February 9, 2007 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Department of Energy (DOE) issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NOPR) for liquid-immersed and medium-voltage, dry-type distribution transformers under the Energy Policy and Conservation Act (EPCA). In response to this notice, stakeholders commented that DOE's standard may prevent or render impractical the replacement of distribution transformers in certain space-constrained (e.g., vault) installations. Some stakeholders suggested that DOE's analysis of the benefits and burdens of the proposed standard should take into consideration the potential impacts of replacing transformers in space- constrained vaults. In the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NOPR), DOE factored weight-dependent installation costs in the analysis, but did not specifically address potential costs related to transformers installed in vaults. In today's notice, DOE requests comment on inclusion of potential costs related to size constraints of transformers installed in vaults. DOE also is considering an additional option for the final efficiency levels for liquid-immersed distribution transformers and by this notice invites public comment on this additional option.

The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) is making a technical amendment to the final regulations concerning the Combined Federal Campaign (CFC). This technical amendment corrects the final rule issued on November 20, 2006 by re-inserting text that was erroneously removed.

In the Rules and Regulations section of this issue of the Federal Register, the IRS is issuing temporary regulations under section 181 of the Internal Revenue Code relating to deductions for costs of producing qualified film and television productions. These temporary regulations reflect changes to the law made by the American Jobs Creation Act of 2004 and the Gulf Opportunity Zone Act of 2005, and affect taxpayers that produce films and television productions within the United States. This action is necessary to provide guidance for the application of section 181. The text of the temporary regulations also serves as the text of these proposed regulations. This document also provides notice of a public hearing on these proposed regulations.

EPA is proposing to amend the new source performance standards (NSPS) for electric utility steam generating units and industrial- commercial-institutional steam generating units. On February 27, 2006, EPA promulgated amendments to the NSPS for steam generating units. EPA is proposing to amend specific provisions in the NSPS for steam generating units to resolve issues and questions raised by petitioners for reconsideration of the promulgated amendments, and to correct technical and editorial errors that have been identified since promulgation. In addition, the proposed rule would update the grammatical style of the four NSPS steam generating unit subparts to be consistent across all of the subparts.

NMFS revises regulations implementing the South Pacific Tuna Act of 1988, as amended (SPTA), to reflect the changes agreed to in the Third Extension of the Treaty on Fisheries between the Governments of Certain Pacific Island States and the Government of the United States of America and its annexes, schedules, and implementing agreements, as amended (Treaty). New provisions under the Treaty relate to vessel monitoring system (VMS) requirements, vessel reporting requirements, area restrictions for U.S. purse seine vessels fishing under the Treaty, and allowing U.S. longline vessels to fish on the high seas portion of the Treaty Area. These actions are intended to bring the United States into compliance with its obligations under the Treaty.

The National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) implements Office of Management and Budget (OMB) guidance on nonprocurement suspension and debarment, issued on August 31, 2005 [70 FR 51863], by adopting the guidelines in a new part in title 2 of the CFR, the Government-wide title recently established for OMB guidance on grants and agreements, and removing 45 CFR part 1154, the part containing the NEA implementation of the government-wide common rule on nonprocurement debarment and suspension. This regulatory action would make no substantive change in NEA policy or procedures for nonprocurement debarment and suspension.

Current vessel response plan regulations require the owners or operators of vessels carrying Groups I through V petroleum oil as a primary cargo to identify in their response plans a salvage company with expertise and equipment, and a company with firefighting capability that can be deployed to a port nearest to the vessel's operating area within 24 hours of notification (Groups I-IV) or a discovery of a discharge (Group V). On January 23, 2004, a notice of suspension was published in the Federal Register, suspending the 24- hour requirement scheduled to become effective on February 12, 2004, until February 12, 2007 (69 FR 3236). The Coast Guard has decided to extend this suspension period for another two years to allow us to complete the rulemaking that will revise the salvage and marine firefighting requirements.

This final rule adopts, without change, the Program Fraud Civil Penalties interim rule published by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) on October 12, 2005. This rule finalizes uniform administrative procedures for DHS to implement the Program Fraud Civil Remedies Act of 1986 (the Act).

The Commission is proposing for comment rules to implement provisions of the Credit Rating Agency Reform Act of 2006 (the ``Act''), enacted on September 29, 2006. The Act defines the term ``nationally recognized statistical rating organization,'' provides authority for the Commission to implement registration, recordkeeping, financial reporting, and oversight rules with respect to registered credit rating agencies, and directs the Commission to issue final implementing rules no later than 270 days after its enactment (or by June 26, 2007).