July 2006 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Defense Finance and Accounting Service (DFAS) is proposing to add a system of records notice to its inventory of record systems subject to the Privacy Act of 1974 (5 U.S.C. 552a), as amended.

Pursuant to Section 10(a), Public Law 92-463, as amended, notice is hereby given of a forthcoming meeting of the Defense Department Advisory Committee on Women in the Services (DACOWITS). The purpose of the Committee meeting is to introduce new members and conduct orientation training. The meeting is open to the public, subject to the availability of space. Interested persons may submit a written statement for consideration of the Committee and make an oral presentation of such. Persons desiring to make an oral presentation or submit a written statement to the Committee must notify the point of contact listed below no later than 5 p.m., 15 August 2006. Oral presentations by members of the public will be permitted only on Tuesday, 22 August 2006 from 4:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. before the full Committee. Presentations will be limited to two minutes. Number of oral presentation to be made will depend on the number of requests received from members of the public. Each person desiring to make an oral presentation must provide the point of contact listed below with one (1) coy of the presentation by 5 p.m., 18 August 2006 and bring 35 copies of any material that is intended for distribution at the meeting. Persons submitting a written statement must submit 35 copies of the statement to the DACOWITS staff by 5 p.m. on 18 August 2006.

Under the provisions of the Federal Advisory Committee Act of 1972, as amended (5 U.S.C. Appendix), the Department of Defense gives notice that the DoD Advisory Committee on Military Compensation, was terminated effective July 11, 2006. This committee has concluded their objectives and provided necessary and valuable independent advice to the Government's decision makers.

The Fish and Wildlife Service, Southeast Region, intends to gather information necessary to prepare a comprehensive conservation plan and environmental assessment pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 and its implementing regulations. The National Wildlife Refuge System Administration Act of 1966, as amended by the National Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act of 1997, requires the Service to develop a comprehensive conservation plan for each national wildlife refuge. The purpose in developing a comprehensive conservation plan is to provide refuge mangers with a 15- year strategy for achieving refuge purposes and contributing toward the mission of the National Wildlife Refuge System, consistent with sound principles of fish and wildlife management, conservation, legal mandates, and Service policies. In addition to outlining broad management direction on conserving wildlife and their habitats, plans identify wildlife-dependent recreational opportunities available to the public, including opportunities for hunting, fishing, wildlife observation, wildlife photography, and environmental education and interpretation. The purpose of this notice is to achieve the following: (1) Advise other agencies and the public of our intentions, and (2) Obtain suggestions and information on the scope of issues to include in the environmental document.

The National Park Service (NPS) is terminating preparation of an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the General Management Plan, Hovenweep National Monument, Colorado and Utah. A Notice of Intent to prepare the EIS for the Hovenweep National Monument General Management Plan was published in Vol. 68, No. 167, of the August 28, 2003, Federal Register (2351). The National Park Service has since determined that an Environmental Assessment (EA) rather than an EIS is the appropriate environmental documentation for the general management plan.

The Civilian Agency Acquisition Council and the Defense Acquisition Regulations Council (Councils) are proposing to amend the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) to update the required contract clauses that implement provisions of law or executive orders for acquisitions of commercial items.

This action extends the comment period for a notice of proposed opinion that was published on June 28, 2006 (71 FR 36874). In that document, the FAA set forth a proposed decision on the transferability of interim operating authority under the National Parks Air Tour Management Act.

The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) is issuing a final regulation regarding the excepted service appointments of persons with mental retardation, severe physical disabilities, and psychiatric disabilities. The regulation improves the Federal Government's ability to hire persons with these disabilities. It is designed to remove barriers and increase employment opportunities for persons with disabilities.

Notice is hereby given that the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) proposed to create a new Privacy Act system of records, entitled ``USDA eAuthentication Service.'' The system is owned, administered, and secured by the Office of the Chief Information Officer (OCIO), a USDA staff office. The primary purpose of the eAuthentication Service is to provide verification of customer identity, authorization, and electronic signatures for USDA application and service transactions.

The Department of Labor, as part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden conducts a pre-clearance consultation program to provide the general public and Federal agencies with an opportunity to comment on proposed and/or continuing collections of information in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA95) [44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)]. This program helps to ensure that requested data can be provided in the desired format, reporting burden (time and financial resources) is minimized, collection instruments are clearly understood, and the impact of collection requirements on respondents can be properly assessed. Currently, the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) is soliciting comments concerning the extension of the information collection related to the 30 CFR 77.1901Records of Preshift and Onshift Inspections of Slope and Shaft Areas.

The Department of Labor, as part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden conducts a pre-clearance consultation program to provide the general public and Federal agencies with an opportunity to comment on proposed and/or continuing collections of information in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA95) [44 U.S.C. 3506 (c)(2)(A)]. This program helps to ensure that requested data can be provided in the desired format, reporting burden (time and financial resources) is minimized, collection instruments are clearly understood, and the impact of collection requirements on respondents can be properly assessed. Currently, the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) is soliciting comments concerning the extension of the information collection related to the 30 CFR Sections 57.22606(a); Explosive Materials and Blasting Units.

In accordance with the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) and implementing regulations, notification is hereby given that a 1-year letter of authorization (LOA) has been issued to the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary (MBNMS or the Sanctuary) to incidentally take, by Level B Harassment only, California sea lions and Pacific harbor seals incidental to authorizing professional fireworks displays within the Sanctuary in California waters.

The NOAA Office of Ocean and Coastal Resource Management (OCRM) announces a revised time for a public meeting previously included in an announcement of intent to evaluate the performance of the New Hampshire Coastal Management Program. Notice was previously given in the Federal Register on June 29, 2006, of the date of the site visit for the evaluation of the New Hampshire Coastal Management Program and the date, local time, and location of the public meeting. Notice is hereby given of the revised local time of the public meeting during the site visit. Date and Time: The New Hampshire Coastal Management Program evaluation site visit will be held September 20-22, 2006. One public meeting will be held during the week. The public meeting will be held on Wednesday, September 20, 2006, at 6 p.m. at the New Hampshire Coastal Program Office, Department of Environmental Services, 50 International Drive, Suite 200, Portsmouth, New Hampshire.