December 1, 2005 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

FAA proposes to rule and invites public comment on the release of land at Shawnee Regional Airport under the provisions of Title 49 of US Code, Section 47153.

These special conditions are issued to the New Piper Aircraft, Inc., Vero Beach, Florida, for a type design change for the PA-34 model airplanes. These airplanes will have novel and unusual design features when compared to the state of technology envisaged in the applicable airworthiness standards. These novel and unusual design features include the installation of electronic flight instrument system (EFIS) displays Model 700-00006-XXX(), manufactured by Avidyne Corporation, Inc. for which the applicable regulations do not contain adequate or appropriate airworthiness standards for the protection of these systems from the effects of high intensity radiated fields (HIRF). These special conditions contain the additional safety standards that the Administrator considers necessary to establish a level of safety equivalent to the airworthiness standards applicable to these airplanes.

The US General Services Administration (GSA) hereby gives notice that it has prepared and is distributing a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) pursuant to the requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969, and the President's Council on Environmental Quality Regulations, for the construction of a new Peace Arch Port of Entry facility in the City of Blaine, Whatcom County, Washington. This project is at the planning and design stage, and site acquisition funding has been approved by Congress. The US Dept of Homeland Security is currently located in the existing Peace Arch Port of Entry facility. The existing facility does not currently meet the tenant agencies space or mission requirements. The existing facility cannot be adapted to accommodate the required future space needs of the agency tenants. GSA, assisted by Herrera Environmental Consultants, will prepare the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). GSA is the lead agency in conducting the NEPA study with US Department of Transportation - Federal Highways Administration and Washington State Department of Transportation serving as cooperating agencies. GSA invites interested individuals, organizations, and federal, state, and local agencies to participate in defining and identifying any significant impacts and issues to be studied in the EIS.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is announcing the availability of a draft document entitled ``Guidance for Industry: Safety, Efficacy, and Pharmacokinetic Studies to Support Marketing of Immune Globulin Intravenous (Human) as Replacement Therapy for Primary Humoral Immunodeficiency,'' dated November 2005. The draft guidance document provides recommendations for testing the safety, efficacy, and pharmacokinetics of immune globulin intravenous (human) (IGIV) products as replacement therapy in primary humoral immunodeficiency. The draft guidance document is intended to assist sponsors with the design of clinical trials to assess IGIV as replacement therapy in primary humoral immunodeficiency.

This rule amends Appendix D to the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation's regulation on Benefits Payable in Terminated Single- Employer Plans by adding the maximum guaranteeable pension benefit that may be paid by the PBGC with respect to a plan participant in a single- employer pension plan that terminates in 2006. This rule also amends the PBGC's regulation on Disclosure to Participants by adding information on 2006 maximum guaranteed benefit amounts to Appendix B. The amendment is necessary because the maximum guarantee amount changes each year, based on changes in the contribution and benefit base under section 230 of the Social Security Act. The effect of the amendment is to advise plan participants and beneficiaries of the increased maximum guarantee amount for 2006.

The FAA is revising an earlier proposed airworthiness directive (AD) for all Boeing Model 737-100, -200, -200C, -300, -400, and -500 series airplanes. The original NPRM would have required an inspection for chafing of certain wire bundles located above the center fuel tank, corrective actions if necessary, and replacement of wire bundle clamps with new clamps. The original NPRM resulted from fuel system reviews conducted by the manufacturer. This action revises the original NPRM by adding an inspection for damage to the fuel vapor barrier area located below the wire bundles and corrective action, if necessary. We are proposing this supplemental NPRM to prevent chafed wire bundles near the center fuel tank, which could cause electrical arcing through the tank wall and ignition of fuel vapor in the fuel tank, and result in a fuel tank explosion.

The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Airbus Model A319-131, -132, and -133; A320-232 and -233; and A321-131 and -231 airplanes. This proposed AD would require inspecting for cracks or failure of the primary load path components of the engine forward mount, and corrective action if necessary. This proposed AD also would require removing, re-installing, and re-torquing the attachment bolts for the secondary load path. This proposed AD results from a report that, during modification of certain engine forward mount assemblies of the left and right engines done at an engine shop visit, an incorrect torque was applied to the attachment bolts. We are proposing this AD to prevent structural failure of the secondary load path of the forward engine mount, which, if combined with failure of the primary load path, could result in separation of the engine from the airplane.

This final rule amends Postal Service regulations pertaining to conduct on postal property. The purpose of these amendments is to clarify the regulations.

The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) is issuing final regulations to implement provisions of the Jobs for Veterans Act, signed into law on November 7, 2002. This Act makes a major change in the eligibility criteria for obtaining a Veterans Recruitment Appointment (VRA).

This final rule revises the regulations implementing the affirmative action provisions of the Vietnam Era Veterans' Readjustment Assistance Act of 1974, as amended, 38 U.S.C. 4212 (2001) (``Section 4212'' or ``VEVRAA''). This rule makes three general revisions to the VEVRAA regulations. First, it generally conforms the VEVRAA regulations to the Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1998 (VEOA) and the Veterans Benefits and Health Care Improvement Act of 2000 (VBHCIA). Second, it removes references to letters of commitment because the violations formerly incorporated into the letter of commitment are now summarized in the Compliance Evaluation Closure Letter. Third, it removes language about the effective date of the rule published in 1998 because that language is obsolete.