February 2005 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

EPA has environmental concerns about the proposed project's impacts to wetlands, water quality, air quality, stormwater management, noise, cumulative impacts, and leaking underground storage tanks. ERP No. D-FHW-J40168-UT Rating EC2, 11400 South Project, Proposed Improvement to the Transportation Network in the Southern Salt Lake Valley from 12300/12600 South to 10400/10600 South, and from Bangerter Highway to 700 East, Salt Lake City, Salt Lake County, UT. Summary: EPA has environmental concerns about the proposed project regarding indirect and cumulative impacts, which were not adequately analyzed in the document. ERP No. D-IBR-K30031-CA Rating 3, Central Valley Project, San Luis Unit Long-Term Water Service Contract Renewal, West San Joaquin Division, Cities of Avenal, Coalinga and Huron, Fresno, King and Merced Counties, CA. Summary: EPA commented that the Draft EIS did not analyze the proposed federal action of full delivery of contract quantities, the existing conditions and ongoing water quality degradation in the area, or the influence of drainage management on the proposed action. EPA recommended a Revised or Supplemental EIS be prepared that fully analyzes the proposed federal action and its potential environmental impacts. ERP No. D-NPS-K65275-AZ Rating EC2, Colorado River Management Plan, To Provide a Wilderness-Type River Experience for Visitors, General Management Plan, Grand Canyon National Park, Colorado River, Coconino County, AZ. Summary: EPA expressed concerns about the project's potential impacts to water quality and insufficient information regarding appropriate mitigation to minimize and avoid those impacts. EPA recommended that the National Park Service, Hualapai Tribe, and other partners obtain baseline and periodic water quality monitoring information in the lower gorge and adaptively manage activities over the life of this plan. ERP No. DR-CBP-K99031-AZ Rating EC2, Programmatic EISOffice of Border Patrol Operational Activities within the Border Areas of the Tucson and Yuma Sectors, Expansion of Operations of Technology-Based Systems, Completion and Maintenance of Approved Infrastructure, Cochise, Pima, Santa Cruz and Yuma Counties, AZ. Summary: EPA expressed environmental concerns about the project's impacts to air quality and wildlife habitat and requested additional information regarding the proposed action, mitigation, and the relationship to JTF-6 be included in the Final EIS.

We are amending the citrus canker regulations by updating the list of areas in the State of Florida quarantined because of citrus canker. To reflect the detection of citrus canker in an area adjacent to but outside of one current quarantined area in Florida, as well as in additional counties, we are expanding the boundaries of one existing quarantined area and adding several new areas to the list of quarantined areas. We are also removing a portion of one county from the list of quarantined areas because regular surveys have shown it to have been free of citrus canker for at least 2 years. These actions are necessary to prevent the spread of citrus canker into noninfested areas of the United States and to relieve restrictions that are no longer warranted.

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. 3501, et seq.), this document announces that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is planning to submit a continuing Information Collection Request (ICR) to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). This is a request to renew an existing approved collection. The existing ICR is scheduled to expire on April 30, 2005. Before submitting the ICR renewal to OMB for review and approval, EPA is soliciting comments on specific aspects of the proposed information collection as described below.

This action adds to the Procurement List a product and services to be furnished by nonprofit agencies employing persons who are blind or have other severe disabilities, and deletes from the Procurement List products previously furnished by such agencies.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) approves the sections 111(d)/129 State Plan submitted by the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection (CT DEP) on September 16, 2004. This State Plan is for implementing and enforcing provisions at least as protective as the federal Emission Guidelines (EGs) applicable to existing large and small Municipal Waste Combustion (MWC) units.

EPA is notifying the public that it has received negative declarations for Commercial and Industrial Solid Waste Incineration (CISWI) units from Forsyth County, Mecklenburg County, and Buncombe County, North Carolina, and Chattanooga-Hamilton County, Knox County, and Memphis-Shelby County, Tennessee. These negative declarations certify that CISWI units subject to the requirements of sections 111(d) and 129 of the Clean Air Act (CAA) do not exist in areas covered by the local air pollution control programs of Forsyth County, Mecklenburg County, and Buncombe County, North Carolina, and Chattanooga-Hamilton County, Knox County, and Memphis-Shelby County, Tennessee.

The Surface Transportation Board proposes to adopt 1.029 (2.9%) as the measure of average change in railroad productivity for the 1999-2003 (5-year) period. This proposal is a revision to the proposal published on February 2, 2005, at 70 FR 5509-10. The current value of 2.2% was developed for the 1998 to 2002 period.

The Department of the Navy proposes to add a system of records notice to its inventory of record systems subject to the Privacy Act of 1974 (5 U.S.C. 552a), as amended. The Navy is proposing to exempt the system of records to protect the objectivity or fairness of the test or examination process within the Naval Criminal Investigation Service.

The Department of the Army is proposing to amend the Preamble to its Compilation of Privacy Act systems of records notices by updating the telephone number of the POINT OF CONTACT.

The Department of the Army is proposing to amend a system of records notice in its existing inventory of records systems subject to the Privacy Act of 1974, (5 U.S.C. 552a), as amended.

The Office of the Secretary of Defense proposes to add an exempt system of records to its inventory of record systems subject to the Privacy Act of 1974 (5 U.S.C. 552a), as amended.

The Department of the Army is proposing to add an exemption rule for the system of records A0195-2c USACIDC, entitled `DoD Criminal Investigation Task Force Files'. The exemption ((j)(2)) will increase the value of the system of records for criminal law enforcement purposes.

This DAB meeting will focus on the status of the Reserve Forces outlook, the ESGR strategic plan and support of the Reserve Forces Retention efforts through ensuring supportive employee relations.

The Department of the Army is proposing to alter a system of records notice in its existing inventory of records systems subject to the Privacy Act of 1974, (5 U.S.C. 552a), as amended.

The Defense Science Board Task Force on Critical Homeland Installation Protection will meet in closed sessions on February 23, 2005, at SAIC, 4001 N. Fairfax Drive, Suite 500, Arlington, VA. The Task Force will access best practices for protecting US homeland installations and recommend various approaches to enhancing security and protection of these facilities. The mission of the Defense Science Board is to advise the Secretary of Defense and the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology & Logistics on scientific and technical matters as they affect the perceived needs of the Department of Defense. At these meetings, the Task Force will assess investments in technology and manpower in order to ensure proper security levels at our nation's high-value installations with particular emphasis on airports, harbors, nuclear power facilities and military bases. To that end, the Task Force will review existing best practices in force protection and security at civil, industrial and military complexes; assess shortfalls and deficiencies associated with operational security, identify promising technology and/or processes that will enhance security, and recommend methods for reducing overall manpower requirements without relinquishing robust security measures. In accordance with section 10(d) of the Federal Advisory Committee Act, Pub. L. 92-463, as amended (5 U.S.C. App. II), it has been determined that these Defense Science Board Task Force meetings concern matters listed in 5 U.S.C. 552b(c)(1) and that, accordingly, the meetings will be closed to the public.

The Defense Science Board (DSB) Task Force on Strategic Strike Skills will meet in closed session on March 9-10, 2005; April 20-21, 2005; and May 12-13, 2005, in Arlington, VA. The Task Force will assess the future strategic strike force skills needs of the Department of Defense (DoD). The mission of the DSB is to advise the Secretary of Defense and the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology & Logistics on scientific and technical matters as they affect the perceived needs of the Department of Defense. Last summer the DSB assessed DoD needs for future strategic strike forces. Assessed was the application of technology for non-nuclear weapons systems, communications, planning systems, and intelligence as well as the integration of strategic strike with active defenses as part of the new triad. This ``skills'' study will complement the previous strategic forces study by focusing on the people and the skills necessary to develop, maintain, plan, and successfully execute future strategic strike forces. At this meeting, the Task Force will: Assess current skills available, both nuclear and non-nuclear of current long-range strike forces; identify, assess and recommend new/modified/enhanced skill sets necessary for successful future strike force development, planning, and operations; and recommend a strategy for the successful evolution of the current skills to those required by future strike forces. In accordance with section 10(d) of the Federal Advisory Committee Act, Pub. L. No. 92-463, as amended (5 U.S.C. App. 2), it has been determined that this Defense Science Board Task Force meeting concerns matters listed in 5 U.S.C. 552b(c)(1) and that, accordingly, the meeting will be closed to the public.

The Office of Foreign Assets Control (``OFAC'') of the U.S. Department of the Treasury is amending the Cuban Assets Control Regulations, 31 CFR part 515 (the ``CACR''), to clarify the meaning of the term ``payment of cash in advance,'' which is used in the restrictions on payment and financing terms for authorized exports from the United States to Cuba.

The Department of Energy (DOE) has submitted an information collection package to the OMB for extension under the provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. The package requests a three-year extension of its ``Procurement Reporting and Record Keeping Burdens,'' OMB Control Number 1910-4100. This information collection package collects data that is used by the Department to exercise management oversight and control over contractors including management and operating (M&O) contractors operating DOE's facilities and other contractors furnishing goods and services with regard to implementation of applicable statutory, regulatory and contractual requirements and obligations. The information collection requires that contractors submit information pertaining to their Procurement activities such as acquisition of real property, facilities management, and subcontracting goals and reporting requirements. The collection is critical to ensure that the Government has sufficient information to judge the degree to which contractors are meeting requirements, that public funds are spent in an efficient and effective manner and that fraud, waste and abuse are avoided. The Department published a Notice and Request for Comment for this collection in the Federal Register on December 10, 2004 at 69 FR 71807. No comments were received in response to the Notice.

The Privacy Act of 1974, as amended, 5 U.S.C. 552a, requires that agencies that maintain a system of records publish a notice in the Federal Register of the existence and character of the system of records. In accordance with the Privacy Act, DOT is giving notice of a system of records to track consumer complaints by airline passengers.

This proposed rule would make several revisions to the Indian Housing Block Grant (IHBG) Program allocation formula authorized under section 302 of the Native American Housing Assistance and Self- Determination Act of 1996. Through the IHBG Program, HUD provides Federal housing assistance for Indian tribes in a manner that recognizes the right of Indian self-determination and tribal self- government. HUD negotiated the proposed rule with active tribal participation and using the procedures of the Negotiated Rulemaking Act of 1990. The proposed regulatory changes reflect the consensus decisions reached by HUD and the tribal representatives on ways to improve and clarify the current regulations governing the IHBG Program formula.

The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) requests comments on a draft guidance document entitled Improving Government Charge Card Management. The draft guidance, located at https://www.whitehouse.gov/ omb/financial/fiatravel.html, consolidates and updates current government charge card program guidance previously issued by OMB, the General Services Administration, the Department of the Treasury, and other Federal agencies. The draft guidance applies to all Executive Branch departments and agencies, establishing standard minimum requirements and suggested best practices in areas of charge card management such as planning, training, risk management, data collection, credit worthiness, and strategic buying. When this guidance is finalized, it will be issued as either a new OMB Circular or as an addendum to an existing OMB Circular.

The Department of Labor, as part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, conducts a preclearance consultation program to provide the general public and Federal agencies with an opportunity to comment on proposed and continuing collections of information in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA 95). This program helps to ensure that requested data can be provided in the desired format, reporting burden (time and financial resources) is minimized, collection instruments are clearly understood, and the impact of collection requirements on respondents can be properly assessed. Currently, the Employee Benefits Security Administration is soliciting comments on the proposed extension of the information collection provisions included in the procedure for applications for exemption from the prohibited transaction provisions of section 408(a) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) (29 CFR 2570.30, et seq.). A copy of the information collection request (ICR) can be obtained by contacting the individual shown in the ADDRESSES section of this notice.