June 1, 2007 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) proposes regulations that would authorize the nonlethal, incidental, unintentional take of small numbers of Pacific walruses (walruses) and polar bears during year-round oil and gas industry (Industry) exploration activities in the Chukchi Sea and adjacent western coast of Alaska. We are proposing that this rule be effective for 5 years from date of issuance. We propose a finding that the total expected takings of walruses and polar bears during oil and gas industry exploration activities will have a negligible impact on these species and will not have an unmitigable adverse impact on the availability of these species for subsistence use by Alaska Natives. The regulations that we propose to issue include permissible methods of nonlethal taking, measures to ensure the least practicable adverse impact on the species and the availability of these species for subsistence uses, and requirements for monitoring and reporting. If the proposed regulations are issued, we can issue Letters of Authorization to conduct activities under the provisions of these regulations when requested by citizens of the United States. We are seeking public comments on this proposed rule. In addition, the Service proposes to issue authorizations to take small numbers of marine mammals by harassment incidental to conducting exploration activities during the 2007 open-water season for oil and gas operators (Incidental Harassment Authorization). These activities will be carried out from approximately July 1 through November 30, 2007. The authorizations we propose to issue will also include permissible methods of nonlethal taking, measures to ensure the least practicable adverse impact on the species and the availability of these species for subsistence uses, and requirements for monitoring and reporting. We are seeking public comments on this proposal.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is announcing the availability of a document entitled ``Guidance for Industry: Clinical Data Needed to Support the Licensure of Pandemic Influenza Vaccines,'' dated May 2007. The guidance document provides to sponsors of pandemic influenza vaccines guidance on clinical development approaches to facilitate and expedite the licensure of influenza vaccines for the prevention of disease caused by pandemic influenza viruses. The guidance provides recommendations concerning clinical data to support traditional license approval of a biologics license application (BLA), or a BLA using the accelerated approval pathway. The guidance announced in this notice finalizes the draft guidance of the same title dated March 2006.

This document contains notices of pendency before the Department of Labor (the Department) of proposed exemptions from certain of the prohibited transaction restrictions of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA or the Act) and/or the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (the Code).

In accordance with section 751(c) of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended (``the Act''), the Department of Commerce (``the Department'') is automatically initiating a five-year (``Sunset Review'') of the antidumping and countervailing duty orders listed below. The International Trade Commission (``the Commission'') is publishing concurrently with this notice its notice of Institution of Five-Year Review which covers this same order.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announces the first in a series of three federal advisory committee meetings on the Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans, to be held in Washington, DC. These meeting will be open to the public. The Physical Activity Guidelines Advisory Committee will review existing scientific literature to identify where there is sufficient evidence to develop a comprehensive set of specific physical activity recommendations. The Committee will prepare a report to the Secretary of HHS that documents the scientific background and rationale for the issuance of Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans. The report will also identify areas where further scientific research is needed. HHS will use the Final Report of the Committee to develop Physical Activity Guidelines. The intent is to issue physical activity recommendations for all Americans that will be tailored as necessary for specific subgroups of the population.

The Commission hereby gives notice that it has instituted reviews pursuant to section 751(c) of the Tariff Act of 1930 (19 U.S.C. 1675(c)) (the Act) to determine whether revocation of the countervailing duty order on PET film from India and the antidumping duty orders on PET film from India and Taiwan would be likely to lead to continuation or recurrence of material injury. Pursuant to section 751(c)(2) of the Act, interested parties are requested to respond to this notice by submitting the information specified below to the Commission; \1\ to be assured of consideration, the deadline for responses is July 23, 2007. Comments on the adequacy of responses may be filed with the Commission by August 14, 2007. For further information concerning the conduct of these reviews and rules of general application, consult the Commission's Rules of Practice and Procedure, part 201, subparts A through E (19 CFR part 201), and part 207, subparts A, D, E, and F (19 CFR part 207).

Office of Thrift Supervision (OTS) regulations, at 12 CFR 551.150(a), currently require certain officers and employees of savings associations to file reports of their personal securities transactions with the savings association within ten business days after the end of each calendar quarter. In this interim final rule, OTS is amending 12 CFR 551.150(a) to provide that such reports must be filed no later than 30 calendar days after the end of each calendar quarter. As a result of this amendment, the time period for officers and employees of savings associations to file the report will be consistent with the time period for persons in similar positions at investment companies to file such reports under regulations promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

This document provides notice of the availability of Application Packages for the 2007 Tax Counseling for the Elderly (TCE) Program.

The FAA invites public comments about our intention to request the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to approve a new information collection. The information is being used to properly identify airmen to allow the agency to verify their foreign license being used to qualify for a US certificate.

On May 3, 2007, the USDA, Forest Service, Wallowa-Whitman National Forest, published a Notice of Intent in Federal Register (72 FR 24558) to prepare an environmental impact statement (EIS) for the Forest Travel Management Plan. The Notice of Intent is being revised to change the end of the scoping period for receiving comments on the proposed action. The end of the scoping period was originally June 30, 2007. The revised end of the scoping period is August 17, 2007.

The FAA invites public comments about our intention to request the Office of Management and Budget's (OMB) revision of a current information collection. The Federal Register Notice with a 60-day comment period soliciting comments on the following collection of information was published on March 23, 2007, vol. 72, no. 52, page 13855. Title 49 U.S.C. 44703(h) mandates that all U.S. air carriers operating under 14 CFR parts 121 or 135, and all U.S. air operators under 14 CFR part 125, and certain others, request and receive certain training, safety, and testing records before extending a firm offer of employment to an individual who is applying to their company as a pilot.

We, the United States, as a Party to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), will attend the fourteenth regular meeting of the Conference of the Parties to CITES (CoP14) in The Hague, The Netherlands, June 3- 15, 2007. This notice announces the tentative U.S. negotiating positions on amendments to the CITES Appendices (species proposals), draft resolutions and decisions, and agenda items submitted by other countries and the CITES Secretariat for consideration at CoP14. With this notice we also announce that we will publish a notice after the conclusion of CoP14 to invite public input on whether the United States should take a reservation on any of the amendments to the CITES Appendices that are adopted.

In compliance with Section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Naval Sea Systems Command announces the following new proposal for collection of information and seeks public comment on the provisions thereof. Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including whether the information shall have practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of the proposed information collected; (c) ways to enhance the quality, utility and clarity of the information collected; and (d) ways to minimize the burden of the information collection on respondents, including through the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology.

The Per Diem, Travel and Transportation Allowance Committee is publishing Civilian Personnel Per Diem Bulletin Number 253. This bulletin lists revisions in the per diem rates prescribed for U.S. Government employees for official travel in Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, the Northern Mariana Islands and Possessions of the United States. AEA changes announced in Bulletin Number 194 remain in effect. Bulletin Number 253 is being published in the Federal Register to assure that travelers are paid per diem at the most current rates.