July 2006 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The interagency Trade Policy Staff Committee (TPSC) will convene a public hearing and seek public comment to assist the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) in the preparation of its annual report to the Congress on China's compliance with the commitments made in connection with its accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO).

Pursuant to the Privacy Act of 1974 (5 U.S.C. 552a), as amended by the Computer Matching and Privacy Protection Act of 1988 (Pub. L. 100-503), and the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Final Guidance Interpreting the Provisions of Public Law 100-503, the Computer Matching Privacy Protection Act of 1988 (54 FR 25818, June 16, 1989), this document provides notice of the renewal of the computer matching program between the U.S. Department of Education (ED) (the recipient agency), and the U.S. Internal Revenue Service (IRS), Department of Treasury (the source agency). The computer matching program will begin on the effective date as specified in the computer matching agreement and in paragraph 5 of this notice. Notice of the matching program between ED and IRS was originally published in the Federal Register on August 18, 2003 (68 FR 49456). The computer matching program became effective for a period of 18 months on February 18, 2003. On August 18, 2005, IRS and ED extended the computer matching program for an additional 12 months. Unless renewed, the computer matching program will expire on August 17, 2006. In accordance with the Privacy Act of 1974, as amended (5 U.S.C. 552a), OMB Final Guidance Interpreting the Provisions of Public Law 100-503, the Computer Matching and Privacy Protection Act of 1988 (54 FR 25818, June 16, 1989), and OMB Circular No. A-130, Appendix I (65 FR 77677, December 12, 2000), the following information is provided:

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration publish this notice to announce the availability of the draft Prospectus for one of the U.S. Climate Change Science Program (CCSP) Synthesis and Assessment Products (Products) for public comment. This draft Prospectus addresses the following CCSP Topic: Product 3.2 Climate Projections Based on Emissions Scenarios for long-lived radioactively trace gases and future climate impacts of radioactive gases and aerosols After consideration of comments received on the draft Prospectus, the final Prospectus along with the comments received will be published on the CCSP web site.

NMFS proposes to issue a permit for a period of three years, to authorize the incidental, but not intentional, taking of three stocks of threatened or endangered marine mammals by the California/ Oregon (CA/OR) drift gillnet large mesh ([gteqt] 14 inch mesh) ( DGN) fishery. NMFS must issue this permit provided that we can make the determinations that: the incidental take will have a negligible impact on the affected marine mammal stocks; a recovery plan for all affected stocks of threatened or endangered marine mammals has been developed or is being developed; and as required by the MMPA, a take reduction plan and monitoring program have been implemented and vessels in the CA/OR DGN fishery are registered. NMFS solicits public comments on the negligible impact determination and on the proposal to issue a permit to this fishery for the taking of affected threatened or endangered stocks of marine mammals.

On July 21, 2006, NMFS announced the availability of approximately $4.5 million in grant funds for fiscal year (FY) 2006 for vessel owners and/or operators who have purchased a Mobile Transmitter Unit (MTU) or Enhanced-Mobile Transmitter Unit (E-MTU) for the purpose of complying with fishery regulations requiring the use of Vessel Monitoring Systems (VMS) which became effective during FY 2006. The funds will be used to reimburse vessel owners and/or operators for the purchase price of the MTU or E-MTU. These amendments are intended to correct the contact information for the Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission (PSMFC) located under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT and ADDRESSES and to declare an additional reimbursement eligibility criteria.

The Department of Commerce (the Department) hereby publishes a list of scope rulings completed between April 1, 2006, and June 30, 2006. In conjunction with this list, the Department is also publishing a list of requests for scope rulings and anticircumvention determinations pending as of June 30, 2006. We intend to publish future lists after the close of the next calendar quarter.

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announces its intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) NEPA regulations (40 CFR parts 1500-1508), and the DOE NEPA implementing procedures (10 CFR part 1021), to assess the potential environmental impacts for the proposed action of providing Federal funding (up to $700 million) for the FutureGen Project. The FutureGen Project would comprise the planning, design, construction and operation by a private-sector organization of a coal-fueled electric power and hydrogen gas (H2) production plant integrated with carbon dioxide (CO2) capture and geologic sequestration of the captured gas. Following an evaluation of 12 site proposals from seven states, DOE identified four sites as reasonable alternatives: (1) Mattoon, Illinois; (2) Tuscola, Illinois; (3) Jewett, Texas; and (4) Odessa, Texas. DOE has prepared this Notice of Intent (NOI) to inform interested parties of the pending EIS and to invite public comments on the proposed action, including: (1) The proposed plans for implementing the FutureGen Project, (2) the range of environmental issues and alternatives to be analyzed, and (3) the nature of the impact analyses to be considered in the EIS. A general overview of the proposed action was published on February 16, 2006, in an Advance Notice of Intent (71 FR 8283). DOE has signed a Cooperative Agreement that provides financial assistance to the FutureGen Industrial Alliance, Inc. (Alliance) for implementing the FutureGen Project. The Alliance is a non-profit industrial consortium led by the coal-fueled electric power industry and the coal production industry. Along with planning, designing, constructing and operating the FutureGen power plant and the sequestration facility, the Alliance would also monitor, measure, and verify geologic sequestration of CO2. The FutureGen Project aims to establish the technical and economic feasibility of co-producing electricity and H2 from coal while capturing and sequestering the CO2 generated in the process. FutureGen would employ integrated gasification combined-cycle (IGCC) power plant technology that for the first time would be integrated with CO2 capture and geologic sequestration. DOE is providing technical and programmatic guidance to the Alliance, retains certain review and approval rights as defined in the Cooperative Agreement, and oversees Alliance activities for compliance with the terms of the Cooperative Agreement. DOE is responsible for NEPA compliance activities. Both DOE and the Alliance encourage state and local agencies, local communities, the environmental community, international stakeholders, and research organizations to participate in the FutureGen Project through the NEPA process. Potential environmental impacts of each of the four alternatives will be analyzed in detail in the EIS. Reasonable power plant technologies and component configurations proposed by the Alliance will be used in the evaluation. In addition, DOE will consider potential mitigation opportunities in the EIS.

The Forest Service proposes to conduct an environmental analysis and prepare an environmental assessment on the continued nationwide aerial application of fire retardant for fire suppression. The responsible official for this action is Dale Bosworth, Chief of the Forest Service. The Forest Service invites comments at this time on the proposed action.

In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969, as amended (Pub. L. 91-190, 42 U.S.C. 4321-4347), and 40 CFR parts 1500-1508, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), together with the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC), hereby gives notice that the Draft Environmental Impact Statement/Environmental Impact Report (EIS/EIR) for the Southern California Edison Company (SCE) Devers-Palo Verde No. 2 Transmission Line Project is available for public review and comment. The BLM is the lead Federal agency for the preparation of this EIS in compliance with the requirements of NEPA. The CPUC is the lead State of California agency for the preparation of this EIR in compliance with the requirements of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). This notice serves as an invitation for the public and other cooperating agencies to provide comments on the scope and content of the Draft EIS/EIR.

The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain EMBRAER Model ERJ 170 airplanes. This proposed AD would require replacing the mini-latches on certain lavatory waste compartment doors with new, stronger latches, and other specified actions. This proposed AD results from reports of certain lavatory waste compartment doors opening during flight due to movement of the waste compartment during takeoff, because the mini-latches installed on the doors of those compartments lose their strength over time. We are proposing this AD to prevent the inability of the waste compartment doors to adequately contain a fire inside the lavatory waste compartment, and consequent uncontained fire and smoke within a lavatory during flight.

The Committee is proposing to add to the Procurement List a product and service to be furnished by nonprofit agencies employing persons who are blind or have other severe disabilities. Comments Must Be Received on or Before: August 27, 2006.

This notice amends the notice of a major disaster declaration for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania (FEMA-1649-DR), dated June 30, 2006, and related determinations.

This notice amends the notice of a major disaster declaration for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania (FEMA-1649-DR), dated June 30, 2006, and related determinations.

Under the provisions of 30 U.S.C. 188(d) and (e), and 43 CFR 3108.2-3(a) and (b)(1), the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) received a petition for reinstatement of oil and gas lease COC68455 from Western Energy Resources Inc. for lands in Gunnison County, Colorado. The petition was filed on time and was accompanied by all the rentals due since the date the lease terminated under the law.

Under the provisions of 30 U.S.C. 188(d) and (e), and 43 CFR 3108.2-3(a) and (b)(1), the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) received a petition for reinstatement of oil and gas lease COC64777 from Vessels Coal Gas Inc for lands in Delta County, Colorado. The petition was filed on time and was accompanied by all the rentals due since the date the lease terminated under the law.

Pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969, as amended (42 United States Code 4321, et seq.), the Council on Environmental Quality Regulations for implementing procedural provisions of NEPA (40 Code of Federal Regulation (CFR) Parts 1500- 1508), and Air Force policy and procedures (32 CFR Part 989), the Air Force is issuing this notice to advise the public of its intent to prepare an EIS evaluating potential environmental impacts associated with implementation of the 2005 BRAC Commission's recommendations and related actions for Eglin AFB, FL. The 2005 BRAC Commission identified establishment of a Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) Integrated Training Center (ITC), relocation of the Army 7th Special Forces Group (Airborne) [7SFG(A)] from Fort Bragg, North Carolina, and creating an Air Integrated Weapons and Armaments Research, Development and Acquisition, Test and Evaluation Center by relocating the Weapons and Armaments In-Service Engineering Research, Development and Acquisition, and Test and Evaluation from Hill AFB, UT and the Defense Threat Reduction Agency from Fort Belvoir, VA to Eglin AFB. The JSF ITC would be the initial training site for joint Air Force, Navy, and Marine Corps JSF training organizations, as well as the United Kingdom, which is a full partner in this program. The training site would teach aviators and maintenance technicians how to properly operate and maintain 107 F-35 aircraft. As part of this action, F-35 basing, facility construction and renovation, on-site maintenance and use of training airspace are being analyzed. The 7SFG (A)'s principal mission includes planning and executing unconventional warfare, combating terrorism operations, direct action, special reconnaissance, and foreign internal defense. Their realignment to Eglin provides multi-service collocation, joint training synergy with Air Force Special Operations Command and places 7SFG(A) on training lands that match their wartime area of responsibility in Central and South America. Approximately 4,600 personnel are associated with the bed down of both organizations. When including spouses and children, the estimated total of personnel coming to the Eglin AFB area would be 10,000 people. As part of this action, the Air Force is considering various alternatives for facility construction and renovation, land range development, equipment storage and operation, and land-based training/maneuvering to be analyzed in the EIS. The EIS may also include within its scope the potential environmental effects associated with socioeconomics, transportation, noise, cultural resources, water resources, wetlands, floodplains, air quality, land use, infrastructure, and biological resources. The Air Force will conduct scoping meetings to solicit public input concerning this proposal. The scoping process will help identify issues to be addressed in the environmental analysis. The exact dates, times and location(s) will be announced through local media. Oral and written comments presented at the public meetings, as well as written comments received by the Air Force during this scoping period and throughout the EIS process, will be considered in the preparation of the EIS and will be made a part of the administrative record.

This notice amends the notice of a major disaster for the State of Delaware (FEMA-1654-DR), dated July 5, 2006, and related determinations.

This document amends the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) adjudication regulations to define the term ``psychosis.'' The term is used but not defined in certain statutes that provide presumptive service connection for compensation. The intended effect of this amendment is consistent application of these statutory provisions.