April 12, 2006 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

FMCSA invites public comment on its plan to request the Office of Management and Budget's (OMB) approval to collect information on new forms entitled ``Carrier Contact Information Sheets.'' The information will be collected from United States and Canada-based motor carriers through the use forms, and used by FMCSA Safety Auditors and Safety Investigators to prepare in advance for Compliance Reviews (CRs) and New Entrant Program Safety Audits (NEPSAs); Pre-authority Safety Audits (PASAs) and CRs of certain Mexico-domiciled motor carriers; and NEPSAs and CRs of Non-North American motor carriers. FMCSA conducts CRs to determine motor carrier compliance with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSRs) and other regulations overseen by FMCSA. In accordance with section 350 of the 2002 DOT Appropriations Act and the Agency's regulations, all Mexico-domiciled long-haul carriers must successfully complete a PASA before receiving authority to operate in the United States and must receive a CR within their first 18 months of operations in the United States. All other motor carriers receive CRs to determine their safety fitness. FMCSA conducts NEPSAs in accordance with section 210 of the Motor Carrier Safety Improvement Act of 1999, which requires safety reviews of all new entrants during their first 18 months of operations. The information collected from motor carriers will be used to assist safety investigators to become familiar with the motor carrier's operation prior to visiting the carrier's place of business. The information collected will include, but is not limited to, company information and contact persons, business type, insurance, type of cargo transported, vehicle and driver information and controlled substance testing information. Additional information will be collected from carriers who transport hazardous materials, household goods, and passengers or are domiciled in Mexico. This notice is required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.

In accordance with Executive Order 11625 and 15 U.S.C. Section 1512, the Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) is soliciting competitive applications from organizations to operate a Minority Business Opportunity Center (MBOC) (formerly Minority Business Opportunity Committee) in the state of Louisiana. A prior solicitation in the Federal Register dated February 8, 2006 (71 FR 6449) for the Baton Rouge/New Orleans geographic service area was unsuccessful. The Minority Business Opportunity Center through its staff will provide brokering services and assistance to minority business enterprises (MBEs) that (a) Generate $500,000 or more in annual gross revenues; (b) are capable of creating significant employment and long-term economic impact (commonly referred to as ``rapid growth-potential'' MBEs); or (c) have been displaced from Louisiana due to Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. The MBOC will provide access to buyers of goods and services and procurement and financing opportunities within the public and private sectors. In addition, the MBOC will assist clients by identifying, matching and fostering strategic partners and joint ventures with firms outside the designated service area in order to build client capacity.

On February 17, 2006, the Secretary of Commerce and the United States Trade Representative (USTR) renewed the charters of the 16 Industry Trade Advisory Committees (ITACs) and the Committee of Chairs of the ITACs for a four-year term to expire on February 17, 2010. The ITACs advise the USTR and the Secretary on trade matters. There are currently opportunities for membership on each of these Committees, including opportunities to serve as environmental representatives or public health or health care community representatives on select ITACs. Nominations will be accepted for current vacancies and those that occur throughout the remainder of the charter term, which expires on February 17, 2010.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration publishes this notice to announce the availability of the draft Prospectus for one of the U.S. Climate Change Science Program (CCSP) Synthesis and Assessment Products (Products) for public comment. This draft Prospectus addresses the following CCSP Topic: Product 3.3 Climate Extremes: Analysis of the Observed Changes and Variations and Prospects for the Future. After consideration of comments received on the draft Prospectus, the final Prospectus along with the comments received will be published on the CCSP web site.

On March 24, 2006 the Chairman of CITA received a request from Biederlack of America alleging that acrylic staple fiber, not carded, combed or otherwise processed for spinning, classified in subheading 5503.30 of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS), cannot be supplied by the domestic industry in commercial quantities in a timely manner and requesting that CITA consider whether the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) rule of origin for blankets classified under HTSUS subheading 6301.40 should be modified to allow the use of non-North American acrylic staple fiber. The President may proclaim a modification to the NAFTA rules of origin only after reaching an agreement with the other NAFTA countries on the modification. CITA hereby solicits public comments on this request, in particular with regard to whether acrylic staple fiber of HTSUS subheading 5503.30 can be supplied by the domestic industry in commercial quantities in a timely manner. Comments must be submitted by May 12, 2006 to the Chairman, Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements, Room 3001, United States Department of Commerce, Washington, DC 20230.

The Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration (GIPSA) announces the designation of Intercontinental Grain Inspections, Inc. (Intercontinental), to provide official inspection services under the United States Grain Standards Act, as amended (Act).

This notice announces the initial filing of pesticide petitions proposing the establishment or amendment of regulations for residues of pesticide chemicals in or on various commodities.

EPA has received a specific exemption request from the Michigan Department of Agriculture to use the pesticide gentamicin(CAS No. 1403-66-3) to treat up to 26,600 acres of apples to control streptomycin-resistant fire blight. The Applicant proposes the use of a new chemical which has not been registered by EPA. EPA is soliciting public comment before making the decision whether or not to grant the exemption.

This notice announces the initial filing of a pesticide petition proposing the establishment of regulations for residues of pesticide chemicals in or on various food commodities.

This notice announces the initial filing of pesticide petitions proposing the establishment or amendment of regulations for residues of pesticide chemicals in or on various commodities.

The Western Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) will hold the annual meeting of the Council Bottomfish Plan Team (BPT).

This notice announces the initial filing of a pesticide petition proposing the establishment of regulations for residues of myclobutanil in or on hops.

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has prepared a Draft Environmental Assessment as part of its evaluation of a request by R.E. Ginna Nuclear Power Plant, LLC (Ginna LLC) for a license amendment to increase the maximum steady state power level at the R.E. Ginna Nuclear Power Plant (Ginna) from 1520 megawatts thermal (MWt) to 1775 MWt. This represents a power increase of approximately 16.8 percent, which is considered an extended power uprate (EPU). As stated in the NRC staff's position paper dated February 8, 1996, on the Boiling-Water Reactor Extended Power Uprate Program, the NRC staff will prepare an environmental impact statement if it believes a power uprate will have a significant impact on the human environment. The NRC staff did not identify any significant impact from the information provided in the licensee's EPU application for Ginna or the NRC staff's independent review; therefore, the NRC staff is documenting its environmental review in an environmental assessment. Also, in accordance with the position paper, the Draft Environmental Assessment and finding of no significant impact is being published in the Federal Register with a 30-day public comment period.

SESCO Enterprises Canada (SESCO Canada) has applied to renew its authority to transmit electric energy from the United States to Canada pursuant to section 202(e) of the Federal Power Act.