October 11, 2006 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is requiring that manufacturers and processors of human food and cosmetics that are manufactured from, processed with, or otherwise contain, material from cattle establish and maintain records sufficient to demonstrate that the human food or cosmetic is not manufactured from, processed with, or does not otherwise contain, prohibited cattle materials. These recordkeeping requirements provide documentation for the provisions in FDA's interim final rule entitled ``Use of Materials Derived From Cattle in Human Food and Cosmetics.'' FDA is requiring recordkeeping because manufacturers and processors of human food and cosmetics need records to ensure that their products do not contain prohibited cattle materials, and records are necessary to help FDA ensure compliance with the requirements of the interim final rule.

EPA is approving revisions to the Alabama State Implementation Plan (SIP), submitted by the Alabama Department of Environmental Management (ADEM) on November 18, 2005. The revisions include modifications to Alabama's Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) rules found at Alabama Administrative Code (AAC) Chapter 335-3-1. ADEM is taking an action that was similarly approved by EPA on November 29, 2004 (69 FR 69298). The revision adds several compounds to the list of compounds excluded from the definition of VOC on the basis that they make a negligible contribution to ozone formation. This action is being taken pursuant to section 110 of the Clean Air Act (CAA).

We are amending the Asian longhorned beetle regulations by expanding the boundaries of the quarantined areas in New Jersey and restricting the interstate movement of regulated articles from these areas. This action is necessary to prevent the artificial spread of the Asian longhorned beetle to noninfested areas of the United States.

This document notifies the public that the Administrator of EPA has forwarded to the Secretary of Agriculture a draft proposed rule as required by section 25(a) of the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA). As described in the Agency's semi-annual Regulatory Agenda, the draft proposed rule would add certain plant- incorporated protectants based on viral coat protein genes (PVCP-PIPs) to its plant-incorporated protectants exemptions at 40 CFR part 174. Substances that plants produce for protection against pests and the genetic material necessary to produce them are pesticides under FIFRA if humans intend these substances to ``prevent, repel or mitigate any pest.''

This document contains final regulations under section 752 for taking into account certain obligations of a business entity that is disregarded as separate from its owner under section 856(i) or section 1361(b)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, or Sec. Sec. 301.7701-1 through 301.7701-3 of the Procedure and Administration Regulations. These final regulations clarify the existing regulations concerning when a partner may be treated as bearing the economic risk of loss for a partnership liability based upon an obligation of a disregarded entity. The rules affect partnerships and their partners.

This document publishes in the Federal Register an amendment adopting airworthiness directive (AD) 2006-20-51 that was sent previously to all known U.S. owners and operators of certain Boeing Model 777-200LR and -300ER series airplanes by individual notices. This AD requires revising the Airplane Flight Manual to prohibit takeoffs at less than full-rated thrust. This AD is prompted by a report of two occurrences of engine thrust rollback (reduction) during takeoff. We are issuing this AD to prevent dual-engine thrust rollback, which could result in the airplane failing to lift off before reaching the end of the runway or failing to clear obstacles below the takeoff flight path.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce our revised 12-month finding for a petition to list the Beaver Cave beetle (Pseudanophthalmus major) under the Endangered Species Act (Act) of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.). After a review of the best available scientific and commercial information, we conclude that this species is not likely to become an endangered or threatened species within the foreseeable future throughout all or a significant portion of its range. Therefore, we find that proposing a rule to list the species is not warranted, and we no longer consider it to be a candidate species for listing. However, the Service will continue to seek new information on the taxonomy, biology, and ecology of this species, as well as potential threats to its continued existence.

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.