June 2005 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA), Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), is announcing an opportunity for public comment on the proposed collection of certain information used 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 information needed to request a beneficiary's current mailing address.

The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) 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 for information needed to determine a claimant's eligibility for reimbursement or payment for emergency medical treatment at a non-VA facility.

The Department of State announces meetings of the U.S. International Telecommunication Advisory Committee (ITAC). The purpose of the Committee is to advise the Department on policy and technical issues with respect to the International Telecommunication Union (ITU). The purpose of these meetings is to prepare for the Americas Regional Preparatory Meeting for the World Telecommunication Development Conference (WTDC-06), which will take place in Lima, Peru from August 9-11, 2005. An ITAC meeting will be held on Thursday, July 7, 2005, at the State Department from 10 am to 12 pm to begin preparations for the meeting of the Americas Regional Preparatory Meeting for the ITU World Telecommunication Development Conference. Four additional meetings are scheduled to prepare for this Regional Preparatory Meeting on July 14, July 21, July 28 and August 4; all will be held from 10 am to 12 pm at the Department of State in Room 2533A. Members of the public may attend these meetings and are welcome to participate in the discussions, subject to the discretion of the Chair. Directions to meeting location may be determined by calling the ITAC Secretariat at (202) 647-2592. Entrance to the State Department is controlled; in order to get precleared for each meeting, people planning to attend should send an email to Nettie McCorkle at mccorklend@state.gov no later than 48 hours before the meeting. This email should include the name of the meeting and date of meeting, your name, social security number, date of birth, and organizational affiliation. One of the following valid photo identifications will be required for admission to the State Department : U.S. driver's license, passport, U. S. Government identification card. Enter the Department of State from the C Street lobby; in view of escorting requirements, non- Government attendees should plan to arrive not less than 15 minutes before the meeting begins.

The Compact Council (Council), established pursuant to the National Crime Prevention and Privacy Compact (Compact) Act of 1998, is publishing a proposed rule requiring a Compact Party to meet minimum qualification standards while participating in the National Fingerprint File (NFF) Program.

Pursuant to the publication requirement in title 42, United States Code, 14616, Article VI(e), the Compact Council, established by the National Crime Prevention and Privacy Compact (Compact) Act of 1998, is providing public notice of two accepted methods for determining positive identification for exchanging criminal history record information (CHRI) for noncriminal justice purposes.

The Compact Council, established pursuant to the National Crime Prevention and Privacy Compact (Compact) Act of 1998, is finalizing a rule amending part 901, which codified the Compact Council's interpretation of the Compact's fingerprint-submission requirements as it relates to the use of the Interstate Identification Index (III) for noncriminal justice record checks during an emergency situation when the health and safety of a specified group may be endangered.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is responding to objections and is denying requests that it has received for a hearing on the final rule that amended the food additive regulations authorizing the use of vitamin D3 as a nutrient supplement in calcium-fortified fruit juices and fruit drinks, excluding fruit juices and fruit juice drinks specially formulated or processed for infants, at levels not to exceed 100 International Units (IU) per serving. (In the final rule, FDA used the term ``fruit drink;'' however, the common or usual name of the product is ``fruit juice drink.'' Therefore, FDA is replacing the term ``fruit drink'' with ``fruit juice drink.'') In response to one of the objections, FDA is amending the vitamin D3 regulation to replace the current 100 IU per serving limits on the vitamin D3 fortification of fruit juices and fruit juice drinks with limits of 100 IU per 240 milliliters (mL). This document also corrects three errors that appeared in the codified portion of the vitamin D3 final rule.

The Federal Communications Commission published a document in the Federal Register of May 12, 2005, concerning the Auction of Low Power Television Construction Permits and the Procedures. The document contained incorrect data concerning the calculation formula for minimum opening bids for Auction No. 60.

This announcement is made by the United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS or Department), Office of Minority Health (OMH) located within the Office of Public Health and Science (OPHS), and working in a ``One-Department'' approach collaboratively with participating HHS agencies and programs (entities). The mission of the OMH is to improve the health of racial and ethnic minority populations through the development of policies and programs that address disparities and gaps. OMH serves as the focal point in the HHS for leadership, policy development and coordination, service demonstrations, information exchange, coalition and partnership building, and related efforts to address the health needs of racial and ethnic minorities. As part of a continuing HHS effort to improve the health and well being of racial and ethnic minorities, the Department announces availability of FY 2005 funding for the State Partnership Grant Program To Improve Minority Health.

The Farm Service Agency (FSA) is proposing to revise the regulations that govern how an FSA Farm Loan Programs (FLP) guaranteed loan borrower may obtain a subsidized interest rate on their guaranteed farm loan. This program is known as the Interest Assistance (IA) Program. Changes include deletion of annual review requirements, limitations on loan size and period of assistance, and streamlining of claim submission. The changes are intended to reduce paperwork burden on program participants and agency employees, make IA available to more farmers, reduce the costs of the program, and enhance the fiscal integrity of the program.

The Department of the Army is publishing our rule concerning military police investigations. The regulation prescribes policies and procedures on types and categories of offenses investigated by Military Police and DA Civilian detectives/ investigators.

In accordance with 37 CFR 404.6 and 404.7, announcement is made of the availability for licensing of the invention set forth in U.S. Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 60/653,230 entitled ``Development of a Biosensor for Anthrax Therapeutics and Diagnostics, filed February 14, 2005. The United States Government, as represented by the Secretary of the Army, has rights in this invention.

In accordance with Section 10(a)(2) of the Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C., App. 2), announcement is made of the following Committee meeting:

The FAA proposes to supersede an existing airworthiness directive (AD) that applies to certain Bombardier Model CL-215-1A10 (Water Bomber), CL-215-6B11 (CL215T Variant), and CL-215-6B11 (CL415 Variant) series airplanes. The existing AD currently requires repetitive ultrasonic inspections to detect cracking of the lower caps of the wing front spar and rear spar, and corrective action if necessary. This proposed AD would reduce the threshold to do the initial inspections and revise the repetitive inspection interval. This proposed AD also adds a repetitive ultrasonic inspection of the wing lower skin. This proposed AD is prompted by reports of cracks in the front and rear spar lower caps. We are proposing this AD to detect and correct cracking of the lower caps of the wing front spar and rear spar, which could result in reduced structural integrity of the airplane.

The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Airbus Model A300-600 and A310 series airplanes. This proposed AD would require inspecting for certain serial numbers on elevators, and doing a detailed inspection, visual inspection with a low-angle light, and tap-test inspection of the upper and lower surfaces of the external skins on certain identified elevators for any damage (i.e., debonding of the graphite fiber reinforced plastic/Tedlar film protection, bulges, debonding of the honeycomb core to the carbon fiber reinforced plastic, abnormal surface reflections, and torn-out plies), and corrective actions if necessary. This proposed AD is prompted by reports of debonded skins on the elevators. We are proposing this AD to detect and correct debonding of the skins on the elevators, which could cause reduced structural integrity of an elevator and reduced controllability of the airplane.

The FAA proposes to supersede an existing airworthiness directive (AD) that applies to all Bombardier Model CL-600-2B19 series airplanes. The existing AD currently requires revising the Airplane Flight Manual (AFM) to provide the flightcrew with operating limitations and procedures to enable them to maintain controllability of the airplane in the event that aileron control stiffness is encountered during flight. This proposed AD would revise the Airworthiness Limitations section of the Instructions of Continued Airworthiness to incorporate certain repetitive tasks for the aileron control system and would require a briefing to advise flight crews that certain aileron control checks are no longer required. After accomplishing the applicable initial tasks, the existing AFM revisions for the aileron control check may be removed from the AFM. This proposed AD is prompted by the development of terminating actions for the AFM revisions. We are proposing this AD to prevent aileron control stiffness during flight, which could result in reduced or possible loss of controllability of the airplane.

Notice is hereby given that the USDA, Forest Service will prepare an Environmental Impact Statement that will evaluate alternatives to provide pack stock outfitter and guide services on the Methow Valley, Chelan and Tonasket Ranger Districts of the Okanogan and Wenatchee National Forests. The proposed action is to issue ten-year, pack stock outfitter and guide special use permits to nine companies to operate on these three Districts. A maximum of 4,900 client days will be shared between these companies. Outfitting and guiding would take place both in the Lake Chelan-Sawtooth and Pasayten Wildernesses, and outside of wilderness.

This notice announces a meeting of the High Energy Physics Advisory Panel (HEPAP). Federal Advisory Committee Act (Pub. L. 92-463, 86 Stat. 70) requires that public notice of these meetings be announced in the Federal Register.