April 12, 2005 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Siskiyou County Resource Advisory Committee will meet in Yreka, California, April 18, 2005. The meeting will include routine business, a discussion of larger scale projects, and the review and recommendation for implementation of submitted project proposals.

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act and supporting regulations, this document announces that the U.S. Institute for Environmental Conflict Resolution (the U.S. Institute), part of the Morris K. Udall Foundation, is submitting to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) six Information Collection Requests (ICRs). Five of the six ICRs are for revisions to currently approved collections due to expire 06/30/2005 (OMB control numbers 3320-0003, 3320-0004, 3320-0005, 3320-0006, and 3320-0007). One ICR pertains to a new collection request. The six ICRs are being consolidated under a single filing to provide a more coherent picture of information collection activities designed primarily to measure performance. The proposed collections are necessary to support program evaluation activities. The collection is expected neither to have a significant economic impact on respondents, nor to affect a substantial number of small entities. The average cost (in time spent) per respondent is estimated to be 0.16 hours/$6.18. Each ICR describes the authority and need for program evaluation, the nature and use of the information to be collected, the expected burden and cost to respondents and the U.S. Institute, and how the evaluation results will be made available. The ICRs also contain the specific questionnaires that will be used to collect the information for each program area. Approval is being sought for each ICR separately, and information collection will begin for each program area once OMB has approved the respective ICR. The U.S. Institute published a Federal Register notice on February 2, 2005, 70 FR, pages 5489-5494, to solicit public comments for a 60-day period. The U.S. Institute received one comment. The comment and the U.S. Institute's response are included in the ICRs. The purpose of this notice is to allow an additional 30 days for public comments regarding these ICRs.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. Chapter 35), the Railroad Retirement Board (RRB) has submitted the following proposal(s) for the collection of information to the Office of Management and Budget for review and approval. Summary of Proposal(s): (1) Collection title: Supplemental Information on Accident and Insurance. (2) Form(s) submitted: SI-1c, SI-5, ID-3s, ID-3s-1, ID-3u, ID-30-k, ID-30k-1. (3) OMB Number: 3220-0036. (4) Expiration date of current OMB clearance: 05/31/2005. (5) Type of request: Extension of a currently approved collection. (6) Respondents: Individuals or households, Business or other for- profit. (7) Estimated annual number of respondents: 10,000. (8) Total annual responses: 28,500. (9) Total annual reporting hours: 1,691. (10) Collection description: The Railroad Unemployment Insurance Act provides for the recovery of sickness benefits paid if an employee receives a settlement for the same injury for which benefits were paid. The collection obtains information about the person or company responsible for such payments that is needed to determine the amount of the RRB's entitlement. Additional Information or Comments: Copies of the forms and supporting documents can be obtained from Charles Mierzwa, the agency clearance officer (312-751-3363) or Charles.Mierzwa@rrb.gov. Comments regarding the information collection should be addressed to Ronald J. Hodapp, Railroad Retirement Board, 844 North Rush Street, Chicago, Illinois 60611-2092 or Ronald.Hodapp@rrb.gov and to the OMB Desk Officer for the RRB, at the Office of Management and Budget, Room 10230, New Executive Office Building, Washington, DC 20503.

The Department of the Treasury, as part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, invites the general public and other Federal agencies to comment on proposed and continuing information collections, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, 44 U.S.C. 3507. The Office of Thrift Supervision within the Department of the Treasury will submit the proposed information collection requirement described below to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act. Today, OTS is soliciting public comments on its proposal to reinstate this information collection.

This document adopts as a final rule, without change, an interim final rule concerning pooling provisions of the Pacific Northwest Federal milk order. More than the required number of producers for the Pacific Northwest marketing area approved the issuance of the final order amendments.

The General Services Administration (GSA) is proposing to amend the General Services Acquisition Regulation (GSAR) to add a new subpart and clause required by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), consistent with Congressional intent under Section 603 of the Veterans Health Care Act of 1992 (VHCA) that certain Federal agencies (i.e., VA, Department of Defense (DoD), Public Health Service (including the Indian Health Service), and the Coast Guard) have access to Federal pricing for pharmaceuticals purchased for their beneficiaries. GSA is responsible for the schedules program and rules related to its operation. Under GSA's delegation of authority, the VA procures medical supplies under the VA Federal Supply Schedule program. VA and DoD seek this amendment. This new subpart adds a clause unique to the virtual depot system established by a Federal Agency Retail Pharmacy Program utilizing contracted retail pharmacies as part of a centralized pharmaceutical commodity management program. At this time, only DoD has a program in place, and the rule would facilitate DoD's access to Federal pricing offered on Federal Supply Schedule (FSS) pharmaceutical contracts for covered drugs purchased by DoD and dispensed to TRICARE beneficiaries through retail pharmacies in the TRICARE network.

Under the provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. Chapter 35), the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Secretariat will be submitting to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) a request to review and approve an extension of a currently approved information collection requirement concerning schedules for construction contracts. A request for public comments was published in the Federal Register at 70 FR 4821, January 31, 2005. No comments were received. Public comments are particularly invited on: Whether this collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of functions of the FAR, and whether it will have practical utility; whether our estimate of the public burden of this collection of information is accurate, and based on valid assumptions and methodology; ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and ways in which we can minimize the burden of the collection of information on those who are to respond, through the use of appropriate technological collection techniques or other forms of information technology.

Through this notice, the Secretary announces that trivalent influenza vaccines are covered vaccines under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program (VICP), which provides a system of no-fault compensation for certain individuals who have been injured by covered childhood vaccines. This notice serves to include trivalent influenza vaccines as covered vaccines under Category XIV (new vaccines) of the Vaccine Injury Table (Table), which lists the vaccines covered under the VICP. This notice ensures that petitioners may file petitions relating to trivalent influenza vaccines with the VICP even before such vaccines are added as a separate and distinct category to the Table through rulemaking.

The Farm Credit Administration (FCA or Agency) issues this final rule to allow a borrower to waive borrower rights when receiving a loan from a qualified lender as part of a loan syndication with non- Farm Credit System (System) lenders that are otherwise not required by section 4.14A(a)(6) of the Farm Credit Act of 1971, as amended (Act), to provide borrower rights. This rule will provide qualified lenders needed flexibility to meet the credit needs of borrowers seeking financing from a qualified lender as part of certain syndicated lending arrangements.

The purpose of this notice is to provide interested parties with the revisions to portions of the ``Workforce Investment Act: Final Unified Planning Guidance: Notice'' related to title I of the Workforce Investment Act of 1998, the Wagner Peyser Act and the Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP) under title V of the Older Americans Act, for use by States. The Department is anticipating the reauthorization of the Workforce Investment Act (WIA) within the next two years. Therefore, the Employment and Training Administration (ETA) is requiring revisions to the Unified Plan related to WIA and Wagner- Peyser only for the first two years of the five-year planning cycle. For SCSEP, States have the option of submitting a two year plan as well. ``Options for programs funded by the U.S. Department of Education that are included in a State's Five-year Strategic Unified Plan also are discussed in this notice.'' The Unified Planning Guidance and Instructions provide a framework for the collaboration of Governors, Local Elected Officials, businesses and other partners to continue the development of workforce investment systems that address customer needs; deliver integrated, user-friendly services; and are accountable to the customers and the public.

The purpose of this notice is to provide interested parties with the planning guidance for use by States in submitting two years of their Strategic Five-Year State Plan for Title I of the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 and the Wagner-Peyser Act. The Planning Guidance and Instructions provide a framework for the collaboration of Governors, Local Elected Officials, businesses and other partners to continue the development of workforce investment systems that address customer needs, deliver integrated, user-friendly services; and are accountable to the customers and the public.

DoD is proposing to amend the Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS) to update requirements for use of the Governmentwide commercial purchase card for actions at or below the micro-purchase threshold. This proposed rule is a result of a transformation initiative undertaken by DoD to dramatically change the purpose and content of the DFARS.

DoD is proposing to amend the Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS) to update text pertaining to socioeconomic considerations in DoD contracting. This proposed rule is a result of a transformation initiative undertaken by DoD to dramatically change the purpose and content of the DFARS.

DoD is proposing to amend the Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS) to update text pertaining to contract administration and audit services. This proposed rule is a result of a transformation initiative undertaken by DoD to dramatically change the purpose and content of the DFARS.

DoD is proposing to amend the Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS) to update text addressing administrative matters related to contract placement. This proposed rule is a result of a transformation initiative undertaken by DoD to dramatically change the purpose and content of the DFARS.

The General Services Administration (GSA) is requesting comments from both Government and industry on whether the General Services Administration Acquisition Regulation (GSAR) should be revised to include a waiver of consequential damages for contracts awarded for commercial items under the FAR. GSA is also requesting comments on whether ``post award'' audit provisions should be included in its Multiple Award Schedules (MAS) contracts and Governmentwide acquisition contracts (GWACs). GSA is further amending the correction notice published in the Federal Register at 70 FR 13005, March 17, 2005, to add the following: In addition, GSA is interested in receiving comments on whether the Examination of Records clause at GSAR 552.215-71 should be modified to reinstate post-award access to and the right to examine records to verify that preaward/modification pricing, sales, or other data related to the supplies or services offered under a contract which formed the basis for an award/modification was accurate, current, and complete. The notice published in the Federal Register at 70 FR 12167, March 11, 2005, is amended to extend the public comment date to May 10, 2005, and to allow interested parties to submit presentations by April 7, 2005.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), designate critical habitat for the federally endangered Riverside fairy shrimp (Streptocephalus woottoni) pursuant to the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). The critical habitat designation encompasses approximately 306 acres (ac) (124 hectares (ha)) of land within Ventura, Orange, and San Diego counties, California.