October 11, 2006 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

FRA is amending the Federal Track Safety Standards to improve the inspection of rail joints in continuous welded rail (CWR). On November 2, 2005, FRA published an Interim Final Rule (IFR) addressing the inspection of rail joints in CWR. FRA requested comments on the provisions of the IFR and stated that a final rule would be issued after a review of those comments. This final rule adopts a portion of the IFR and makes changes to other portions. This final rule requires track owners to develop and implement a procedure for the detailed inspection of CWR rail joints and also requires track owners to keep records of those inspections.

As stipulated by the Federal Advisory Committee Act, the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) is hereby giving notice that the Advisory Committee on Minority Health (ACMH) will hold a meeting. This meeting is open to the public. Preregistration is required for both public attendance and comment. Any individual who wishes to attend the meeting and/or participate in the public comment session should e-mail acmb@osophs.dhhs.gov.

Notice is hereby given in accordance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA) (5 U.S.C. Appendix (1988)), that the Preservation Technology and Training Board (Board) of the National Center for Preservation Technology and Training, National Park Service will meet on Monday and Tuesday, October 16-17, 2006, at Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming. The Board was established by Congress to provide leadership, policy advice, and professional oversight to the National Park Service's National Center for Preservation Technology and Training (National Center) in compliance with Section 404 of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, as amended, (16 U.S.C. 470x-2(e)). The Board will meet at the Old Faithful Snow Lodge, One Grand Loop Road, Yellowstone, WY 82190telephone (307) 344-7901. The meeting will begin at 9 a.m. and end no later than 5 p.m. each day. The Board's meeting agenda will include: review and comment on National Center FY2006 accomplishments and operational priorities for FY2007; status of FY2007 National Center budget and initiatives; development and launch of the Lee. H. Nelson Prize in Historic Preservation Technology; proposed Wingspread Conference on Sustainability in Preservation; revitalization of the Center's Friends group, and Board workgroup reports. The Board meeting is open to the public. Facilities and space for accommodating members of the public are limited, however, and persons will be accommodated on a first come first served basis. Any member of the public may file a written statement concerning any of the matters to be discussed by the Board. Persons wishing more information concerning this meeting, or who wish to submit written statements, may contact: Mr. Kirk A. Cordell, Executive Director, National Center for Preservation Technology and Training, National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior, 645 University Parkway, Natchitoches, LA 71457telephone (318) 356-7444. In addition to U.S. Mail or commercial delivery, written comments may be sent by fax to Mr. Cordell at (318) 356-9119. Minutes of the meeting will be available for public inspection no later than 90 days after the meeting at the office of the Executive Director, National Center for Preservation Technology and Training, National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior, 645 University Parkway, Natchitoches, LA 71457telephone (318) 356-7444.

In accordance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act (Public Law 92-463, 86 Stat. 770, 5 U.S.C. App 1, Section 10), notice is hereby given that the Concessions Management Advisory Board (the Board) will hold its 16th meeting October 24-25, 2006, at Glen Canyon National Recreation Area in Page, Arizona. The meeting will be held at the Lake Powell Lodge located in Glen Canyon National Recreation Area. The meeting will convene at 8:30 a.m. each day and will conclude at 4:30 p.m.

In accordance with 5 U.S.C., 4314(c)(4), Department of Commerce (DOC) announces the appointment of persons to serve as members of the Departmental Performance Review Board (DPRB). The DPRB is responsible for reviewing performance appraisals and ratings of Senior Executive Service (SES) members and serves as the higher level review of executives who report to an appointing authority. The appointment of these members to the DPRB will be for a period of 24 months.

In accordance with 5 U.S.C. 4314(c)(4), NOAA announces the appointment of twenty-three members to serve on the NOAA Performance Review Board (PRB). The NOAA PRB is responsible for reviewing performance appraisals and ratings of Senior Executive Service (SES) members and making written recommendations to the appointing authority on SES retention and compensation matters, including performance-based pay adjustments, awarding of bonuses and reviewing recommendations for potential Presidential Rank Award nominees. The appointment of members to the NOAA PRB will be for a period of 24 months.

The following Water Management Plans are available for review: Santa Clara Valley Water District City of Fairfield Solano County Water Agency City of Roseville Suisun-Solano Irrigation District To meet the requirements of the Central Valley Project Improvement Act of 1992 (CVPIA) and the Reclamation Reform Act of 1982, the Bureau of Reclamation has developed and published the Criteria for Evaluating Water Management Plans (Criteria).

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is proposing to amend the guidelines for designating biobased products for Federal procurement, to add 10 sections to designate the following 10 items within which biobased products would be afforded Federal procurement preference, as provided for under section 9002 of the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002: Bath and tile cleaners; clothing products; concrete and asphalt release fluids; cutting, drilling, and tapping oils; de-icers; durable films; firearm lubricants; floor strippers; laundry products; and wood and concrete sealers. USDA also is proposing minimum biobased content for each of these items. Once USDA designates an item, procuring agencies are required generally to purchase biobased products within these designated items where the purchase price of the procurement item exceeds $10,000 or where the quantity of such items or the functionally equivalent items purchased over the preceding fiscal year equaled $10,000 or more.