March 24, 2005 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is issuing an order under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (the act) debarring Dr. Eduardo Caro Acevedo for 5 years from providing services in any capacity to a person that has an approved or pending drug product application. FDA bases this order on a finding that Dr. Caro was convicted of a felony under Federal law for engaging in a conspiracy to defraud the United States and has demonstrated a pattern of conduct sufficient to find that there is reason to believe that he may violate requirements under the act relating to drug products. Dr. Caro failed to request a hearing and, therefore, has waived his opportunity for a hearing concerning this action.

The following permits were issued.

On February 25, 2005, the Office of Federal Housing Enterprise Oversight (OFHEO) published a notice of proposed rulemaking titled ``Mortgage Fraud Reporting'' in the Federal Register (70 FR 9255) that would set forth safety and soundness requirements with respect to mortgage fraud reporting in furtherance of the supervisory responsibilities of OFHEO under the Federal Housing Enterprises Financial Safety and Soundness Act of 1992. OFHEO has received requests from the Federal National Mortgage Association and the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation for an extension of the current comment period deadline of March 28, 2005, to enable them to present their respective views in a manner that is as comprehensive and as helpful to OFHEO as possible. In recognition of the importance of obtaining fully developed and constructive comments as to the implications of this proposed rulemaking, OFHEO is extending the comment period for the proposed mortgage fraud reporting regulation from March 28, 2005, to April 4, 2005. The extension will ensure that all interested parties have ample opportunity to participate in the rulemaking process by providing meaningful comment in the development of the proposed regulation.

We are amending the regulations for emergency medical equipment to allow approved power sources that do not have TSO markings to be used in automated external defibrillators carried on board aircraft. We have found that in at least one instance, power sources manufactured before the manufacturer received TSO marking approval are identical to those manufactured with a TSO marking. Allowing already- purchased power sources to be used through their effective life will save operators money and will not result in decreased safety when the agency has made a finding of equivalency.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), propose to reclassify the American crocodile (Crocodylus acutus) distinct vertebrate population segment (DPS) in Florida from its present endangered status to threatened status under the authority of the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). We believe that the endangered designation no longer correctly reflects the current status of this taxon within this DPS due to a substantial improvement in the species' status. Since its listing in 1975, the American crocodile population in Florida has more than doubled, and its distribution has expanded. Land acquisition has also provided protection for many important nesting areas. We have determined that the American crocodile in its range in Florida meets the criteria of a DPS as stated in our policy of February 17, 1996. If this proposal is finalized, the American crocodile DPS in Florida will continue to be federally protected as a threatened species. The American crocodile throughout the remainder of its range as described in our December 18, 1979, final rule would remain endangered. Because a status review is also required for the 5-year review of listed species under section 4(c)(2)(A) of the Act, we are electing to prepare these reviews simultaneously. We are seeking data and comments from the public on this proposal.

The Department of Energy (DOE) today gives notice that draft Technical Guidelines for the revised Voluntary Reporting of Greenhouse Gases Program are available for review and comment. DOE will hold a public workshop to receive stakeholder views on the draft Technical Guidelines, as well as the interim final General Guidelines that DOE is publishing in the Rules and Regulations section of today's issue of the Federal Register. In addition, DOE and the United States Department of Agriculture will jointly hold a public workshop to receive stakeholder views on the draft Technical Guidelines for Agriculture and Forestry and related interim final General Guidelines.

This proposal would modify the Los Angeles (LAX), CA, Class B airspace area. Specifically, this action proposes to expand the eastern boundary of the airspace to ensure containment of the LAX Standard Terminal Arrival Routes (STAR), and correct the inefficiencies of several existing areas identified during public meetings and Southern California TRACON (SCT) reviews of the airspace. The FAA is proposing this action to improve the flow of air traffic, enhance safety, and reduce the potential for midair collision in the LAX Class B airspace area, while accommodating the concerns of airspace users. Further, this effort supports the FAA's national airspace redesign goal of optimizing terminal and en route airspace areas to reduce aircraft delays and improve system capacity.