June 26, 2006 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

This notice pertains to our final policy regarding the process we use to decide if a nonwildlife-dependent recreational use is an appropriate use of a refuge. The National Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act of 1997 (Improvement Act) amends the National Wildlife Refuge System Administration Act of 1966 (Administration Act) and defines six refuge uses (hunting, fishing, wildlife observation and photography, and environmental education and interpretation) as wildlife-dependent recreational uses. The Improvement Act states that when compatible these uses are appropriate refuge uses and are the priority general public uses of the National Wildlife Refuge System (Refuge System). The Improvement Act directs us to give priority consideration to and facilitate these uses. To do this, we will provide compatible wildlife- dependent recreational uses enhanced and priority consideration over other general public uses in refuge planning and management. This final policy establishes a process for determining when we may further consider other general public uses on refuges. We are incorporating this policy as part 603, chapter 1, of the Fish and Wildlife Service Manual (603 FW 1). This chapter (603 FW 1) will be available on the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's (Service) Web site at https:// policy.fws.gov/ser600.html.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (we, or the Service) is issuing this policy to articulate the mission and goals of the National Wildlife Refuge System (Refuge System) and their relationship to refuge purposes. This chapter is consistent with principles contained in the National Wildlife Refuge System Administration Act of 1966 (Administration Act), as amended by the National Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act of 1997 (Improvement Act), including recognizing the priority for management activities and uses set forth in the Improvement Act (conserve fish, wildlife, and plants and their habitats; facilitate compatible wildlife-dependent recreational uses; and other uses). This policy describes the Refuge System mission, revises the Refuge System goals, and provides guidance for identifying or determining the purpose(s) of individual refuges within the Refuge System. This chapter also describes how the purpose(s) of a refuge addition relates to the original refuge purpose(s) and how wilderness designated under the Wilderness Act of 1964 (Wilderness Act) relates to a refuge's purpose(s). We are incorporating this policy as Part 601, Chapter 1, of the Fish and Wildlife Service Manual (601 FW 1).

We are taking final action to approve a revision to the maintenance plan prepared by Missouri to maintain the national ambient air quality standard for ozone in the Missouri portion of the Kansas City maintenance area. This plan is applicable to Clay, Jackson and Platte Counties. The effect of this approval is to ensure Federal enforceability of the state air program plan and to maintain consistency between the state-adopted plan and the approved SIP.

We are taking final action to approve a revision to the maintenance plan prepared by Kansas to maintain the national ambient air quality standard (NAAQS) for ozone in the Kansas portion of the Kansas City maintenance area. This plan is applicable to Johnson and Wyandotte counties in Kansas. The effect of this approval is to ensure Federal enforceability of the state air program plan and to maintain consistency between the state-adopted plan and the approved SIP.

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (Commission) is proposing regulations in accordance with section 1221 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 to implement filings requirements and procedures for entities seeking to construct electric transmission facilities. The proposed regulations will expedite the Commission's permitting process by coordinating the processing of Federal authorizations and environmental review of electric transmission facilities in national interest transmission corridors.

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) that supersedes AD 92-07-05, which applies to certain Raytheon Aircraft Company (Raytheon) (formerly Beech) 65, 90, 99, and 100 series airplanes. AD 92-07-05 currently requires you to inspect the rudder trim tab for proper moisture drainage provisions, and if the correct drainage provisions do not exist, before further flight, modify the rudder trim tab. This AD results from receiving and evaluating new service information that requires the actions of AD 92-07-05 for the added serial numbers LJ-1281 through LJ-1732 for the Model C90A airplanes. This AD retains all the actions of AD 92-07-05 and adds serial numbers LJ-1281 through LJ-1732 for the Model C90A airplanes in the applicability section. We are issuing this AD to prevent water accumulation in the rudder trim tab, which could result in a change in the mass properties and possibly a lower flutter speed of the airplane. A lower airplane flutter speed could result in failure and loss of control of the airplane.

The Office of Federal Housing Enterprise Oversight (OFHEO) is proposing technical amendments to Appendix A to Subpart B Risk-Based Capital Regulation Methodology and Specifications of 12 CFR part 1750, (Risk-Based Capital Regulation). The proposed amendments are intended to enhance the accuracy and transparency of the calculation of the risk-based capital requirement for the Enterprises and updates the Risk-Based Capital Regulation to incorporate approved new activities treatments.