June 14, 2006 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

This announcement is made by the United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS or Department), Office of Minority Health (OMH) located within the Office of Public Health and Science (OPHS), and working in a ``One-Department'' approach collaboratively with participating HHS agencies and programs (entities). The mission of the OMH is to improve the health of racial and ethnic minority populations through the development of policies and programs that address disparities and gaps. OMH serves as the focal point in the HHS for leadership, policy development and coordination, service demonstrations, information exchange, coalition and partnership building, and related efforts to address the health needs of racial and ethnic minorities. This announcement supports the Healthy People 2010 overarching goal to eliminate health disparities. As part of a continuing HHS effort to improve the health and well being of racial and ethnic minorities, the Department announces availability of FY 2006 funding for the Mississippi Institute for Improvement of Geographic Minority Health and Health Disparities Program. Despite significant improvements in the overall health status of the nation over the past decades, disparities in health status continue to persist among racial and ethnic minority and disadvantaged populations. Such disparities are clearly illustrated by health status statistics in southern areas of the United States. Mississippi serves as an important pilot location for the development of a geographic and minority health disparities model for the nation. Mississippi has a population of 2.8 million, 37 percent of whom are African American, and 51percent of whom live in rural areas. It is the fourth most rural state in the nation, and is ranked 31st in terms of population size. The significant disease burden of the state is well documented. It ranks first of all states and the District of Columbia in mortality rates due to cardiovascular disease (30 percent higher than the national average). In 1996, the cardiovascular disease-related death rate for African Americans in the state was 37 percent greater than for whites, and 60 percent greater than the overall national rate. Stroke mortality, the third leading cause of death in Mississippi, is 18 percent higher than the rate for the U.S. as a whole. It has the highest prevalence of diabetes and obesity in the nation; approximately 9 percent of the state's adult population are diabetic and 55 percent are obese. Mississippi ranks 5th highest overall in cancer mortality rates among the 50 states and the District of Columbia. African Americans make up more than 75 percent of the state's reported new AIDS cases. Premature death rates are almost 2 times greater for American Indians and 1.5 times greater for African Americans than whites. The infant mortality rate in a number of counties along the Mississippi Delta is three times that of the national average. Mississippi has many challenges affecting access to medical care. Almost one-quarter of the state's population, aged 18 to 64, report having no health insurance; higher than the 15.7 percent of people nationally without health insurance in 2004, according to the U.S. Census. Other reasons for insufficient access include the state's ratio of medical doctors to its general population, which is about half the national average, and the large percentage of rural, sparsely-populated areas within the state. Access to health care and delivery of services to a sizeable population in Mississippi, already inadequate, have been further impacted by the devastation caused by last year's hurricanes. The Gulf Coast of Mississippi suffered massive damage from the impact of Hurricane Katrina on August 29, 2005, leaving 236 people dead, 67 missing, and an estimated $125 billion in damages. Mississippi's healthcare system has been seriously disrupted, resulting in new health problems for people living in affected areas. The grant will provide an opportunity to address these health problems and to aid in restructuring the healthcare system.

On December 20, 2005, the United States Court of International Trade (``CIT'') issued an order sustaining the Department of Commerce's (``the Department'') Final Results of Redetermination pursuant to court remand filed by the Department on November 7, 2005. Decca Hospitality Furnishings, LLC v. United States, Ct. No. 05-00002, Slip Op. 05-161 (Ct. Int'l Trade, December 20, 2005) (``Decca Order''). The remand redetermination arose out of the Department's final determination and amended final determination and order. See Notice of Final Determination of Sales at Less Than Fair Value: Wooden Bedroom Furniture from the People's Republic of China, 69 FR 67313 (November 17, 2004) (``Final Determination''), and Notice of Amended Final Determination of Sales at Less Than Fair Value and Antidumping Duty Order: Wooden Bedroom Furniture from the People's Republic of China, 70 FR 329 (January 4, 2005) (``Amended Final Determination''). On May 16, 2006, the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit (``CAFC'') granted Petitioners' (i.e., American Furniture Manufacturer's Committee for Legal Trade (``AFMC'')) motion for a voluntary dismissal of this case. Because the litigation in this matter is concluded, the Department is issuing an amended final determination in accordance with the CIT's decision.

NMFS and the Pacific Fishery Management Council (Pacific Council) announce their intent to extend the public scoping period for an EIS in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969 to analyze proposals to allocate groundfish among various sectors of the non-tribal Pacific Coast groundfish fishery.

The inventions listed below are owned by an agency of the U.S. Government and are available for licensing in the U.S. in accordance with 35 U.S.C. 207 to achieve expeditious commercialization of results of federally-funded research and development. Foreign patent applications are filed on selected inventions to extend market coverage for companies and may also be available for licensing.

The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has, in response to recent case law, revised its guidelines to be used by USPTO personnel in their review of patent applications to determine whether the claims in a patent application are directed to patent eligible subject matter. The USPTO published a notice requesting comments from the public regarding these interim examination guidelines. The USPTO is extending the period for comment on these interim examination guidelines. Comment Deadline Date: To be ensured of consideration, written comments must be received on or before July 31, 2006. No public hearing will be held.

We, the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSM), are approving an amendment to the Texas regulatory program (Texas program) under the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 (SMCRA or the Act). Texas proposed to revise its fish and wildlife habitat revegetation guidelines by adding technical guidelines and management practices concerning habitat suitable for bobwhite quail and other grassland bird species. Texas intends to revise its program to encourage reclamation practices that are suitable for bobwhite quail and other grassland bird species.

This notice announces EPA's receipt of test data on Ethylene Dichloride (EDC), (CAS No. 107-06-2). These data were submitted pursuant to an enforceable testing consent agreement (ECA)/Order issued by EPA under section 4 of the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA).

The Federal Communications Commission, on its own motion, clarifies certain aspects of the Implementation of the Commercial Spectrum Enhancement Act and Modernization of the Commission's Competitive Bidding Rules and Procedures. Among other things, the Commission clarifies that the expansion of the unjust enrichment payment schedule to ten years applies only to licenses granted on or after April 25, 2006. This ensures that retroactive penalties are not imposed on pre-existing designated entities.

Notice is hereby given that a complaint was filed with the U.S. International Trade Commission on May 15, 2006, under section 337 of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended, 19 U.S.C. 1337, on behalf of Creative Labs, Inc. of Milpitas, California and Creative Technology Ltd. of Singapore. Supplements to the complaint were filed on May 31, 2006, and June 1, 2006. The complaint, as supplemented, alleges violations of section 337 in the importation into the United States, the sale for importation, and the sale within the United States after importation of certain portable digital media players by reason of infringement of claims 2-5, 7, 11-13, 15, and 16 of U.S. Patent No. 6,928,433. The complaint further alleges that an industry in the United States exists as required by subsection (a)(2) of section 337. The complainants request that the Commission institute an investigation and, after the investigation, issue a permanent exclusion order and cease and desist order.

The IC Clearance Official, Regulatory Information Management Services, Office of Management, invites comments on the proposed information collection requests as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.

The EIA has submitted the Office of Civilian Radioactive Waste Management's Appendix CDelivery Commitment Schedule, NWPA-830G Appendix GStandard Remittance and Advice for Payment for Fees, and Annex A and Annex B to Appendix GStandard Remittance Advice for Payment of Fees to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and a three-year extension under section 3507(h)(1) of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104-13) (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.).