October 24, 2005 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

This document corrects HUD's final rule published on September 19, 2005, that implements revisions to the public housing Operating Fund Program. The final rule includes dates from the proposed rule that assumed both an initial implementation of the revised formula in fiscal year (FY) 2006 and a one-year period for PHAs to transition to the new formula. In converting the rule from a proposed to final rule, HUD unintentionally failed to revise certain dates to reflect the updated schedule for implementation of the revised formula. Accordingly, the September 19, 2005, final rule inadvertently denies PHAs the one-year transition period. This document corrects the September 19, 2005, final rule to provide that the revised allocation formula will be implemented for calendar year 2007, and adjusts the related dates specified in the rule to reflect the corrected implementation date.

The Department of Commerce publishes this final rule to adopt, without change, an interim final rule that implemented tariff rate quotas (TRQ) for a limited quantity of worsted wool fabrics pursuant to Title V of the Trade and Development Act of 2000 (``the Act'') as amended by the Trade Act of 2002 and the Miscellaneous Trade Act of 2004, (Pub. L. 108-429). Section 501(e) of the Act requires the President to fairly allocate TRQs on the import of certain worsted wool fabric. Section 504(b) of the Act authorizes the President to modify the limitations on worsted wool fabric imports under TRQs. The President has delegated to the Secretary of Commerce the authority to allocate the quantity of imports under the TRQs (specifically for wool products under HTS headings, 9902.51.11 and 9902.51.12) and to determine whether the limitations on the quantity of imports under the TRQs should be modified. This rule is necessary to implement the amendment to the Act included in the Miscellaneous Trade Act of 2004, (Pub. L. 108-429), which specifies which HTS categories may be allocated as TRQs and which eliminates Commerce's authority to modify these quotas.

EPA is approving State Implementation Plan (SIP) revisions submitted by the State of Connecticut. These revisions incorporate volatile organic compound (VOC) reasonably available control technology (RACT) state consent orders into the Connecticut SIP for four facilities: Hitchcock Chair Co., Ltd.; Kimberly Clark Corp.; Watson Laboratories, Inc.; and Ross & Roberts, Inc. This action will have a beneficial effect on air quality by reducing VOC emissions which contribute to ground-level ozone formation. EPA is taking this action in accordance with the Clean Air Act (CAA).

EPA is approving a State Implementation Plan (SIP) revision submitted by the State of Maine. This revision establishes requirements to reduce volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions from consumer products. The intended effect of this action is to approve these requirements into the Maine SIP. EPA is taking this action in accordance with the Clean Air Act (CAA).

On December 6, 1994, we promulgated Ethylene Oxide Emission Standards for Sterilization Facilities (59 FR 62585). The national emission standards limit and control hazardous air pollutants (HAP) that are known or suspected to cause cancer or have other serious health or environmental effect. Section 112(f)(2) of the Clean Air Act (CAA) directs EPA to assess the risk remaining (residual risk) after the application of national emission standards controls and revise as necessary to protect public health. Also, CAA section 112(d)(6) requires us to review and to revise the national emission standards as necessary by taking into account developments in practices, processes, and control technologies. The proposal announces a decision and requests public comments on the residual risk assessment and technology review for the national emission standards. We are proposing no further action at this time to revise the national emission standards.

NMFS announces the end of the 2005 Pacific whiting (whiting) primary season for the catcher/processor sector at 1800 local time (l.t.) October 18, 2005, because the allocation for the catcher/ processor will be reached by that time. This action is intended to keep the harvest of whiting within the 2005 allocation levels.

The Corps is proposing to amend the regulations for lockage operations at Bonneville Lock and Dam and amend the regulations which establish the restricted areas at Little Goose Lock and Dam. The Corps is making corrections and adjustments to the lockage control, signals, and permissible dimensions of vessels for Bonneville Lock and Dam. These changes correct language for the new replacement lock. For the Little Goose Lock and Dam the Corps is making adjustments in the upstream channel restricted area boundary to provide a recreational craft corridor along the north shoreline. This will provide better boat ramp access in support of the small craft portage route and reduce interference between fisherman and the boat ramp.

We are adopting as a final rule, with changes, an interim rule that amended the regulations by establishing a certification program for articles of Pelargonium spp. and Solanum spp. imported from countries where the bacterium Ralstonia solanacearum race 3 biovar 2 (R3B2) is known to occur. The interim rule prohibited the importation of articles of Pelargonium spp. and Solanum spp. from countries where R. solanacearum R3B2 is known to occur unless the articles are produced in accordance with the certification program. This final rule amends the regulations by modifying some of the requirements of the certification program to make them clearer and more flexible, by providing for the establishment of areas that are free of R. solanacearum R3B2 within countries where the bacterium is known to occur, and by exempting imported seeds of Pelargonium spp. and Solanum spp. from all requirements related to R. solanacearum R3B2. The requirements of the certification program are designed to ensure that R. solanacearum R3B2 will not be introduced into the United States through the importation of articles of Pelargonium spp. and Solanum spp. This certification program is necessary to prevent the introduction of this bacterial strain into the United States.

The Coast Guard is revising the operating regulations for the Michigan Street and Bayview drawbridges, both in Sturgeon Bay, WI, by establishing a permanent winter operating schedule while still providing for the reasonable needs of navigation.

This rule identifies communities that are participating and suspended from the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). These communities have applied to the program and have agreed to enact certain floodplain management measures. The communities' participation in the program authorizes the sale of flood insurance to owners of properties located in the communities listed below.

We are issuing these final rules to reflect in our regulations changes to the Social Security Act (the Act) made by two provisions in the Social Security Protection Act of 2004 (SSPA), enacted on March 2, 2004. One provision added a new situation in which the 9-month duration-of-marriage requirement for surviving spouses under title II of the Act is deemed to have been met. The other provision removed a restriction against payment of Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits, under title XVI of the Act, to certain blind or disabled children who were not eligible for SSI benefits the month before their military parents reported for duty outside the United States.