January 30, 2007 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Department of Energy (DOE) has commenced a rulemaking to amend the existing energy conservation standards for residential water heaters, direct heating equipment, and pool heaters. On November 24, 2006, the DOE published in the Federal Register (FR) a notice of public meeting and availability of Framework Document for this rulemaking wherein it indicated that the comment period for this initial phase of the rulemaking closes on January 30, 2007. 71 FR 67825. On January 16, 2007, DOE held an informal public meeting to present its proposed methodologies for conducting the rulemaking, discuss issues relevant to the rulemaking proceeding, and initiate stakeholder interaction and the data collection process. Due to the extensive scope of material and issues raised at the meeting, some stakeholders at the public meeting requested an extension to the comment period. This notice extends the comment period to better provide opportunity for public review and comment on DOE's rulemaking approaches.

This action implements 2007 specifications and management measures for Atlantic mackerel, squid, and butterfish (MSB) and modifies existing management measures. Specifically, it implements trimester quota allocations for the Loligo squid fishery and establishes the protocol for an inseason adjustment to increase the mackerel harvest, if landings approach harvest limits. Lastly, this final rule clarifies, updates, and corrects existing regulatory language that is misleading or incorrect. This action promotes the utilization and conservation of the MSB resource.

The General Services Administration (GSA) is amending the Federal Travel Regulation (FTR), by amending the mileage reimbursement rate for use of a privately owned automobile (POA) on official travel to reflect current costs of operation as determined in cost studies conducted by the General Services Administration (GSA). The governing regulation is revised to increase the mileage allowance for the cost of operating a privately owned automobile from $0.445 to $0.485 per mile. The FTR and any corresponding documents may be accessed at GSA's website at https://www.gsa.gov/ftr.

The Environmental Protection Agency hereby gives notice that it will conduct one public meeting on the proposed regulatory revision: NPDES Permit Fee Incentive for Clean Water Act Section 106 Grants; Allotment Formula. This proposed rule was published in the Federal Register on January 4, 2007 (72 FR 293), under the title ``NPDES Permit Fee Incentive for Clean Water Act Section 106 Grants; Allotment Formula.'' The purpose of the meeting is to enhance public understanding of the proposed regulation and to provide the public with an opportunity to provide oral and written comments to EPA regarding the proposed regulation. Oral comments given during the public meeting will be transcribed and included in the docket. Written comments will be submitted to the docket as well. The meeting provides a mechanism for submitting formal comments on the proposal. The meeting will consist of a presentation by EPA officials on the proposed regulation followed by a public comment session. Each commenter will be allowed a set amount of time to provide oral comments to EPA. Where appropriate, EPA will provide clarification regarding the proposed rule. Participants are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the basic aspects of the proposed regulation prior to the public meeting. Advance registration is not required.

The Commission is extending for a limited period of time three of the future compliance dates for Rule 610 and Rule 611 of Regulation NMS (``Rule 610'' and ``Rule 611,'' respectively) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (``Exchange Act''). Rule 610 requires fair and non-discriminatory access to quotations, establishes a limit on access fees, and requires each national securities exchange and national securities association to adopt, maintain, and enforce written rules that prohibit their members from engaging in a pattern or practice of displaying quotations that lock or cross protected quotations. Rule 611 requires trading centers to establish, maintain, and enforce written policies and procedures reasonably designed to prevent the execution of trades at prices inferior to protected quotations displayed by other trading centers, subject to an applicable exception. The Commission is extending the three compliance dates to give automated trading centers additional time to complete the rollout of their new or modified trading systems.

EPA is approving a State Implementation Plan (SIP) revision submitted by the Commonwealth of Virginia. This revision pertains to the emission standards for consumer products sold and used in the Northern Virginia volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions control area. EPA is approving this SIP revision in accordance with the Clean Air Act (CAA or Act).

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Airbus Model A310-300 airplanes. This AD requires replacing the existing non-return valve (NRV) of the auxiliary center tanks (ACTs) of the fuel system with a new, improved NRV. This AD results from a report that it was not possible to transfer fuel from ACTs 1 and 2 during flight, and no electronic centralized aircraft monitor warnings were triggered. Investigation revealed a faulty static inverter and blown fuse, resulting in failure of certain fueling bus bars and subsequent failure of the automatic ACT fuel transfer. We are issuing this AD to prevent these failures, combined with failure of the NRV to close. If the NRV is open during flight, the fuel supply to the engines may be reduced during cross-feed operation to the extent that fuel starvation could occur and result in engine flameout.

The Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control (``OFAC'') is amending the Global Terrorism Sanctions Regulations to define the term ``otherwise associated with'' as used in 31 CFR 594.201 and to amend an explanatory note accompanying that section.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is amending the regulations for the Inspection Authorization (IA) renewal period. The current IA regulation has a 1-year renewal period. This rulemaking changes the renewal period to once every two years. By changing the renewal period, the FAA reduces the renewal administrative costs by 50%. Both the FAA and the mechanic holding the IA will realize this cost reduction. Aviation safety will not be affected because this rulemaking does not change the requirements of the prior rule for annual activity (work performed, training, or oral examination).

This interim final rule establishes the Department of Homeland Security's debt collection regulations to conform to the Debt Collection Act of 1982, as amended by the Debt Collection Improvement Act of 1996, the Federal Claims Collection Standards, and other laws applicable to the collection of non-tax debts owed to the Department of Homeland Security. This rule also promulgates regulations governing the offset of the Department of Homeland Security-issued payments to collect debts owed to other Federal agencies.

The Peace Corps is revising its regulations concerning claims filed under the Federal Tort Claims Act. These changes update Peace Corps' address, as well as authority cited in the regulation. Revisions also identify a new policy under which the Chief Financial Officer, rather than the Director of the Peace Corps, will have authority to approve claims for amounts under $5000.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), are revising critical habitat for the Alabama beach mouse (Peromyscus polionotus ammobates) under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). The revised designation encompasses approximately 1,211 acres (ac) (490 hectares (ha)) of coastal dune and scrub habitat in Baldwin County, Alabama.