2005 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

NMFS has received an application from the Scripps Institution of Oceanography, (Scripps), a part of the University of California, for an Incidental Harassment Authorization (IHA) to take small numbers of marine mammals, by harassment, incidental to conducting an oceanographic survey in the southwestern Pacific Ocean (SWPO). Under the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA), NMFS is requesting comments on its proposal to issue an authorization to Scripps to incidentally take, by harassment, small numbers of several species of cetaceans for a limited period of time during January and February, 2005.

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 August 31, 2006. 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.

The EPA Science Advisory Board (SAB) Staff Office is requesting nominations for experts to serve on a SAB Scientific and Technological Achievement Awards (STAA) Review Panel (FY2006-FY2009). This Panel reviews peer-reviewed publications from EPA scientists and makes recommendations for awards.

The Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (``PBGC'') intends to request that the Office of Management and Budget (``OMB'') approve, under the Paperwork Reduction Act, revisions to an information collection (OMB control number 1212-0054; expires December 31, 2006) relating to model forms contained in the PBGC booklet, Divorce Orders & PBGC. (The PBGC is changing the title of the booklet to Qualified Domestic Relations Orders & PBGC.) In addition, the PBGC is requesting 3-year approval of the revised collection of information. The booklet provides guidance on how to submit a proper qualified domestic relations order (a ``QDRO'') to the PBGC. The revisions reflect changes in how the PBGC pays benefits. This notice informs the public of the PBGC's intent and solicits public comment on the collection of information.

The Forest Service will prepare a supplement to the 1999 Rock Creek Recreational Trails EIS. The supplement will be limited to the cumulative environmental effects on the Pacific Deer Herd. Specifically, the supplement will analyze the cumulative effects of the existing proposed action and all alternatives, in combination with past, present and reasonably foreseeable future actions, as bounded by the mapped range of the Pacific Deer Herd.

We propose to amend our regulations on representative payment and on the administrative procedure for imposing penalties for false or misleading statements or withholding of information to reflect and implement certain provisions of the Social Security Protection Act of 2004 (SSPA), Public Law 108-203. The SSPA amends representative payment policies by providing additional safeguards for Social Security, Special Veterans and Supplemental Security Income beneficiaries served by representative payees. These changes include additional disqualifying factors for representative payee applicants, additional requirements for non-governmental fee-for-service payees, authority to redirect delivery of benefit payments when a representative payee fails to provide required accountings, and authority to treat misused benefits as an overpayment to the representative payee. In addition, we propose to modify our rules to explain financial requirements for representative payees, and we also have made minor clarifying plain language changes. The SSPA also allows SSA to impose a penalty on any person who knowingly withholds information that is material for use in determining any right to or the amount of monthly benefits under titles II or XVI. The penalty is nonpayment for a specified number of months of benefits under title II that would otherwise be payable and ineligibility for the same period of time for cash benefits under title XVI (including State supplementary payments).

On Friday, September 30, 2005 (70 FR 57256), the Department of Defense published a Notice of the Defense Acquisition Performance Assessment Project Meetings. This notice is published to correct the date in Column 1 from ``October 29, 2005'' to ``October 19, 2005''. All other information remain unchanged.

The General Services Administration (GSA) is amending the Federal Travel Regulation (FTR), by revising the meals and incidental expense (MI&E) allowance rates for the deduction of meals furnished by the Government or meals that are included in a registration fee, for travel within the Continental United States (CONUS). The FTR and any corresponding documents may be accessed at GSA's website at https:// www.gsa.gov/ftr.

This notice announces the intent to hold a Resource Advisory Council (RAC) meeting in the Twin Falls District of Idaho on Tuesday, November 29, 2005. The meeting will be held in the Cedar Conference Room at the Red Lion Canyon Springs Hotel, 1357 Blue Lakes Boulevard North, in Twin Falls, Idaho.

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and United States Forest Service (USFS) announce the schedule for meetings of the Santa Rosa and San Jacinto Mountains National Monument Advisory Committee (hereinafter referred to as MAC), for fiscal year 2006. All meetings begin at 9 a.m. and will be held in the Palm Desert City Council Conference Room, located at 73-510 Fred Waring Drive, Palm Desert California; and will begin at 9 a.m. Meetings are scheduled for the following dates: Saturday, December 3, 2006. Saturday, March 4, 2006. Saturday, June 3, 2006. Saturday, September 9, 2006. Saturday, December 2, 2006. Meeting agendas will be developed and available to the public prior to meeting dates through the Bureau of Land Management, Palm Springs- South Coast Field Office Web Page linking to the Santa Rosa San Jacinto Mountains National Monument Home Page at https://www.ca.blm.gov/ palmsprings/ santarosa/santarosanational monument.html. The focus of all MAC meetings will be on implementation issues of the Santa Rosa and San Jacinto Mountains National Monument Management Plan. Each meeting, beginning at approximately 11 a.m., will contain a half-hour Public Comment period. During this time members of the public are encouraged to provide their comments and/or input to the MAC for further consideration and discussion. A sign-up sheet for speakers will be available at the entrance of the Palm Desert City Council Conference Room, on the day of the meeting. Speakers making comments to the Advisory Committee are requested to provide a written copy of their statement for the record. The MAC is a committee of citizens appointed to provide advice and recommendation to the Secretaries of the Interior and Agriculture, with respect to implementation of the National Monument Management Plan. The Santa Rosa and San Jacinto Mountains National Monument Act of 2000 (16 U.S.C. 106-351), authorized establishment of the MAC with representative members from State and local jurisdictions, the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians, a natural science expert, a member from a local conservation organization, a representative of the local developers or building industry organization, the Winter Park Authority, and a representative from the Pinyon Community Council. All of the meetings are open to the public, attendance limited only by the space available. Individuals attending who need special assistance, such as sign language interpretations, or other reasonable accommodations, should notify the contact person listed below two (2) weeks in advance of the meeting. Meeting Dates and Times: December 3, 2005; March 4, 2006; June 3, 2006; September 9, 2006; December 2, 2006. All MAC meetings begin at 9 a.m., and the Public Comment period begins at approximately 11 a.m.

The Fish and Wildlife Service announces that the Draft Comprehensive Conservation Plan (CCP) and Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) is available for Crab Orchard NWR, Illinois. The CCP/EIS was prepared pursuant to the National Wildlife Refuge System Administration Act of 1996, as amended by the National Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act of 1997, and the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969. Goals and Objectives in the CCP describe how the agency intends to manage the refuge over the next 15 years.

The Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) is preparing a Comprehensive Conservation Plan (CCP) and Environmental Assessment (EA) document for Prime Hook National Wildlife Refuge (NWR). This notice advises the public that the Service intends to gather information necessary to prepare a CCP and an EA pursuant to the National Wildlife Refuge System Administration Act of 1966, as amended, and the National Environmental Policy Act. The public is invited to participate in the planning process. The Service is furnishing this notice in compliance with the Service's CCP policy to: 1. Advise other agencies and the public of our intentions; and 2. Obtain suggestions and information on the scope of issues to include in the environmental documents. The Service will solicit information from the public via open houses, meetings, and written comments. Special mailings, newspaper articles, refuge Web site postings, and announcements will provide information regarding opportunities for public involvement in the planning process. The first public meetings are scheduled for the week of November 7, 2005.

This amendment adopts a new airworthiness directive (AD) for Bell Helicopter Textron (Bell) Model 47D1, 47G, 47G-2, 47G-2A, 47G-2A- 1, 47G-3, 47G-3B, 47G-3B-1, 47G-3B-2, 47G-3B-2A, 47G-4, 47G-4A, 47G-5, 47G-5A and Coastal Helicopters, Inc. Model OH-13H (Tomcat Mark 5A, 6B, 6C) helicopters that have a certain scissors assembly or weld assembly scissors bracket installed. The AD requires, within 60 days, determining and recording the total hours time-in-service (TIS) for each Parts Manufacturer Approval (PMA)-produced scissors assembly and weld assembly scissors bracket and establishes a life limit for each affected part. This amendment is prompted by the need to establish a life limit on scissors assemblies and weld assembly scissors brackets produced under PMA No. PQ808SW or installed per Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) No. SH2772SW. The actions specified by this AD are intended to establish a life limit to prevent using a scissors assembly or weld assembly scissors bracket past it's life limit, which could result in failure of the part and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter.

This amendment supersedes an existing airworthiness directive (AD) for the MD Helicopters, Inc. (MDHI) Model 369A, H, HE, HM, HS, D, and E helicopters with a certain part-numbered main rotor blade (blade) and modified with a Helicopter Technology Company, LLC (HTC), Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) No. SR09172RC, SR09074RC, or SR09184RC. That AD currently requires recording on the component history card or equivalent record (record) each torque event (TE) on each blade, inspecting both surfaces of the blade, and replacing any cracked blade with an airworthy blade. Also, that AD establishes life limits for certain part-numbered blades. This amendment revises the model applicability, adds MDHI part-numbered blades, removes any reference to the life limits of the blades, changes the requirements for inspecting the blades, and revises the STC applicability. This amendment also provides that compliance with portions of certain documents constitutes alternative methods of compliance with portions of this AD, contains editorial changes for clarification, and makes some corrections. This amendment is prompted by additional reports of cracked blades and by the comments received in response to AD 2003-24- 01. The actions specified in this AD are intended to detect fatigue cracking of the blade to prevent blade failure and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter.

The Commission hereby gives notice that it will proceed with a full review pursuant to section 751(c)(5) of the Tariff Act of 1930 (19 U.S.C. 1675(c)(5)) to determine whether termination of the suspended investigation on uranium from Russia would be likely to lead to continuation or recurrence of material injury within a reasonably foreseeable time. A schedule for the review will be established and announced at a later date. For further information concerning the conduct of this review and rules of general application, consult the Commission's Rules of Practice and Procedure, part 201, subparts A through E (19 CFR part 201), and part 207, subparts A, D, E, and F (19 CFR part 207).

The Director, 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.

The Board has approved modifications to the method for calculating the private sector adjustment factor, which imputes the costs that would have been incurred and profits that would have been earned, including the return on equity capital, had the Federal Reserve Banks' priced services been provided by a private sector business. When setting prices in 2006, the Board will use only the capital asset pricing model to determine the target return on equity capital. Rather than continuing the long-standing process of identifying a peer group to calibrate the target return on equity capital, the return on equity capital will be based on the rate of return for the equity market as a whole. The Board's method for setting the level of equity capital imputed to priced services would continue to be based on the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation guidelines for a well-capitalized depository institution for insurance premium purposes. In addition, the Board will continue using the financial data from the top fifty bank holding companies by deposit balance to determine the priced-services effective tax rate each year.

The Corporation for National and Community Service (the Corporation) invites public input regarding a Corporation requirement that grantees conduct and document criminal background checks on grant- funded employees and participants who, on a recurring basis, have access to children and other vulnerable populations, including the elderly and individuals with disabilities. In addition, the Corporation seeks input concerning whether any category of individuals should, on the basis of their criminal histories, be disqualified from working or participating in a Corporation-funded project in which they have such access. We will consider input submitted in writing, as described below, or orally in one of two conference calls we will hold on the dates listed below. The Corporation will not respond formally to this input, but will consider it in drafting any Notice of Proposed Rulemaking. The public will have a separate opportunity to provide formal comment on any proposed rule the Corporation publishes for comment in 2005 or thereafter.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. Chapter 35, as amended), the Rural Utilities Service (RUS) invites comments on this information collection for which RUS intends to request approval from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB).