May 13, 2005 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Committee is proposing to add to the Procurement List products and services to be furnished by nonprofit agencies employing persons who are blind or have other severe disabilities. Comments Must be Received on or Before: June 12, 2005.

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 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)). Currently, the IRS is soliciting comments concerning an existing final regulation, FI-28-96 (TD 8801), Arbitrage Restrictions on Tax-Exempt Bonds (Sec. 1.148-5).

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 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)). Currently, the IRS is soliciting comments concerning Form 4684, Casualties and Thefts.

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 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)). Currently, the IRS is soliciting comments concerning Form 990-BL, Information and Initial Excise Tax Return for Black Lung Benefit Trusts and Certain Related Persons, and Form 6069, Return of Excise Tax on Excess Contributions to Black Lung Benefit Trust Under Section 4953 and Computation of Section 192 Deduction.

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 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)). Currently, the IRS is soliciting comments concerning an existing final regulation, GL-238-88 (TD 8549), Preparer Penalties Manual Signature Requirement (Sec. 1.6695-1(B)).

This action adds to the Procurement List products to be furnished by nonprofit agencies employing persons who are blind or have other severe disabilities.

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is proposing to issue a regulatory information summary (RIS) to clarify regulatory requirement issues associated with post-fire safe-shutdown circuit analyses and protection, particularly the requirements of Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations, Part 50 (10 CFR 50), Appendix R, which have been interpreted by licensees in a manner that is not consistent with regulatory expectations. The industry and NRC regional inspectors have requested clarification of regulatory expectations with respect to post-fire safe-shutdown circuits. In addition, clarification of these requirements will assist licensees in evaluating the transition to a risk-informed, performance-based fire protection program. Three terms are to be addressed in this RIS: ``any-and-all'' (with respect to spurious actuations), ``associated circuits,'' and ``emergency control station.'' Clarification of the term ``one-at-a- time'' (with respect to spurious actuations) will be provided in a separate generic communication. For each term addressed, this RIS identifies the applicable NRC regulatory requirement, provides the regulatory expectation with respect to the requirement, and specifies one acceptable approach to achieving regulatory compliance. Attachment 1 to this RIS provides additional discussion that explains the basis for the regulatory expectations, including a discussion of the various ways in which each term or phrase has been interpreted by stakeholders. This RIS also gives the staff's views on the use of Nuclear Energy Institute (NEI) guidance document NEI 00-01, ``Guidance for Post-Fire Safe Shutdown Circuit Analysis,'' Revision 1 (ML050310295), in complying with Appendix R. The deterministic methodology presented in NEI 00-01, in conjunction with the guidance in this RIS, is one acceptable approach to achieving regulatory compliance with post-fire safe-shutdown circuit protection requirements. Note that RIS 2004-03, Revision 1, ``Risk-Informed Approach for Post-Fire Safe-Shutdown Circuit Inspections'' (ML042440791) provides guidance on conducting risk-informed circuit inspections, whereas this RIS clarifies the regulatory requirements for compliance with Appendix R. This Federal Register notice is available through the NRC's Agencywide Documents Access and Management System (ADAMS) under accession number ML051110160.

As required by the Federal Advisory Committee Act, we are giving notice that the Environmental Protection Agency is establishing the Federal Advisory Committee on Detection and Quantitation Approaches and Uses in Clean Water Act Programs. The purpose of this Committee is to evaluate and recommend detection and quantitation procedures for use in EPA's analytical methods programs for compliance monitoring under 40 CFR part 136. The Committee will analyze and evaluate relevant scientific and statistical approaches, protocols, review data and interpretations of data using current and recommended approaches. The major objectives are to provide advice and recommendations to the EPA Administrator on policy issues related to detection and quantitation and scientific and technical aspects of procedures for detection and quantitation. We have determined that this is in the public interest and will assist the Agency in performing its duties under the Clean Water Act, as amended. Copies of the Committee Charter will be filed with the appropriate committees of Congress and the Library of Congress.

The Coast Guard proposes to establish a temporary security zone in Duluth's inner harbor for the Commissioning ceremony of the Coast Guard Cutter ALDER. The security zone is necessary to ensure the security of dignitaries attending this ceremony on June 10, 2005. The security zone is intended to restrict vessels from a portion of Duluth Harbor in Duluth, Minnesota.

The DoD Advisory Group on Electron Devices (AGED) announces a closed session meeting.

The Assistant Secretary for Vocational and Adult Education proposes priorities, requirements, definitions, and selection criteria under the School Dropout Prevention (SDP) program. The Assistant Secretary may use one or more of these priorities, requirements, definitions, and selection criteria for competitions in fiscal year (FY) 2005 and later years. We intend the priorities, requirements, definitions, and selection criteria to strengthen the quality of applications and provide greater understanding of the Department's intent regarding the direction of this program.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice announces the Rural Business-Cooperative Service's (RBS) intention to request an extension for a currently approved information collection in support of the program for 7 CFR part 4279.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is proposing to amend the regulation authorizing a health claim on noncariogenic carbohydrate sweeteners and dental caries, i.e., tooth decay, to include sucralose, a nonnutritive sweetener. Similar to the sweeteners currently authorized to make a health claim, sucralose is used as a sugar substitute that is minimally fermented, relative to sugar, by oral microorganisms and thus does not contribute to production of organic acids by plaque bacteria as do the fermentable sugars for which it is a substitute. FDA is taking this action in response to a health claim petition filed by McNeil Nutritionals. The agency previously concluded that there was significant scientific agreement for the relationship between slowly fermented carbohydrate sugar substitutes, specifically certain sugar alcohols, and the nonpromotion of dental caries. Based on the totality of publicly available scientific evidence, FDA now has determined that the nonnutritive sweetener sucralose, like the sugar alcohols, is not fermented by oral bacteria to an extent sufficient to lower dental plaque pH to levels that would contribute to the erosion of dental enamel. Therefore, FDA has concluded that sucralose does not promote dental caries, and it is proposing to amend the regulation authorizing a health claim relating certain noncariogenic sweeteners and nonpromotion of dental caries to include sucralose as a substance eligible for the claim.

We are advising the public that the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service has revised an environmental assessment for confined field tests of rice plants genetically engineered to express the protein lactoferrin and has included information on an additional field test site. This environmental assessment is available for public review and comment.

The Assistant Administrator for Fisheries, NMFS, (Assistant Administrator) renewed the affirmative finding for the Republic of Ecuador under the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA). This affirmative finding renewal will allow yellowfin tuna harvested in the ETP in compliance with the International Dolphin Conservation Program (IDCP) by Ecuadorian-flag purse seine vessels or purse seine vessels operating under Ecuadorian jurisdiction to continue to be imported into the United States. The affirmative finding renewal was based on review of documentary evidence submitted by the Republic of Ecuador and obtained from the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission (IATTC) and the Department of State.