2006 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Federal Crop Insurance Corporation (FCIC) proposes to add to 7 CFR part 457 a new Sec. 457.168 that provides insurance for mustard. The provisions will be used in conjunction with the Common Crop Insurance Policy Basic Provisions, which contain standard terms and conditions common to most crops. The intended effect of this action is to convert the mustard pilot crop insurance program to a permanent insurance program effective for the 2008 and succeeding crop years.

This notice announces a public information session to be held addressing proposals received to amend the Federal order Class III and Class IV product price formulas. The purpose of the pre-hearing information session is for interested parties to learn about the intent of proposals that have been submitted to amend Class III and Class IV product price formulas and how the proposals would accomplish that intent. The session is intended to clarify the intent and effect of proposed amendments. The session will enable proponents to better prepare testimony and evidence in support of, or in opposition to, proposals that may be included in the Hearing Notice announcing the Class III/IV hearing.

The Coast Guard proposes to revise the duration vessels are authorized to anchor in specific anchorage grounds within the Port of New York and New Jersey (PONYNJ). This proposed action is necessary to facilitate safe navigation and provide for the overall safe and efficient flow of waterborne commerce. This proposed action is intended to better facilitate the efficient use of the limited deep water anchorage grounds available in PONYNJ.

The Coast Guard is proposing to change the regulation governing the operation of the Illinois Central Railroad Drawbridge, Mile 579.9, Upper Mississippi River at Dubuque, Iowa. Under the proposed rule, the drawbridge would open on signal if at least 24 hours advance notice is given from 12:01 a.m., on December 15, 2006 until 8 a.m., on March 15, 2007. This would allow time for making upgrades to critical mechanical components and performing scheduled annual maintenance/repairs to the bridge and pier protection.

The Environmental Technologies Trade Advisory Committee (ETTAC) was established pursuant to provisions under Title IV of the Jobs Through Trade Expansion Act, 22. U.S.C. 2151, and under the Federal Advisory Committee Act, 5 U.S.C. App. 2. ETTAC was first chartered on May 31, 1994. ETTAC serves as an advisory body to the Environmental Trade Working Group of the Trade Promotion Coordinating Committee (TPCC), reporting directly to the Secretary of Commerce in his capacity as Chairman of the TPCC. ETTAC advises on the development and administration of policies and programs to expand United States exports of environmental technologies, goods, and services and products that comply with United States environmental, safety, and related requirements. Membership in a committee operating under the Federal Advisory Committee Act must be balanced in terms of economic subsector, geographic location, and company size. Committee members serve in a representative capacity, and must be able to generally represent the views and interests of a certain subsector of the U.S. environmental industry. We are seeking senior executive-level company or environmental technologies association candidates. Members of the ETTAC have experience in exporting the full range of environmental technologies products and services including: (1) Air Pollution Control/Monitoring Equipment; (2) Analytic Services; (3) Environmental Energy Sources; (4) Environmental Engineering and Consulting Services; (5) Financial Services; (6) Process and Prevention Technologies; (7) Solid and Hazardous Waste Equipment and Management; (8) Water and Wastewater Equipment and Services. The Secretary of Commerce invites nominations to ETTAC of U.S. citizens who will represent U.S. environmental goods and services companies that trade internationally, or trade associations whose members include U.S. companies that trade internationally. Companies must be at least 51 percent beneficially-owned by U.S. persons. U.S.- based subsidiaries of foreign companies in general do not qualify for representation on the committee. Nominees will be considered based upon their ability to carry out the goals of ETTAC's enabling legislation as further articulated in its charter. ETTAC's Charter is available on the internet at https:// www.environment.ita.doc.gov. Priority will be given to a balanced representation in terms of point of view represented by various sectors, product lines, firm sizes, and geographic areas. Appointments are made without regard to political affiliation. Nominees must be U.S. citizens, representing U.S. environmental goods and services firms that trade internationally or provide services in direct support of the international trading activities of other entities. Self-nominations are accepted. If you are interested in nominating someone to become a member of ETTAC, please provide the following information (2 pages maximum): (1) Name; (2) Title; (3) Work phone; fax; and, email address; (4) Company or trade association name and address including Web site address; (5) Short bio of nominee including credentials; (6) Brief description of the company or trade association and its business activities; company size (number of employees and annual sales); and export markets served. Please, do not send company or trade association brochures or any other information. This information may be e-mailed to ellen.bohon@mail.doc.gov, or faxed to the attention of Ellen Bohon at 202-482-5665, and must be received before the deadline. Nominees selected to ETTAC will be notified. Deadline: This request will be open until November 24, 2006, from the date of publication in the Federal Register.

The IC Clearance Official, 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 Commission is re-issuing five sets of rules related to certain types of Postal Service requests that are due to expire, given sunset provisions. Re-issuance entails eliminating sunset provisions in four sets. It also entails limited revisions, such as shortening and standardizing intervention periods, revising the numbering of one set, and minor editorial changes. Re-issuance allows the Postal Service to have continued flexibility, without interruption, and will enhance administrative efficiency.

EPA is approving a State Implementation Plan (SIP) revision submitted by the Commonwealth of Virginia. This revision consists of the removal of a Consent Agreement (Agreement) currently in the SIP for the control of sulfur dioxide emissions from Burlington Industries located in Clarksville, Virginia. This Agreement has been superseded by a federally enforceable state operating permit that imposes operating restrictions on the facility's boilers and the shutdown of the remainder of the facility. This action is being taken under the Clean Air Act (CAA).

The Forest Service proposes to amend Title 36 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) parts 241, 251 and 261. Relevant sections of the Forest Service Manual (FSM) 2151, 2152, 2153, 2610, 2651 and 2719; and Forest Service Handbook (FSH) 2109.14, would also be revised to reflect the changes in the regulations. Title 36 CFR part 241 addresses the cooperation between the agency and State fish and game management agencies and governs the agency's responsibility in these partnerships. Part 251 sets out requirements governing special uses on National Forest System lands and identifies the categories of uses for which a special use authorization is required. Part 261, subpart A sets out the general prohibitions of activities on National Forest System lands, while subpart B provides for prohibition of activities on National Forest System lands by closure orders. The proposed amendment to the rule would result in three changes. The principle change, in part 241, would establish criteria for State piscicide use on National Forest System lands, outside designated Wild and Scenic Rivers or Congressionally designated Wilderness and Wilderness Study Areas. A provision that State piscicide applications outside designated Wilderness and Wilderness Study Areas are not ``special uses'' requiring special use authorization would be added to 36 CFR 251.50. A paragraph would be inserted into 36 CFR 261.50 to specifically provide for closure of an area, under specific circumstances, to prohibit piscicide application. In addition, the ambiguous phrase ``other minor uses,'' which refers to pesticide uses, would be eliminated in 36 CFR 261.9(f). The proposed rule changes would provide an efficient and standardized national approach for the application of piscicides by State agencies on National Forest System lands while retaining the Forest Service's authority over such use. Public comment is invited and will be considered in development of the final rule.

The FAA adopts a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Air Tractor, Inc. (Air Tractor) Models AT-502, AT-502A, AT-502B, AT- 602, AT-802, and AT-802A airplanes. This AD requires you to repetitively visually inspect the rudder and vertical fin hinge attaching structure (vertical fin skins, spars, hinges, and brackets) for loose fasteners, cracks, and/or corrosion. This AD also requires you to replace any damaged parts found as a result of the inspection and install an external doubler at the upper rudder hinge. This AD results from two reports of in-flight rudder separation from the vertical fin at the upper attach hinge area, and other reports of airplanes with loose hinges, skin cracks, or signs of repairs to the affected area. We are issuing this AD to detect and correct loose fasteners; any cracks in the rudder or vertical fin skins, spars, hinges or brackets; and/or corrosion of the rudder and vertical fin hinge attaching structure. Hinge failure adversely affects ability to control yaw and has led to the rudder folding over in flight. This condition could allow the rudder to contact the elevator and affect ability to control pitch with consequent loss of control.

This rule decreases the assessment rate established for the Administrative Committee for Pistachios (committee) for the 2006-07 and subsequent production years from $0.0014 to $0.0007 per pound of assessed-weight pistachios. The committee, which locally administers the marketing order regulating the handling of pistachios grown in California (order), made this recommendation to help reduce the monetary reserve and ensure that it remains at a level consistent with order requirements. Assessments upon pistachio handlers are used by the committee to fund reasonable and necessary expenses of the program. The production year begins September 1 and ends August 31. The assessment rate will remain in effect indefinitely unless modified, suspended, or terminated.

The Coast Guard has temporarily changed the drawbridge operation regulations that govern the Amtrak Bridge across the Thames River, mile 0.8, at New London, Connecticut. This temporary final rule allows the bridge owner to open the bridge on a temporary opening schedule from November 15, 2006 through May 15, 2007. This temporary final rule is necessary to facilitate bridge pier repairs.

NMFS announces that the annual quota for the Maine mahogany quahog fishery has been harvested. Commercial vessels operating under a limited access Maine mahogany quahog permit may not harvest Maine mahogany quahogs from the Maine mahogany quahog zone for the remainder of the fishing year (through December 31, 2006). Regulations governing the Maine mahogany quahog fishery require publication of this notification to advise the public of this closure. This closure does not apply to vessels with a Maine mahogany quahog permit that are fishing under an ocean quahog individual transferable quota (ITQ).

The Assistant Administrator for Fisheries (AA), NOAA, announces temporary restrictions consistent with the requirements of the Atlantic large Whale Take Reduction Plan's (ALWTRP) implementing regulations. These regulations apply to lobster trap/pot and anchored gillnet fishermen in an area totaling approximately 1,549 nm\2\ (5,312 km\2\), south of Portland, Maine, for 15 days. The purpose of this action is to provide protection to an aggregation of northern right whales (right whales).

The Per Diem, Travel and Transportation Allowance Committee is publishing Civilian Personnel Per Diem Bulletin Number 250. This bulletin lists revisions in the per diem rates prescribed for U.S. Government employees for official travel in Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, the Northern Mariana Islands and Possessions of the United States. AEA changes announced in Bulletin Number 194 remain in effect. Bulletin Number 250 is being published in the Federal Register to assure that travelers are paid per diem at the most current rates.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Los Angeles District (Corps) will hold a public hearing to receive comments on the proposed project action as described and evaluated in Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS) for the operation and maintenance, related to vegetation and sediment management, of the San Luis Rey River Flood Control Project.

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 April 30, 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.

On August 25, 2006, NMFS issued a final rule to require the use of chain mats on sea scallop dredges in the mid-Atlantic sea scallop fishery in order to help protect sea turtles. The regulation became effective on September 25, 2006. Shortly after the rule's effective date, NMFS became aware of a discrepancy between the two options in the regulation for configuring the chain mat. This emergency final rule corrects the existing regulation to ensure that the protection to sea turtles expected from the August 25, 2006 rule is achieved. This emergency final rule requires that any vessel with a sea scallop dredge and required to have a Federal Atlantic sea scallop fishery permit, regardless of dredge size or vessel permit category, present in waters south of 41[deg] 9.0' N. lat., from the shoreline to the outer boundary of the Exclusive Economic Zone must have on each dredge a chain mat composed of horizontal (tickler) and vertical (``up- and-down'') chains for the duration of the trip. The chains must be configured such that the length of each side of the square or rectangle formed by the intersecting chains is less than or equal to 14 inches (35.5 cm). 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 from the Endangered Species Act's prohibition against takes.