December 12, 2006 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

This advance notice of proposed rulemaking (``ANPR'') initiates a rulemaking proceeding that could result in mandatory performance standards for portable generators. The notice discusses a broad range of regulatory approaches that could be used to reduce portable generator-related deaths and injuries, particularly those related to carbon monoxide poisoning.\1\ The Commission invites public comment on these alternatives and any other approaches that could reduce portable generator-related deaths and injuries due to carbon monoxide poisoning, as well as shock/electrocution, fire, and burns. The Commission also invites interested persons to submit an existing standard, or a statement of intent to modify or develop a voluntary standard, to address the risk of injury described in this ANPR. The Commission issued a separate notice of proposed rulemaking (NPR) at 71 FR 50003 on August 24, 2006, relating specifically to enhancing the effectiveness of warning labels for portable generators, and invited public comment on its proposal.

The Federal Crop Insurance Corporation (FCIC) finalizes the Common Crop Insurance Regulations, Nursery Crop Insurance Provisions by amending the definition of ``liners.'' FCIC also finalizes the Nursery Peak Inventory Endorsement to clarify that the peak amount of insurance is limited to 200 percent of the amount of insurance established under the Nursery Crop Insurance Provisions. The amendments will be applicable to the 2008 and succeeding crop years.

In the Rules and Regulations section of this issue of the Federal Register, the IRS is issuing temporary regulations relating to the reduction in taxable income under section 302 of the Katrina Emergency Tax Relief Act of 2005. The regulations affect taxpayers that provide housing in their principal residences to individuals displaced by Hurricane Katrina. The text of those regulations also serves as the text of these proposed regulations.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is proposing to amend its final rule that established standardized format and content requirements for the labeling of over-the-counter (OTC) drug products (Drug Facts Rule, codified at 21 CFR 201.66). This amendment proposes a definition and the option of alternative labeling requirements for ``convenience-size'' OTC drug packages.

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Lockheed Model L-1011 series airplanes. This AD requires a one- time detailed inspection of the C112 harness clamp assembly for proper installation, a one-time detailed inspection of the C112 and C162 harness assemblies for damage, and corrective actions if necessary. This AD results from a report of electrical arcing of the essential bus feeder cables behind hinged circuit breaker panel CB3 P-K. We are issuing this AD to prevent arcing of essential bus feeder cables due to improper installation of the harness C112 clamp assembly, which could result in loss of electrical systems and smoke and/or fire behind the CB3 P-K hinged circuit breaker panel in the flight compartment.

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain McDonnell Douglas Model MD-11F airplanes. This AD requires a general visual inspection for installation of conduit and chafing damage on the auxiliary power unit (APU) power feeder wires and the upper surface of the auxiliary fuel tank and repair if necessary. This AD results from fuel system reviews conducted by the manufacturer. We are issuing this AD to detect and correct unprotected APU power feeder wires that come into close proximity to the upper surface of the auxiliary ``piggy back'' fuel tank, which could result in a potential ignition source, and in combination with flammable fuel vapors, could cause a fuel tank explosion and consequent loss of the airplane.

NMFS announces that the Atlantic bluefish commercial quota available to New York has been harvested. Vessels issued a commercial Federal fisheries permit for the Atlantic bluefish fishery may not land bluefish in New York for the remainder of calendar year 2006, unless additional quota becomes available through a transfer. Regulations governing the Atlantic bluefish fishery require publication of this notification to advise New York that the quota has been harvested and to advise vessel permit holders and dealer permit holders that no commercial quota is available for landing bluefish in New York.

This document is issued under the joint authority of the Secretary of Defense, the Administrator of General Services and the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. This Small Entity Compliance Guide has been prepared in accordance with Section 212 of the Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act of 1996. It consists of a summary of rules appearing in Federal Acquisition Circular (FAC) 2005-15 which amend the FAR. An asterisk (*) next to a rule indicates that a regulatory flexibility analysis has been prepared. Interested parties may obtain further information regarding these rules by referring to FAC 2005-15 which precedes this document. These documents are also available via the Internet at http:/ /www.regulations.gov.

The Civilian Agency Acquisition Council and the Defense Acquisition Regulations Council (Councils) have agreed on a final rule amending the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) to clarify payment procedures for Time-and-Materials (T&M) and Labor-Hour (LH) Contracts.

The Securities and Exchange Commission (``Commission'') is adopting amendments to the rules and forms under Section 17A of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (``Act'') to require that the forms filed with respect to transfer agent registration, annual reporting, and withdrawal from registration be filed with the Commission electronically. The forms will be filed on the Commission's EDGAR database in XML format and will be accessible to Commission staff and the public for search and retrieval. The amendments will improve the Commission's ability to utilize the information reported on the forms in performing its oversight function of transfer agent operations and to publicly disseminate the information on the forms.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), are designating critical habitat for the Laguna Mountains skipper (Pyrgus ruralis lagunae) pursuant to the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). In total, approximately 6,242 acres (ac) (2,525 hectares (ha)) fall within the boundaries of the critical habitat designation. The critical habitat is located in San Diego County, California, on lands under Federal (3,516 ac (1,423 ha)), State (381 ac (154 ha)), and private (2,345 ac (948 ha)) ownership.