October 2006 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (Commission) is amending its blanket certification regulations to expand the scope and scale of activities that may be undertaken pursuant to blanket certificate authority. The Commission is expanding the types of natural gas projects permitted under blanket certificate authority and increasing the cost limits that apply to blanket projects. In addition, the Commission clarifies that a natural gas company is not necessarily engaged in an unduly discriminatory practice if it charges different customers different rates for the same service based on the date that customers commit to service. Rather than rely on the more demanding process of submitting an application under section 7(c) of the Natural Gas Act for certificate authorization for every project, the revised regulations will allow interstate natural gas pipelines to employ the streamlined blanket certificate procedures for larger projects and for a wider variety of types of projects, thereby increasing efficiencies, and decreasing time and costs, associated with the construction and maintenance of the nation's natural gas infrastructure.

NMFS announces that the Administrator, Northeast Region, NMFS (Regional Administrator), has determined that the quota for the tilefish Part-time permit category has been exceeded for fishing year (FY) 2006, requiring an adjustment of the Part-time permit category quota for FY 2007. This action complies with the Fishery Management Plan for the Tilefish Fishery (FMP) and is intended to continue the rebuilding program in the FMP by taking into account previous overages of the tilefish quota.

The Eastern Washington Cascades Provincial Advisory Committee and the Yakima Provincial Advisory Committee meeting that had been set for November 8, 2006 has been cancelled. The new date that the Eastern Washington Cascades Provincial Advisory Committee and the Yakima Provincial Advisory Committee will meet is Tuesday, December 12, 2006 at the Okanogan and Wenatchee National Forests Headquarters office, 215 Melody Lane, Wenatchee, WA. This meeting will begin at 9:30 a.m. and continue until 4 p.m. During this meeting Provincial Advisory Committee members will continue the collaboration process on forest plan issues relating to the preparation of a revised forest plan for the Okanogan and Wenatchee National Forests. All Eastern Washington Cascades and Yakima Province Advisory Committee meetings are open to the public.

This action proposes a special condition for the Boeing Model 737-900ER airplane. This airplane will have a novel or unusual design feature(s) when compared to the state of technology envisioned in the airworthiness standards for transport category airplanes. These design features include interaction of systems and structures. The applicable airworthiness regulations do not contain adequate or appropriate safety standards for this design feature. The proposed special condition contains the additional safety standards that the Administrator considers necessary to establish a level of safety equivalent to that established by the existing airworthiness standards.

The FAA invites public comments about our intention to request the Office of Management and Budget's (OMB) revision of a current information collection. The Federal Register Notice with a 60-day comment period soliciting comments on the following collection of information was published on August 8, 2006, vol. 71, no. 152, page 45092. The collection of information is necessary for gathering data concerning potential new hires for the FAA.

This notice announces the eleventh meeting of the American Health Information Community Consumer Empowerment Workgroup in accordance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act (Pub. L. No. 92-463, 5 U.S.C., App.).

The U.S. Election Assistance Commission has submitted the following information collection request to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and clearance in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. The information collection was previously published in the Federal Register on August 1, 2006, at 71 FR 43477. The notice allowed for a 60-day public comment period. Fourteen comments were received on this information collection, and modifications were made to improve and clarify the information collection based on those comments. The purpose of this notice is to allow an additional 30 days for public comments. Comments are encouraged and will be accepted until November 27, 2006. This process is conducted in accordance with 5 CFR 1320.10. Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including whether the information shall have practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of the proposed information collection; (c) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (d) ways to minimize the burden of the information collection on respondents, including through the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), propose to revise critical habitat for the endangered Cape Sable seaside sparrow (Ammodramus maritimus mirabilis) under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). In total, approximately 156,350 acres (ac) (63,273 hectares (ha)) fall within the boundaries of the proposed critical habitat designation. The proposed critical habitat is located in Miami-Dade and Monroe counties, Florida.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), are designating critical habitat for the Fender's blue butterfly (Icaricia icarioides fenderi), Lupinus sulphureus ssp. kincaidii (Kincaid's lupine), and Erigeron decumbens var. decumbens (Willamette daisy) pursuant to the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). Approximately 3,010 acres (ac) (1,218 hectares (ha)) for Fender's blue butterfly in Benton, Lane, Polk, and Yamhill Counties, Oregon; 585 ac (237 ha) for L. sulphureus ssp. kincaidii in Benton, Lane, Polk, and Yamhill Counties, Oregon, and Lewis County, Washington; and 718 ac (291 ha) for E. decumbens var. decumbens in Benton, Lane, Linn, Marion, and Polk Counties, Oregon, fall within the boundaries of the critical habitat designation.

The Librarian of Congress is extending, on an interim basis, the existing classes of works with respect to which the prohibition against circumvention of technological measures that effectively control access to copyrighted works shall not apply to persons who engage in noninfringing uses.

Washington has applied to EPA for Final authorization of changes to its hazardous waste program under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, as amended, (RCRA). EPA has determined that these changes satisfy all requirements needed to qualify for Final authorization, and is authorizing the State's changes through this immediate final rule. EPA is publishing this rule to authorize the changes without a prior proposal because we believe this action is not controversial and do not expect comments that oppose it.

Washington has applied to EPA for Final authorization of the changes to its hazardous waste program under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, as amended, (RCRA). EPA proposes to authorize the State for the program changes.

Pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, 42 U.S.C. 4332(2)(C), the National Park Service announces the availability of a Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the Avalanche Hazard Reduction by Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad in Glacier National Park and Flathead National Forest Montana Draft Environmental Impact Statement, Glacier National Park, Montana.

In accordance with Section 122(h)(1) of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act, as amended (``CERCLA''), 42 U.S.C. 6922(h)(1), notice is hereby given of a proposed administrative settlement concerning the La Costex Refinery Superfund Site (Site). The Site is located on approximately 38.4 acres of which only approximately 10 acres were used for the facility operations in La Coste, Medina County, Texas. The settlement requires the Settling Party, Chevron U.S.A. Inc., to pay a total of $100,000.00 for reimbursement of past response costs to the EPA Hazardous Substance Superfund. The settlement includes a covenant not to sue which includes, but is not limited to: (1) Any direct or indirect claim for reimbursement from the EPA Hazardous Substance Superfund pursuant to Sections 106(b)(2), 107, 111, 112, and 113 of CERCLA, 42 U.S.C. 9606(b)(2), 9607, 9611, 9612, or 9613; (2) any claims arising out of the response actions at or in connection with the Site; and, (3) any claims against the United States pursuant to Sections 107 and 113 of CERCLA, 42 U.S.C. 9607 and 9613, relating to the Site. For thirty (30) days following the date of publication of this notice, the Agency will receive written comments relating to the settlement. The Agency will consider all comments received and may modify or withdraw its consent to the settlement if comments received disclose facts or considerations which indicate that the settlement is inappropriate, improper, or inadequate. The Agency's response to any comments received will be available for public inspection at 1445 Ross Avenue, Dallas, Texas, 75202-2733.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has submitted the following information collection request (ICR) to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and clearance in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995: 1640-0001. This notice and request for comments is required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104-13, 44 U.S.C. chapter 35).

The Department of Commerce (``the Department'') hereby establishes procedures for importation of supplies for use in emergency relief work free of antidumping and countervailing duties, as authorized under section 318(a) of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended (``the Act'') (19 U.S.C. 1318(a)). Such supplies would be for use in emergency relief work related to an emergency declared by the President.

The United States Department of Agriculture announces a conference call meeting of the Scientific Review Panel at the National Animal Disease Center, Ames, Iowa.

NMFS withdraws the proposed rule published on September 6, 2006, which proposed an increase in the annual tilefish total allowable landings (TAL) for the remainder of the 10-year stock rebuilding period. Thus, the previously established annual tilefish TAL of 1.995 million lb (905 mt) remains in effect.

This is a notice of an Administrative declaration of a disaster for the State of Illinois dated 10/18/2006. Incident: Tornadoes, Severe Storms and Flooding. Incident Period: 7/19/2006 through 7/21/2006. Effective Date: 10/18/2006. Physical Loan Application Deadline Date: 12/18/2006. Economic Injury (Eidl) Loan Application Deadline Date: 7/18/2007.