August 9, 2005 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) published in the Federal Register of January 27, 2005, a final rule providing guidance on the requirements for submission of requests for Voluntary Separation Incentive Payments (VSIP) and waiver of repayment of incentive payments upon reemployment with the Federal Government. Inadvertently, an error occurred in referencing the Government Accountability Office. This document corrects the error.

EPA is proposing to approve revisions to the Ventura County Air Pollution Control District (VCAPCD) portion of the California State Implementation Plan (SIP). Under authority of the Clean Air Act as amended in 1990 (CAA or the Act), we are proposing approval of local rules that address the opacity standard; PM-10, CO, and SO2 emissions from industrial processes; and source tests. We are also proposing the rescission of local rules that concern exemptions from emission standards; analytical methods; and PM-10, CO, and SO2 emission standards.

NMFS is prohibiting retention of Pacific Ocean perch in the West Yakutat District of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). NMFS is requiring that catch of Pacific Ocean perch in this area be treated in the same manner as prohibited species and discarded at sea with a minimum of injury. This action is necessary because the Pacific Ocean perch 2005 total allowable catch (TAC) in this area has been reached.

The Board is publishing a final rule amending the staff commentary that interprets the requirements of Regulation Z (Truth in Lending). The Board is required to adjust annually the dollar amount that triggers requirements for certain home mortgage loans bearing fees above a certain amount. The Home Ownership and Equity Protection Act of 1994 (HOEPA) sets forth rules for home-secured loans in which the total points and fees payable by the consumer at or before loan consummation exceed the greater of $400 or 8 percent of the total loan amount. In keeping with the statute, the Board has annually adjusted the $400 amount based on the annual percentage change reflected in the Consumer Price Index that is in effect on June 1. The adjusted dollar amount for 2006 is $528.

We, the Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), propose to amend the regulations at 50 CFR part 17, which implement the Endangered Species Act (Act), as amended (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.), to create a special rule for the southwest Alaska distinct population segment (DPS) of the northern sea otter (Enhydra lutris kenyoni). This DPS of the northern sea otter is listed as threatened under the Act. The special rule would allow for the limited, noncommercial import and export of items that qualify as authentic native articles of handicrafts and clothing that were derived from sea otters legally taken for subsistence purposes by Alaska Natives from the listed population. This special rule would also allow for cultural exchange by Alaska Natives and activities conducted by persons registered as an agent or tannery under existing law. We also propose to amend our definition of ``Authentic native articles of handicrafts and clothing'' which currently stipulates, among other things, that such items were commonly produced on or before December 28, 1973. We propose to strike the requirement with respect to December 28, 1973. We believe that such a definition change is appropriate in light of a court ruling on the Service's definition of ``Authentic native articles of handicrafts and clothing'' and consistent with our proposed rule regarding the definition of ``Authentic native articles of handicrafts and clothing'' published on June 4, 2004.

The Department of Defense (DoD) proposes to consolidate parts 174 and 175, and amend part 176 of title 32, Code of Federal Regulations. These parts provide rules for the disposal of property at installations being closed and realigned and how to address the impacts of realignment at receiving installations. The resulting part 174 also contains amendments to address changes in the laws governing base closure and realignment (BRAC) made since the current parts 174 and 175 were promulgated. In addition to the amendments to address changes in law, additional amendments are proposed to reflect current DoD policy and to address various environmental requirements not currently addressed in parts 174 and 175. The amendment to part 176 is ministerial to reflect the renumbering of parts 174 and 175.

This document corrects a final rule appearing in the Federal Register on July 1, 2005 (70 FR 37985) amending the NRC's regulations pertaining to the export and import of radioactive materials. This action is necessary to correct typographical errors and to revise four amendatory changes.

In Release No. 34-51983, the Securities and Exchange Commission issued amendments concerning the ``penny stock rules'' under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, which appeared in the Federal Register of July 13, 2005 (70 FR 40614). In Release No. 34-51808, the Commission issued Regulation NMS, which appeared in the Federal Register of June 29, 2005 (70 FR 37496), and which, among other things, made technical amendments to the definition of penny stock. Since the effective date of Regulation NMS predates that of the amendments to the penny stock rules, the Commission is making technical corrections to the amendments to the penny stock rules to conform to the changes made in connection with Regulation NMS.

This notice proposes special conditions for the Airbus A380- 800 airplane. This airplane will have novel or unusual design features when compared to the state of technology envisioned in the airworthiness standards for transport category airplanes. Many of these novel or unusual design features are associated with the complex systems and the configuration of the airplane, including its full- length double deck. For these design features, the applicable airworthiness regulations do not contain adequate or appropriate safety standards regarding flotation and ditching. These proposed special conditions contain the additional safety standards that the Administrator considers necessary to establish a level of safety equivalent to that established by the existing airworthiness standards. Additional special conditions will be issued for other novel or unusual design features of the Airbus Model A380-800 airplane.

This notice proposes special conditions for the Airbus A380- 800 airplane. This airplane will have novel or unusual design features when compared to the state of technology envisioned in the airworthiness standards for transport category airplanes. Many of these novel or unusual design features are associated with the complex systems and the configuration of the airplane, including its full- length double deck. For these design features, the applicable airworthiness regulations do not contain adequate or appropriate safety standards regarding outside viewing from emergency exits. These proposed special conditions contain the additional safety standards that the Administrator considers necessary to establish a level of safety equivalent to that established by the existing airworthiness standards. Additional special conditions will be issued for other novel or unusual design features of the Airbus Model A380-800 airplane.

This notice proposes special conditions for the Airbus A380- 800 airplane, which has novel and unusual design features, such as a full-length double deck passenger cabin and distributed electrical equipment bays. For these design features, the applicable airworthiness regulations do not contain adequate or appropriate safety standards regarding fire protection. These proposed special conditions contain the additional safety standards that the Administrator considers necessary to establish a level of safety equivalent to that established by the existing airworthiness standards. Additional special conditions will be issued for other novel or unusual design features of the Airbus Model A380-800 airplane.

This notice proposes special conditions for the Airbus A380- 800 airplane. This airplane will have novel or unusual design features when compared to the state of technology envisioned in the airworthiness standards for transport category airplanes. Some of these novel or unusual design features are associated with the high bypass engines used on the Model A380. For these design features, the applicable airworthiness regulations do not contain adequate or appropriate safety standards regarding transient engine failure loads. These proposed special conditions contain the additional safety standards that the Administrator considers necessary to establish a level of safety equivalent to that established by the existing airworthiness standards. Additional special conditions will be issued for other novel or unusual design features of the Airbus Model A380-800 airplane.

This notice proposes special conditions for the Airbus A380- 800 airplane. This airplane will have novel or unusual design features when compared to the state of technology envisioned in the airworthiness standards for transport category airplanes. Many of these novel or unusual design features are associated with the complex systems and the configuration of the airplane, including its full- length double deck. For these design features, the applicable airworthiness regulations do not contain adequate or appropriate safety standards regarding crash survivability. These proposed special conditions contain the additional safety standards that the Administrator considers necessary to establish a level of safety equivalent to that established by the existing airworthiness standards. Additional special conditions will be issued for other novel or unusual design features of the Airbus Model A380-800 airplane.

This notice proposes special conditions for the Airbus A380- 800 airplane. This airplane will have novel or unusual design features when compared to the state of technology envisioned in the airworthiness standards for transport category airplanes. Many of these novel or unusual design features are associated with the complex systems and the configuration of the airplane, including its full- length double deck. For these design features, the applicable airworthiness regulations do not contain adequate or appropriate safety standards regarding escape systems installed in non-pressurized compartments. These proposed special conditions contain the additional safety standards that the Administrator considers necessary to establish a level of safety equivalent to that established by the existing airworthiness standards. Additional special conditions will be issued for other novel or unusual design features of the Airbus Model A380-800 airplane.

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Boeing Model 727 airplanes. This AD requires determining whether any float switches are installed in the fuel tanks, and corrective actions if necessary. This AD results from reports of contamination of the fueling float switch by moisture or fuel, and chafing of the float switch wiring against the fuel tank conduit. We are issuing this AD to prevent such contamination and chafing, which could present an ignition source inside the fuel tank that could cause a fire or explosion.

The FAA is superseding an existing airworthiness directive (AD), which applies to certain Learjet Model 23, 24, 25, 35, and 36 airplanes. That AD currently requires repetitive inspections to detect deterioration of both flappers of the tip tank in each wing of the airplane, and various follow-on actions. The existing AD also requires replacing the flappers with new flappers, and repetitively performing certain other follow-on actions. This new AD requires an inspection of the flappers and flapper assemblies of the tip tank in each wing or a review of the airplane maintenance records to determine the part numbers, and replacement of certain flappers or flapper assemblies if necessary, which ends the existing repetitive inspections. This AD results from numerous continual inspections and the approval of a new, improved flapper and flapper assembly. We are issuing this AD to prevent significant reduction in the lateral control of the airplane due to imbalance of the fuel loads in the wings of the airplane.

We are amending our regulations to reflect established policy and procedures for administering fees for testing, evaluation, and approval of equipment and materials manufactured for use in the mining industry. This direct final rule eliminates the application fee, allows applicants to pre-authorize expenditures for processing applications, allows outside organizations conducting part 15 testing (explosives and sheathed explosive units) on our behalf to set fees for this testing, incorporates changes concerning our programs and organization, and makes non-substantive conforming changes to related regulations.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), list the Roswell springsnail (Pyrgulopsis roswellensis), Koster's springsnail (Juturnia kosteri), and Noel's amphipod (Gammarus desperatus) as endangered and the Pecos assiminea (Assiminea pecos) as endangered with critical habitat under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). These four invertebrates occur at sinkholes, springs, and associated spring runs and wetland habitats. They are found at one site in Chaves County, New Mexico, and Pecos assiminea is also found at one site in Pecos County, Texas, and one site in Reeves County, Texas. These three snails and one amphipod have an exceedingly limited distribution, low mobility, and fragmented habitat. They are imperiled by introduced species, surface and groundwater contamination, oil and gas extraction activities within the supporting aquifer and watershed, local and regional groundwater depletion, severe drought, and direct loss of their habitat (e.g., through burning or removing marsh vegetation, or flooding of habitat). This final rule will implement the Federal protection and recovery provisions of the Act for these invertebrate species. We are also designating critical habitat for the Pecos assiminea in Texas.