November 2005 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

Under the provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. Chapter 35), the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Secretariat has submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) a request to review and approve an extension of a currently approved information collection requirement concerning Federal acquisition and community right-to-know. A request for public comments was published in the Federal Register at 70 FR 54035, September 13, 2005. No comments were received. Public comments are particularly invited on: Whether this collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of functions of the FAR, and whether it will have practical utility; whether our estimate of the public burden of this collection of information is accurate, and based on valid assumptions and methodology; ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and ways in which we can minimize the burden of the collection of information on those who are to respond, through the use of appropriate technological collection techniques or other forms of information technology.

This notice extends the comment period for a proposed rule published in the Federal Register on September 23, 2005 (70 FR 55990) that would recommend the adoption of a set of standards to facilitate the electronic exchange of clinical and administrative data to further improve the claims adjudication process when additional documentation is required. Due to the very technical nature of this rule, the industry is asking for additional time to conduct a more comprehensive and thorough review in order to provide comments to the Standards Development Organizations as well as to CMS. The comment period is extended for 60 days.

The MMS is issuing this notice to advise the public, pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA), as amended, 42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq., that MMS has prepared an environmental assessment (EA) for proposed OCS oil and gas Lease Sale 198 in the Central Gulf of Mexico (GOM) (Lease Sale 198) scheduled for March 2006. Proposed Lease Sale 198 is the fourth Central Planning Area (CPA) lease sale scheduled in the Outer Continental Shelf Oil and Gas Leasing Program: 2002-2007 (5-Year Program, OCS EIS/EA MMS 2002-006). The preparation of this EA is an important step in the decisionmaking process for Lease Sale 198. The proposal for Lease Sale 198 (the offering of all available unleased acreage in the CPA) and its alternatives (the proposed action excluding the unleased blocks near biologically sensitive topographic features, the proposed action excluding the unleased blocks within 15 miles of the Baldwin County, Alabama, Coast, and no action) were identified by the MMS Director in January 2002 following the Call for Information and Nominations/Notice of Intent to Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) and were analyzed in the Gulf of Mexico OCS Oil and Gas Lease Sales: 2003-2007; Central Planning Area Sales 185, 190, 194, 198, and 201; Western Planning Area Sales 187, 192, 196, and 200Final Environmental Impact Statement; Volumes I and II (Multisale EIS, OCS EIS/EA MMS 2002-052). The Multisale EIS analyzed the effects of a typical CPA lease sale by presenting a set of ranges for resource estimates, projected exploration and development activities, and impact-producing factors for any of the proposed CPA lease sales. The level of activities projected for proposed Lease Sale 198 falls within these ranges. In this EA, which tiers from the Multisale EIS and incorporates that document by reference, MMS reexamined the potential environmental effects of the proposed action and its alternatives based on any new information regarding potential impacts and issues that were not available at the time the Multisale EIS was prepared. No new significant impacts were identified for proposed Lease Sale 198 that were not already assessed in the Multisale EIS. As a result, MMS determined that a supplemental EIS is not required and prepared a Finding of No New Significant Impact (FONNSI).

The Department of the Navy proposes to alter a system of records notice in its existing inventory of records systems subject to the Privacy Act of 1974, (5 U.S.C. 552a), as amended.

The Department of Defense updates policies and responsibilities for the Defense Privacy Program which implements the Privacy Act of 1974 by showing organizational changes and realignments and by revising referenced statutory and regulatory authority.

The Defense Logistics Agency proposes to add a system of records notice to its inventory of record systems subject to the Privacy Act of 1974 (5 U.S.C. 552a), as amended.

The Defense Policy Board Advisory Committee will meet in closed session at the Pentagon on December 8, 2005 from 0900 to 2000 and December 9, 2005 from 0830 to 1400. The purpose of the meeting is to provide the Secretary of Defense, Deputy Secretary of Defense and Under Secretary of Defense for Policy with independent, informed advice on major matters of defense policy. The Board will hold classified discussions on national security matters. In accordance with Section 10(d) of the Federal Advisory Committee Act, Public Law No. 92-463, as amended [5 U.S.C. App II (1982)], it has been determined that this meeting concerns matters listed in 5 U.S.C. 552B(c)(1)(1982), and that accordingly this meeting will be closed to the public.

The Plumas County Resource Advisory Committee (RAC) will hold a meeting on December 2, 2005, in Quincy, CA. The primary purpose of the meeting is to review, discuss and refine Cycle 6 timelines and application materials, view a presentation on national RAC survey findings and consider recommending the Corridor Fuelbreak project to the Plumas National Forest Supervisor for funding approval.

This is to advise Customs brokers that the Triennial Status Report Fee of $100 that is assessed for each license held by a broker whether it may be an individual, partnership, association or corporation, is due during the month of February 2006 along with the corresponding status report.

The Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) announces the availability for public review of the draft document Reassessing Methods to Estimate Population Size and Sustainable Mortality Limits for the Yellowstone Grizzly Bear. Once comments are received, analyzed, and addressed, the final revised population methodology will be appended to the Grizzly Bear Recovery Plan and the Final Conservation Strategy for the Grizzly Bear in the Greater Yellowstone Area. The Service solicits review and comment from the public on this draft information prior to appending it to the Grizzly Bear Recovery Plan.

The Del Norte County Resource Advisory Committee (RAC) will meet on December 6, 2005 in Crescent City, California. The purpose of the meeting is to discuss the selection of Title II projects under Public Law 106-393, H.R. 2389, the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act of 2000, also called the ``Payments to States'' Act.

In accordance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act, the California Bay-Delta Public Advisory Committee (Committee) will meet on December 7, 2005. The agenda for the Committee meeting will include discussions with State and Federal agency representatives on the CALFED Bay-Delta Program refocusing efforts underway and the 10-Year Action Plan, and a final recommendation to the Secretary on the Annual Statement of Progress and Balance and Annual Report.

The Roadless Area Conservation National Advisory Committee (Committee) will meet in Washington, DC. The purpose of this first meeting is organizational in nature: The Committee members will meet for the first time, be welcomed by Department of Agriculture and Forest Service Leadership, institute administrative procedures and rules of order, and plan for future petition reviews.

Pursuant to the Paperwork Reduction Act, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) solicited comments on the proposed collection of information in connection with the Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency (SAFER) Grant Application. This notice extends the comment period by 30 days.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice announces the Small Business Administration's intentions to request approval on a new and/or currently approved information collection.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is announcing an opportunity for public comment on the proposed collection of certain information by the agency. Under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (the PRA), Federal agencies are required to publish notice in the Federal Register concerning each proposed collection of information, including each proposed extension of an existing collection of information, and to allow 60 days for public comment in response to the notice. This notice solicits comments on the proposed collection of information associated with the guidance document entitled ``Requesting an Extension to Use Existing Label Stock After the Trans Fat Labeling Effective Date of January 1, 2006.'' Elsewhere in this issue of the Federal Register, FDA is publishing a notice announcing the Office of Management and Budget (OMB's) approval of this collection of information (OMB control number 0910-0571). Since this was an emergency approval that expires on January 1, 2006, FDA is following the normal PRA clearance procedures by issuing this notice.

OIG periodically develops and issues guidance, including Special Advisory Bulletins, to alert and inform the health care industry about potential problems or areas of special interest. This Federal Register notice sets forth the recently issued OIG Special Advisory Bulletin addressing patient assistance programs for Medicare Part D enrollees.

This notice grants in full the petition of DaimlerChrysler Corporation (DaimlerChrysler) for an exemption in accordance with Sec. 543.9(c)(2) of 49 CFR part 543, Exemption from the Theft Prevention Standard, for the Chrysler 300C vehicle line beginning with model year (MY) 2006. This petition is granted because the agency has determined that the antitheft device to be placed on the line as standard equipment is likely to be as effective in reducing and deterring motor vehicle theft as compliance with the parts-marking requirements of the Theft Prevention Standard.

The Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) received petitions in September 2005 to review certain practices in certain beneficiary developing countries to determine whether such countries are in compliance with the ATPA eligibility criteria. This notice publishes a list of the September 2005 petitions that were filed in response to the announcement of the annual review.

The Commander, Fifth Coast Guard District, has approved a temporary deviation from the regulations governing the operation of the Berkley Bridge, at mile 0.4, across the Eastern Branch of the Elizabeth River in Norfolk, Virginia. To facilitate electrical and mechanical repairs, this deviation allows the drawbridge to remain closed-to- navigation each day, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., on four two-day closure periods: November 29 & 30, 2005; December 28 & 29, 2005; January 24 & 25, 2006; and February 21 & 22, 2006.