September 22, 2006 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC or Commission) is proposing to amend its regulations related to the reporting of annual dose to workers, the definition of the total effective dose equivalent (TEDE), the labeling of certain containers holding licensed material, and the determination of cumulative occupational radiation dose. The proposed rule would limit the routine reporting of annual doses to workers to those whose annual dose exceeds a specific dose threshold or who request a report. The proposed rule would also amend the definition of TEDE to be consistent with current Commission policy. The proposed rule would also modify the labeling requirements for certain containers holding licensed material within posted areas in nuclear power facilities. Finally, the proposed rule would remove the requirement that licensees attempt to obtain cumulative exposure records for workers unless these individuals are being authorized to receive a planned special exposure. These revisions would reduce the administrative and information collection burdens on NRC and Agreement State licensees without affecting the level of protection to either the health and safety of workers and the public or the environment.

In accordance with the requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Huntington District has prepared a Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS). This FEIS evaluates potential impacts to the natural, physical and human environment as a result of the proposed mining activities associated with the Mingo Logan's proposed Spruce No. 1 Mine. The USACE regulates this proposed project pursuant to Section 404 of the Clean Water Act. The proposed activity would involve the discharge of dredged and fill material into waters of the United States associated with the proposed construction and operation of a bituminous coal mine. The document was prepared following a public review and a 60-day comment period on the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS), during which time a public hearing meeting was held on May 1, 2006. The meeting was held at the Earl Ray Tomlin Convention Center in Chapmanville, Logan County, WV.

The proposed information collection requirement described below has been submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for emergency review and approval, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act. The Department is soliciting public comments on the subject proposal.

EPA is approving revisions to the Wisconsin State Implementation Plan (SIP) for ozone. In these revisions, the State has incorporated changes EPA made to its definition of volatile organic compound (VOC) and its VOC control requirements for yeast manufacturing. As a result of EPA's approval, five chemical compounds will no longer be considered VOCs. The changes to VOC control requirements match the EPA maximum achievable control technology (MACT) limits for yeast manufacturers.

The Fish and Wildlife Service (Service or we) prescribes final late-season frameworks from which States may select season dates, limits, and other options for the 2006-07 migratory bird hunting seasons. These late seasons include most waterfowl seasons, the earliest of which commences on September 23, 2006. The effect of this final rule is to facilitate the States' selection of hunting seasons and to further the annual establishment of the late-season migratory bird hunting regulations.

Under the provisions of 5 U.S.C. 4314(c) (4) agencies are required to publish a notice in the Federal Register of the appointment of Performance Review Board (PRB) members. This notice updates the VA Performance Review Board of the Department of Veterans Affairs that was published in the Federal Register on October 24, 2005 (Vol. 70, No. 204).

A Biological Review Team (BRT) consisting of biologists from the Maine Atlantic Salmon Commission, Penobscot Indian Nation, NMFS, and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) have completed a Status Review of Atlantic salmon (Status Review for Anadromous Atlantic Salmon (Salmo salar)) in the United States.

On August 28, 2006, the Board served a decision to update its computation of the railroad industry's cost of capital for 2005. The composite after-tax cost-of-capital rate for 2005 is found to be 12.2%, based on a current cost of debt of 5.36%; a cost of common equity capital of 15.18%; and a capital structure mix comprised of 30.41% debt and 69.59% common equity. The cost-of-capital finding made in this proceeding will be used in a variety of Board proceedings.