October 24, 2006 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

This document makes a correction to the final regulation published in the Federal Register on June 21, 2006. (71 FR 35760) This rule amended the airman medical certification standards to disqualify an airman based on an alcohol test result of 0.04 or greater breath alcohol concentration (BAC) or a refusal to take a drug or alcohol test required by the Department of Transportation (DOT) or a DOT agency.

This action extends the comment period for the NPRM published August 29, 2006 (71 FR 51360). Under the NPRM, the FAA proposed to establish an operational limit on the number of aircraft landing and taking off at New York's LaGuardia Airport. This extension is a result of requests from the Airports Council InternationalNorth America (ACI-NA), the Air Transport Association of America (ATA) and the Regional Airline Association (RAA), and the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (Port Authority) for additional time to comment on the proposal.

This final rule makes the following administrative changes to NASA internal procedures: 14 CFR 1260.12(c)(3)(iii) is revised to identify the new name of the Science Mission Directorate's (SMD's) graduate fellowship program; and 14 CFR 1274.211(a) is revised to conform the HQ public announcement procedures to those in the NASA FAR Supplement (NFS).

We are amending the regulations to add Namibia, except the portion of the country north of the Veterinary Cordon Fence (VCF), to the list of regions that are considered free of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD), and to add the entire country to the list of regions that are considered free of rinderpest. We are taking this action because we have determined that the region in Namibia south of the VCF is now free of FMD and the entire country is free of rinderpest. We are also adding Namibia, except the region north of the VCF, to the list of FMD- and rinderpest-free regions that are subject to certain import restrictions on meat and other animal products because of their proximity to or trading relationships with rinderpest- or FMD-affected regions. This action relieves certain restrictions due to FMD and rinderpest on the importation into the United States of certain live animals and animal products from all regions of Namibia except the region north of the VCF. However, because we consider Namibia to be affected with African swine fever, classical swine fever, and swine vesicular disease, the importation of live swine and pork and pork products will continue to be restricted. In addition, because we consider Namibia to be affected with other animal diseases that are exotic to the United States, the importation of live ruminants and germplasm will also continue to be restricted. These actions will update the disease status of Namibia with regard to FMD and rinderpest while continuing to protect the United States from an introduction of those diseases by providing additional requirements for any meat and meat products imported into the United States from Namibia.

We are amending the fruits and vegetables regulations to allow the importation of shelled garden peas from Kenya into the continental United States. In order to be eligible for importation, the peas will have to be shelled, washed, and inspected and accompanied by a phytosanitary certificate issued by the Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service. This action will allow for the importation of shelled peas from Kenya into the continental United States while continuing to protect against the introduction of quarantine pests.

The Architectural and Transportation Barriers Compliance Board (Access Board) has established a Telecommunications and Electronic and Information Technology Advisory Committee (Committee) to assist it in revising and updating accessibility guidelines for telecommunications products and accessibility standards for electronic and information technology. This notice announces the dates, time, and location of the second committee meeting, which will be open to the public.

The Board is amending Regulation D, Reserve Requirements of Depository Institutions, to reflect the annual indexing of the reserve requirement exemption amount and the low reserve tranche for 2007. The Regulation D amendments set the amount of total reservable liabilities of each depository institution that is subject to a zero percent reserve requirement in 2007 at $8.5 million, up from $7.8 million in 2006. This amount is known as the reserve requirement exemption amount. The Regulation D amendment also sets the amount of net transaction accounts at each depository institution that is subject to a three percent reserve requirement in 2007 at $45.8 million, down from $48.3 million in 2006. This amount is known as the low reserve tranche. The adjustments to both of these amounts are derived using statutory formulas specified in the Federal Reserve Act. The Board is also announcing changes in two other amounts, the nonexempt deposit cutoff level and the reduced reporting limit, that are used to determine the frequency at which depository institutions must submit deposit reports.

This rule finalizes the U.S. Small Business Administration's (SBA) November 14, 2005 interim final rule that amended the small business size standard for its Surety Bond Guarantee (SBG) Program for construction (general or special trades) or service concerns performing contracts in the Presidentially-declared disaster areas resulting from the 2005 Hurricanes Katrina, Rita, and Wilma by allowing them to meet either the size standard for the primary industry in which it, together with its affiliates, is engaged, or the current $6.5 million standard for the SBG Program, whichever is higher. The size standard under this rule will remain in effect until SBA determines it is no longer necessary.

The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) is proposing to amend its regulations by adding how Post-differential and Danger pay allowances will be applied to extended workweeks under cost- reimbursement type contracts.

The Civilian Agency Acquisition Council and the Defense Acquisition Regulations Council (Councils) are proposing to amend the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) to revise the policies and procedures for contract debts.