March 2006 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

This document contains a correction to the final regulations implementing the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Act of 1994 (USERRA), which were published in the Federal Register on December 19, 2005. Congress enacted USERRA to protect the rights of persons who voluntarily or involuntarily leave employment positions to undertake military service. USERRA authorizes the Secretary of Labor to prescribe rules implementing the law as it applies to States, local governments, and private employers. 38 U.S.C. 4331(a). The Department, through the Veterans' Employment and Training Service (VETS), promulgated rules under this statutory authority to provide guidance to employers and employees concerning their rights and obligations under USERRA. The final rule contained an incorrect citation to the Agency's statutory authority to promulgate regulations under USERRA. This document corrects the final regulations by revising the statutory authority citation.

The South Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie Resource Advisory Committee (RAC) will meet at the Snoqualmie Ranger District Office in North Bend, WA to review and select Title II projects for FY 2007.

An Opal Creek Scenic Recreation Area Advisory Council meeting will convene in Stayton, Oregon on Thursday, April 27, 2006. The meeting is scheduled to begin at 6:30 p.m., and will conclude at approximately 8:30 p.m. The meeting will be held in the South Room of the Stayton Community Center located on 400 West Virginia Street in Stayton, Oregon. The Opal Creek Wilderness and Opal Creek Scenic Recreation Area Act of 1996 (Opal Creek Act) (Pub. L. 104-208) directed the Secretary of Agriculture to establish the Opal Creek Scenic Recreation Area Advisory Council. The Advisory Council is comprised of thirteen members representing state, county and city governments, and representatives of various organizations, which include mining industry, environmental organizations, inholders in Opal Creek Scenic Recreation Area, economic development, Indian tribes, adjacent landowners and recreation interests. The council provides advice to the Secretary of Agriculture on preparation of a comprehensive Opal Creek Management Plan for the SRA, and consults on a periodic and regular basis on the management of the are. Tentative agenda items include new advisory council member introductions, roles and responsibilities, current project updates and future projects. A direct public comment period is tentatively scheduled to begin at 8 p.m. Time allotted for individual presentations will be limited to 3 minutes. Written comments are encouraged, particularly if the material cannot be presented within the time limits of the comments period. Written comments may be submitted prior to the April 27th by sending them to Designated Federal Official Paul Matter at the address given below.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is publishing its annual comprehensive list of all guidance documents currently in use at the agency. This list is being published under FDA's good guidance practices (GGPs) regulations. It is intended to inform the public of the existence and availability of all of our current guidance documents. It also provides information on guidance documents that have been added or withdrawn in the past year.

In response to a petition by the National Business Aircraft Association (NBAA), this final rule amends the requirements governing the licensing and operation in the United States of ``foreign civil aircraft'' which are not engaged in common carriage. The rule provides that certain types of operations by business aircraft operators using U.S.-registered foreign civil aircraft (such as carriage of a company's own officials and guests, or aircraft time-sharing, interchange or joint ownership arrangements between companies) do not constitute operations ``for remuneration or hire'' and, therefore, do not require a DOT permit. This document also dismisses, without prejudice, the request of NBAA that the regulation be amended so that reimbursement by political candidates carried on foreign civil aircraft is not considered ``remuneration or hire'' under the rule.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Farm Service Agency's (FSA) is seeking comments from all interested individuals and organizations on the extension with revision of a currently approved information collection associated with Highly Erodible Land Conservation and Wetland Conservation certification requirements. This information is collected in support of the conservation provisions of Title XII of the Food Security Act of 1985, as amended by the Food, Agriculture, Conservation and Trade Act of 1990, the Federal Agriculture, Improvement and Reform Act of 1996, and the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 (the Statute).

The Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) proposes to provide to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) data collected from several surveys that it conducts on U.S. direct investment abroad, foreign direct investment in the United States, and U.S. international trade in services for statistical purposes exclusively. In accordance with the requirement of Section 524(d) of the Confidential Information Protection and Statistical Efficiency Act of 2002 (CIPSEA), we are providing the opportunity for public comment on this data-sharing action. BEA will provide data collected in its surveys to link with data from BLS surveys, including the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, the Occupational Employment Statistics survey, and the Mass Layoff Statistics survey. The linked data will be used for several purposes by both agencies, such as to develop detailed industry-level estimates of the employment, payroll, and occupational structure of foreign-owned U.S. companies or of U.S. companies that own foreign affiliates, and to assess the adequacy of current government data for understanding the international outsourcing activities of U.S. companies. Non-confidential aggregate data (public use) and reports that have cleared BEA and BLS disclosure review will be provided to the National Academy of Public Administration (NAPA) as potential inputs into a study of off-shoring authorized by a grant to NAPA under Public Law 108-447. Disclosure review is a process conducted to verify that the data to be released do not reveal any confidential information.

The proposed information collection requirement described below has been 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. Grants to assist Hispanic-serving institutions expand their role and effectiveness in addressing community development needs in their localities, including neighborhood revitalization, housing and economic development.

We announce our receipt of applications to conduct certain activities pertaining to enhancement of survival of endangered species.

The FAA is revising an earlier NPRM for an airworthiness directive (AD) that would have applied to certain Airbus Model A330- 200, A330-300, A340-200, and A340-300 series airplanes, and A340-541 and A340-642 airplanes. The original NPRM would have required inspecting to determine if certain emergency escape slides/slide rafts (referred to as slide/rafts) are installed in certain crew/ passenger doors; and, if so, performing a one-time inspection to determine if the electrical harnesses of the slide/rafts are properly routed, and rerouting the harnesses if necessary. The original NPRM resulted from a report that a slide/raft failed to deploy properly during a deployment test. This action revises the original NPRM by expanding the applicability of the proposed AD. We are proposing this AD to detect and correct improper routing of the electrical harnesses of certain slide/rafts, which could prevent proper deployment of the slide/rafts and delay evacuation of passengers and flightcrew during an emergency.

The FAA is revising an earlier supplemental NPRM for an airworthiness directive (AD) that applies to certain Airbus airplanes as listed above. The first supplemental NPRM would have required repetitively inspecting for cracking in the web of nose rib 7 of the inner flap on the wings, and performing related investigative/ corrective actions if necessary. The original NPRM resulted from reports of cracking in the web of nose rib 7 of the inner flap. This action revises the first supplemental NPRM by requiring eventual replacement of nose rib 7 with a new, improved rib, which would terminate the proposed inspections. This action also removes from the applicability airplanes on which the improved nose rib 7 was installed during production. We are proposing this supplemental NPRM to prevent cracking in the web of nose rib 7, which could result in rupture of the attachment fitting between the inner flap and flap track 2, and consequent reduced structural integrity of the flap.

: The Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements (CITA) has determined that certain, 100 percent nylon 66, fully drawn flat filament yarn, of yarn count 156 decitex, comprised of 51 trilobal filaments and 20 round filaments, classified in subheading 5402.41.9040 of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS), for use in apparel articles classified under HTSUS subheadings 6108.22.9020 and 6109.90.1065, cannot be supplied by the domestic industry in commercial quantities in a timely manner. CITA hereby designates such apparel articles of such yarn, that are cut from fabric formed, or knit-to- shape, and sewn or otherwise assembled in one or more eligible AGOA beneficiary countries as eligible to enter free of quotas and duties under HTSUS subheading 9819.11.24.

The FAA is revising an earlier NPRM for an airworthiness directive (AD) that applies to certain Airbus Model A300 B2 and A300 B4 series airplanes, and A300-600 series airplanes. The original NPRM would have superseded an existing AD that currently requires repetitive inspections to detect cracks in Gear Rib 5 of the main landing gear (MLG) attachment fittings at the lower flange, and repair, if necessary. That AD also requires modification of Gear Rib 5 of the MLG attachment fittings, which constitutes terminating action for the repetitive inspections. The original NPRM proposed to reduce the compliance times for all inspections, and require doing the inspections in accordance with new revisions of the service bulletins. The original NPRM resulted from new service information that was issued by the manufacturer and mandated by the French airworthiness authority. This new action revises the original NPRM by proposing new repetitive inspections of certain areas of the attachment fittings that were repaired in accordance with the actions specified in both the existing AD and the original NPRM. We are proposing this supplemental NPRM to prevent fatigue cracking of the MLG attachment fittings, which could result in reduced structural integrity of the airplane.

The FAA is revising an earlier NPRM for an airworthiness directive (AD) that applies to all Bombardier Model DHC-7 airplanes. The original NPRM would have required implementing a corrosion prevention and control program (CPCP) either by accomplishing specific tasks or by revising the maintenance inspection program to include a CPCP. The original NPRM resulted from a determination that, as airplanes age, they are more likely to exhibit indications of corrosion. This action revises the original NPRM by clarifying certain compliance aspects of the proposed AD that were not adequately defined in the original NPRM. We are proposing this supplemental NPRM to prevent structural failure of the airplane due to corrosion.

In response to requests from Niples Del Norte S.A. de C.V. (``NDN''), Hylsa S.A. de C.V. (``Hylsa''), Mueller Comercial de Mexico, S. de R.L. de C.V (``Mueller'') and Productos Laminados de Monterrey, S.A. de C.V (``Prolamsa''), four Mexican manufacturers of circular welded non-alloy steel pipe, and Southland Pipe Nipples Co., Inc. (``Southland''), an interested party, the Department of Commerce (``the Department'') initiated an administrative review of the antidumping duty order on circular welded non-alloy steel pipe from Mexico. See Notice of Initiation of Antidumping and Countervailing Duty Administrative Reviews and Request for Revocation in Part, 70 FR 76024 (December 22, 2005). This administrative review covered the period November 1, 2004, through October 31, 2005. We are now rescinding this review due to requests by parties to withdraw from the review and the Department's determination that Prolamsa did not have shipments of subject merchandise during the period of review.

This is a notice of the deadline dates for receipt of State applications for Award Year 2006-2007 funds under the Leveraging Educational Assistance Partnership (LEAP) and Special Leveraging Educational Assistance Partnership (SLEAP) programs. The LEAP and SLEAP programs, authorized under Title IV, Part A, Subpart 4 of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended (HEA), assist States in providing aid to students with substantial financial need to help them pay for their postsecondary education costs through matching formula grants to States. Under section 415C(a) of the HEA, a State must submit an application to participate in the LEAP and SLEAP programs through the State agency that administered its LEAP Program as of July 1, 1985, unless the Governor of the State has subsequently designated, and the Department has approved, a different State agency to administer the LEAP Program.

This notice announces a meeting of the Methane Hydrate Advisory Committee. Federal Advisory Committee Act (Pub. L. 92-463, 86 Stat.770) requires that notice of these meetings be announced in the Federal Register.

This notice announces a meeting of the Environmental Management Site-Specific Advisory Board (EM SSAB), Paducah. The Federal Advisory Committee Act (Pub. L. 92-463, 86 Stat. 770) requires that public notice of this meeting be announced in the Federal Register.

The Department of Energy (DOE or Department) will hold an informal public meeting to discuss and receive comments on issues it will address in this rulemaking proceeding. The Department is also initiating the data collection process for establishing energy conservation standards for residential electric and gas ranges and ovens and microwave ovens, dishwashers, dehumidifiers, and commercial clothes washers. The Department also encourages written comments on these subjects. In addition, this effort is the result of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (EPACT 2005) directive to publish a final rule to determine whether the standards established by EPACT 2005 should be amended no later than October 1, 2009, for dehumidifiers, and no later than January 1, 2010, for commercial clothes washers. To inform stakeholders and facilitate this process, DOE has prepared a Framework Document, a draft of which is available at: https://www.eere.energy. gov/buildings/appliance standards/.

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) gives notice as required by 42 CFR 83.12(e) of a decision to evaluate a petition to designate a class of employees at the Blockson Chemical Company, in Joliet, Illinois, to be included in the Special Exposure Cohort under the Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program Act of 2000. The initial proposed definition for the class being evaluated, subject to revision as warranted by the evaluation, is as follows: Facility: Blockson Chemical Company. Location: Building 55. Job Titles and/or Job Duties: Utility Engineer, Laborer, Research Chemist, Relief Operator, Plant Operator, Maintenance and Pipefitter, Lead Mixer, Operator, and Supervisor HF Acid. Period of Employment: October 10, 1952 through December 31, 1962.

We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Pacific Aerospace Corporation Ltd. Model 750XL airplanes. This proposed AD would require you to inspect the condition of the insulation of the wiring adjacent to the electrical plugs mounted in the left-hand (LH) and right-hand (RH) sides of the forward end of the cockpit center console for signs of abrasion and arcing. If you find evidence of abrasion or arcing, this proposed AD would require you to replace the affected wire(s) and secure the wires away from the back shells of the electrical plugs. This proposed AD results from mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) issued by the airworthiness authority for New Zealand. We are proposing this AD to detect and correct damaged wires on the LH and RH sides of the forward end of the cockpit center console, which could result in short-circuiting of the related wiring. This could lead to electrical failure of affected systems and potential fire in the cockpit.

The Office of Citizen Exchanges, Youth Programs Division, of the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs announces an open competition for the management of the Disability Component for its Academic Year programs. This includes conducting a five-day summer Preparatory Workshop and a three-day spring Leadership and Reentry Workshop for Students with Disabilities from Eurasia participating in the Future Leaders Exchange (FLEX) Program and from countries with significant Muslim populations participating in the Youth Exchange and Study (YES) Program, as well as the provision of support services to these students throughout the year by assisting grantee placement organizations and maintaining regular communication with each student, as needed. Approximately 20-27 high school-aged students will participate in the Disability Component Program.