March 28, 2006 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain McDonnell Douglas Model 717-200 airplanes. This proposed AD would require replacing the lightning critical clamp bases of the fuel tank vent system with improved clamp bases; and checking the electrical bond of the modified self-bonding mounting clamps. This proposed AD results from an investigation that revealed the aluminum foil strip on the nylon base of the ground clamps can fracture or separate from the base. We are proposing this AD to ensure that the fuel pipes are properly bonded to the airplane structure. Improper bonding could prevent electrical energy from a lightning strike from dissipating to the airplane structure, which could result in a fuel tank explosion.

The Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act of 2005: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU) enacted certain amendments to the definition of the term ``capital project'' as used in 49 U.S.C. 5301 et seq. (Federal Transit Law) relating to ``joint development'' activities by recipients of Federal funds under Federal Transit Law. In order to assist the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) in developing a proposed guidance document concerning the implementation of such amendments, FTA published a proposed guidance document on January 31, 2006 (71 FR 5107). Since publication of that document, FTA identified several other issues on which we would like to receive public input, and, thus, we are extending the comment period for an additional thirty days. Also, please be advised that the previously published guidance on joint development will not operate as interim or final guidance for FTA unless and until otherwise stated by FTA, in writing.

The FTC is planning to host a public workshop, Protecting Consumers in the New Mortgage Marketplace. The workshop will explore consumer protection issues arising from the emergence of ``nontraditional'' or ``alternative'' mortgage products in the United States residential mortgage marketplace. The workshop will provide an opportunity for government regulators, industry participants, consumer advocates, and other interested parties to discuss the impact of these products on consumers and the marketplace. The event is open to the public and there is no fee for attendance. For admittance to the workshop, all attendees will be required to show a valid form of photo identification, such as a driver's license. Additional information about the workshop will be posted on the FTC's Web site at https://www.ftc.gov/bcp/workshops/mortgage/. Date and Location: The workshop will be held on May 24, 2006, from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., at the Federal Trade Commission's Satellite Building Conference Center located at 601 New Jersey Avenue, NW., Washington, DC. Requests to Participate as Workshop Panelists: FTC staff will identify and invite individuals with relevant expertise to participate as panelists. In addition, the FTC staff may invite other persons to participate as panelists who submit requests in response to this Federal Register notice. Requests to participate as panelists in the workshop must be received on or before Wednesday, April 12, 2006. Persons filing requests to participate as panelists will be notified whether they have been invited on or before Wednesday, April 26, 2006. For further instructions, please see the ``Requests to Participate as Workshop Panelists'' section under SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION below. Workshop Agenda: Additional information about the workshop will be posted on the FTC's Web site at https://www.ftc.gov/bcp/workshops/ mortgage/. An agenda will be posted there in advance of the workshop.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is announcing that a collection of information entitled ``Guidance for Reagents for Detection of Specific Novel Influenza A Viruses'' has been approved by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is announcing that a collection of information entitled ``Guidance on Informed Consent for In Vitro Diagnostic Device Studies Using Leftover Human Specimens That are Not Individually Identifiable'' has been approved by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501-21), this notice announces that the Veterans Health Administration (VHA), Department of Veterans Affairs, has submitted the collection of information abstracted below to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and comment. The PRA submission describes the nature of the information collection and its expected cost and burden and includes the actual data collection instrument.

The Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA), Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), is announcing an opportunity for public comment on the proposed collection of certain information by the agency. Under the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995, Federal agencies are required to publish notice in the Federal Register concerning each proposed collection of information, including each proposed revision of a currently approved collection, and allow 60 days for public comment in response to the notice. This notice solicits comments on applicants' qualifications as a fee appraiser or compliance inspector.

Notice is hereby given that the United States Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management-Eastern States (BLM-ES), will offer certain coal resources described below as the Blue Hole Federal Mineral Tract (KYES-50213) in Clay County, Kentucky, for competitive sale by sealed bid, in accordance with the provisions for competitive lease sales in 43 CFR part 3422, and the Mineral Leasing Act of 1920, as amended and supplemented (30 U.S.C. 181 et seq.), and the Mineral Leasing Act for Acquired Lands of 1947.

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.

The Coast Guard is proposing to amend and revise 33 CFR 165.1315 to establish additional safety zones on the waters of the Suislaw, Willamette, Columbia, Coos, and Chehalis Rivers, located in the Area of Responsibility (AOR) of the Captain of the Port, Portland, Oregon, during annual fireworks displays. The Captain of the Port, Portland, Oregon, is taking this action to safeguard watercraft and their occupants from safety hazards associated with these displays. Entry into these safety zones is prohibited unless authorized by the Captain of the Port.

We (the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA)) are reproposing provisions involving two issues included in the notice of proposed rulemaking that was published in the Federal Register on July 16, 2004. These issues involve the following: Types of trailing cables that can be used with high-voltage continuous mining machines; and a requirement to use high-voltage insulating gloves or insulated cable handling tools when handling energized high-voltage trailing cables. In connection with the second issue, we are also addressing the availability requirement for high-voltage insulating gloves and insulated cable handling tools, and the safety requirements for these tools. We are reproposing these provisions after consideration of the oral and written pre- and post-hearing comments that we received.

The FAA is revising an existing airworthiness directive (AD), which applies to certain Bombardier Model CL-600-2B19 (Regional Jet Series 100 & 440) airplanes. The existing AD currently requires revising the airworthiness limitations section of the Instructions for Continued Airworthiness of the maintenance requirements manual (MRM) by incorporating procedures for repetitive functional tests of the pilot input lever of the pitch feel simulator (PFS) units. That AD also requires new repetitive functional tests of the pilot input lever of the PFS unit, and corrective actions if necessary; and after initiating the new tests, requires removal of the existing procedures for the repetitive functional tests from the MRM. This AD retains the requirements of the existing AD and further clarifies the requirements of the AD. This AD results from a report that the shear pin located in the input lever of two PFS units failed due to fatigue. We are issuing this AD to prevent undetected failure of the shear pin of both PFS units simultaneously, which could result in loss of pitch feel forces and consequent reduced control of the airplane.

The FAA is issuing this notice to advise the public that a meeting of the Federal Aviation Air Traffic Procedures Advisory Committee (ATPAC) will be held to review present air traffic control procedures and practices for standardization, clarification, and upgrading of terminology and procedures.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (the Corps) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) are proposing to revise regulations governing compensatory mitigation for activities authorized by permits issued by the Department of the Army. The proposed regulations are intended to establish performance standards and criteria for the use of permittee-responsible compensatory mitigation and mitigation banks, and to improve the quality and success of compensatory mitigation projects for activities authorized by Department of the Army permits. The proposed regulations are also intended to account for regional variations in aquatic resource types, functions, and values, and apply equivalent standards to each type of compensatory mitigation to the maximum extent practicable. The proposed rule includes a watershed approach to improve the quality and success of compensatory mitigation projects in replacing losses of aquatic resource functions, services, and values resulting from activities authorized by Department of the Army permits. We are proposing to require in-lieu fee programs, after a five-year transition period, to meet the same standards as mitigation banks.