February 3, 2005 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The NCUA is submitting the following information collection to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and clearance under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104-13, 44 U.S.C. Chapter 35). This information collection is published to obtain comments from the public.

The NCUA is submitting the following information collection to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and clearance under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104-13, 44 U.S.C. Chapter 35). This information collection is published to obtain comments from the public.

The Forest Service, Allegheny National Forest, Bradford Ranger District, will prepare a Draft Environmental Impact Statement to disclose the environmental consequences of the proposed West Branch of Tionesta Project. The Forest Service is proposing actions that would move the West Branch of Tionesta Project Area from the existing condition towards the Desired Future Condition (DFC) and would maintain the DFC in situations where it has been attained. The DFC is described in the Allegheny National Forest Land and Resource Management Plan (Forest Plan). Proposed activities to meet the Desired Future Condition fall into four main categories. (1) Timber harvest and reforestation treatments consist of: shelterwood seedcut/removal cut, shelterwood removal cut, salvage removal cut, salvage shelterwood seed cut/removal cut, single tree selection, group selection, commercial thinning, intermediate thinning, pre-commercial thinning, improvement cutting, manual site preparation and release, herbicide application, fertilization, fencing, controlled burning, scarification, and tree planting. (2) Wildlife habitat improvement treatments consist of: noncommercial thinning, oak/ hickory/shrub underplanting, pruning and release of apple trees, release of white pine trees, hawthorn release, constructing new openings, opening maintenance, planting/fencing shrubs in openings, mowing, topdressing, seeding with wildflowers and grass, constructing nest/roost boxes. (3) Transportation treatments consist of: road decommissioning, road maintenance, road construction, road resurfacing, expanding and developing stone pits, and changing road access. (4) Watershed treatments consist of: Stream restoration and enhancement, obliterate and restore illegal stream crossings, enclose open top bridges, apply limestone surfacing within 300 feet of streams, and restore the natural flow of the stream.

The Federal Election Commission is amending its rules regarding contributions and donations by individuals aged 17 years or younger (``Minors''). These final rules conform to the decision of the United States Supreme Court in McConnell v. Federal Election Commission. In McConnell, the Supreme Court held unconstitutional section 318 of the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2002, which prohibited Minors from contributing to candidates and from contributing or donating to political party committees. Accordingly, this final rule amends the Commission's regulations to reflect the Supreme Court's decision by removing the regulatory prohibitions on contributions by Minors to candidates, and on contributions and donations by Minors to political party committees. Additional information appears in the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section.

NMFS announces the aboriginal subsistence whaling quota for bowhead whales, and other limitations deriving from regulations adopted at the 2002 Special Meeting of the International Whaling Commission (IWC). For 2005, the quota is 75 bowhead whales struck. This quota and other limitations will govern the harvest of bowhead whales by members of the Alaska Eskimo Whaling Commission (AEWC).

The EPA is requesting comment on two issues raised in a petition for reconsideration action of EPA's rule to implement the 8- hour ozone national ambient air quality standard (NAAQS or standard). In addition, EPA is proposing to clarify two aspects of the implementation rule. On April 30, 2004, EPA issued a final rule addressing key elements of the program to implement the 8-hour ozone NAAQS. Subsequently, on June 29, 2004 and September 24, 2004, three different parties each filed a petition for reconsideration of certain specified aspects of the final rule. By letter dated September 23, 2004, EPA granted reconsideration of three issues raised in the petition for reconsideration filed by Earthjustice on behalf of several environmental organizations. Today, we are providing additional information and soliciting comment on two of the issues on which we granted reconsideration. The issues that we are addressing today are whether the section 185 fee provisions apply once the 1-hour NAAQS is revoked and the timing for determining what is an ``applicable requirement'' for purposes of anti-backsliding once the 1-hour NAAQS is revoked. We will shortly address the issue of new source review (NSR) anti-backsliding in a separate action. We are requesting public comment on the issues discussed in this action, which are described in section III of the Supplementary Information section of this preamble. We plan to issue a final decision on these issues no later than May 20, 2005. We are also proposing to revise the implementation rule in two respects. First we are proposing to find that contingency measures for failure to make reasonable further progress or attain by the applicable attainment date for the 1-hour ozone standard are no longer required of an area after revocation of that standard. Second, although Sec. 51.905 of the rule provided that areas designated nonattainment for the 1-hour NAAQS at the time of designation as nonattainment for the 8-hour NAAQS remain subject to any outstanding 1-hour attainment demonstration requirement, we failed to list the attainment demonstration as an ``applicable requirement.'' We are proposing to revise the definition of ``applicable requirement'' to include the 1-hour attainment demonstration. We are seeking comment only on the issues specifically identified in this document. We do not intend to respond to comments addressing other issues.

The Administration for Native Americans (ANA), within the Administration for Children and Families, announces the availability of fiscal year (FY) 2005 funds for new community-based projects under ANA's Social and Economic Development Strategies (SEDS) for Native Americans program. ANA's FY 2005 SEDS goals and areas of interest are focused on strengthening children, families, and communities through community-based organizations, tribes, and Village governments. The Program Areas of Interest are projects that ANA considers supportive to Native American communities. Although eligibility for funding is not restricted to projects of the type listed in this program announcement, these Areas of Interest are ones which ANA sees as particularly beneficial to the development of healthy Native American communities. Financial assistance under the SEDS program is provided utilizing a competitive process in accordance with the Native American Programs Act of 1974, as amended. The purpose of this Act is to promote the goal of economic and social self-sufficiency for American Indians, Native Hawaiians, Alaskan Natives, and other Native American Pacific Islanders, including American Samoa natives.

The Administration for Native Americans (ANA), within the Administration for Children and Families, announces the availability of fiscal year (FY) 2005 funds for the Environmental Regulatory Enhancement (Environmental) Program. Financial assistance is provided utilizing the competitive process in accordance with the Native American Programs Act of 1974, as amended. The Program Areas of Interest are projects that ANA considers supportive to Native American communities. Although eligibility for funding is not restricted to projects of the type listed in this program announcement, these Areas of Interest are ones which ANA sees as particularly beneficial to the development of healthy Native American communities.