March 2007 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

This is a notice of the Presidential declaration of a major disaster for the State of Iowa (FEMA-1688-DR), dated March 14, 2007, and related determinations.

This is a notice of the Presidential declaration of a major disaster for the State of California (FEMA-1689-DR), dated March 13, 2007, and related determinations.

This notice amends the notice of a major disaster declaration for the State of Oregon (FEMA-1683-DR), dated February 22, 2007, and related determinations.

This action proposes to clarify and simplify the number of days' interest that may be paid on loss claims. The liquidation provisions currently provides a timeframe for the interest payment based upon ``the date of the decision to liquidate'' which is often difficult to determine. In addition, the Agency is clarifying the application for payment after liquidation and the guaranteed lender's responsibility for future recoveries.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has determined the regulatory review period for A180 and is publishing this notice of that determination as required by law. FDA has made the determination because of the submission of an application to the Director of Patents and Trademarks, Department of Commerce, for the extension of a patent which claims that animal drug product.

DoD has adopted as final, without change, an interim rule amending the Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS) to implement Section 1211 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2006. Section 1211 prohibits DoD from acquiring United States Munitions List items from Communist Chinese military companies.

DoD has issued a final rule amending the Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS) to update policy addressing requirements for DoD contractors to submit payment requests in electronic form. The rule clarifies the situations under which DoD will grant exceptions to requirements for electronic submission of payment requests.

DoD is making technical amendments to the Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS) to update references within the DFARS text.

DoD is proposing to amend the Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS) to remove text addressing DoD procedures for closeout of contract files. The text proposed for removal will be relocated to the DFARS companion resource, Procedures, Guidance, and Information.

The Office of Thrift Supervision (OTS) is proposing to revise its regulations, at 12 CFR 584.2 and 584.2-2, to expand the permissible activities of savings and loan holding companies (SLHCs) to the full extent permitted under the Home Owners' Loan Act (HOLA). In addition, OTS proposes to amend 12 CFR 584.4 to conform the regulation to the statute that it is intended to implement by replacing the absolute prohibition on certain SLHC transactions that is currently in the regulation with a prior approval requirement. The proposed regulation sets forth standards that OTS will use to evaluate applications submitted pursuant to the application requirement.

This recommended decision invites written exceptions on proposed amendments to Marketing Order No. 984, which regulates the handling of walnuts grown in California (Order). The amendments were proposed by the Walnut Marketing Board (Board), which is responsible for local administration of the order. The amendments included in this recommended decision would: Change the marketing year; include ``pack'' as a handler function; restructure the Board and revise nomination procedures; rename the Board and add authority to change Board composition; modify Board meeting and voting procedures; add authority for marketing promotion and paid advertising; add authority to accept voluntary financial contributions and to carry over excess assessment funds; broaden the scope of the quality control provisions and add the authority to recommend different regulations for different market destinations; add authority for the Board to appoint more than one inspection service; replace outdated order language with current industry terminology; and other related amendments. The Department of Agriculture (USDA) proposed three additional amendments: To establish tenure limitations for Board members, to require that continuance referenda be conducted on a periodic basis to ascertain producer support for the order, and to make any changes to the order as may be necessary to conform with any amendment that may result from the hearing. The proposed amendments are intended to improve the operation and functioning of the marketing order program.

NCUA proposes to amend its regulations to address a federally- insured credit union's obligation to maintain a records preservation program. The proposed rule draws from existing guidance to clarify requirements for preserving vital records and to suggest important items for consideration in restoring vital member services. NCUA believes the revised language and new appendix will facilitate the recovery of essential operations after a catastrophic act resulting in continued member confidence in the credit union system. The agency also proposes to amend its regulations to clarify the meaning of catastrophic act.

Pursuant to the Federal Advisory Committee Act of 1972 (5 U.S.C., Appendix as amended), the Sunshine in the Government Act of 1976 (5 U.S.C. 552b, as amended), and 41 CFR 102-3.150, the following meeting notice is announced. In accordance with section 10(a)(2) of Public Law.

This is Supplement No.7 to the Treasury Department Circular 570, 2006 Revision, published June 20, 2006, at 71 FR 37694.