May 1, 2006 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. Chapter 35, as amended), the Rural Utilities Service (RUS) invites comments on this information collection for which RUS intends to request approval from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB).

The Department is extending through July 28, 2006, the period for interested persons to submit comments to its proposed rule concerning modifications to the Department's Americans with Disabilities Act and related rules.

We are amending the fruits and vegetables regulations to allow the importation, under certain conditions, of fresh commercial citrus fruit (grapefruit, limes, mandarin oranges or tangerines, sweet oranges, and tangelos) from approved areas of Peru into the United States. Based on the evidence in a recent pest risk analysis, we believe these articles can be safely imported from Peru, provided certain conditions are met. This action will provide for the importation of citrus from Peru into the United States while continuing to protect the United States against the introduction of plant pests.

Pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Little Rock District will prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the proposed Pine Mountain Dam and Lake Project, AR. The purpose of the EIS will be to present alternatives and assess the impacts to the human environment associated with providing flood control, recreation and water supply for the surrounding areas in Arkansas and Oklahoma from the proposed project. The study area includes the entire Lee Creek watershed together with the lower Lee Creek reservoir near Van Buren, AR. The proposed project could affect agriculture, recreation, flood control, water supply and natural resources within the study area. The EIS will evaluate potential impacts (positive and negative) to the natural, physical, and human environment as a result of implementing any of the proposed project alternatives that may be developed during the EIS process.

The Hood/Willamette Resource Advisory Committee (RAC) will meet on Friday, May 26, 2006. The meeting is scheduled to begin at 11 a.m. and will conclude at approximately 4 p.m. The meeting will be held at Lane County Forest Work Camp; Alma, Oregon; (541) 935-0144. The tentative agenda includes: (1) Election of chairperson; (2) Tour of the Work Camp; (3) Report on National Forest Counties and Schools Coalition Conference; (4) Decision on overhead rate for 2007 projects; (5) Presentation of 2007 Projects; and (6) Public Forum. The Public Forum is tentatively scheduled to begin at 2 p.m. Time allotted for individual presentations will be limited to 3-4 minutes. Written comments are encouraged, particularly if the material cannot be presented within the time limits for the Public Forum. Written comments may be submitted prior to the May 26th meeting by sending them to Designated Federal Official Donna Short at the address given below.

The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) has authority to conduct demonstration projects that experiment with new and different human resources management concepts to determine whether changes in policies and procedures result in improved Federal human resources management. OPM approved a demonstration project covering several operating units of the U.S. Department of Commerce (DoC). OPM must approve modifications to demonstration project plans. This notice rescinds the demonstration project's independent authority pertaining to recruitment and retention payments. By so doing, it allows the demonstration project to take advantage of the expanded recruitment and retention flexibilities applicable to General Schedule and other employees.

The FAA is issuing this notice to advise the public of a meeting of RTCA Special Committee 209, Air Traffic Control Radar Beacon Systems (ATCRBS)/Mode S Transponder.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is issuing this Notice of Intent to announce publicly that an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) will be prepared and considered for the proposed construction of a replacement runway, proposed terminal development, ancillary development, and air traffic procedures developed in the Part 150 Study for the replacement runway. Associated improvements involved with the proposed project are described below.

This proposed rule would implement competitive bidding programs for certain covered items of durable medical equipment, prosthetics, orthotics, and supplies (DMEPOS) throughout the United States in accordance with sections 1847(a) and (b) of the Social Security Act (the Act). These programs would change the way that Medicare pays for these items under Part B of the Medicare program by utilizing bids submitted by DMEPOS suppliers to establish applicable payment amounts. We would phase in these programs over several years. This proposed rule would also detail requirements for CMS approved accreditation organizations that will be applying quality standards for all DMEPOS suppliers, including DMEPOS suppliers that participate in the DMEPOS competitive bidding program. In addition, this rule proposes a new fee schedule for home dialysis supplies and equipment still paid on a reasonable charge basis. This proposed rule would also clarify our policy on the scope of the statutory eyeglass coverage exclusion. We are proposing to specify in regulations that the eyeglass exclusion encompasses all devices that use lenses to aid vision or provide magnification of images for impaired vision. Further, this proposed rule would implement a revised methodology for calculating fee schedule amounts for new DMEPOS items.

EPA is proposing to correct, amend, and revise certain provisions of the Highway Diesel Rule, and the Nonroad Diesel Rule. This action proposes to correct additional errors and omissions from the previous rules, and make minor changes to the regulations to assist entities with regulatory compliance. Further, this action also proposes technical amendments resulting from discussions with various diesel stakeholders. These technical amendments would: provide a temporary increase in the sulfur testing tolerance, revise the designate and track provisions to account for non-petroleum diesel fuels (i.e., biodiesel) and fuel that meets the California Air Resources Board's diesel fuel standards, and amend the alternative defense provisions to account for conductivity additives and red dye. This proposed action is intended to help facilitate compliance with the diesel fuel regulations and ensure a smooth transition to ultra low sulfur diesel fuel.