June 28, 2005 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

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 8843, Statement for Exempt Individuals and Individuals With a Medical Condition.

An open meeting of the Area 6 committee of the Taxpayer Advocacy Panel will be conducted (via teleconference). The Taxpayer Advocacy Panel (TAP) is soliciting public comments, ideas, and suggestions on improving customer service at the Internal Revenue Service. The TAP will use citizen input to make recommendations to the Internal Revenue Service.

The North Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council)/Board of Fisheries (BOF) Interim Joint Protocol committee will meet on July 14, 2005, at Anchorage at the Hilton Hotel.

We are advising the public that the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service has prepared an environmental assessment and reached a finding of no significant impact for confined field tests of rice plants genetically engineered to express the protein lactoferrin. The environmental assessment provides a basis for our conclusion that these field tests will not present a risk of introducing or disseminating a plant pest and will not have a significant impact on the quality of the human environment. Based on its finding of no significant impact, the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service has determined that an environmental impact statement need not be prepared for these field tests.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act, this notice announces the Office of Management and Budget's approval of a collection of information contained in the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service's final rule regarding the possession, use, and transfer of select agents and toxins.

The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council will convene public meetings.

The proposed information collection requirement described below has been 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. Upon a denial by the Office of Inspector General of a request for documents or testimony, a petitioner may submit a written Notice of Intention to Petition for Review (Notice) and Petition for Review (Petition) detailing the issues and reasons why a review of the Counsel's decision is appropriate. Upon request or demand of documents or testimony, the Counsel for the Inspector General will review the demand and determine whether an OIG employee is authorized to release documents or testify. The Counsel will notify the requester of the final determination and the reasons for the grant or denial of the request.

OSHA solicits public comment concerning its request for an extension of the information collection requirements contained in the Cotton Dust Standard (29 CFR 1910.1043).

Pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969 (as amended) the Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation), as lead Federal agency, has prepared a FEIS for the Central Valley Project Long-Term Water Service Contract RenewalsAmerican River Division. The FEIS describes and presents the environmental effects of four alternatives, including no action, for renewal of water service contracts to American River Division contractors that include; the City of Roseville, East Bay Municipal District, El Dorado Irrigation District, Placer County Water Agency, Sacramento County Water Agency, Sacramento Municipal Utilities District, and San Juan Water District. A Notice of Availability of the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) was published in the Federal Register on January 19, 2005 (70 FR 3066). The written comment period on the DEIS ended on March 21, 2005. The FEIS contains responses to all comments received and reflects comments and any additional information received during the review period.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is announcing the withdrawal of a draft guidance that was issued on August 3, 2001.

Notice is hereby given that Bruce R. Mate, Ph.D., Holder/ Principal Investigator, Oregon State University, Hatfield Marine Science Center, 2030 SE Marine Science Drive, Newport, OR 97365, and Randall S. Wells, Ph.D., Sarasota Dolphin Research Program, c/o Mote Marine Laboratory, 1600 Ken Thompson Parkway, Sarasota, FL 34236, have each been issued a permit to take marine mammals for scientific research.

NMFS reviewed the Alaska, Atlantic, and Pacific regional marine mammal stock assessment reports (SARs) in accordance with the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA). SARs for marine mammals in the Alaska, Atlantic, and Pacific regions were revised according to new information. NMFS solicits public comments on draft 2005 SARs.

The Secretary of the Interior is giving notice of her intent to establish the Negotiated Rulemaking Advisory Committee for Dog Management at Golden Gate National Recreation Area (GGNR) to negotiate and develop a special regulation (proposed rule) for dog management at Golden Gate National Recreation Area.

The Department of Homeland Security, Office of the Under Secretary for Management, is issuing this notice in order to comply with the Energy Policy Act of 1992 and 42 U.S.C. 13218(b). The purpose of this notice is to announce the public availability of the Department of Homeland Security's Alternative Fuel Vehicle (AFV) Report for Fiscal Year 2004 at the following Web site: https://www.dhs.gov/dhspublic/ interapp/editorial/editorial0620.xml.