April 2005 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

We are adopting as a final rule, without change, an interim rule that amended the Asian longhorned beetle regulations by adding portions of Middlesex and Union Counties, NJ, to the list of quarantined areas and restricting the interstate movement of regulated articles from those areas. That action was necessary to prevent the artificial spread of the Asian longhorned beetle into noninfested areas of the United States.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. Chapter 35), this notice announces the Agricultural Marketing Service's (AMS) intention to request approval from the Office of Management and Budget, for an extension of the currently approved information collection used to compile and generate grain and molasses market news reports.

In accordance with the requirements of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. chapter 35), the OCC, the Board, and the FDIC (the ``agencies'') may not conduct or sponsor, and the respondent is not required to respond to, an information collection unless it displays a currently valid Office of Management and Budget (OMB) control number. On August 17, 2004, the agencies requested public comment for 60 days on proposed revisions to the Country Exposure Report (FFIEC 009) and the Country Exposure Information Report (FFIEC 009a) (August proposal), which are currently approved information collections. After considering the comments received, the Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council (FFIEC), of which the agencies are members, has modified the August proposal and is requesting public comment on the modified set of proposed revisions.

Technical information or comments are requested on the proposed Base (1% annual-chance) Flood Elevations (BFEs) and proposed BFE modifications for the communities listed below. The BFEs and modified BFEs are the basis for the floodplain management measures that the community is required either to adopt or to show evidence of being already in effect in order to qualify or remain qualified for participation in the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP).

This rule identifies communities, where the sale of flood insurance has been authorized under the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), that are scheduled for suspension on the effective dates listed within this rule because of noncompliance with the floodplain management requirements of the program. If the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) receives documentation that the community has adopted the required floodplain management measures prior to the effective suspension date given in this rule, the suspension will not occur and a notice of this will be provided by publication in the Federal Register on a subsequent date.

The Corporation for National and Community Service (hereinafter the ``Corporation''), as part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, conducts a pre-clearance consultation program to provide the general public and federal agencies with an opportunity to comment on proposed and/or continuing collections of information in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA95) (44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)). 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 requirement on respondents can be properly assessed. Currently, the Corporation is soliciting comments concerning its proposed renewal of its Innovative and Demonstration Application Instructions using the Corporation's electronic application system, eGrants. Completion of the Innovative and Demonstration Application Instructions is required to be considered for funding. Copies of the information collection requests can be obtained by contacting the office listed in the ADDRESSES section of this notice.

The American Battle Monuments Commission is updating its regulations on overseas memorials in order to reflect actual practice and current statutory requirements.

This document clarifies and corrects the regulations in sections 535.311 and 535.704 and appendix A of 46 CFR part 535 of the Final Rule published on November 4, 2004. These revisions to the regulations are non-substantive, and no further public comments on the Final Rule are necessary.

FRA proposes to correct an inadvertent, small omission from FRA Form 4 (``Boiler Specification Card'') in the Steam Locomotive Inspection and Maintenance Standards. The form is used to record information about inspections of steam locomotive boilers.

The Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA), Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), is announcing an opportunity for public comment on the proposed collection of certain information by the agency. Under the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995, Federal agencies are required to publish notice in the Federal Register concerning each proposed collection of information, including each proposed extension of a currently approved collection, and allow 60 days for public comment in response to the notice. This notice solicits comments on the information needed to determine the amount owed to a holder of a defaulted VA guaranteed home loan.

The Federal Acquisition Conference and Exposition (FACE) 2005 is a forum for Federal acquisition professionals and policy makers to share their insights and experiences. FACE also provides a full range of training on the latest acquisition issues and an opportunity to review exhibitors' products and services. The Chief Acquisition Officers Council, Federal Acquisition Institute, U.S. General Services Administration, and Department of Defense are sponsoring the FACE 2005. This Governmentwide conference has become a major event for the acquisition community. The Federal Acquisition Institute is serving as the conference planner. The conference will be held June 7-8, 2005 at the Washington Convention Center in Washington, DC. The theme of this year's conference, ``Mission Possible through Acquisition,'' recognizes contracting as a key component in supporting how Federal agencies acquire the goods and services that enable them to perform their missions. Benefits of Attending Earn 10.5 Continuous Learning Points; Learn about important issues and emerging trends in acquisition; Hear from senior managers, agency experts, and industry partners; Visit the exhibit hall to review products and services; and Network with your colleagues in the Federal acquisition community throughout the conference and at the reception Tuesday evening. WHO SHOULD ATTEND? Contracting officers, contract specialists, contracting officer's technical representatives/contracting officer's representatives, program managers, and private industry contractors. REGISTRATION: Registration rates are $400 for government attendees and $700 for industry attendees. These registration rates and online registration expire on May 31, 2005. After May 31, attendees may register onsite. Onsite rates are $500 for government attendees and $750 for industry attendees. Register online: www.fai.gov/face.

This amendment adopts a new airworthiness directive (AD), applicable to certain Saab Model SAAB SF340A and SAAB 340B series airplanes, that requires replacement of certain hydraulic hoses with new hydraulic hoses. This action is necessary to prevent cracking and/ or rupture and subsequent failure of hydraulic hoses. Such failure could result in loss of hydraulic pressure and fluid quantity, and consequent reduced controllability of the airplane. This action is intended to address the identified unsafe condition.

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Boeing Model 747 series airplanes. This AD requires repetitive detailed inspections for cracks in the crease beam and adjacent structure of the fuselage, and related investigative and corrective actions if necessary. This AD is prompted by fatigue cracks found in the crease beam during a follow-on inspection of a previously installed modification. We are issuing this AD to find and fix fatigue cracking of the fuselage frame, which could result in reduced structural integrity of the frame and consequent rapid decompression of the airplane.

The FAA adopts a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all CENTRAIR 101 series gliders with other than elevator or aileron part number (P/N) SY991A hinge pins installed. This AD requires you to replace any installed elevator or aileron hinge pins that are not P/N SY991A hinge pins with P/N SY991A pins. This AD results from mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) issued by the airworthiness authority for France. We are issuing this AD to replace incorrectly heat-treated elevator or aileron hinge pins, which could result in failure of the elevator or ailerons. Such failure during takeoff, landing, or flight operations could lead to loss of glider control.

The proposed information collection requirement described below will be submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act. The Department is soliciting public comments on the subject proposal.

In accordance with the Privacy Act of 1974 (5 U.S.C. 552a), as amended by the Computer Matching and Privacy Protection Act of 1988, as amended, ((Pub. L. 100-503), and the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Guidelines on the Conduct of Matching Programs (June 19, 1989 at 54 FR 25818), and OMB Bulletin 89-22, ``Instructions on Reporting Computer Matching Programs to the Office of Management (OMB), Congress and the Public,'' the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) is issuing a public notice of its intent to conduct a recurring computer matching program with the SBA to utilize a computer information system of HUD, the Credit Alert Interactive Voice Response System (CAIVRS), with SBA's debtor files. In addition to HUD's data, the CAIVRS database includes delinquent debt information from the Departments of Education, Veterans Affairs, Justice and the United States Department of Agriculture. This match will allow prescreening of applicants for debts owed or loans guaranteed by the Federal government to ascertain if the applicant is delinquent in paying a debt owed to or insured by the Federal government for HUD or SBA direct or guaranteed loans. Before rating a loan, the lending agency and/or the authorized lending institution will be able to interrogate the CAIVRS debtor file which contains the Social Security Numbers (SSNs) of HUD's delinquent debtors and defaulters and defaulted debtor records of the SBA and verify that the loan applicant is not in default or delinquent on direct or guaranteed loans of participating Federal programs of either agency. As a result of the information produced by this match, the authorized users may not deny, terminate, or make a final decision of any loan assistance to an applicant or take other adverse action against such applicant, until an officer or employee of such agency has independently verified such information.