May 19, 2006 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

NMFS amends the regulations governing the North and South Atlantic swordfish fisheries to modify the North and South Atlantic Swordfish quotas for the 2005 fishing year (Junej 1, 2005, through May 31, 2006) to account for updated landings information from the 2003 and 2004 fishing years. This action is necessary to ensure that current quotas are based on the most recent landings information and account for any underharvest from previous fishing years, consistent with the regulations at 50 CFR part 635. Additionally, this action implements a subsequent recommendation by the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tuna (ICCAT)(Recommendation 04-02) to extend the 2005 North Atlantic swordfish management measures.

With the construction of Seven Oaks Dam, during and immediately after storm events, water flows into the pool of water impounded behind the dam may be turbid. Once water is impounded behind the dam, all water flowing in the Santa Ana River that enters Seven Oaks Reservoir must pass through that impoundment before being released at the dam. To the extent that water impounded behind the dam can have a higher level of sediment or algae than water flowing in the Santa Ana River below the Southern California Edison (SCE) No. 1 Powerhouse, the quality of water released from Seven Oaks Dam into the Santa Ana River may be reduced. The purpose of the study is to evaluate the potential impacts, if any, of the Seven Oaks Dam regarding downstream water quality and to characterize upstream water quality. This will entail characterization of the water quality conditions that existed prior to dam construction and determination of how or whether the dam has contributed to water quality impairment as part of the ``baseline conditions analysis''. After the analysis, future studies would be determined with the resource agencies, Local Sponsors, and Stakeholders.

In accordance with requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Baltimore District, has prepared a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for the proposed construction of a dredged material containment facility (DMCF) by the Maryland Port Administration (MPA). This DEIS was prepared as part of the submission of MPA's application for a Department of the Army permit to construct the facility in the Patapsco River, Baltimore City, MD. This application will be evaluated pursuant to section 10 or the Rivers and Harbors Act of 1899 and section 404 of the Clean Water Act. The preferred alternative is for the construction of a stone, sand, and cofferdam structure that would impact approximately 131 acres of waters of the United States, including jurisdictional wetlands. The structure would be initially constructed to 10 feet above the mean lower low water (MLLW) elevation, with a future temporary elevation to 42 feet above MLLW, and an ultimate elevation of 36 feet above MLLW. The project would also include mechanical dredging of approximately 1.7 million cubic yards of overburden material within the footprint of the proposed disposal site, and the placement of this material at the Hart Miller Island disposal site, Baltimore County, MD. Hydraulic dredging of approximately 1.5 million cubic yards of sand would be performed, and the sand used to construct the outer portion of the containment structure. Approximately 0.5 million cubic yards of clay is to be mechanically/hydraulically dredged and placed on the inside of this structure. Two new spillway structures and discharge outfalls are to be included in the construction of the DMCF. Other work associated with the construction of the DMCF is the relocation of a city water main line and storm drain systems, and the relocation of a commercial mooring buoy. The total proposed footprint of the proposed project is 141 acres.

We are amending the regulations governing the importation of animals and animal products into the United States to apply a uniform set of importation requirements related to classical swine fever (CSF) to a region consisting of all of the 15 Member States of the European Union (EU) that comprised the EU as of April 30, 2004 (the EU-15) and prohibit for a specified period of time the importation of live swine and swine products from any area in the EU-15 that is identified by the veterinary authorities of the region as a restricted zone. We have determined these changes are necessary to help prevent the introduction of CSF into the United States while increasing our responsiveness to changes in the CSF situation in the EU.

An Opal Creek Scenic Recreation Area Advisory council meeting will convene in Stayton, Oregon on Wednesday June 7, 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 ont he management of the area. Tentative agenda items include advisory council focus session and subcommittee reports. 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 comment period. Written comments may be submitted prior to the June 7th by sending them to Designated Federal Official Paul Matter at the address given below. For Further Information Contact: For more information regarding this meeting, contact Designated Federal Official Paul Matter; Willamette National Forest, Detroit Ranger District, HC 73 Box 320, Mill City, OR 97360; (503) 854-3366.

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is issuing this final rule to amend its adjudication regulations regarding benefits for surviving spouses to reflect statutory changes that affect the eligibility of those surviving spouses who remarry after ages 55 and 57. These amendments are necessary to conform the regulations to statutory provisions.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is proposing a revised management plan and a revised set of regulations for the Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary (CINMS or Sanctuary). The proposed set of regulations includes both new regulations as well as changes to existing regulations. Proposed new regulations include prohibitions on: Exploring for, developing, or producing minerals within the Sanctuary; abandoning matter on or in Sanctuary submerged lands; taking marine mammals, seabirds, or sea turtles within or above the Sanctuary; possessing within the Sanctuary any marine mammal, sea turtle, or seabird; marking, defacing, damaging, moving, removing, or tampering with Sanctuary signs, monuments, boundary markers, or similar items; introducing or otherwise releasing from within or into the Sanctuary an introduced species; and operating motorized personal watercraft within waters of the Channel Islands National Park. There are also proposed changes to help clarify or refine existing regulations. The NMSP is also proposing certain revisions to the Sanctuary's Designation Document. These include proposed revisions of the Description of the Area and proposed changes to the Scope of Regulations, as well as changes to help clarify, update, and refine other sections of the Designation Document. No changes are proposed for the ``Fishing'' and ``Defense Activities'' sections within Article V (Relation to Other Regulatory Programs) of the Designation Document.

The Coast Guard has temporarily changed the drawbridge operation regulations that govern the P.J. McArdle Bridge, across the Chelsea River at mile 0.3, between East Boston and Chelsea, Massachusetts. This temporary final rule allows the bridge to remain closed from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on June 17, 2006, to facilitate the Third Annual Chelsea River Revel Festival and the running of the Chelsea River Revel 5K Road Race. Vessels that can pass under the bridge without a bridge opening may do so at all times.

The Assistant Deputy Secretary and Director for English Language Acquisition, Language Enhancement, and Academic Achievement for Limited English Proficient Students, announces a priority under the Foreign Language Assistance program. We may use this priority for competitions in fiscal year (FY) 2006 and later years. We take this action to focus Federal financial assistance on an identified national need for programs in critical foreign languages within kindergarten through grade twelve during the traditional school day. We intend this priority to enable the Department to award grants that increase the number of local educational agency programs implementing elementary and secondary school projects teaching languages of major economic and political importance.

The Assistant Deputy Secretary and Director for English Language Acquisition, Language Enhancement, and Academic Achievement for Limited English Proficient Students, announces a priority under the Foreign Language Assistance program. We may use this priority for competitions in fiscal year (FY) 2006 and later years. We take this action to focus Federal financial assistance on an identified national need for programs in critical foreign languages within kindergarten through grade twelve during the traditional school day. We intend this priority to enable the Department to award grants that increase the number of State educational agency programs implementing elementary and secondary school projects teaching languages of major economic and political importance.