March 2007 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Bureau of Land Management published a document in the Federal Register of March 12, 2007, concerning the sale of 51 parcels of public land in Riverside County, California, aggregating approximately 274.37 acres. The document contained (a) an inaccurate legal description for Parcel 33 and (b) the inadvertent omission of a parcel from two sentences contained in the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.

The NCUA intends to submit the following information collection to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and clearance under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104-13, 44 U.S.C. Chapter 35). This information collection is published to obtain comments from the public.

The NCUA intends to submit the following information collection to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and clearance under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104-13, 44 U.S.C. Chapter 35). This information collection is published to obtain comments from the public.

Pursuant to Section 102(2)(c) of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969; the Council on Environmental Quality Final Regulations (40 CFR parts 1500 through 1508); and the United States Section's Operational Procedures for Implementing Section 102 of NEPA, published in the Federal Register September 2, 1981, (46 FR 44083); the United States Section hereby gives notice that the Final Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact for Improvements to the Mission and Common Levee Systems, in the Lower Rio Grande Flood Control Project, located in Hidalgo County, Texas are available.

The North Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) Halibut Charter Stakeholder Committee will meet in Anchorage, AK at the North Pacific Research Board meeting room.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is announcing an opportunity for public comment on the proposed collection of certain information by the agency. Under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (the PRA), Federal agencies are required to publish notice in the Federal Register concerning each proposed collection of information, including each proposed extension of an existing collection of information, and to allow 60 days for public comment in response to the notice. This notice solicits comments on the information collection provisions in the guidance document entitled ``Preparing a Claim of Categorical Exclusion or an Environmental Assessment for Submission to the Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition.''

In accordance with the requirement of Section 3506 (c)(2)(A) of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 which provides opportunity for public comment on new or revised data collections, the Railroad Retirement Board (RRB) will publish periodic summaries of proposed data collections. Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the proposed information collection is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including whether the information has practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the RRB's estimate of the burden of the collection of the information; (c) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (d) ways to minimize the burden related to the collection of information on respondents, including the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology. Title and purpose of information collection: Public Service Pension Questionnaires; OMB 3220-0136. Public Law 95-216 amended the Social Security Act of 1977 by providing, in part, that spouse or survivor benefits may be reduced when the beneficiary is in receipt of a pension based on employment with a Federal, State, or local governmental unit. Initially, the reduction was equal to the full amount of the government pension. Public Law 98-21 changed the reduction to two-thirds of the amount of the government pension. Public Law 108-203 amended the Social Security Act by changing the requirement for exemption to public service offset, that Federal Insurance Contributions Act (FICA) taxes be deducted from the public service wages for the last 60 months of public service employment, rather than just the last day of public service employment. Sections 4(a)(1) and 4(f)(1) of the Railroad Retirement Act (RRA) provides that a spouse or survivor annuity should be equal in amount to what the annuitant would receive if entitled to a like benefit from the Social Security Administration. Therefore, the public service pension (PSP) provisions apply to RRA annuities. RRB Regulations pertaining to the collection of evidence relating to public service pensions or worker's compensation paid to spouse or survivor applicants or annuitants are found in 20 CFR 219.64c. The RRB utilizes Form G-208, Public Service Pension Questionnaire, and Form G-212, Public Service Monitoring Questionnaire, to obtain information used to determine whether an annuity reduction is in order. The RRB proposes no changes to Form G-208. Non-burden impacting editorial and formatting changes are proposed to Form G-212. Completion of the forms is voluntary. However, failure to complete the forms could result in the nonpayment of benefits. One response is requested of each respondent. The completion time for the G-208 is estimated at 16 minutes and the G-212 is estimated at 15 minutes. The RRB estimates that approximately 70 Form G-208's and 1,100 Form G-212's are completed annually. Additional Information or Comments: To request more information or to obtain a copy of the information collection justification, forms, and/or supporting material, please call the RRB Clearance Officer at (312) 751-3363 or send an e-mail request to Charles.Mierzwa@RRB.GOV. Comments regarding the information collection should be addressed to Ronald J. Hodapp, Railroad Retirement Board, 844 North Rush Street, Chicago, Illinois 60611-2092 or send an e-mail to Ronald.Hodapp@RRB.GOV. Written comments should be received within 60 days of this notice.

Pursuant to section 814 of the Native American Programs Act of 1974 (the Act) 42 U.S.C. 2992b-1, ANA herein describes its proposed interpretive rules, statements of general policy and rules of agency procedure or practice in relation to the Social and Economic Development Strategies (hereinafter referred to as SEDS), Native Language Preservation and Maintenance (hereinafter referred to as Native Language), Environmental Regulatory Enhancement (hereinafter referred to as Environmental), Environmental Mitigation (hereinafter referred to as Mitigation), Improving the Well-Being of Children Native American Healthy Marriage Initiative (hereinafter referred to as Healthy Marriage) programs and any Special Initiatives. Under the statute, ANA is required to provide members of the public an opportunity to comment on proposed changes in interpretive rules, statements of general policy and rules of agency procedure or practice and to give notice of the final adoption of such changes at least thirty (30) days before the changes become effective. This Notice also provides additional information about ANA's plan for administering the programs. On July 18, 2005, ANA published a Notice of Public Comment (NOPC) in the Federal Register (Vol. 70, No. 136) announcing an administrative policy change on the number of awards an eligible applicant could receive under the SEDS program, Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance number 93.612. This change only affected the Healthy Marriage program. On November 21, 2006, ANA published the annual NOPC in the Federal Register (Vol. 71, No. 224), which did not include a necessary correction to the revised administrative policy published on July 18, 2005. On December 22, 2006, ANA published a third Federal Register notice (Vol. 71, No. 246) to clarify the revised administrative policy published on July 18, 2005, on the number of awards an eligible applicant could receive under the SEDS program, Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance number 93.612. ANA received three responses to the December 22, 2006, NOPC clarification. After review and consideration of the comments received, ANA determined that the administrative policy originally published on July 18, 2005, required clarification and revision. This Notice clarifies the agency's intent and provides a definitive statement on the number of awards an eligible applicant can receive under the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance number 93.612.

This regulation establishes tolerances for residues of fluopicolide in or on imported grape at 2.0 parts per million (ppm), and grape, raisin at 6.0 ppm with no U.S. registration. Bayer CropScience AG requested this tolerance under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA), as amended by the Food Quality Protection Act of 1996 (FQPA). The tolerance petition and data was transferred to Valent U.S.A. Corporation on January 9, 2006.

In this notice, the General Counsel for the Department of Housing and Urban Development designates the Order of Succession for the Office of General Counsel. This Order of Succession supersedes the Order of Succession for the General Counsel published on May 28, 2004.

The proposed information collection requirement described below has been submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act. The Department is soliciting public comments on the subject proposal. The data collection requirements consist of an electronic lender certification process and requirements to provide reports and loan samples at FHA's request, and appeals in writing for loss of privilege to use the scorecard.

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.), this notice announces that the Information Collection Requirements (ICRs) abstracted below have been forwarded to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and comment. The ICRs describes the nature of the information collections and their expected burdens. The Federal Register notice with a 60-day comment period soliciting comments on the following collections of information was published on January 17, 2007 (72 FR 2084).

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), as part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, invites the general public and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on a proposed revised information collection. In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice seeks comments concerning the revised collection of information, which is necessary for assessment and improvement of the delivery of disaster assistance. The forms serve as survey tools used to evaluate customer perceptions of effectiveness, timeliness and satisfaction with initial, continuing and final delivery of disaster-related assistance.

FRA is conducting an informal safety inquiry and technical conference to explore the safety implications associated with the use of a variety of safety-relevant technologies that while possibly providing significant efficiencies, may not be designed with failsafe characteristics. Such technologies might range from power-assisted switches historically used in yard operations being used on main tracks, switch position detection and indication in dark territory, to train-pacing software designed for fuel savings. FRA seeks to gain a better perspective on the use of such technology and the safety concerns that may be presented.

The Commander, Eighth Coast Guard District, has issued a temporary deviation from the regulation governing the operation of the BNSF Railway Company Vertical Lift Span Bridge across Berwick Bay, mile 0.4, (Atchafalaya River, mile 17.5) at Morgan City, St. Mary Parish, Louisiana. This deviation provides for the bridge to remain closed to navigation for 12 consecutive hours to conduct scheduled maintenance to the drawbridge.

An open meeting of the Area 6 committee of the Taxpayer Advocacy Panel will be conducted (via teleconference). The Taxpayer Advocacy Panel (TAP) is soliciting public comments, ideas, and suggestions on improving customer service at the Internal Revenue Service. The TAP will use citizen input to make recommendations to the Internal Revenue Service.

The Department of the Treasury, as part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, invites the general public and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on proposed and/or continuing information collections, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 104-13 (44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)). Currently, the IRS is soliciting comments concerning an existing final regulation, REG-153841-02, Election Out of GST Deemed Allocations.

The Department of the Treasury, as part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, invites the general public and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on proposed and/or continuing information collections, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 104-13 (44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)). Currently, the IRS is soliciting comments concerning Form 4952, Investment Interest Expense Deduction.

The Department of the Treasury, as part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, invites the general public and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on proposed and/or continuing information collections, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 104-13 (44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)). Currently, the IRS is soliciting comments concerning Form 8819, Dollar Election Under Section 985.