February 15, 2006 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation's regulations on Benefits Payable in Terminated Single-Employer Plans and Allocation of Assets in Single-Employer Plans prescribe interest assumptions for valuing and paying benefits under terminating single-employer plans. This final rule amends the regulations to adopt interest assumptions for plans with valuation dates in March 2006. Interest assumptions are also published on the PBGC's Web site (https://www.pbgc.gov).

This notice announces the filing of revised pesticide petitions proposing the amendment of a regulation for residues of the fungicide pyraclostrobin, carbamic acid, [2-[[1-(4-chlorophenyl)-1H- pyrazol-3-yl]oxy]methyl]phenyl]methoxy-methyl ester, and its metabolite methyl-N-[[[1-(4-chlorophenyl) pyrazol-3-yl]oxy]o-tolyl] carbamate (BF 500-3); expressed as parent compound in or on pea and bean, dried shelled, except soybean (Subgroup 6C of Crop Group 6) and strawberry commodities.

This notice announces the availability of EPA's risk assessments, and related documents for the pesticide oxytetracycline, and opens a public comment period on these documents. The public is encouraged to suggest risk management ideas or proposals to address the risks identified. EPA is developing a tolerance reassessment decision (TRED) for oxytetracycline through a modified, 4-Phase public participation process that the Agency uses to involve the public in developing pesticide reregistration and tolerance reassessment decisions. Through these programs, EPA is ensuring that all pesticides meet current health and safety standards.

EPA has received a specific exemption request from the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry to use the pesticide ethofenprox (CAS No. 80844-07-1) to treat up to 255,000 acres of rice to control rice water weevil, Lissorhoptrus oryzophilus. The Applicant proposes a first food use of this pesticide. EPA is soliciting public comment before making the decision whether or not to grant the exemption.

The Assistant Secretary for Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS) publishes the Final Long-Range Plan (Final Plan) for the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR) for FY 2005 through 2009. As required by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended (Act), the Assistant Secretary takes this action to outline priorities for rehabilitation research, demonstration projects, training, and related activities, and to explain the basis for these priorities.

Pursuant to section 1253 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (EPAct 2005) and section 210 of the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978 (PURPA), the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (Commission) revises 18 CFR parts 131 and 292 to implement amended regulations governing qualifying cogeneration and small power production facilities.

The Department of State (the Department) is issuing a final rule on the accreditation and approval of agencies and persons in accordance with the 1993 Hague Convention on Protection of Children and Co-operation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption (the Convention) and the Intercountry Adoption Act of 2000 (the IAA), after review of public comments received in response to the Department's September 15, 2003 issuance of a proposed rule. The Convention and the IAA generally require that agencies and persons be accredited or approved to provide adoption services for intercountry adoptions when both countries involved are parties to the Convention, and the IAA requires that the Department designate one or more qualified accrediting entities to accredit and approve agencies and persons. Today's new action establishes the accreditation and approval standards for agencies and persons that accrediting entities will use; establishes requirements applicable to potential accrediting entities; and establishes a framework for the Department's oversight of accrediting entities, agencies, and persons. This action is a necessary step toward bringing the Convention into force for the United States.