June 26, 2007 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Commission will consider a Third Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking concerning proposed standards to ensure bidirectional compatibility of multichannel video programming distribution systems and consumer electronics equipment.

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has examined and found suitable for classification for lease and conveyance under the provisions of the Recreation and Public Purposes Act (R&PP), as amended (43 U.S.C. 869 et seq.), approximately 5 acres of public land in San Bernardino County, California. The Hesperia Recreation and Parks District, a local government entity has filed an application to lease with the request for conveyance of the above described public land for a public sports complex to include access roads, a nature trail and parking lot enclosed within a chain link fence, as specified in the District's development plan (henceforth, sports complex). The Hesperia Recreation and Parks District proposes to use the land in conjunction with adjacent non-Federal lands purchased by the District, for the establishment of a 24 acre public sports complex. The public land will be leased during the development stages. Upon substantial compliance with approval plans of development and management, the land will be conveyed.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce the reopening of the comment period on the proposed designation of critical habitat for the marbled murrelet (Brachyramphus marmoratus) under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). We also announce the availability of the draft economic analysis for the proposed critical habitat designation and amended required determinations for the proposal. The draft economic analysis estimates the post-designation impacts associated with marbled murrelet conservation efforts in areas proposed for final critical habitat designation to range from $69.4 million to $1.42 billion at present value over a 20-year period in undiscounted dollars, $38.1 million to $535 million ($2.22 million to $16.8 million annualized) assuming a 3 percent discount rate, or $24.2 million to $251 million ($2.18 million to $12 million annualized) assuming a 7 percent discount rate. We are reopening the comment period to allow all interested parties the opportunity to comment simultaneously on the proposed rule and the associated draft economic analysis. Comments previously submitted on the proposed rule need not be resubmitted as they are already part of the public record and will be fully considered in preparation of the final rule.

The Defense Science Board 2007 Summer Study on Challenges to Military Operations in Support of National Interests will meet in closed session on August 6-16, 2007; at the Beckman Center, Irvine, CA. The mission of the Defense Science Board is to advise the Secretary of Defense and the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology & Logistics on scientific and technical matters as they affect the perceived needs of the Department of Defense. At this meeting, the Board will review previous and ongoing studies regarding stressing wars; identify defining parameters for challenges to military operations; assess capability gaps; and identify possible solutions. In accordance with section 10(d) of the Federal Advisory Committee Act, Pub. L. 92-463, as amended (5 U.S.C. App. 2) and 41 CFR 102-3.155, the Department of Defense has determined that these Defense Science Board Summer Study meeting will be closed to the public. Specifically, the Under Secretary of Defense (Acquisition, Technology and Logistics), with the coordination of the DoD Office of General Counsel, has determined in writing that all sessions of these meetings will be closed to the public because they will be concerned throughout with matters listed in 5 U.S.C. 552b(c)(1). Interested persons may submit a written statement for consideration by the Defense Science Board, Individuals submitting a written statement must submit their statement to the Designated Federal Official at the address detailed below, at any point, however, if a written statement is not received at least 10 calendar days prior to the meeting, which is the subject of this notice, then it may not be provided to or considered by the Defense Science Board. The Designated Federal Official will review all timely submissions with the Defense Science Board Chairperson, and ensure they are provided to members of the Defense Science Board before the meeting that is the subject of this notice.

Pursuant to 40 CFR 1508.22 and 43 TAC Sec. 2.5(e)(2), the Federal Highway Administration and the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) are issuing this notice that an environmental impact statement (EIS) will be prepared for a proposed highway project on United States Highway (US) 290 from Ranch to Market (RM) 12 to Farm to Market (FM) 1826 in Travis and Hays County, Texas.

On Wednesday afternoon, June 27, 2007, Postal Regulatory Commissioners and advisory staff members will tour California Community News production facilities in Irwindale, California. The purpose of the tour is to observe company operations.

The Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 (IRTPA), as amended, provides that upon full implementation, U.S. citizens and certain classes of nonimmigrant aliens may enter the United States only with passports or such alternative documents as the Secretary of Homeland Security designates as satisfactorily establishing identity and citizenship. This notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) is the second phase of a joint Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Department of State (DOS) plan, known as the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative, to implement these new requirements. This NPRM proposes the specific documents that, as early as January 2008, and no sooner than 60 days from publication of the final rule, U.S. citizens and nonimmigrant aliens from Canada, Bermuda, and Mexico will be required to present when entering the United States at sea and land ports-of-entry from Western Hemisphere countries.

The Department of Defense (DoD) is revising the DoD Grant and Agreement Regulations (DoDGARs) to adopt and implement Office of Management and Budget (OMB) guidance on nonprocurement suspension and debarment and to make needed technical corrections. DoD is adopting and implementing the OMB guidance in a new part in title 2 of the CFR, the Governmentwide title recently established for OMB guidance and agencies' implementing regulations on grants and agreements. The Department also is removing the common rule on nonprocurement suspension and debarment that is in 32 CFR, Chapter I, Subchapter C, since the common rule is superseded by the new part implementing the OMB guidance. Adopting and implementing the OMB guidance and removing the common rule completes the DoD actions that the OMB guidance specifies. This regulatory action also is the first step toward relocating all of the DoDGARs to 2 CFR.