February 3, 2006 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

This Notice identifies unutilized, underutilized, excess, and surplus Federal property reviewed by HUD for suitability for possible use to assist the homeless.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announces its determination that the noise exposure maps submitted by the England Economic and Industrial Development District for Alexandria International Airport under the provisions of 49 U.S.C. 47501 et. seq. (Aviation Safety and Noise Abatement Act) and 14 CFR part 150 are in compliance with applicable requirements.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary security zone from February 9 through February 12, 2006, encompassing certain waters of the Choptank River. This action is necessary to ensure the safety of persons and property, and prevent terrorist acts or incidents during the U.S. House Republican Issues Conference. This rule prohibits vessels and people from entering the security zone and requires vessels and persons in the security zone to depart the security zone, unless specifically exempt under the provisions in this rule or granted specific permission from the Coast Guard Captain of the Port Baltimore.

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 104-13, the Bureau of Transportation Statistics invites the general public, industry and other governmental parties to comment on the continuing need for and usefulness of BTS collecting a sample of airline passenger itineraries with the dollar value of the passenger ticket. Certificated air carriers that operated scheduled passenger service with at least one aircraft having a seating capacity of over 60 seats report these data. Comments are requested concerning whether: (a) The collection is still needed by the Department of Transportation; (b) BTS accurately estimated the reporting burden; (c) there are other ways to enhance the quality, utility and clarity of the information collected; and (d) there are ways to minimize reporting burden, including the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology. Presently, the Department has a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (70 FR 8140, February 17, 2005) to restructure the Passenger Origin- Destination Survey Report. We are currently reviewing diverse comments on the NPRM which were due July 18, 2005 in preparation for a final rule. Until such time as we issue a final rule, the existing system for the collection of this data will remain in place to ensure compliance with statutory obligations. Therefore, we are seeking an extension of the rule in its present format. When the rulemaking becomes final the Department will seek Office of Management and Budget approval of the new reporting requirements.

We are amending the black stem rust quarantine and regulations by changing the movement restrictions in order to allow clonally propagated offspring of rust-resistant Berberis cultivars to move into or through a protected area without completing a 2-year growth period. This change will lessen an unnecessarily strict movement requirement. We are also adding 13 varieties to the list of rust-resistant Berberis species. This change allows for the interstate movement of these newly developed varieties without unnecessary restrictions.

The Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, will prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for Forest Inventory and Analysis (FIA) Helicopter Use in Wilderness. The Alaska Region and Pacific Northwest (PNW) Research Station are proposing to inventory 913 plots in wilderness areas over a 10-year span, with about 540 plots accessed by helicopter and 373 plots accessed by day hiking. Inventory protocol includes completing 10 percent of the plots each year. This means that approximately 91 plots will be inventoried each year. Of these 91 plots, about 54 plots will be accessed by helicopter. Each inventory plot accessed by helicopter will require two landings. In any given year, these 54 plots will spread out across 7.8 million acres in 19 wilderness areas on the Tongass National Forest and one wilderness study area on the Chugach National Forest.

The Lake Tahoe Basin Federal Advisory Committee will hold a meeting on March 2, 2006, at the U.S. Forest Service Office, 35 College Drive, South Lake Tahoe, CA 96150. This Committee, established by the Secretary of Agriculture on December 15, 1998 (64 FR 2876), is chartered to provide advice to the Secretary on implementing the terms of the Federal Interagency Partnership on the Lake Tahoe Region and other matters raised by the Secretary.