requirement of Section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, we are providing opportunity for public comment on this information collection. Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the Agency, including whether the information shall have practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the Agency's estimate of the burden of the proposed collection of information; (c) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information on respondents, including through the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology; and (d) ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on respondents, including through the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology.

Notice is hereby given that the U.S. International Trade Commission has determined to review-in-part an initial determination (``ID'') (Order No. 13) issued by the presiding administrative law judge (``ALJ'') in the above-captioned investigation. Particularly, the Commission has determined to review the determination on domestic industry in the ID. Upon review, the Commission affirms a finding of domestic industry with modifications. The Commission's determination results in a determination of a violation of section 337 of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended (19 U.S.C. 1337 or ``section 337''). Accordingly, the Commission requests written submissions, under the schedule set forth below, on remedy, public interest, and bonding.