2006 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

This rule identifies communities, where the sale of flood insurance has been authorized under the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), that are scheduled for suspension on the effective dates listed within this rule because of noncompliance with the floodplain management requirements of the program. If FEMA receives documentation that the community has adopted the required floodplain management measures prior to the effective suspension date given in this rule, the suspension will not occur and a notice of this will be provided by publication in the Federal Register on a subsequent date.

We are amending the foreign quarantine and user fee regulations by removing the exemptions from inspection for imported fruits and vegetables grown in Canada and the exemptions from user fees for commercial vessels, commercial trucks, commercial railroad cars, commercial aircraft, and international air passengers entering the United States from Canada. As a result of this action, all agricultural products imported from Canada will be subject to inspection, and commercial conveyances, as well as airline passengers arriving on flights from Canada, will be subject to inspection and user fees. We are taking this action in part because we are not recovering the costs of our current inspection activities at the U.S./Canada border. In addition, our data show an increasing number of interceptions on the U.S./Canada border of prohibited material that originated in regions other than Canada that presents a high risk of introducing plant pests or animal diseases into the United States. These findings, combined with additional Canadian airport preclearance data on interceptions of ineligible agricultural products approaching the U.S. border from Canada, strongly indicate that we need to expand and strengthen our pest exclusion and smuggling interdiction efforts at that border. In order to do this and to recover the costs of our existing inspection activity, we need to collect user fees for inspection of commercial conveyances and international air passengers entering the United States from Canada.

The Department of Agriculture (USDA) is adopting, as a final rule, with correcting changes, an interim final rule to increase the assessment rate on handlers and importers of potatoes from 2 cents to 2.5 cents per hundredweight. The increase is authorized under the Potato Research and Promotion Plan (Plan). The Plan is authorized by the Potato Research and Promotion Act (Act). In order to sustain the three major programs currently conducted by the National Potato Promotion Board (Board), International Marketing, Domestic Marketing (which includes retail marketing), and a nutrition campaign at their present levels beyond June 2006, additional revenue is required.

This document cancels a public hearing on proposed regulations concerning the application of section 199 of the Internal Revenue Code, which provides a deduction for income attributable to domestic production activities, to certain transactions involving computer software.

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain McDonnell Douglas Model DC-10-10 and DC-10-10F airplanes; and Model MD-10-10F airplanes. This AD requires replacing the clamp bases for the fuel vent pipe with improved clamp bases. This AD results from reports that the foil wrapping on existing plastic clamp bases has migrated out of position, which compromises the bonding of the fuel vent pipes to the airplane structure. We are issuing this AD to ensure that the fuel vent pipes are properly bonded to the airplane structure. Improper bonding could prevent electrical energy from a lightning strike from dissipating to the airplane structure, and create an ignition source, which could result in a fuel tank explosion.

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Bombardier Model DHC-8-100, DHC-8-200, DHC-8-300, and DHC-8-400 series airplanes. This AD requires inspecting the left and right control column torque tube assemblies to determine the type of rivets installed and replacing incorrect or indeterminate type rivets with the correct type rivets. This AD results from a report that incorrect rivets having lower than required strength were installed on the control column torque tube during production. We are issuing this AD to prevent shear failure of control column torque tube rivets, which could cause unexpected decoupling of the elevators and large unwanted deflection of the free elevator, and consequent reduced controllability of the airplane.

NMFS issues this final rule to require sea turtle conservation measures for all sea scallop dredge vessels fishing south of 41[deg] 9.0' N. latitude from May 1 through November 30 each year. All vessels with a sea scallop dredge and that are required to have a Federal Atlantic sea scallop fishery permit, regardless of dredge size or vessel permit category, must modify their dredge(s) when fishing south of 41[deg] 9.0' N. latitude, from the shoreline to the outer boundary of the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). This action is necessary to help reduce mortality and injury to endangered and threatened sea turtles in scallop dredge gear and to conserve sea turtles listed under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). Any incidental take of threatened sea turtles in sea scallop dredge gear in compliance with this gear modification requirement and all other applicable requirements will be exempted on the ESA's prohibition against takes.

The Commander, Fifth Coast Guard District, has approved a temporary deviation from the regulations governing the operation of the new Woodrow Wilson Memorial (I-95) Bridge, mile 103.8, across Potomac River between Alexandria, Virginia and Oxon Hill, Maryland. This deviation allows the new drawbridge to remain closed-to-navigation each day from 10 A.M. to 2 P.M. beginning on August 26, 2006 until and including October 24, 2006, to facilitate completion of the Outer Loop portion for the new Woodrow Wilson Bridge construction project.

This amendment amends Standard Instrument Approach Procedures (SIAPs) for operations at certain airports. These regulatory actions are needed because of changes occurring in the National Airspace System, such as the commissioning of new navigational facilities, addition of new obstacles, or changes in air traffic requirements. These changes are designed to provide safe and efficient use of the navigable airspace and to promote safe flight operations under instrument flight rules at the affected airports.

This final rule amends commercial space transportation regulations governing the launch of expendable launch vehicles. This action is necessary to codify current launch practices at Federal launch ranges and codify rules for launches from a non-Federal launch site. These safety requirements currently apply to a launch operator through its FAA license. The intended effect of this action is to ensure that the public continues to be protected from the hazards of launch from either a Federal launch range or a non-Federal launch site.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone for the demolition of the Mattabassett Outfall from August 9, 2006 through August 30, 2006 in the waters of the Connecticut River off Cromwell, CT. The zone will temporarily close all waters in the vicinity of the Mattabessett Outfall within a three hundred (300) yard radius of the blasting operations. This temporary safety zone is necessary to protect the maritime community transiting the area from the potential safety hazards associated with demolition and blasting operations. The safety zone temporarily prohibits entry into or movement within this portion of the Connecticut River during the closure period, unless authorized by the Captain of the Port (COTP), Long Island Sound or the COTP's designated representative.

EPA is approving State Implementation Plan (SIP) revisions submitted by the State of Montana on April 18, 2003. The revisions modify the open burning rules and references to federal regulations in the Administrative Rules of Montana. The intended effect of this action is to make federally enforceable those provisions that EPA is approving. This action is being taken under section 110 of the Clean Air Act.

The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) is issuing final regulations implementing mandatory employee surveys as required by the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2004. The regulations add a new subpart which requires agencies to conduct an annual survey of their employees. In addition, the final regulations provide a list of questions that must appear in each agency's employee survey.

These proposed regulations clarify that if a bank is an S corporation within the meaning of section 1361(a)(1), its status as an S corporation does not affect the applicability of the special rules for banks under the Internal Revenue Code.

This document contains corrections to final regulations (TD 9272) that were published in the Federal Register on Tuesday, August 1, 2006 (71 FR 43363) relating to income that is associated with a residual interest in a Real Estate Mortgage Investment Conduit (REMIC) and that is allocated through certain entities to foreign persons who have invested in those entities.

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) is amending NASA regulations on release of information to news and information media. These amendments will establish NASA policy, responsibility, and procedure for providing information to news media on NASA activities.

This action removes regulations that have been rendered obsolete by expiration of their statutory authority and the ending of the programs they governed. There are no impacts on past or current program operations.

NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for Pacific cod by non- American Fisheries Act (AFA) crab vessels catching Pacific cod for processing by the inshore component in the Central and Western Regulatory Areas of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). This action is necessary to prevent exceeding the 2006 Pacific cod sideboard limits apportioned to non-AFA crab vessels catching Pacific cod for processing by the inshore component of the Central and Western Regulatory Areas of the GOA.

This rule revises the jurisdiction of the Federal Subsistence Management Program by adding submerged lands and waters in the area of Makhnati Island, near Sitka, Alaska. This would then allow Federal subsistence users to harvest marine resources in this area under seasons, harvest limits, and methods specified in Federal Subsistence Management regulations.

This rule proposes to revise and clarify requirements for the processing of donated foods, in order to incorporate processing options tested in demonstration projects, to more effectively ensure accountability for donated foods provided for processing, and to streamline current reporting and review requirements. Most significantly, it would require multi-State processors to enter into National Processing Agreements to process donated foods into end products, and would permit processors to substitute donated beef and pork with commercially purchased beef and pork of U.S. origin and of equal or better quality than the donated food. The rule would also rewrite regulatory provisions in plain language, to make them easier to read and understand for the general public.

The Fish and Wildlife Service (hereinafter Service or we) is proposing to establish the 2006-07 late-season hunting regulations for certain migratory game birds. We annually prescribe frameworks, or outer limits, for dates and times when hunting may occur and the number of birds that may be taken and possessed in late seasons. These frameworks are necessary to allow State selections of seasons and limits and to allow recreational harvest at levels compatible with population and habitat conditions.

In this final rule, OSHA is revising its existing Respiratory Protection Standard to add definitions and requirements for Assigned Protection Factors (APFs) and Maximum Use Concentrations (MUCs). The revisions also supersede the respirator selection provisions of existing substance-specific standards with these new APFs (except for the respirator selection provisions of the 1,3-Butadiene Standard). The Agency developed the final APFs after thoroughly reviewing the available literature, including chamber-simulation studies and workplace protection factor studies, comments submitted to the record, and hearing testimony. The final APFs provide employers with critical information to use when selecting respirators for employees exposed to atmospheric contaminants found in general industry, construction, shipyards, longshoring, and marine terminal workplaces. Proper respirator selection using APFs is an important component of an effective respiratory protection program. Accordingly, OSHA concludes that the final APFs are necessary to protect employees who must use respirators to protect them from airborne contaminants.

We are amending the regulations to allow untreated oranges, tangerines, and grapefruit from Mexico to be moved overland by truck or rail to Corpus Christi and Houston, TX, for export to another country by water. We are taking this action in response to requests by the port authorities of Corpus Christi and Houston, TX. We are also requiring that untreated oranges, tangerines, and grapefruit from Mexico transiting the United States for export to another country be shipped in sealed, refrigerated containers and insect-proof packaging and via routes that avoid citrus production areas. We are taking this action to provide additional protection against the possible introduction of fruit flies via untreated oranges, tangerines, and grapefruit from Mexico that transit the United States.

We are amending the regulations pertaining to certain garbage to provide for the interstate movement of garbage from Hawaii subject to measures designed to protect against the dissemination of plant pests into noninfested areas of the continental United States. We are amending these regulations upon request in order to provide the State of Hawaii with additional waste disposal options, and after determining that the action is highly unlikely to result in the introduction and dissemination of plant or animal pests or diseases into the continental United States from Hawaii. We are also making other amendments to the garbage regulations to clarify their intent and make them easier to understand.

The Federal Communications Commission is conducting its comprehensive 2006 biennial review of telecommunications regulations pursuant to Section 11 of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended. Section 11 requires the Commission to review biennially its regulations ``that apply to the operations or activities of any provider of telecommunications service,'' and to ``determine whether any such regulation is no longer necessary in the public interest as the result of meaningful economic competition between the providers of such service.'' The Commission is directed to repeal or modify any such regulations that it finds are no longer in the public interest.