December 1, 2006 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

DoD has issued a final rule amending the Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS) to update text addressing contract pricing matters and cost accounting standards administration. The rule implements statutory provisions regarding exceptions to cost or pricing data requirements and waiver of cost accounting standards, and relocates internal DoD procedures relating to pricing considerations and cost accounting standards to the DFARS companion resource, Procedures, Guidance, and Information.

DoD has adopted as final, with changes, an interim rule amending the Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS) to address the effect of Internal Revenue Service (IRS) levies on contract payments. The rule requires DoD contractors to promptly notify the contracting officer if a levy may result in an inability to perform a contract.

We are advising the public that the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is exploring options for the construction of a multispecies exotic fruit fly facility and/or the privatization of sterile fly production to provide backup capacity for our sterile fruit fly programs and emergency needs. APHIS recognizes the need to maintain a backup for sterile fruit fly production to respond to emergency outbreaks when they occur, and to ensure current preventive release programs in California, Florida, and Texas remain effective. In this notice, we are soliciting the submission of information from interested persons regarding potential sites for the production of sterile fruit flies or alternate sources of those flies.

This rule amends Appendix D to the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation's regulation on Benefits Payable in Terminated Single- Employer Plans by adding the maximum guaranteeable pension benefit that may be paid by the PBGC with respect to a plan participant in a single- employer pension plan that terminates in 2007. The amendment is necessary because the maximum guarantee amount changes each year, based on changes in the contribution and benefit base under section 230 of the Social Security Act. The effect of the amendment is to advise plan administrators, participants and beneficiaries of the increased maximum guarantee amount for 2007.

This notice informs the public of the PBGC flat premium rates for premium payment years beginning in 2007. These rates can be derived from information published elsewhere but are published in this notice for the convenience of the public.

DEA is extending the comment period on the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking entitled ``Authorized Sources of Narcotic Raw Materials'' published October 4, 2006 (71 FR 58569).

In accordance with the requirements of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3507), OTS may not conduct or sponsor, and the respondent is not required to respond to, an information collection unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number. On July 31, 2006, OTS requested public comment for 60 days (71 FR 43286) on proposed revisions to the Thrift Financial Report (TFR), which is currently an approved collection of information. The notice described regulatory reporting revisions proposed for the TFR, Schedule SC Consolidated Statement of Condition, Schedule SOConsolidated Statement of Operations, Schedule LDLoan Data, Schedule CF Consolidated Cash Flow Information, Schedule SISupplemental Information, Schedule SQConsolidated Supplemental Questions, and Schedule HCThrift Holding Company. The proposed revisions would eliminate ten line items from the TFR, revise six existing items, add 16 new items, and eliminate confidential treatment of Schedule HC data. After considering the comments received, OTS has adopted the proposed revisions, with the exception of the proposals to revise the language of the question in line HC840 and to eliminate the confidential treatment of data in Schedule HC. OTS is setting the effective date for the revisions at March 31, 2007. OTS is submitting the adopted revisions to OMB for review and approval.

Notice is hereby given that NMFS has received an application from the Public Utility District No. 2 of Grant County (Grant PUD), the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW), and the Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation (YN) for a direct take permit pursuant to the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (ESA). The duration of the proposed Permit is three years. This document serves to notify the public that the permit applications and the associated draft environmental assessment (EA) are available for comment before a final decision on whether to issue a Finding of No Significant Impact is made by NMFS for take of upper Columbia River spring-run chinook salmon and steelhead. All comments received will become part of the public record and will be available for review pursuant to the ESA.

The Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control (``OFAC'') is publishing the names of twenty-seven newly-designated persons whose property and interests in property are blocked pursuant to Executive Order 12978 of October 21, 1995, ``Blocking Assets and Prohibiting Transactions with Significant Narcotics Traffickers.'' In addition, OFAC is publishing changes to the identifying information associated with eighteen persons previously designated pursuant to Executive Order 12978.

Under the provisions of section 3507(a) (1)(D) of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), the National Institutes of Health (NIH) has submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) a request for review and approval of the information collection listed below. This proposed information collection was previously published in the Federal Register on August 14, 2006, page 46486 and allowed 60-days for public comment. No public comments were received. The purpose of this notice is to allow an additional 30 days for public comment. The National Institutes of Health may not conduct or sponsor, and the respondent is not required to respond to, an information collection that has been extended, revised, or implemented on or after October 1, 1995, unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number.

In response to a request from Globe Metallurgical Inc. (Globe), a domestic producer of silicon metal, the Department of Commerce initiated an administrative review of the antidumping duty order on silicon metal from Brazil. The period of review covers July 1, 2005, through June 30, 2006. Because the respondents reported that they had no sales or shipments to the United States during the period of review, we intend to rescind the review of these companies.

The Department of Commerce (``the Department'') published its preliminary results of administrative review of the antidumping duty order on non-malleable cast iron pipe fittings (``NMP fittings'') from the People's Republic of China (``PRC'') on May 25, 2006. See Non-Malleable Cast Iron Pipe Fittings from the People's Republic of China: Preliminary Results of Antidumping Duty Administrative Review, 71 FR 30116 (May 25, 2006) (``Preliminary Results''). The period of review (``POR'') is April 1, 2004, through March 31, 2005. We invited interested parties to comment on our preliminary results. Based on our analysis of the comments received, we have made changes to our calculations. The final dumping margins for this review are listed in the ``Final Results of Review'' section below.

The Committee is proposing to add to the Procurement List a service to be furnished by nonprofit agencies employing persons who are blind or have other severe disabilities, and to delete products and services previously furnished by such agencies. Comments Must Be Received On Or Before: January 7, 2007.

FRA is issuing Safety Advisory 2006-05 recommending that each railroad operating passenger trains assess the rules, instructions, and procedures used to ensure that a train will not depart a station until all passengers successfully board or alight from the train, and ensure compliance with such rules, instructions, and procedures.

The Coast Guard announces a change in the e-mail address that U.S. vessels equipped with a Ship Security Alert System (SSAS) can use to send emergency notices to the Coast Guard when their security is threatened. In these emergencies, a vessel notifies the Coast Guard of the incident directly or through a third party. The SSAS notice may be communicated through various media. If it is sent as an e-mail, it must be sent to the new address: ssas@uscg.mil.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary 500-yard moving security zone around the U.S. Forces vessel SBX-1 during transit within the Honolulu Captain of the Port Zone. This security zone is necessary to protect the SBX-1 from hazards associated with vessels and persons approaching too close during transit. Entry of persons or vessels into this temporary security zone is prohibited unless authorized by the Captain of the Port (COTP).

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.), this document announces that EPA is planning to submit a request to renew an existing approved Information Collection Request (ICR) to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). This ICR is scheduled to expire on March 31, 2007. Before submitting the ICR to OMB for review and approval, EPA is soliciting comments on specific aspects of the proposed information collection as described below.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's National Center for Environmental Innovation (NCEI) is giving notice of the availability of its solicitation for pre-proposals for the 2007 ``State Innovation Grant Program,'' an assistance agreement program to support innovation by state environmental regulatory agencies. Only the principal environmental regulatory agency within each state, U.S. territory, or the District of Columbia (generally, where delegated authorities for federal environmental regulations exist) is eligible to receive funding under this solicitation.

In accordance with the requirement of Section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 which provides opportunity for public comment on new or revised data collections, the Railroad Retirement Board (RRB) will publish periodic summaries of proposed data collections. Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the proposed information collection is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including whether the information has practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the RRB's estimate of the burden of the collection of the information; (c) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (d) ways to minimize the burden related to the collection of information on respondents, including the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology. Title and purpose of information collection: Appeal Under the Railroad Retirement and Railroad Unemployment Insurance Act; OMB 3220- 0007 Under Section 7(b)(3) of the Railroad Retirement Act (RRA), and section 5(c) of the Railroad Unemployment Insurance Act (RUIA) any person aggrieved by a decision on his or her application for an annuity or benefit under that Act has the right to appeal to the RRB. This right is prescribed in 20 CFR 260 and 20 CFR 320. The notification letter sent to the individual at the time of the original action on the application informs the applicant of such right. When an individual protests a decision, the concerned bureau reviews the entire file and any additional evidence submitted and sends the applicant a letter explaining the basis of the determination. The applicant is then notified that if he or she wishes to protest further, they can appeal to the RRB's Bureau of Hearings and Appeals. The procedure pertaining to the filing of such an appeal is prescribed in 20 CFR 260.5 and 260.9 and 20 CFR 320.12 and 320.38. The form prescribed by the RRB for filing an appeal under the RRA or RUIA is form HA-1, Appeal Under the Railroad Retirement Act or Railroad Unemployment Insurance Act. The form asks the applicant to furnish the basis for the appeal and what additional evidence, if any, is to be submitted. Completion is voluntary, however if the information is not provided the RRB cannot process the appeal. The RRB proposes no changes to Form HA-1. The completion time for the HA-1 is estimated at 20 minutes per response. The RRB estimates that approximately 650 Form HA-1's are completed annually. Additional Information or Comments: To request more information or to obtain a copy of the information collection justification, forms, and/or supporting material, please call the RRB Clearance Officer at (312) 751-3363 or send an e-mail request to Charles.Mierzwa@RRB.GOV. Comments regarding the information collection should be addressed to Ronald J. Hodapp, Railroad Retirement Board, 844 North Rush Street, Chicago, Illinois 60611-2092 or send an e-mail to Ronald.Hodapp@RRB.GOV. Written comments should be received within 60 days of this notice.