June 15, 2006 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

NMFS issues this final rule to implement the bag limit provisions of a regulatory amendment to the Fishery Management Plan for the Reef Fish Resources of the Gulf of Mexico (FMP) prepared by the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council (Council). This final rule will establish a recreational bag limit for Gulf red grouper of one fish per person per day and prohibit the captain and crew of a vessel operating as a charter vessel or headboat from retaining any Gulf grouper, i.e., establish a zero bag limit for captain and crew. The intended effect of this final rule is to help maintain recreational landings at levels consistent with the red grouper rebuilding plan.

This interim rule amends Department of Homeland Security regulations to provide that employers and recruiters or referrers for a fee who are required to complete and retain Forms I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification, may sign and retain these forms electronically. This interim rule implements statutory changes to the Form I-9 retention requirements by establishing standards for electronic signatures and the electronic retention of the Form I-9.

This proposes special conditions for the Cessna Models 182Q and 182R airplanes with a Societe de Motorisation Aeronautiques (SMA) Model SR305-230 aircraft diesel engine (ADE). The supplemental type certificate for these airplanes will have a novel or unusual design feature associated with the installation of an aircraft diesel engine that uses an electronic engine control system instead of a mechanical control system. The applicable airworthiness regulations do not contain adequate or appropriate safety standards for this design feature. These special conditions contain the additional safety standards that the Administrator considers necessary to establish a level of safety equivalent to that established by the existing airworthiness standards.

The IC Clearance Official, Regulatory Information Management Services, Office of Management invites comments on the submission for OMB review as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.

This rule makes technical nomenclature changes to Title 22 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) parts 40, 41, and 42 to properly reflect the creation of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and its assumption of the functions of the former Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS). This rule also reflects changes to form numbers on various visa-related forms. Because the amendments are entirely technical, the State Department is not providing an opportunity for public comment under the Administrative Procedure Act ``good cause'' exemption.

Prior to a recent determination by the Secretary of Homeland Security, the designation for El Salvador of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) was set to expire on September 9, 2006. This Notice alerts the public that TPS for El Salvador has been extended for 12 months, until September 9, 2007, and sets forth procedures for nationals of El Salvador (or aliens having no nationality who last habitually resided in El Salvador) with TPS to re-register and to apply for an extension of their Employment Authorization Documents (EADs) for the additional 12-month period. Re-registration is limited to persons who registered under the initial designation (which was announced on March 9, 2001) or who ``late initial registered'' and also timely re-registered under each subsequent extension of the designation. In accordance with the original designation, eligible aliens must also have maintained continuous physical presence in the United States since March 9, 2001, and continuous residence in the United States since February 13, 2001. Certain nationals of El Salvador (or aliens having no nationality who last habitually resided in El Salvador) who have not previously applied for TPS may be eligible to apply under the late initial registration provisions. Given the large number of Salvadorans affected by this Notice, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) recognizes that many re- registrants may not receive an extension sticker or new EAD until after their current EADs expire on September 9, 2006. Accordingly, this Notice automatically extends the validity of EADs issued under the TPS designation of El Salvador for 6 months until March 9, 2007, and explains how TPS beneficiaries and their employers may determine which EADs are automatically extended.

We, the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), propose to designate critical habitat for the Southern Resident killer whale (Orcinus orca) distinct population segment (DPS), which was recently listed as endangered under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). Three specific areas are proposed for designation: The Summer Core Area in Haro Strait and waters around the San Juan Islands; Puget Sound; and the Strait of Juan de Fuca, which comprise approximately 2,564 square miles (6,641 sq km) of marine habitat. We propose to exclude 18 military sites, comprising approximately 112 square miles (291 sq km), because of national security impacts. We are soliciting comments from the public on all aspects of the proposal, including information on the economic, national security, and other relevant impacts of the proposed designation, as well as the benefits to Southern Resident killer whales from designation. A draft economic analysis, biological report, and Section 4(b)(2) report conducted in support of this proposal are also available for public review and comment.

The Administration for Children and Families published a notice in the Federal Register on June 6, 2006, requesting comments on reporting requirements contained in the Interim Final Rule for the Reauthorization of the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Program. As the subject rule has not yet been published, the Administration for Children and Families is retracting the notice.

In accordance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act, the California Bay-Delta Public Advisory Committee (Committee) will meet on July 13, 2006. The agenda for the Committee meeting will include discussions with State and Federal agency representatives on the 10- Year Action Plan, Subcommittee structure, the Bay-Delta Conservation Plan and its relationship to the Delta Regional Ecosystem Restoration Plan, the Delta Vision, end of Stage 1 decisions, and recommendations on implementing agency Program Plans.

The Monitor National Marine Sanctuary (MNMS or Sanctuary) is seeking applicants for the Maritime Museum seat on its Sanctuary Advisory Council (Council). Applicants are chosen based upon their particular expertise and experience in relation to the seat for which they are applying; community and professional affiliations; philosophy regarding the protection and management of marine resources; and possibly the length of residence in the area affected by the Sanctuary. Applicants who are chosen as members should expect to serve 2-year terms, pursuant to the Council's Charter.

Section 8(c)(1) of the United States Housing Act of 1937 (USHA) requires the Secretary to publish FMRs periodically, but not less than annually, adjusted to be effective on October 1 of each year. Today's notice proposes FMRs for FY2007. The proposed numbers would amend FMR schedules used to determine payment standard amounts for the Housing Choice Voucher program, to determine initial renewal rents for some expiring project-based Section 8 contracts, and to determine initial rents for housing assistance payment (HAP) contracts in the Moderate Rehabilitation Single Room Occupancy program. Other programs may require use of FMRs for other purposes. The proposed FY2007 FMRs continue to use the revised Office of Management and Budget (OMB) area definitions that were issued in 2003 and were used in establishing FY2006 FMR areas and FMRs. They also continue to use the same calculation methodology. They differ, however, in that a limited number of additional modifications to the county- based statistical areas as defined by OMB have been made in response to public comments received on the December 16, 2005, Federal Register notice on the proposed FY2006 income limit calculation methodology. In the FY2006 FMRs, HUD disaggregated OMB-defined areas when the FMRs of their components as defined by FY2005 FMR areas differed by more than 5 percent to better reflect housing market relationships. Most FY2006 FMR areas consisting of multiple FY2005 FMR areas after the 5 percent test was applied to rents had similar income limits among the component parts. A few such areas would have substantial declines in income limits for some of their component parts under the FY2006 FMR area definitions. Income limit decreases are disruptive to certain HUD and other Federal housing subsidy programs. Income limit areas generally have the same boundaries as FMR areas. In order to minimize large changes in income limits in these combined areas with similar rents but differing income levels, HUD is proposing for FY2007 FMRs to form FMR sub-areas within OMB-defined metropolitan areas in all cases where sub-area median family incomes differ from OMB-defined area median family incomes by more than 5 percent. The FMR estimates have been trended to April 2007, the mid- point of FY2007.

The Export-Import Bank, as a part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, invites the general public and other Federal Agencies to comment on the proposed information collection, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. Our customers will be able to submit this form on paper or electronically. The form has been updated in the following ways: The application now accommodates requests for Finance Lease Guarantee coverage. Information on Lessees and Lessors is requested in those circumstances. The application accommodates requests for Foreign Dealer Insurance policies. A separate one-page attachment (Attachment IV) is required when the applicant requests this coverage. The format has been changed so that it accords with the on-line version of the form which will be made available later in 2006. Formatting changes include: