June 2007 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) of the Department of Agriculture (USDA) is revising the voluntary United States Standards for Grades of Parsley. Specifically, AMS is revising the standards to allow percentages to be determined by count rather than weight. AMS is also eliminating the unclassified category. The revisions would bring the standards for parsley in line with current marketing practices, thereby improving the usefulness in serving the industry.

This action withdraws a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) that proposed a new airworthiness directive (AD), applicable to certain EMBRAER Model EMB-135 and EMB-145 series airplanes. That action would have required an inspection of the base and support surfaces of the glide slope antenna and of certain electrical connectors of the navigation system, and applicable corrective actions if necessary. Since the issuance of the NPRM, we have received new data showing that the proposed inspection and corrective actions will not eliminate the display of erroneous or misleading information to the flightcrew in the cockpit. However, we have been informed that the navigation system manufacturer has developed effective corrective actions to address the unsafe condition identified in the NPRM. Since we issued the NPRM, we have issued other rulemaking, which provides corrective actions for the identified unsafe condition. Accordingly, the proposed rule is withdrawn.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. Chapter 35), the Railroad Retirement Board (RRB) is forwarding an Information Collection Request (ICR) to the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA), Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for the following collection of information: 3220-0136, Public Service Pension Questionnaires. 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. Our ICR describes the information we seek to collect from the public. Completion of the forms is voluntary, failure to complete the forms could result in the nonpayment of benefits. One response is required from a respondent. Review and approval by OIRA ensures that we impose appropriate paperwork burdens. The RRB invites comments on the proposed collection of information to determine (1) the practical utility of the collection; (2) the accuracy of the estimated burden of the collection; (3) ways to enhance the quality, utility and clarity of the information that is the subject of collection; and (4) ways to minimize the burden of collections on respondents, including the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology. Comments to RRB or OIRA must contain the OMB control number of the ICR. For proper consideration of your comments, it is best if RRB and OIRA receive them within 30 days of publication date. Previous Requests for Comments: The RRB has already published the initial 60-day notice (72 FR 14628 on March 28, 2007) required by 44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2). That request elicited no comments.

Following receipt of a request on June 1, 2007, from the United States Trade Representative (USTR), the Commission has expanded the scope of its investigation No. DR-CAFTA-103-16, Probable Economic Effect of Modifications to DR-CAFTA Rules of Origin and Tariffs for Certain Apparel Goods, to include advice on the probable economic effect of an additional set of proposed modifications to the rules of origin and tariff treatment that are contained in a revised letter of understanding with Costa Rica.

Coral Power, L.L.C. (Coral) has applied to renew its authority to transmit electric energy from the United States to Mexico pursuant to section 202(e) of the Federal Power Act (FPA).

This notice announces a meeting of the Environmental Management Site-Specific Advisory Board (EM SSAB), Nevada Test Site. The Federal Advisory Committee Act (Pub. L. 92-463, 86 Stat. 770) requires that public notice of this meeting be announced in the Federal Register.

The Commission adopted amendments to the language of the third-party and issuer tender offer best-price rules on November 1, 2006. This document contains a correction to the final rule that was published on April 5, 2007 [72 FR 16934].

We (Fish and Wildlife Service) have sent an Information Collection Request (ICR) to OMB for review and approval. The ICR, which is summarized below, describes the nature of the collection and the estimated burden and cost. This ICR is scheduled to expire on June 30, 2007. We may not conduct or sponsor and a person is not required to respond to a collection of information unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number. However, under OMB regulations, we may continue to conduct or sponsor this information collection while it is pending at OMB.

This notice advises the public that the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) as lead agency, with the Navajo Nation, U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Office of Surface Mining, Reclamation and Enforcement (OSM), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) as cooperating agencies, intends to file a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) with the EPA for the proposed Desert Rock Energy and Navajo Mine Extension projects. The purpose of the proposed action is to help meet the economic development needs of the Navajo Nation. This notice also announces a series of public hearings to receive comments on the DEIS.

The Department of Labor, as part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, conducts a preclearance consultation program to provide the general public and Federal agencies with an opportunity to comment on proposed and/or continuing collections of information in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA95) [44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)]. This program helps to ensure that requested data can be provided in the desired format, reporting burden (time and financial resources) is minimized, collection instruments are clearly understood, and the impact of collection requirements on respondents can be properly assessed. Currently, the Employment Standards Administration is soliciting comments concerning the proposed collection: Application for Approval of a Representative's Fee in Black Lung Claim Proceedings Conducted by the U.S. Department of Labor (CM- 972). A copy of the proposed information collection request can be obtained by contacting the office listed below in the addresses section of this Notice.

Notice is hereby given that the U.S. International Trade Commission has determined not to review an initial determination (``ID'') of the presiding administrative law judge (``ALJ'') (Order No. 17) in the above-captioned investigation terminating this investigation, as to both respondents, on the basis of a consent order stipulation and a consent order.

The Department of Labor, as part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, conducts a preclearance consultation program to provide the general public and Federal agencies with an opportunity to comment on proposed and/or continuing collections of information in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA95) [44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)]. This program helps to ensure that requested data can be provided in the desired format, reporting burden (time and financial resources) is minimized, collection instruments are clearly understood, and the impact of collection requirements on respondents can be properly assessed. Currently, the Employment Standards Administration is soliciting comments concerning the proposed extension of the collection of information requirements implementing Executive Order (EO) 13201 Notice of Employee Rights Concerning Payment of Union Dues or Fees. A copy of the proposed information collection request can be obtained by contacting the office listed below in the addresses section of this Notice.

Notice is hereby given that the Department of Labor will hold a hearing regarding the feasibility of the application of computer model investment advice programs for Individual Retirement Accounts and similar types of plans.

The Coast Guard is establishing temporary safety zones for the Riverfest 2007 Fireworks on the Connecticut River off Hartford, CT. The safety zones are necessary to protect the life and property of the maritime community from the hazards posed by the fireworks display. Entry into or movement within the safety zones during the enforcement period is prohibited without approval of the Captain of the Port, Long Island Sound.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone for the City of Long Beach Fireworks on the Atlantic Ocean off of Riverside Boulevard, Long Beach, NY. The safety zone is necessary to protect the life and property of the maritime community from the hazards posed by the fireworks display. Entry into or movement within this safety zone during the enforcement period is prohibited without approval of the Captain of the Port, Long Island Sound.