December 8, 2006 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

In accordance with the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) regulations, notification is hereby given that NMFS has issued an Incidental Harassment Authorization (IHA) to Dr. Glenn VanBlaricom (Dr. VanBlaricom) for the take of marine mammals, by Level B harassment only, incidental to the assessment of black abalone populations at San Nicolas Island (SNI), CA.

This rule adds Appendix E to part 61 of the Department of Justice's regulations to ensure better compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969. The rule supplements existing Department procedures and regulations of the Council on Environmental Quality and only pertains to internal procedures of the United States Marshals Service (USMS).

The Coast Guard (USCG) announces the availability of the draft Environmental Assessment (EA) for the homeporting of four National Security Cutters (NSCs) at Coast Guard Island (CGI), Alameda, California, and requests public comments. The draft EA tiers from the USCG's 2002 Final Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (PEIS) for the Integrated Deepwater System (IDS) program. The purpose of the proposed action is to replace the four existing 378-foot High Endurance Cutters (WHECs) currently homeported at CGI with the NSCs. The USCG proposes to replace the WHECs on a one for one replacement schedule starting in 2007/2008 and continuing one per year until 2010/2011.

The Acting Leader, Information Policy and Standards Team, Regulatory Information Management Services, Office of Management, invites comments on the proposed information collection requests as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is amending the animal drug regulations to reflect approval of a supplemental abbreviated new animal drug application (ANADA) filed by IVX Animal Health, Inc. The supplemental ANADA revises labeling of generic oxytetracycline soluble powder with the current scientific names of the causative bacteria of foulbrood of honeybees.

In May 2006, the U.S. Department of Transportation (the ``Department'') announced its National Strategy to Reduce Congestion on America's Transportation Network (the ``Congestion Initiative''), a bold and comprehensive national program to reduce congestion on the Nation's roads, rails, runways, and waterways. One major component of the Congestion Initiative is the Urban Partnership Agreement (``UPA''). The purpose of this Notice is to solicit proposals by metropolitan areas to enter into UPAs with the Department in order to demonstrate strategies with a combined track record of effectiveness in reducing traffic congestion. To support congestion-reducing strategies adopted by the Department's urban partners (``Urban Partners''), the Department expects to utilize discretionary funding available under the Department's Intelligent Transportation System Operational Testing to Mitigate Congestion Program (the ``ITS-OTMC Program''), its Value Pricing Pilot Program (the ``VPP Program''), and other discretionary grant, lending and credit support programs administered by the Department. In addition, to the maximum extent possible, the Department will support its Urban Partners with regulatory flexibility and dedicated expertise and personnel. This Notice is the first of three solicitations to be issued by the Department in connection with the Congestion Initiative. See below SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Coordination with Other Congestion Initiative Solicitations.'' The Department reserves the right to solicit, and is actively soliciting, by means other than this Notice, certain metropolitan areas that the Department has determined, on a preliminary basis, to be candidates for UPAs. Neither the procedures nor the criteria set forth in this Notice shall be binding on the Department.

The Department of State has submitted the following new information collection request to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval in accordance with the emergency review procedures of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. Type of Request: Emergency Review. Originating Office: Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs, Middle East Partnership Initiative. Title of Information Collection: Iran Democracy Program Grants Vetting. Frequency: On occasion. Form Number: DS-4100. Respondents: Potential Grantees for Iran Democracy Program. Estimated Number of Respondents: 200. Average Hours per Response: 1 hour per response. Total Estimated Burden: 200 hours. The proposed information collection is published to obtain comments from the public and affected agencies. Emergency review and approval of this collection has been requested from OMB by December 8, 2006. If granted, the emergency approval is only valid for 180 days. Comments should be directed to Katherine Astrich, State Department Desk Officer, Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and Budget (OMB), Washington, DC 20530, who may be reached on 202-395-4718. During the first 60 days of this same period a regular review of this information collection is also being undertaken. Comments are encouraged and will be accepted until 60 days from the date that this notice is published in the Federal Register. The agency requests written comments and suggestions from the public and affected agencies concerning the proposed collection of information. Your comments are being solicited to permit the agency to: Evaluate whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including whether the information will have practical utility. Evaluate the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of the proposed collection, including the validity of the methodology and assumptions used. Enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected. Minimize the reporting burden on those who are to respond, including through the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of technology. For Additional Information: Requests for additional information, regarding the collection listed in this notice should be directed to David Denehy, Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs, U.S. Department of State, Washington, DC 20520, who may be reached on 202-647-2519, or via e-mail at DenehyDM@state.gov.

Notice is hereby given that the United States Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Colorado State Office, will offer certain coal resources in the B, D/E seams in Gunnison County, Colorado, hereinafter described as Federal coal lease application (LBA) COC 67232 for competitive lease by sealed bid in accordance with the provisions for competitive lease sales in 43 CFR 3422.2(a), and the Mineral Leasing Act of 1920, as amended and supplemented (30 U.S.C. 181 et seq.).

We are announcing designation of the following organizations to provide official services under the United States Grain Standards Act, as amended (USGSA): California Agri Inspection Company, Ltd. (California Agri); Frankfort Grain Inspection, Inc. (Frankfort); Indianapolis Grain Inspection & Weighing Service, Inc. (Indianapolis); and Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (Virginia).

Export Trading Company Affairs (``ETCA''), International Trade Administration, Department of Commerce, has received an application to amend an Export Trade Certificate of Review (``Certificate''). This notice summarizes the proposed amendment and requests comments relevant to whether the Certificate should be issued.

Under Section 122(h)(1) of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA), the United States Environmental Protection Agency has entered into a settlement for reimbursement of past response costs concerning the Jehl Cooperage Superfund Site located in Memphis, Shelby County, Tennessee.

This regulation establishes a time-limited tolerance for residues of cyproconazole ((2RS,3RS)-2-(4-chlorophenyl)-3-cyclopropyl- 1-(1H -1,2,4- triazole-1-yl)butan-2-ol) in or on soybean seed. This action is associated with EPA's granting of an emergency exemption under section 18 of the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) authorizing use of the pesticide on soybeans. This regulation establishes a maximum permissible level for residues of cyproconazole in this food commodity. The tolerance will expire and be revoked on December 31, 2009.

EPA does not object to the proposed project. Rating LO.

The Administration on Aging (AoA) is announcing an opportunity for public comment on the proposed collection of certain information by the agency. Under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (the PRA), Federal agencies are required to publish notice in the Federal Register concerning each proposed collection of information, including each proposed extension of an existing collection of information, and to allow 60 days for public comment in response to the notice. This notice solicits comments on the information collection requirements relating to Alzheimer's Disease Demonstration Grants to States Program

The Acting Leader, Information Policy and Standards Team, Regulatory Information Management Services, Office of Management, invites comments on the proposed information collection requests as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.

The Securities and Exchange Commission (``Commission'') is amending its rules to delegate authority to the Chief Administrative Law Judge to issue orders to discontinue administrative proceedings as to a particular respondent who has died or cannot be found, or because of a mistake in the identity of a respondent named in the order for proceedings. The delegation is intended to conserve Commission resources, as well as expedite disposition of administrative proceedings.

The Department of Commerce, as part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, invites the general public and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on proposed and/or continuing information collections, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.

The Committee is proposing to add to the Procurement List services to be furnished by nonprofit agencies employing persons who are blind or have other severe disabilities. Comments Must Be Received On Or Before: January 14, 2007.