March 24, 2006 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

This document announces the availability of Motor Carrier Safety Assistance Program (MCSAP) grant funding as authorized by the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU). MCSAP is a Federal grant program that provides financial assistance to States to reduce the number and severity of crashes and hazardous materials incidents involving commercial motor vehicles (CMV). The goal of MCSAP is to reduce CMV- involved crashes, fatalities, and injuries through consistent, uniform, and effective CMV safety programs.

This action serves as notice that NMFS, on behalf of the Secretary of Commerce, has determined that overfishing is occurring on the yellowfin tuna (Thunnus albacares) stock in the western and central Pacific Ocean (WCPO), and requests that the Western Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) address this overfishing condition pursuant to the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act. The intent of this action is to notify interested persons that yellowfin tuna is undergoing overfishing in the WCPO.

NOAA announces the Ernest F. Hollings Scholarship Program for FY 2006, and sets forth eligibility criteria and selection guidelines for the program. The Ernest F. Hollings scholarship program was established through the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2005 (Pub. L. 108-447). This Scholarship Program will provide undergraduate applicants selected for the program with scholarships to study oceanic and atmospheric science, research, technology, and education. There is no guarantee that funds will be available to make awards to all qualified applicants. The Ernest F. Hollings Scholarship Program will be administered with the assistance of the Department of Energy, Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE).

Each year the tariff-rate quota for tuna described in subheading 1604.14.22, HTSUS, is based on the apparent United States consumption of tuna in airtight containers during the preceding Calendar Year. This document sets forth the tariff-rate quota for Calendar Year 2006.

The Department of State has submitted the following information collection request to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for approval in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. Title of Information Collection: Application for Diplomatic Exemption From Taxes. OMB Control Number: 1405-0069. Type of Request: Extension of an approved collection. Originating Office: Bureau of Diplomatic Security, Office of Foreign Missions, Diplomatic Tax and Customs Office, DS/OFM/VTC/TC. Form Number: DS-98, DS-98 E, DS-99 and DS-99 E. Respondents: Eligible foreign diplomatic or consular missions, certain foreign government organizations, and designated international organizations. Estimated Number of Respondents: 350. Estimated Number of Responses: Approximately 2419. Average Hours Per Response: 15 minutes. Total Estimated Burden: 605 hours. Frequency: On occasion. Obligation to Respond: Required to obtain or retain a benefit.

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) has changed a guideline for determining the probability of causation under the Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program Act of 2000 (EEOICPA) for energy employees with cancers of the lung, trachea, or bronchus. The change affects only the NIOSH- Interactive RadioEpidemiological Program (IREP) cancer risk model termed ``Lung (162).'' The new guideline, which became effective on February 28, 2006, with the introduction of NIOSH-IREP Version 5.5, requires the use of both a National Institutes of Health (NIH)-IREP lung model implemented by NIH in 2003 and the original NIOSH-IREP lung model implemented by NIOSH in 2002. NIOSH-IREP Version 5.5 calculates separately the probability of causation produced under each model for each cancer of the lung, trachea, or bronchus. The result from the model that produces the higher probability of causation at the upper 99th percentile credibility limit is reported as the probability of causation result of record for the claim. NIOSH-IREP Version 5.5 also incorporates a bias correction factor for random errors in dosimetry for those energy workers who had not smoked cigarettes (``never smokers'') and who were exposed to radon. This correction was previously applied to smokers, but had been inadvertently omitted for never smokers. These changes may result in the Department of Labor (DOL) calculating higher probability of causation determinations for select cases of cancer of the lung, trachea, or bronchus among previously decided and current EEOICPA cancer claims. The changes cannot result in any lower probability of causation determinations. Although this change to the NIOSH-IREP lung cancer risk model took effect February 28, 2006, NIOSH will fully consider all comments received regarding this change and may reconsider this change or consider further revisions to the lung cancer risk model based on public comment.

The Department of Commerce (the ``Department'') has determined that a request for a new shipper review of the antidumping duty order on certain frozen warmwater shrimp from the Socialist Republic of Vietnam (``Vietnam''), received before February 28, 2006, meets the statutory and regulatory requirements for initiation. The period of review (``POR'') of this new shipper review is July 16, 2004, through January 31, 2006.

Notice is hereby given that the comment period for the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for the Upper Rio Grande Water Operations Review, DES-05-80, is extended an additional 30 days to April 20, 2006.

This notice provides a listing of civil penalties paid January 1, 2005, through December 31, 2005, for violations of the OCS Lands Act (OCSLA). The goal of the MMS OCS Civil Penalties Program is to assure safe and clean operations on the OCS. Through the pursuit, assessment, and collection of civil penalties and referrals for the consideration of criminal penalties, the program is designed to encourage compliance with OCS statutes and regulations. The purpose of publishing the penalties summary is to provide information to the public on violations of special concern in OCS operations and to provide an additional incentive for safe and environmentally sound operations.

EPA expressed environmental concerns about the proposed project arising from the reliability of projecting traffic data to the year 2035, and the lack of data in the Tier 1 document to support the intended Tier 1 decisions. Rating EC2.

This notice amends the notice of a major disaster declaration for the State of Texas (FEMA-1624-DR), dated January 11, 2006, and related determinations.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has submitted the following information collection to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and clearance in accordance with the requirements of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. The submission describes the nature of the information collection, the categories of respondents, the estimated burden (i.e., the time, effort and resources used by respondents to respond) and cost, and includes the actual data collection instruments FEMA will use. Title: Reimbursement for Cost of Fighting Fire on Federal Property. OMB Number: 1660-0014. Abstract: The \1\ Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Director; the Administrator of the United States Fire Administration (USFA); and the United States Treasury will use the information to ensure proper expenditure of Federal funds. Once a claim is received, a copy of FEMA determination and the claim is forwarded to the Treasury Department. The Treasury Department will pay for fire services or its parent jurisdiction for any moneys in the treasurer subject to reimbursement, to the Federal department or agency under whose jurisdiction the fire occurred.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has submitted the following information collection to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and clearance in accordance with the requirements of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. The submission describes the nature of the information collection, the categories of respondents, the estimated burden (i.e., the time, effort and resources used by respondents to respond) and cost, and includes the actual data collection instruments FEMA will use. Title: Flood Insurance Policy Acquisition and Retention Among Recipients of Federal Assistance Study. OMB Number: 1660-NW19. Abstract: This survey will collect information on flood insurance purchasing patterns among property owners in communities with high densities of disaster recipients. Data findings will be used to develop strategies to improve compliance with flood insurance regulations. Affected Public: Individuals and Households. Number of Respondents: 1,200. Estimated Time per Respondent: 20 minutes or .33 hour. Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 400 hours. Frequency of Response: One-time only. Comments: Interested persons are invited to submit written comments on the proposed information collection to the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs at OMB, Attention: Desk Officer for the Department of Homeland Security/FEMA, Docket Library, Room 10102, 725 17th Street, NW., Washington, DC 20503, or facsimile number (202) 395-7285. Comments must be submitted on or before April 24, 2006.

The Department of Labor, 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/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 Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) is soliciting comments concerning the extension of the information collection related to the 30 CFR 57.22401; Underground Retorts.