Executive Office of the President 2006 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

OMB is updating the civilian position full fringe benefit cost factor used to compute the estimated cost of government performance in public-private competitions conducted pursuant to Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Circular A-76. The civilian position full fringe benefit cost factor is comprised of four separate elements: (1) Insurance and health benefits, (2) standard civilian retirement benefits, (3) Medicare benefits, and (4) miscellaneous fringe benefits. OMB is updating the insurance and health benefits and standard civilian retirement benefits cost elements based on actuarial analyses provided by the Office of Personnel Management. OMB is also updating the annual Federal pay raise assumptions and inflation cost factors used for computing the government's personnel and non-pay costs in Circular A-76 public-private competitions. These annual pay raise assumptions and inflation factors are based on the President's Budget for Fiscal Year 2007. The tax rate tables used in connection with Circular A-76 competitions have also been revised. 2

This notice is to inform the public of the availability of eight-month 2006 import statistics relating to competitive need limitations (CNLs) under the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) program. The eight-month 2006 import statistics identify those articles for which the 2006 trade levels may exceed statutory CNLs. The interim trade data is available at: https://www.ustr.gov/TradeDevelopment/ PreferencePrograms/GSP/SectionIndex.html. As previously announced in the Federal Register (71 FR 37129 (June 29, 2006)), the deadline for submission of product petitions to waive the CNLs for individual beneficiary developing countries with respect to GSP-eligible articles is 5 p.m., November 17, 2006. Petitions must conform to the requirements as set forth in the June 29, 2006 Federal Register notice. Public comments regarding possible de minimis waivers and possible GSP redesignations will be requested in a subsequent Federal Register notice.

The Office of the United States Trade Representative (``USTR'') is providing notice that the European Communities (EC) has requested consultations with the United States under the Marrakesh Agreement Establishing the World Trade Organization (``WTO Agreement'') concerning various measures relating to zeroing and antidumping duty orders on certain products from the EC. The EC alleges that determinations made by U.S. authorities concerning these products, and certain related matters, are inconsistent with Articles 1, 2.1, 2.4, 2.4.2, 5.8, 9.1, 9.3, 9.5, 11, 18.3 and 18.4 of the Agreement on Implementation of Article VI of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade 1994 (``AD Agreement''), Article VI of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade 1994 (``GATT 1994''), and Article XVI:4 of the WTO Agreement. That request may be found at https://www.wto.org contained in documents designated as WT/DS350/1 and WT/DS350/1/Add.1. USTR invites written comments from the public concerning the issues raised in this dispute. In connection with the issues raised in the request for consultations, the public should be aware that on March 6, 2006, the Department of Commerce announced that it will no longer use ``zeroing'' when making average-to-average comparisons in an antidumping investigation. See 71 FR 11189.

The Office of the United States Trade Representative (``USTR'') is providing notice that the World Trade Organization Dispute Settlement Body (DSB), at the request of Antigua and Barbuda, has established a panel under Article 21.5 of the WTO Understanding on Rules and Procedures Governing the Settlement of Disputes (``DSU'') to examine the compliance of the United States with the DSB recommendations and rulings in the matter of United StatesMeasures Affecting the Cross-Border Supply of Gambling and Betting Services. The panel request may be found at www.wto.org in a document designated as WT/DS285/18. USTR invites written comments from the public concerning the issues raised in this dispute.

The Office of the United States Trade Representative (``USTR'') is providing notice that on September 15, 2006, Thailand requested the establishment of a panel under the Marrakesh Agreement Establishing the World Trade Organization (``WTO Agreement''). That request may be found at https://www.wto.org contained in a document designated as WT/DS343/7. USTR invites written comments from the public concerning the issues raised in this dispute.

The following staff members have been appointed to serve on the Performance Review Board:

The Trade Policy Staff Committee gives notice that the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) requests written submissions from the public concerning the implications for U.S. trade in goods and services of the anticipated enlargement of the European Union (EU) to include Bulgaria and Romania. USTR and other agencies are currently engaged in an assessment of the potential impact on U.S. goods and services trade of the anticipated enlargement of the EU and, in particular, any compensatory adjustments that may be due under WTO rules. Comments from the public in response to this notice will be incorporated into that assessment.

The Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) publishes this notice to announce the availability of the Draft National Assessment of Efforts to Predict and Respond to Harmful Algal Blooms in U.S. Waters which was mandated by Congress in the Harmful Algal Bloom and Hypoxia Amendments Act of 2004 (Pub. L. 108-456). This report reviews and evaluates short term harmful algal bloom (HAB) prediction techniques, and identifies current prevention, control and mitigation (PCM) programs and research for freshwater, estuarine and marine HABs operating at the national, State, local and tribal level.