May 10, 2005 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

NMFS announces the receipt of, and requests public comment on, a petition from the North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Division of Marine Fisheries (Petitioner) to initiate rulemaking to amend the extent of the current time/area closure for Atlantic sharks off the Mid-Atlantic region.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is reopening until June 9, 2005, the comment period for the agency's proposed rule entitled ``Prevention of Salmonella Enteritidis in Shell Eggs During Production'' that published in the Federal Register of September 22, 2004 (69 FR 56824). FDA is reopening the comment period to receive comments and other information regarding industry practices and programs that prevent Salmonella Enteritidis (SE)-monitored chicks from becoming infected by SE during the period of pullet rearing until placement into laying hen houses.

This rule adopts as final, without change, the interim final rule published in the Federal Register (69 FR 61605) on October 20, 2004. The Maritime Administration (MARAD, we, us, or our) is publishing this final rule to change the service obligation reporting requirements for State maritime academy graduates who receive Student Incentive Payments (SIPs). The new reporting requirements create standard reporting dates that coincide with the U.S. Naval Reserve/Merchant Marine Reserve (USNR/MMR) service reporting dates. This rulemaking also provides for the electronic submission of reports as the primary means of submission to MARAD.

The Coast Guard proposes to change the regulations that govern the operation of the Dominion Boulevard (U.S. 17) Bridge across the Southern Branch of the Elizabeth River, at Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway (AICW) mile 8.8, at Chesapeake, Virginia. The proposal would change the morning rush hour closure period so that it starts at 7 a.m. and ends at 9 a.m., and also allow the bridge to open every hour from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, except holidays. The proposed change is necessary to relieve vehicular traffic congestion and reduce traffic delays between weekday rush hours while still providing for the reasonable needs of navigation.

The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is proposing to add Chile to the list of countries eligible to export meat and meat products to the United States. Reviews by FSIS of Chile's laws, regulations, and other materials show that its meat inspection system includes requirements equivalent to all provisions in the Federal Meat Inspection Act (FMIA) and its implementing regulations. Although a foreign country may be listed as eligible to export meat and meat products, products from that country must also comply with all other U.S. requirements, including those of the U.S. Customs Service and the restrictions under Title 9, part 94 of the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) regulations that relate to the importation of meat and meat products from foreign countries into the United States. FSIS and APHIS work closely together to ensure that meat and meat products imported into the United States comply with the regulatory requirements of both agencies. Under this proposal, meat and meat products processed in certified Chilean establishments may be exported to the United States. All such products will be subject to re-inspection at United States ports-of- entry by FSIS inspectors.

The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Boeing Model 767-200 and 767-300 series airplanes. This proposed AD would require performing a general visual inspection to determine the part number of the I-beams of the center overhead stowage bin modules to identify I-beams having 9.0g (gravitational acceleration) tie rods attached and to determine the configuration of the center overhead stowage bin modules; and, for certain center overhead stowage bin modules, installation of support straps. This AD was prompted by the results of tests conducted by the airplane manufacturer. We are proposing this AD to prevent failure of the attachment of the 9.0g tie rods to the center overhead stowage bin modules. This failure could result in collapse of those stowage bin modules, and consequent injury to passengers and crew and interference with their ability to evacuate the airplane in an emergency.

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) proposes to reorganize and rewrite in plain language its disability compensation and pension regulations relating to the duties of VA and the rights and responsibilities of claimants and beneficiaries. These revisions are proposed as part of VA's rewrite and reorganization of all of its compensation and pension regulations in a logical, claimant-focused, and user-friendly format. The intended effect of the proposed revisions is to assist claimants, beneficiaries, and VA personnel in locating and understanding these regulations.