February 2006 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The proposed information collection requirement described below will be submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act. The Department is soliciting public comments on the subject proposal.

Under the Federal Advisory Committee Act (Pub. L. 92-463), EPA gives notice of a meeting of the Gulf of Mexico Program (GMP) Citizens Advisory Committee (CAC).

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is announcing that a proposed collection of information has been submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and clearance under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.

The FHWA has forwarded the information collection request described in this notice to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to renew an information collection. We published a Federal Register Notice with a 60-day public comment period on this information collection on November 21, 2005. We are required to publish this notice in the Federal Register by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.

The Department hereby announces its intent to investigate the possible adoption of a pilot program that will provide foreign university students an opportunity to work and travel in the United States for up to 12 months. The Conference Report (H. Rep. 108-792) that accompanied The Departments of Commerce, Justice, and State, the Judiciary, and Related Agencies Appropriation Act, 2005, H.R. 4818, Public Law 108-447, incorporated by reference certain language set forth in S. Rep. 108- 344, that accompanied S. 2809. In that report, the Senate Committee on Appropriations directed the Department as follows:

The FHWA has forwarded the information collection request described in this notice to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to renew an information collection. We published a Federal Register Notice with a 60-day public comment period on this information collection on November 21st, 2005. We are required to publish this notice in the Federal Register by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.

The Department of Labor (the Department), as part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, conducts a pre-clearance consultation program to provide the general public and Federal agencies with an opportunity to comment on proposed and continuing collections of information in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA 95). This program helps to ensure that the data the Department gathers can be provided in the desired format, the reporting burden (time and financial resources) is minimized, the public clearly understands the Department's collection instruments, and the Department can accurately assess the impact of collection requirements on respondents. Currently, the Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA) is soliciting comments concerning an extension of the information collections in the regulation implementing the requirement under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) that administrators of employee benefit plans annually furnish participants and certain beneficiaries a statement that fairly summarizes the plan's latest annual report. A copy of the information collection request (ICR) may be obtained by contacting the office listed in the ADDRESSES section of this notice.

Before a Federal agency can collect certain information from the public, it must receive approval from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). Under procedures established by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), before seeking OMB approval, Federal agencies must solicit public comment on proposed collections of information, including extensions and reinstatements of previously approved collections. This document describes three collections of information for which NHTSA intends to seek OMB approval.

The General Services Administration (GSA) announces its intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the expansion/ renovation of the Calexico West Port of Entry (POE), located in Calexico, California. The purpose of the expansion/renovation is to reduce traffic congestion in Calexico and Mexicali city centers caused by vehicles crossing the border, to improve border security; and to provide safe, secure, and efficient operational areas for the public and Federal employees. This facility serves both vehicular and pedestrian traffic into and out of the Mexican city of Mexicali. The need for this expansion/renovation derives from the substantial increase in its use by international travelers. The existing POE is not equipped to process this increase within an acceptable level of service consistent with the Federal Inspection Service's minimum standards. Problems at the current facility are mostly related to inadequate space for inspection operations, equipment, and personnel. The facility also requires seismic retrofitting. The EIS will address potential environmental impacts of the alternatives for the proposed project related to geology and soils, water resources, land use, biological resources, cultural resources, visual resources, infrastructure, traffic, air quality, noise, human health and safety, socioeconomics, and environmental justice. The existing contamination of the New River and traffic congestion have been identified as potential environmental impacts. Information regarding other potential environmental impacts will be gathered during the public scoping process.

Technical information or comments are requested on the proposed Base (1% annual chance) Flood Elevations (BFEs) and proposed BFE modifications for the communities listed below. The BFEs are the basis for the floodplain management measures that the community is required either to adopt or to show evidence of being already in effect in order to qualify or remain qualified for participation in the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP).

Final regulations for valuing gas produced from Indian leases, published on August 10, 1999, require MMS to determine major portion values and notify industry by publishing the values in the Federal Register. The regulations also require MMS to publish a due date for industry to pay additional royalty based on the major portion value. This notice provides the major portion values for the 12 months of 2004. The due date to pay is April 30, 2006, after which late interest will accrue.

An open meeting of the Area 2 Taxpayer Advocacy Panel will be conducted (via teleconference). The Taxpayer Advocacy Panel is soliciting public comments, ideas, and suggestions on improving customer service at the Internal Revenue Service.

The FHWA is soliciting comments on a proposed Interstate Oasis program. Specifically, section 1310 of the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (``SAFETEA- LU'', Pub. L. 109-59, enacted August 10, 2005), requires the Secretary of Transportation to develop standards for designating certain facilities as Interstate Oases and to design a uniform logo for such designated facilities. The FHWA has developed a preliminary framework for an Interstate Oasis program and is seeking public comments in order to refine and finalize the program.