2005 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

EPA is proposing to approve revisions to the Texas State Implementation Plan (SIP) concerning the Emission Credit Banking and Trading program. Additionally, EPA is proposing approval of a section of the Texas rules on Control of Air Pollution from Volatile Organic Compounds that cross-references the Emission Credit Banking and Trading program. We are also proposing approval of a subsection of Chapter 116 of the Texas Administrative Code (TAC), Control of Air Pollution by Permits for New Construction or Modification, which provides a definition referred to in the Emission Credit Banking and Trading Program.

EPA is proposing to approve revisions to the Texas State Implementation Plan (SIP) concerning the Mass Emissions Cap and Trade (MECT) program for emissions of nitrogen oxides (NOX) in the Houston/Galveston/Brazoria (HGB) ozone nonattainment area. Additionally, EPA is proposing approval of several subsections of Chapter 116 of the Texas Administrative Code (TAC) (Control of Air Pollution by Permits for New Construction or Modification) that provide cross-references to the MECT Program.

In accordance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act, this notice advises interested persons of the second meeting of the Technological Advisory Council (``Council'') under its charter renewed as of November 19, 2004.

The Enforcement Bureau (Bureau) gives notice of Mr. Ronald R. Morrett's debarment from the schools and libraries universal service support mechanism (or ``E-Rate program'') for a period of three years.

This document sets forth interim amendments to the Customs and Border Protection (``CBP'') regulations to update, restructure, and consolidate the regulations relating to the country of origin of textile and apparel products. The interim amendments reflect changes brought about, in part, by the expiration on January 1, 2005, of the Agreement on Textiles and Clothing (``ATC'') and the resulting elimination of quotas on the entry of textile and apparel products from World Trade Organization (``WTO'') members. The primary regulatory change set forth in this document is the elimination of the requirement that a textile declaration be submitted for all importations of textile and apparel products. In addition, to improve the quality of reporting of the identity of the manufacturer of imported textiles and apparel products, the interim amendments include a requirement that importers identify the manufacturer of such products through a manufacturer identification code (``MID'').

This notice is issued in accordance with 35 U.S.C. 209(c)(1) and 37 CFR 404.7(a)(1)(i). NASA is contemplating the granting of an exclusive license in the United States to practice the inventions described and claimed in U.S. Patents 4,815,279, ``Hybrid Plume Plasma Rocket,'' 4,893,470, ``Method of Hybrid Plume Plasma Propulsion,'' and 6,334,302, ``Variable Specific Impulse Magnetoplasma Rocket Engine,'' to Ad Astra Technologies, Inc., having a place of business in Houston, TX and incorporated in the state of Delaware. The fields of use may be limited to exoatmospheric applications. The patent rights in the inventions have been assigned to the United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. The prospective exclusive license will comply with the terms and conditions of 35 U.S.C. 209 and 37 CFR 404.7.

The National Science Foundation (NSF) is announcing plans to request clearance of this collection. In accordance with the requirement of Section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104-13), we are providing opportunity for public comment on this action. After obtaining and considering public comment, NSF will prepare the submission requesting that OMB approve clearance of this collection for three years.

This notice announces GSA Federal Travel Regulation (FTR) Bulletin 05-07. This Bulletin informs agencies that certain provisions of the FTR governing the authorization of actual subsistence expenses for official travel (both TDY and relocation) are temporarily waived as a result of Hurricane Rita, because it is expected that finding lodging facilities and/or adequate meals may be difficult, and distances involved may be great resulting in increased costs for per diem expenses. Bulletin FTR 05-07 may be found at www.gsa.gov/ftrbulletins.

The following permits were issued.

The following permits were issued.

The public is invited to comment on the following applications to conduct certain activities with endangered species and marine mammals.

The National Park Service (NPS) is revising existing policies and procedures that guide its acceptance of donations and its relationships to those who desire to raise private sector support to benefit parks and programs. When adopted, the policies and procedures will apply to all units of the national park system, and will supersede and replace the policies and procedures temporarily re-issued in January, 2005.

Pursuant to Section 102(2)(C) of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, and the corresponding Council of Environmental Quality implementing regulations (40 CFR parts 1500-08), the National Park Service and Bureau of Reclamation, as lead agencies for the Department of the Interior, announce the availability of the Clean Water Coalition Systems Conveyance and Operations Program (SCOP) Draft Environmental Impact Statement. Consistent with applicable laws and National Park Service and Bureau of Reclamation regulations and policies, the Draft SCOP EIS describes and analyzes four alternatives including the no action alternative. The Draft SCOP Environmental Impact Statement evaluates the potential environmental impacts associated with three action (pipeline) alternatives, as well as a No-Action (no pipeline) Alternative. The three action alternatives include an Effluent Interceptor (EI) and Lake Conveyance System (LCS) that would collect and convey the highly treated effluent from the three treatment facilities to the Las Vegas Wash at a point upstream of Lake Las Vegas or to Lake Mead. The action alternatives would allow for flexible management of the highly treated effluent. A controlled amount of effluent would continue to be discharged to the Las Vegas Wash at each facility or at the EI Terminus. The discharge amount, velocity, and direction from the LCS diffuser would also be flexibly operated depending on the conditions of Lake Mead. The Draft SCOP EIS evaluates effects of the alternatives on both visitor experience and park resources including: surface water hydrology, groundwater, water quality, biological resources/endangered species, cultural resources, recreation, land use, air quality, noise, socioeconomics, and other appropriate resource issues identified during the public scoping phase. An impairment analysis was also conducted for the portion of the proposed actions located on land administered by the National Park Service (NPS). Purpose and Need For Federal Action: The purpose of implementing the proposal is to put into operation a treatment and conveyance system that will allow for flexible management of wastewater flow in the Las Vegas Valley, while maintaining water quality standards. Clark County, Nevada is one of the fastest growing counties in the U.S., and it is projected that the population in the area will be approximately 3,130,000 by 2035. The quantity of effluent treated and discharged in the Las Vegas Valley will increase as the population of the Valley increases. The treatment and conveyance facilities must accommodate the additional flows while continuing to meet current or future water quality standards for the Las Vegas Wash, Las Vegas Bay, and Lake Mead. The Clean Water Coalition proposes to build and implement a system that provides maximum flexibility for management of treated effluent to: Meet current and future water quality standards for known pollutants, and as yet unknown standards for additional contaminants that may be regulated in the future; Protect and enhance the Lake Mead National Recreation Area (LMNRA) by continuing to meet beneficial uses and recreational and resource values of the LMNRA, while more than doubling the treated effluent flows discharged to Lake Mead; Recognize Lake Mead's likely lowering water levels, which are important because the amount of mixing and dilution available in the inner Las Vegas Bay are also decreasing as the Lake level decreases; and Avoid possible impacts to source-water quality at the Southern Nevada Water System intake structures. Alternatives To Be Considered: The alternatives in the Draft SCOP EIS include expansions of the three treatment plants and the continued discharge of current and projected effluent flows to the Las Vegas Wash, with the use of conventional treatment processes to meet water quality standards (no action alternative); and construction and operation of a pipeline that would transport highly treated effluent from the three treatment facilities to a receiving area underwater within the Colorado River system (three action alternatives). In addition to the No Action Alternative, the NPS and Bureau of Reclamation (BOR) have analyzed the potential impacts of three action alternatives: the Boulder Islands North Alternative, the Boulder Islands South Alternative, and the Las Vegas Bay Alternative. Under the No Action Alternative, the Clean Water Coalition would not construct pipelines to transport effluent from the treatment facilities. The three treatment agencies (City of Las Vegas, City of Henderson, and Clark County Water Reclamation District) would expand their facilities to handle the increasing quantities of wastewater through 2050. Current, conventional treatment processes and plant optimization would be used to meet the requirements set by the Nevada Division of Environmental Protection through the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permitting program. Facility expansions and modifications would occur on lands currently owned by the City of Las Vegas, Clark County, and City of Henderson. Under the Boulder Islands North Alternative and the Boulder Islands South Alternative, the three treatment agencies would expand their facilities to handle the increasing quantities of wastewater through 2050, and current, conventional treatment processes and plant optimization would be used to meet water quality requirements. A pipeline would be constructed to convey highly treated effluent from the three treatment facilities to an alternate discharge location in the vicinity of the Boulder Islands in Lake Mead. The majority of the Boulder Islands North LCS and the Boulder Islands South LCS would be installed in a tunnel through the River Mountains. Under the Las Vegas Bay Alternative, the three treatment agencies would expand their facilities to handle the increasing quantities of wastewater through 2050, and current, conventional treatment processes and plant optimization would be used to meet water quality requirements. A pipeline would be constructed to convey highly treated effluent from the three treatment facilities to an alternate discharge location in the Las Vegas Bay in Lake Mead. Public Review and Comment: The Draft SCOP EIS will be available for public review for 60 days following the publication in the Federal Register of the Environmental Protection Agency's notice of the filing of this document (immediately upon confirmation of this date it will be announced on the LMNRA Web site and via local and regional press media). The NPS and BOR will hold public meetings to obtain oral comments during a two-week period in October 2005, as follows: October 17, Henderson Convention Center, 200 S. Water Street, Henderson, NV from 6:30-8:30 p.m. October 18, West Las Vegas Library, 951 W. Lake Mead Blvd., Las Vegas, NV from 6:30-8:30 p.m. October 19, West Flamingo Senior Center, 6255 W. Flamingo Road, Las Vegas, NV from 6:30-8:30 p.m. October 20, Summerlin Library, 1771 Inner Circle Drive, Las Vegas, NV from 6:30-8:30 p.m. October 24, Powerhouse Visitors Conference Center, 120 W. Route 66, Kingman, AZ from 6-8 p.m. October 25, Tempe Mission Palms Hotel, 60 E. 5th Street, Tempe, AZ from 6-8 p.m. October 26, Hilton Suites, 10 E. Thomas Road, Phoenix, AZ from 6-8 p.m. October 27, Radisson in Mission Valley, 1433 Camino Del Rio South, San Diego, CA from 6-8 p.m. October 28, Hyatt Regency Conference Center, 285 N. Palm Canyon Drive, Palm Springs, CA from 6-8 p.m. All written comments on the Draft SCOP EIS must be postmarked or transmitted not later than 60 days after the EPA's notice of the filing published in the Federal Register; upon confirmation of this date it will be announced on the LMNRA Web site and via local and regional press media. Comments are to be addressed to the SCOP EIS Project Manager, PBS&J and may be sent either electronically to eis@cleanwatercoalition.com, via facsimile at (702) 990-7262, or by mail to 2270 Corporate Circle, Suite 100, Henderson, NV 89074. Please note that names and addresses of people who comment become part of the public record. If individuals commenting request that their name or/and address be withheld from public disclosure, it will be honored to the extent allowable by law. Such requests must be stated prominently in the beginning of the comments. There also may be circumstances wherein the NPS will withhold from the record a respondent's identity, as allowable by law. As always: the NPS will make available to public inspection all submissions from organizations or businesses and from persons identifying themselves as representatives or officials of organizations and businesses; and, anonymous comments may not be considered. Copies of the Draft SCOP EIS may be obtained by contacting SCOP EIS Project Manager, PBS&J, 2270 Corporate Circle, Suite 100, Henderson, NV 89074 (or e-mailing to eis@cleanwatercoalition.com or telephone (702) 263-7275 extension 3014). The document will also be posted on the Internet at https://www.cleanwatercoalition.com, as well as made available at public libraries in the following locations: NevadaBoulder City Library, Las Vegas Public Library, Searchlight Library, Community College of Southern Nevada, Sahara West Library, Mesquite Library, University of Nevada-Las Vegas, James I. Gibson Library, Clark County Library, James R. Dickinson Library, Moapa Valley Library, Green Valley Library, Sunrise Public Library, Laughlin Library. ArizonaBurton Barr Central Library, Tempe Public Library, University of Arizona Library, Meadview Community Library, Mohave County Library. UtahWashington County Library. CaliforniaEnvironmental Services Library in San Diego, Palm Springs Public Library. For further information about the public meetings or for obtaining copies of the document, please contact the SCOP EIS Project Manager, PBS&J, 2270 Corporate Circle, Suite 100, Henderson, NV 89074; e-mail eis@cleanwatercoalition.com; or call (702) 263-7275 extension 3014. For additional information regarding the alternatives to be considered or other matters pertaining to the conservation planning and environmental impact analysis process, please contact: Mr. Michael Boyles, National Park Service, Lake Mead National Recreation Area, 601 Nevada Way, Boulder City, NV 89005, telephone (702) 293-8978; or Mr. Anthony Vigil (LC-2621), Bureau of Reclamation, P.O. Box 61470, Boulder City Nevada 89006-1470, telephone (702) 293-8674. Decision: After public review of the Draft SCOP EIS, the National Park Service and Bureau of Reclamation will carefully assess and consider all written comments and information obtained at the public meetings. A Final SCOP EIS will be prepared, which at this time is anticipated to be completed during summer 2006. Subsequent to release of the Final SCOP EIS and following a 30-days ``no action'' waiting period a Record of Decision will be prepared.

The National Park Service is seeking public comments and suggestions on the planning of the 2005 Christmas Pageant of Peace.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is canceling a series of three public meetings entitled ``Vision 2006A Conversation With the American Public.'' These meetings were to be a forum where consumers could interact directly with FDA's leadership to discuss issues of public interest. These meetings were announced in the Federal Register of August 16, 2005 (70 FR 48160).

The Department of Labor, as part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, conducts a preclearance consultation program to provide the general public and Federal agencies with an opportunity to comment on proposed and/or continuing collections of information in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA95) [44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)]. This program helps to ensure that requested data can be provided in the desired format, reporting burden (time and financial resources) is minimized, collection instruments are clearly understood, and the impact of collection requirements on respondents can be properly assessed. Currently, the Employment Standards Administration is soliciting comments concerning the proposed collection: Request to be Selected as Payee (CM-910). A copy of the proposed information collection request can be obtained by contacting the office listed below in the addresses section of this Notice.

The Coast Guard has changed the drawbridge operation regulations that govern the Amtrak Portal Bridge at mile 5.0, across the Hackensack River at Little Snake Hill, New Jersey. This final rule allows the bridge owner to expand the two time periods in the morning and in the afternoon, Monday through Friday, when the bridge may remain closed to vessel traffic.

The Coast Guard is temporarily changing the drawbridge operating regulations governing the operation of the William T. Morrisey Boulevard Bridge, at mile 0.0, across Dorchester Bay at Boston, Massachusetts. This change to the drawbridge operation regulations allows the bridge to remain in the closed position from November 1, 2005 through May 10, 2006. This action is necessary to facilitate scheduled bridge maintenance.

The Commander, First Coast Guard District, has issued a temporary deviation from the drawbridge operation regulations for the P.J. McArdle Bridge, mile 0.3, across the Chelsea River between East Boston and Chelsea, Massachusetts. Under this temporary deviation the bridge may remain closed from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m., on October 24, 2005 and October 27, 2005. This temporary deviation is necessary to facilitate scheduled bridge maintenance.

We are amending the authority citations in title 7, chapter III, and title 9, part 94, to reflect the enactment of the Noxious Weed Control and Eradication Act of 2004 (Pub. L. 108-412, 118 Stat. 2320, 7 U.S.C. 7781-7786), which amended the Plant Protection Act.

We are proposing to amend the Karnal bunt regulations regarding the requirements that must be met in order for a field or area to be removed from the list of regulated areas. The proposed changes would allow a field to qualify for release after 5 cumulative years of specified management practices, rather than 5 consecutive years as the current regulations provide, and reorganize the manner in which those management practices are described. These proposed changes would clarify the existing regulations and provide growers in regulated areas with greater flexibility in their planting decisions.