May 16, 2007 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

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This regulation establishes an exemption from the requirement of a tolerance for residues of Pythium oligandrum DV 74 on food crops. Biopreparaty Co. Ltd. submitted a petition to EPA under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA), as amended by the Food Quality Protection Act of 1996 (FQPA), requesting an exemption from the requirement of a tolerance. This regulation eliminates the need to establish a maximum permissible level for residues of Pythium oligandrum DV 74.

EPA is making determinations under the Clean Air Act (CAA) that the nonattainment areas of Flint (Genesee and Lapeer Counties), Grand Rapids (Kent and Ottawa Counties), Kalamazoo-Battle Creek (Calhoun, Kalamazoo, and Van Buren Counties), Lansing-East Lansing (Clinton, Eaton, and Ingham Counties), Muskegon (Muskegon County), Benton Harbor (Berrien County), Benzie County, Cass County, Huron County, and Mason County have attained the 8-hour ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS). For the Grand Rapids, Kalamazoo- Battle Creek, Lansing-East Lansing, Benzie County, Huron County, and Mason County areas, these determinations are based on two overlapping three-year periods of complete, quality-assured ambient air quality monitoring data for the 2002-2004 seasons and the 2003-2005 seasons that demonstrate that the 8-hour ozone NAAQS has been attained in the areas. Quality assured monitoring data for 2006 show that the areas continue to attain the standard. For the Flint, Muskegon, Benton Harbor, and Cass County areas, these determinations are based on three years of complete quality-assured ambient air quality monitoring data for the 2004-2006 seasons that demonstrate that the 8-hour ozone NAAQS has been attained in the areas. In addition, quality- assured data for 2003-2005 also demonstrate that the 8-hour NAAQS was attained during this period. EPA is approving requests from the State of Michigan to redesignate the Flint, Grand Rapids, Kalamazoo-Battle Creek, Lansing-East Lansing, Muskegon, Benton Harbor, Benzie County, Cass County, Huron County, and Mason County areas to attainment of the 8-hour ozone NAAQS. The Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) submitted these requests on May 9, 2006 and June 13, 2006, and supplemented them on May 26, 2006, August 25, 2006, and November 30, 2006. In approving these requests, EPA is also approving, as revisions to the Michigan State Implementation Plan (SIP), the State's plans for maintaining the 8-hour ozone NAAQS through 2018 in these areas. EPA is also finding adequate and approving, for purposes of transportation conformity, the State's 2018 Motor Vehicle Emission Budgets (MVEBs) for the Flint, Grand Rapids, Kalamazoo-Battle Creek, Lansing-East Lansing, Muskegon, Benton Harbor, Benzie County, Cass County, Huron County, and Mason County areas.

We are proposing to establish a voluntary Trichinae Certification Program for U.S. pork that has been produced under disease-prevention conditions. Under the proposed program, we would certify pork production sites that follow prescribed good production practices that reduce, eliminate, or avoid the risk of exposure of animals to the zoonotic parasite Trichinella spiralis, a disease of swine. Such a program should enhance the ability of producers to export pork and pork products to overseas markets. This proposed program, which would be funded by program fees, has been developed as a cooperative effort by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the National Pork Board, and the pork processing industry. If adopted, this program would include those producers who choose to participate in the program, as well as slaughter facilities and other persons that handle or process swine from pork production sites that have been certified under the program.

On October 18, 2006, we published final rules in the Federal Register at 71 FR 61403 that made some revisions to 20 CFR 404.459 and 416.1340 to reflect section 201(a) of the Social Security Protection Act of 2004 (SSPA) providing for the imposition of administrative sanctions based on the failure to disclose information to us. Consistent with the effective date provisions enacted by Congress for section 201 of the SSPA, we stated in the preamble to those final rules that those sections of the regulations reflecting section 201 of the SSPA would not be applicable until implementation of the centralized computer file described in section 202 of the SSPA. That centralized computer file has now been fully implemented. Therefore, we are publishing this notice to announce the applicability date of the revisions to 20 CFR 404.459 and 416.1340.

In accordance with section 6(f)(1) of the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA), as amended, EPA is issuing a notice of receipt of a request by the registrant to voluntarily cancel the registration of its sole product containing the pesticide diazinon. The request would terminate granular diazinon use in or on lettuce. The request would also terminate the last granular diazinon product registered for use in the United States. EPA intends to grant this request at the close of the comment period for this announcement unless the Agency receives substantive comments within the comment period that would merit its further review of the request, or unless the registrant withdraws its request within this period. Upon acceptance of this request, any sale, distribution, or use of products listed in this notice will be permitted only if such sale, distribution, or use is consistent with the terms as described in the final order.

On June 20, 2006, the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (Ohio EPA), submitted a request to redesignate Belmont County (the Ohio portion of the Wheeling, West Virginia-Ohio (WV-OH) bi-state ozone nonattainment area) to attainment of the 8-hour ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS). Additional information was also submitted on August 24, 2006 and December 4, 2006. In these submittals, Ohio EPA also requested EPA approval of an Ohio State Implementation Plan (SIP) revision containing a 12-year maintenance plan for the County. EPA is making a determination that the Wheeling (WV-OH) nonattainment area has attained the 8-hour ozone NAAQS. This determination is based on three years of complete, quality-assured ambient air quality monitoring data for the 2003-2005 ozone seasons that demonstrate that the 8-hour ozone NAAQS has been attained. Quality assured monitoring data for 2006 shows that the area continues to attain the standard. EPA is approving, as a SIP revision, the State's maintenance plan for Belmont County. As a result, Ohio has satisfied the criteria for redesignation of Belmont County to attainment and EPA is approving the requested redesignation. Further, EPA is approving, for purposes of transportation conformity, the motor vehicle emission budgets (MVEBs) for the year 2018 that are contained in 8-hour ozone maintenance plan.

The President of the United States has directed the growth of the United States Army. In an unpredictable and rapidly changing global security environment, this directive is designed to ensure the Nation has the ground forces necessary to meet its strategic security and defense needs. These needs, as outlined in the National Security Strategy, include the disruption of terrorist networks, the prevention of nuclear proliferation, the support of peace and regional stability, the denial of rogue Nation support to terrorist organizations, and the promotion and advancement of democratic forms of government. The President has determined that the implementation of these security goals in the 21st century will require increased numbers of U.S. Army forces to sustain the military operaitons required to support these objectives. The Army, therefore, intends to prepare a PEIS to analyze alternatives for executing the Presidentially directed growth required to support the defense and security missions of the Nation in the 21st century. The Presidential decision directs the Army to add 74,200 active and reserve component Soldiers to its total end strength. This growth includes the addition of six Brigade Combat Teams (BCTs) and the combat support (CS) and combat service support (CSS) units required to support them. In addition, the growth of the force will include ``right sizing'' or rebalancing the Army force structure to add increaed numbers of high demand critical skills which have been identified as shortfalls. Military skills, such as military police, engineers, and explosive ordnance detachments, must be added to the force in greater numbers to meet the increased needs for these types of units in operational theaters abroad. Rebalancing of the Army's force is needed to ensure the Army has the proper capabilities to sustain operations for promoting global and national security now and into the foreseeable future. In addition to this growth, the Army recognizes the need to continue with initiatives to restructure its forces to implement the standard modular unit configurations directed by the Quadrennial Defense Review (QDR) in 2001 and 2006. Modularity is a critical component of Army Transformation and the Army continues to implement the QDR directive to standardize its units and their force structure. This standardization of Army force structure will continue to improve management and generate increased operational efficiencies within the Army. Stationing actions supporting modularity will be evaluated and considered in conjunction with stationing actions required to support Army growth. The PEIS will assess the environmental capacity of the Army's installations to accommodate different types and combinations of new units as part of the growth and restructuring. The PEIS will examine the potential environmental and socioeconomic impacts at installations resulting from various combinations of new unit stationing actions. These stationing actions could include additional CS or CSS units, the addition of different types of modular BCTs, or combinations of these actions at a given stationing location. Under the Army's modularity initiative, which standardizes BCT force structure, there are three types of maneuver BCTs that will be discussed in the PEIS. These include the infantry BCT which consists of approximately 3,500 Soldiers; the Stryker BCT which consists of approximately 4,000 Soldiers; and the heavy BCT which consists of approximately 3,800 Soldiers. Potential impacts resulting from stationing actions of new CS and CSS units and these maneuver BCTs will be discussed and assessed at installation locations that have potential to support the growth and restructuring of the Army. The PEIS will analyze the proposed action's impacts upon the natural, cultural, and man-made environments at those stationing locations best able to meet the needs of the Army and its Soldiers and Families. The Army intends to analyze the following alternatives in the PEIS: (1) Grow and restructure the Army by permanently stationing new units at existing Army installations within the United States and retaining some units at overseas installations outside of the continental United States that were originally scheduled to return to the United States; (2) Grow and restructure the Army by permanently stationing units at existing stationing locations within the United States. As part of this alternative, overseas installations would be used to temporarily accommodate a portion of Army growth while permanent facilities were constructed at existing Army installations within the United States; and (3) Grow and restructure the Army by permanently stationing new units at new and existing Army stationing locations within the United States. This alternative would include the construction of permanent party facilities at locations where the Army owns land but does not currently station permanent party personnel. As part of this alternative, overseas installations would be used to temporarily accommodate a portion of Army growth while permanent facilities were constructed within the United States. In addition to the above alternatives, the no-action alternatives will be considered and used as a baseline for comparison of alternatives. The no-action alternative is to retain the U.S. Army at its current and strength and force structure. The no-action alternative includes those realignments and stationing actions directed by Base Realignment and Closure legislation in 2005, Army Global Defense Posture Realignment, and Army Modular Forces initiatives. The no-action alternative serves as a baseline for the comparison only and is not a viable means for meeting the current and future strategic security and defense requirements of the Nation. Viable alternative stationing locations considered in this analysis for the growth of the Army are those installations that are best able to meet Army unit requirements for training ranges and maneuver space, housing and office space, maintenance and vehicle parking, and Soldier and Family quality of life (e.g., schools, gyms, medical facilities, reducing family disruption). The proposed action will require the Army to balance strategic, sustainment, and environmental considerations with evolving world conditions and threats to national defense and security.

As required by the ``Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel Enhancement Act of 2004'' (Pub. L. 108-445, dated December 3, 2004) the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is hereby giving notice of annual pay ranges for Veterans Health Administration (VHA) physicians and dentists as prescribed by the Secretary for Department-wide applicability. These annual pay ranges are intended to enhance the flexibility of the Department to recruit, develop, and retain the most highly qualified providers to serve our Nation's veterans and maintain a standard of excellence in the VA healthcare system.

The FAA is announcing its Adoption of the United States Air Force (USAF) Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) for the New Mexico Training Range Initiative and approval of the FAA Record of Decision (ROD). The New Mexico Training Range Initiative (NMTRI) is the USAF initiative to create airspace that allows mainly F-16 and aircrews to receive much needed realistic combat training while maximizing their training time. NMTRI includes the Pecos MOA complex.

This action amends Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations, part 71 (14 CFR 71) by modifying Class E airspace at Canby, Myers Field, MN. Standard Instrument Approach Procedures have been developed by Canby, Myers Field, MN. Additional controlled airspace extending upward from the surface and upward from 700 feet above the surface of the earth is needed to contain aircraft executing these approaches. This action increases the area of the existing controlled airspace for Canby, Myers Field, MN.

This action amends Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations, part 71 (14 CFR 71) by modifying the Class E airspace area at Monticello Regional Airport, IA. The cancellation of the Non Directional Beacon (NDB) Instrument Approach Procedure (IAP) and subsequent decommissioning of the Monticello NDB requires modification of the Class E airspace area extending upward from 700 feet above the surface of the earth. The intended effect of this rule is to provide controlled airspace of appropriate dimensions to protect aircraft executing Standard Instrument Approach Procedures (SIAP) to Monticello Regional Airport, IA.

The Rural Housing Service (Agency) is proposing to amend its regulations to be consistent with other federal agencies. The current thermal standards for existing single family housing can impose an unnecessary financial burden on the borrower. Removing the thermal standards for existing single family housing will provide consistency with HUD existing single family housing thermal standards. This change will not affect the thermal standards for new construction; such requirements are generally prescribed by adopted building and model energy codes. Construction materials and building techniques have improved tremendously during the last thirty years, creating many alternatives to achieve thermally efficient homes. Removing the Agency's imposed thermal standards for existing single family housing will give a borrower the opportunity to allocate money towards other improvements which may result in higher cost savings. The rule will not result in any increase in costs or prices to consumers; non-profit organizations; businesses; Federal, State, or local government agencies; or geographic regions.

This action amends Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations, part 71 (14 CFR part 71) by modifying Class E airspace at Canby, Myers Field, MN. Standard Instrument Approach Procedures have been developed for Canby, Myers Field, MN. Additional controlled airspace extending upward from the surface and upward from 700 feet above the surface of the earth is needed to contain aircraft executing these approaches. This action increases the area of the existing controlled airspace for Canby, Myers Field, MN.

This action amends Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations, part 71 (14 CFR part 71) by modifying the Class E airspace area at Monticello Regional Airport, IA. The cancellation of the Non Directional Beacon (NDB) Instrument Approach Procedure (IAP) and subsequent decommissioning of the Monticello NDB requires modification of the Class E airspace area extending upward from 700 feet above the surface of the earth. The intended effect of this rule is to provide controlled airspace of appropriate dimensions to protect aircraft executing Standard Instrument Approach Procedures (SIAP) to Monticello Regional Airport, IA.