2005 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

This final rule clarifies certain requirements and delays the effective date for the implementation of some of the measures specified in Framework 17 to the Atlantic Sea Scallop Fishery Management Plan (Framework 17), which was developed and submitted by the New England Fishery Management Council (Council) and approved by NMFS. The measures require that vessels issued a general category scallop permit, and that land or intend to land over 40 lb (18.14 kg) of shucked or 5 bu (176.2 L) of unshucked scallops, install and operate vessel monitoring systems (VMS) in order to provide more complete monitoring of the general category scallop fleet. Delay of the October 21, 2005, effective date is necessary to allow sufficient time for vessel owners to purchase, install, and activate VMS required under Framework 17. The new effective date is December 1, 2005.

This rule establishes additional inspection requirements authorized under the California pistachio marketing order (order). The order regulates the handling of pistachios grown in California and is administered locally by the Administrative Committee for Pistachios (committee). This rule modifies sampling procedures for dark-stained pistachios which are intended to be dyed or color-coated. It also establishes reinspection requirements for lots of pistachios which are materially changed after meeting initial aflatoxin and quality requirements. This action is expected to assure the quality of pistachios, improve the marketability of pistachios, and provide handlers more marketing flexibility. The benefits of this action are expected to offset the increased inspection costs.

The Department of Defense is publishing the unclassified text of a section 36(b)(1) arms sales notification. This is published to fulfill the requirements of section 155 of Public Law 104-164 dated 21 July 1996.

On Monday, August 22, 2005 (70 FR 48937) the Department of Defense announced open meetings of the Defense Science Board (DSB) Task Force on Manufacturing Technology. The November 2005 meeting dates have been revised from November 2-3, 2005 to November 2, 2005 only. The task force will meet in closed session. The meeting will be held at Strategic Analysis Inc., 3601 Wilson Boulevard, Suite 600, Arlington, VA.

EPA had concerns about potential impacts to wetlands and recommended that additional mitigation be developed. Rating EC2.

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.), this document announces that EPA is planning to submit a continuing Information Collection Request (ICR) to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). This is a request to renew an existing approved collection. This ICR is scheduled to expire on 12/31/2005. Before submitting the ICR to OMB for review and approval, EPA is soliciting comments on specific aspects of the proposed information collection as described below.

EPA is announcing a 30-day public review and comment period on several Additional Proposed IndicatorsEPA ROE 2007. These proposed indicators are in addition to the proposed indicators that were the subject of a June 6, 2005, Federal Register notice (70 FR 32769) that announced both a public comment period and an independent peer-review workshop that was held on July 27-29, 2005. Several of these additional indicators were added in response to comments from the first peer- review regarding additional indicators needed. Others were evaluated during the first review but have changed substantially and therefore warrant re-review; and a few are indicators for which materials were not ready at the time of the initial review. In addition to the public comment period, this set of additional proposed indicators will also undergo independent expert peer-review. The peer-review for this smaller set will be conducted via letter review. ERG, an EPA contractor for external scientific peer-review, is conducting this independent, external, peer-review and will engage the same expert panel that reviewed the first set of proposed ROE 2007 indicators. This public comment period, however, provides an opportunity for all stakeholders to weigh in on the primary contents of the draft 2007 Report on the Environment (EPA ROE 2007) at an early stage. In preparing the EPA ROE 2007, EPA will consider ERG's report of the comments and recommendations from this expert peer-review and any public comments EPA receives in accordance with today's notice. EPA is releasing these proposed indicators for public comment and for the purpose of pre-dissemination peer-review under applicable information quality guidelines. These indicators have not been formally disseminated by EPA. They do not represent and should not be construed to represent any Agency policy or determination.

This document notifies the public that the Administrator of EPA has forwarded to the Secretary of Agriculture a draft final rule as required by section 25(a) of the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA). As described in the Agency's semi-annual Regulatory Agenda, the draft final rule will make several improvements to the pesticide emergency exemption process under section 18 of FIFRA. EPA has established regulations under section 18 of FIFRA which allow a Federal or State agency to apply for an emergency exemption to allow an unregistered use of a pesticide for a limited time when such use is necessary to alleviate an emergency condition.

NMFS issues a final rule to implement the annual harvest guideline for Pacific mackerel in the U.S. exclusive economic zone (EEZ) off the Pacific coast. The Coastal Pelagic Species (CPS) Fishery Management Plan (FMP) and its implementing regulations require NMFS to set an annual harvest guideline for Pacific mackerel based on the formula in the FMP. This action adopts allowable harvest levels for Pacific mackerel off the U.S. Pacific coast.

The Department of Commerce (DOC), as part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, invites the general public and other Federal agencies to comment on the continuing and proposed information collection, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 104-13 (44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)).

Notice is hereby given that the Rural Utilities Service (RUS) proposes to prepare an Environmental Assessment related to possible financial assistance to Georgia Transmission Corporation (GTC) for the construction of approximately 4.4 miles of 230 kilovolt transmission line, a 230/25 kilovolt transmission substation, and a 230 kilovolt switching station. The proposed 230-kilovolt transmission line and substation projects would be located in Gwinnett County, Georgia. GTC is requesting RUS provide financing for the proposed project. A less than 0.1 acre portion of the project will be located in a wetland. Alternatives, including no action, were considered; however, no practicable alternatives were identified that would avoid having an impact on the wetland. Comments or suggestions for mitigating impacts to the wetland are welcome.

The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) invites comments from producers, importers, first handlers and other interested persons on a possible change to the definition of ``substantial activity'' under the Hass Avocado Promotion, Research, and Information Order (Order). The definition relates to the eligibility of importers to serve on the Hass Avocado Board (Board).

TSA invites public comment on one currently approved information collection requirement abstracted below that we will submit to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for renewal in compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act.

This notice advises interested parties of changes concerning the upcoming meeting of the National Advisory Committee and amends information provided in the original meeting notice published in the October 3, 2005 Federal Register (70 FR 57570).

The Leader, Information Management Case Services Team, Regulatory Information Management Services, Office of the Chief Information Officer, invites comments on the proposed information collection requests as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.

This notice sets forth the schedule and summary agenda for the meeting of the Board of Visitors (BoV) for the Western Hemisphere Institue for Security Cooperation (WHINSEC). Notice of this meeting is required under the Federal Advisory Committee Act (Pub. L. 92-463). This board was chartered on February 1, 2004 in compliance with the requirements set forth in Title 10 U.S.C. 2166. Dates: December 1-2, 2005. Time: 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (December 1) and 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. (December 2). Location: Building 35, 7011 Morrison Ave., Fort Benning, GA 31905. Proposed Agenda: The WHINSEC BoV will receive new members and advisors, receive updates on the status of actions taken on past BoV recommendations and an update on new activities and efforts since December 2004; look into any matters it deems important; while meeting with groups of WHINSEC faculty and students

In accordance with 37 CFR 404.6 and 404.7, announcement is made of the availability for licensing of U.S. Patent Application No. 10/936,992 entitled ``Non-Contact Respiration Monitor,'' filed September 9, 2004. Foreign rights are also available (PCT/US02/29563). The United States Government, as represented by the Secretary of the Army, has rights in this invention.