March 2005 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The following applicants have applied for a scientific research permit to conduct certain activities with endangered species pursuant to section 10(a)(1)(A) of the Endangered Species Act (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.). The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (``we'') solicits review and comment from the public, and from local, State and Federal agencies on the following permit requests.

The FAA proposes to supersede an existing airworthiness directive (AD) that applies to all Airbus Model A321 series airplanes. The existing AD currently requires revising the Limitations section of the airplane flight manual to include an instruction to use Flap 3 for landing when performing an approach in conditions of moderate to severe icing, significant crosswind (i.e., crosswinds greater than 20 knots, gust included), or moderate to severe turbulence. This proposed AD would require replacing existing elevator and aileron computers (ELAC) with ELACs having either L83 or L91 software, as applicable, which would terminate the requirements of the existing AD. This proposed AD would also require a related concurrent action. In addition, this proposed AD would revise the applicability by removing airplanes with these ELAC software standards incorporated in production. This proposed AD is prompted by issuance of mandatory continuing airworthiness information by a civil airworthiness authority. We are proposing this AD to prevent roll oscillations during approach and landing in certain icing, crosswind, and turbulent conditions, which could result in reduced controllability of the airplane.

The FAA proposes to supersede an existing airworthiness directive (AD) that applies to all Bombardier Model DHC-8-101, -102, - 103, -106, -201, -202, -301, -311, and -315 airplanes. The existing AD currently requires installation of a placard on the instrument panel of the cockpit to advise the flightcrew that positioning of the power levers below the flight idle stop during flight is prohibited. Additionally, the existing AD requires eventual installation of an FAA- approved system that would prevent such positioning of the power levers during flight. Installation of that system terminates the requirement for installation of a placard. This proposed AD would require operators who have incorporated a certain Bombardier service bulletin to perform repetitive operational checks of the beta lockout system and to revise the Airworthiness Limitations document. This proposed AD is prompted by in-service issues reported by operators who incorporated Bombardier Service Bulletin 8-76-24 as an alternative method of compliance to the existing AD. We are proposing this AD to prevent the inadvertent activation of ground beta mode during flight, which could lead to engine overspeed, engine damage or failure, and consequent reduced controllability of the airplane.

The Department of Commerce, 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 proposed and/or continuing information collections, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 104-13 (44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)).

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104-13, May 22, 1995), this notice announces that the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) has submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) a request for review of a revised information collection. RI 25-37, Evidence to Prove Dependency of a Child, is designed to collect sufficient information for OPM to determine whether the surviving child of a deceased federal employee is eligible to receive benefits as a dependent child. Approximately 250 forms are completed annually. We estimate it takes approximately 60 minutes to assemble the needed documentation. The annual estimated burden is 250 hours. For copies of this proposal, contact Mary Beth Smith-Toomey on (202) 606-8358, Fax (202) 418-3251 or via E-mail to mbtoomey@opm.gov. Please include a mailing address with your request.

This notice announces an Integrated Earth Observation System Public Engagement Workshop by the National Science and Technology Council's Committee on Environment and Natural Resources (CENR) Interagency Working Group on Earth Observations (IWGEO) to discuss the nine societal benefit areas and the six near term opportunities identified in the Stratetic Plan for the U.S. Integrated Earth Observation System. This plan was developed to address the effective use of Earth observation systems to enable a healthy public, economy and planet.

In accordance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act, Public Law 92-463, as amended, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration announces a meeting by teleconference of the NASA Sun Solar System Connection Strategic Roadmap Committee.

The Per Diem, Travel and Transportation Allowance Committee is publishing Civilian Personnel Per Diem Bulletin Number 238. This bulletin lists revisions in the per diem rates prescribed for U.S. Government employees for official travel in Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, the Northern Mariana Islands and Possessions of the United States. AEA changes announced in Bulletin Number 194 remain in effect. Bulletin Number 238 is being published in the Federal Register to assure that travelers are paid per diem at the most current rates.

We are adopting without change the final rules that were published in the Federal Register on January 3, 2005, at 70 FR 11, revising our rules on the recovery of overpayments incurred under one of our programs from benefits payable to the overpaid individual under other programs we administer. The revised rules expand the authority for cross-program recovery of overpayments made in our various programs. We are implementing a portion of those rules that we did not implement on January 3, 2005, pending consideration of public comments that we requested at that time.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice announces the intention of the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) to request the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to extend the following currently approved annual information collection and approve the addition of the collection of some monthly data requested by Congress: 49 U.S.C. Sec. 5335(a) and (b) National Transit Database.

A meeting of the National Advisory Committee for Acute Exposure Guideline Levels for Hazardous Substances (NAC/AEGL Committee) will be held on April 12-14, 2005, in Research Triangle Park, NC. At this meeting, the NAC/AEGL Committee will address, as time permits, the various aspects of the acute toxicity and the development of Acute Exposure Guideline Levels (AEGLs) for the following chemicals: Acetone, acrylic acid, allyl alchohol, aluminum phosphide, ammonia, bis- chloromethyl ether, carbon tetrachloride, chloroform, chloromethyl methyl ether, diketene, epichlorohydrin, hexafluoroacetone, iron pentacarbonyl, methanol, methyl chlorosilane, methyl dichlorosilane, methyl t-butyl ether, nitrogen mustard bis(2-chloroethyl) ethylamine, nitrogen mustard bis(2-chloroethyl)methyl amine, nitrogen mustard tris(2-chloroethyl)amine, sulfur dioxide.

The FAA is proposing to codify the requirements of the Advanced Qualification Program (AQP). The AQP would continue as a regulatory alternative program to the traditional training program. AQP would continue to be an alternative for airlines that seek more flexibility in training than the traditional training program allows. Currently, the AQP requirements are in a Special Federal Aviation Regulation that expires on October 2, 2005. The intended effect of this proposal is to make AQP a permanent, alternative method of complying with FAA's training requirements for carriers.

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Boeing Model 777-200 and -300 series airplanes. This AD requires inspection of the outer cylinder of the main landing gear (MLG) to determine the serial number; an ultrasonic inspection of the outer cylinder of the MLG for cracks if necessary; and applicable specified and corrective actions if necessary. This AD is prompted by reports indicating that two outer cylinders were found fractured in the weld area. We are issuing this AD to detect and correct cracks or defects that could result in a fracture of the outer cylinder of the MLG, which could lead to collapse of the MLG during landing.

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for General Electric Company (GE) CF6-45A, CF6-50A, CF6-50C, and CF6-50E series turbofan engines that have not incorporated GE Service Bulletin (SB) No. CF6-50 S/B 72-1239, Revision 1, dated September 24, 2003, or that have not incorporated paragraph 3.B. of GE SB No. CF6-50 S/B 72- 1239, original issue, dated May 29, 2003. This AD requires inspecting the stage 1 low pressure turbine (LPT) blades for damage and replacement of the LPT module if necessary. This AD results from a report of a stud that separated from a turbine mid frame (TMF) strut and from an updated analysis of strut stud failures. We are issuing this AD to prevent uncontained failure of the engine and possible damage to the airplane caused by failure of TMF strut studs.

This document contains amendments to final regulations relating to the withholding of income tax under sections 1441 and 1442 on certain U.S. source income paid to foreign persons and related requirements governing collection, deposit, refunds, and credits of withheld amounts under sections 1461 through 1463. Additionally, this document contains amendments to final regulations under sections 6041, 6049, and 6114. These regulations affect persons making payments of U.S. source income to foreign persons.