February 5, 2007 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) is withdrawing the notice soliciting comments on its proposal to amend the voluntary United States Standards for Grades of Mushrooms. After reviewing and considering the comments received, the Agency has decided not to proceed with this action.

The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) is withdrawing the notice soliciting comments on its proposal to amend the voluntary United States Standards for Grades of Oranges (California and Arizona) and/or United States Standards for Grades of Grapefruit (California and Arizona). After reviewing and considering the comment received, the Agency has decided not to proceed with this action.

The United States Mint is establishing prices for its 2007 American Eagle Gold and Silver Coins. Pursuant to the authority that 31 U.S.C. 5111(a)(3) and 5112(e), (f), & (i) grant the Secretary of the Treasury to mint and issue gold and silver coins, and to prepare and distribute numismatic items, the United States Mint mints and issues American Eagle Gold Proof Coins in four denominations with the following weights: one-ounce, one-half ounce, one-quarter ounce, and one-tenth ounce. The United States Mint also produces a four-coin set that contains one coin of each denomination. In addition, the United States Mint produces American Eagle Silver Proof and Uncirculated coins with one ounce of silver in each coin. In accordance with 31 U.S.C. 9701(b)(2)(B), the United States Mint is changing the price of these coins to reflect the increase in value of the underlying precious metal content of the coinsthe result of increases in the market price of gold and silver. Accordingly, effective February 1, 2007, the United States Mint will commence selling the following 2007 American Eagle gold and silver coins according to the following price schedule:

The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) is issuing final regulations to rewrite certain sections of the Federal regulations in plain language. These final regulations require Federal agencies to provide employees entering leave without pay (LWOP) status, or whose pay is insufficient to cover their Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) premium payments, written notice of their opportunity to continue their FEHB coverage. Employees who want to continue their enrollment must sign a form agreeing to pay their premiums directly to their agency on a current basis, or to incur a debt to be withheld from their future salary. The purpose of this final regulation is to rewrite the existing regulations to ensure that employees who are entering LWOP status, or whose pay is insufficient to pay their FEHB premiums, are fully informed when they decide whether or not to continue their FEHB coverage.

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (Commission) is amending its regulations governing delegations of authority to the Directors of the Office of Enforcement and the Office of Energy Markets and Reliability, as well as to the Commission's Chief Accountant. These amendments will eliminate regulatory uncertainty and provide clarity regarding the authority delegated to the Office of Enforcement and the Chief Accountant.

This amendment adopts a new airworthiness directive (AD), applicable to all of the airplanes identified above, that requires revising the FAA-approved maintenance program to include a new airplane maintenance manual task that specifies a detailed inspection after each ram air turbine (RAT) retraction. This AD also requires, for certain airplanes, a one-time inspection to detect breaks in the bottom flange fitting of the RAT and corrective actions, if necessary; for certain airplanes, an adjustment of the ejection jack; and, for certain other airplanes, replacement of the aluminum part with an improved steel part. The actions specified by this AD are intended to prevent failure of the RAT yoke fitting, which could result in the loss of RAT function and possible loss of critical flight control in the event of certain emergency situations. This action is intended to address the identified unsafe condition.

Pursuant to the Federal Advisory Committee Act of 1972, as amended (5 U.S.C., Appendix) and the Sunshine in the Government Act of 1976, as amended (5 U.S.C. 552b(c), announcement is made of the following meeting:

This document contains final and temporary regulations under section 367(a) of the Internal Revenue Code (Code) regarding gain recognition agreements. The final regulations are necessary to update cross-references in the current regulations. The temporary regulations are necessary to respond to comments requested in Notice 2005-74. The regulations primarily affect U.S. persons that transfer stock or securities to foreign corporations or corporations engaged in transactions that affect existing gain recognition agreements. The text of these temporary regulations also serves as the text of the proposed regulations (REG-147144-06) set forth in the notice of proposed rulemaking on this subject published elsewhere in this issue of the Federal Register.

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 2,201 nm\2\ (7,549 km\2\), east of Portsmouth, NH for 15 days. The purpose of this action is to provide protection to an aggregation of northern right whales (right whales).

In compliance with Section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Office of Admissions announces the proposed extension of a public information collection and seeks public comment on provisions thereof. Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including whether the information shall have practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of the proposed information collection; (c) ways to enhance the quality, unity, and clarity of the information to be collected; (d) ways to minimize the burden of the information collection on respondents, including the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology.

In compliance with Section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Office of Admissions announces the proposed extension of a public information collection and seeks public comment on provisions thereof. Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including whether the information shall have practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of the proposed information collection; (c) ways to enhance the quality, unity, and clarity of the information to be collected; (d) ways to minimize the burden of the information collection on respondents, including the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology.

In compliance with section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Headquarters Air Force Recruiting Service announces the proposed extension of a previously approved public information collection and seeks public comment on the provisions thereof. Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including whether the information shall have practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of the proposed information collection; (c) ways to enhance the quality, unity, and clarity of the information to be collected; (d) ways to minimize the burden of the information collection on respondents, including the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology.

The Chief of Naval Education and Training announces a proposed extension of a previously approved public information collection and seeks public comment on the provisions thereof. Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including whether the information shall have practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of the proposed information collection; (c) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (d) ways to minimize the burden of the information collection on respondents, including through the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology.

This notice sets forth the schedule and agenda of the meeting of the President's Board of Advisors on Historically Black Colleges and Universities. This notice also describes the functions of the Board. Notice of this meeting is required by section 10(a)(2) of the Federal Advisory Committee Act and is intended to notify the public of its opportunity to attend. Date: Monday, February 26, 2007. Time: 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Location: University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, 1200 North University Drive, Childress Hall, Board Room, Pine Bluff, AR 71601, Phone: 870-575-8471, Fax: 870-575-4645.

The FAA invites public comment about our intention to request the Office of Management and Budget's (OMB) extension without change of a current information collection. The Federal Register Notice with a 60-day comment period soliciting comments on the following collection of information was published on September 14, 2006, vol. 71, no. 178, pages 54329-54330. This information is needed to obtain accurate billing information for FAA air traffic and related services for certain aircraft that transit U.S. controlled airspace but neither take off from, nor land in, the United States.