May 24, 2007 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Coast Guard proposes to establish a general anchorage area in Edgecomb, Maine, on the Sheepscot River. This action is necessary to facilitate safe navigation in that area and to provide safe and secure anchorages for transient vessels visiting the area. This proposal is intended to increase the safety for life and property on the Sheepscot River, improve the safety of anchored vessels, provide for ample anchorages for transient vessels, and provide for the overall safe and efficient flow of recreational vessels and commerce.

In accordance with the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) and implementing regulations, notification is hereby given that a 1- year letter of authorization (LOA) has been issued to the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary (MBNMS or the Sanctuary) to incidentally take, by Level B Harassment only, California sea lions (Zalophus californianus) and Pacific harbor seals (Phoca vitulina) incidental to authorizing professional fireworks displays within the Sanctuary in California waters.

Notice is hereby given that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Dr. Chester Figiel, Principal Investigator), 5308 Spring Street, Warm Springs, GA 31830, has been issued a permit to take captive shortnose sturgeon (Acipenser brevirostrum) for purposes of enhancement and scientific research.

This document contains a correction to the final regulation which was published Thursday, May 3, 2007 (72 FR 24523-24530). The regulation pertains to the insurance of mint.

On August 11, 2006 NOAA issued a notice of proposed rulemaking to establish a network of marine zones within the state and federal waters of the Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary (CINMS or Sanctuary). State waters in the Sanctuary extend from the shoreline of the islands to approximately 3 nautical miles from shore. Federal waters of the Sanctuary extend from the offshore extent of state waters to the Sanctuary's outer boundary. In this final rule, NOAA is issuing final regulations for the federal-waters portion of the Sanctuary. NOAA has decided to defer a final decision and seeking additional comment on the state-waters portion of the Sanctuary pending action by the State of California to extend the boundaries of several existing state-waters zones to the three mile state-federal-waters boundary. Marine zones are discrete areas that have special regulations differing from the regulations that apply throughout or above the Sanctuary as a whole. The purpose of these zones within the federal waters of the Sanctuary is to further the protection of Sanctuary biodiversity and complement an existing network established by the State of California in October 2002, and implemented in April 2003, under its authorities. Two types of zones are being established by this action: Marine reserves and marine conservation areas. All extractive activities (e.g., removal of any Sanctuary resource) and injury to Sanctuary resources are prohibited in all marine reserves. Commercial and recreational lobster fishing and recreational fishing for pelagic species are allowed within the marine conservation area, while all other extraction and injury are prohibited. This action establishes approximately 110.5 square nautical miles of marine reserves and 1.7 square nautical miles of marine conservation area in the federal waters of the Sanctuary. As part of this action, NOAA is also modifying the terms of designation for the Sanctuary, which were originally published on October 2, 1980 (45 FR 65198), to allow for the regulation of extractive activities, including fishing, in marine reserves and marine conservation areas, and a slight modification to the outer boundary of the CINMS.

The Federal Acquisition Institute (FAI) will hold a vendor meeting to provide information on the recently announced Federal Acquisition Certification in Program/Project Management (FAC-P/PM) to include program details, target timeline, and opportunities for vendors to support the training of federal program and project managers. The purpose of this certification program is to establish the competencies, training, and experience requirements for program and project managers in civilian agencies. The FAC-P/PM focuses on essential competencies needed for program and project managers; the program does not include functional or technical competencies, such as those for information technology, or agency-specific competencies. The certification requirements will be accepted by, at minimum, all civilian agencies as evidence that an employee meets the core competencies, training and experience requirements. The FAC-P/PM is a new program announced by the Office of Federal Procurement Policy (OFPP) on April 25, 2007. At this vendor meeting, FAI will present its approach for partnering with vendors on this initiative.

The Department of the Army is publishing our rule concerning law enforcement reporting. The regulation prescribes policies and procedures on preparing, reporting, using, retaining, and disposing of Military Police Reports. The regulation prescribes policies and procedures for offense reporting and the release of law enforcement information.

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is seeking public comment on its draft Strategic Plan for fiscal years 2007-2012.