June 2007 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

An open meeting of the Area 2 Committee of the Taxpayer Advocacy Panel will be conducted (via teleconference). The Taxpayer Advocacy Panel is soliciting public comments, ideas, and suggestions on improving customer service at the Internal Revenue Service.

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) published a document in the Federal Register on April 5, 2007 (72 FR 16962), amending the regulations governing various aspects of the education programs that VA administers. That document contained several technical errors: reference to two subparts that were not specifically identified, incorrect words used to identify the individuals eligible for a particular program of educational assistance, and incorrect references when citing to other provisions of VA's regulations. This document corrects those errors.

This document contains corrections to a notice of proposed rulemaking (REG-143797-06) that was published in the Federal Register on Friday, June 1, 2007 (72 FR 30501) providing guidance on employer comparable contributions to Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) under section 4980G in instances where an employee has not established an HSA by December 31st and in instances where an employer accelerates contributions for the calendar year for employees who have incurred qualified medical expenses.

The proposed information collection requirement described below will be submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act. The Department is soliciting public comments on the subject proposal.

The proposed information collection requirement described below will be submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act. The Department is soliciting public comments on the subject proposal.

This technical amendment updates MSHA's listing of Office of Management and Budget (OMB) control numbers for the Agency's standards and regulations. MSHA is prohibited from conducting a collection of information unless the Agency displays a currently valid OMB control number. This consolidated listing assists the public in searching for current MSHA standards and regulations that include information collection, recordkeeping, and reporting requirements approved by OMB under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.

In this order on rehearing, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (Commission) denies rehearing on most major issues decided in Order No. 688, which amended its regulations governing small power production and cogeneration in response to section 1253 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (EPAct 2005), which added section 210(m) to the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978 (PURPA). The Commission also clarifies certain aspects of the rule and adopts some additional filing requirements.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Los Angeles District (Regulatory Division), in coordination with the Port of Los Angeles, has completed a Draft Environmental Impact Statement/Environmental Impact Report (EIS/EIR) for the Berths 136-147 [TraPac] Container Terminal Project. The Port of Los Angeles requires authorization pursuant to Section 404 of the Clean Water Act and Section 10 of the River and Harbor Act to expand and modernize the container terminal at Berths 136-147 [TraPac], including: Expanding, redeveloping, and constructing container terminal facilities and a new on-dock rail facility; constructing 500 space parking lot for union workers; wharf work including dredging 295,000 cubic yards, renovating 2,900 feet of existing wharf, and constructing 705 feet of new wharf; installing five new gantry cranes to replace six existing gantry cranes; relocating the existing PHL Pier A switcher yard to Rear Berth 200; widening Harry Bridges Boulevard and constructing a new 30-acre landscaped buffer area between ``C'' Street and Harry Bridges Boulevard; and filling the 10- acre Northwest Slip, constructing backlands facilities on the fill, and constructing a new 400-foot wharf along the edge of the fill. In addition, the Port of Los Angeles is considering transporting and discharging at ocean disposal sites excess clean material generated by the dredging activities, which would require authorization pursuant to Section 103 of the Marine Protection, Research, and Sanctuaries Act.

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.

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.

On July 30, 2001, the Six County Association of Governments (SCAOG) filed a Petition for Exemption with the Surface Transportation Board (Board) pursuant to 49 U.S.C. 10502 for authority to construct and operate a new rail line between Juab (near Levan) and Salina, Utah. The project involves approximately 43 miles of new rail line and ancillary facilities. Because the construction and operation of this project has the potential to result in significant environmental impacts, the Board's Section of Environmental Analysis (SEA), in cooperation with the Department of Interior Bureau of Land Management, prepared a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (Draft EIS). The purpose of this Notice of Availability is to notify individuals and agencies interested in or affected by the proposed project of the availability of the Draft EIS for review and comment. Implementation of the proposed project would restore rail service to the Sevier Valley, provide rail service to shippers, and reduce the number of trucks on area highways. The Draft EIS analyses the potential impacts of the proposed route, the ``no-build'' alternative, and another build alternative. The Draft EIS addresses environmental issues and concerns identified during the scoping process. It also contains SEA's preliminary recommendations for environmental mitigation measures. The Draft EIS is being made available for public and agency review and comment. SEA will prepare a Final Environmental Impact Statement (Final EIS) that considers comments on the Draft EIS from the public and agencies. In reaching its decision in this case, the Board will take into account the Draft EIS, the Final EIS, and all environmental comments that are received.

Pursuant to Section 102(2)(c) of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969, the Council on Environmental Quality Final Regulations (40 CFR Parts 1500 through 1508), and the United States Section, International Boundary and Water Commission's (USIBWC) Operational Procedures for Implementing Section 102 of NEPA, published in the Federal Register September 2, 1981, (46 FR 44083); the USIBWC hereby gives notice that the Draft Environmental Assessment and FONSI for Improvements to the Donna-Brownsville Levee System, in the Lower Rio Grande Flood Control Project, located in Hidalgo and Cameron Counties, Texas, are available. An environmental impact statement will not be prepared unless additional information which may affect this decision is brought to our attention within 30-days from the date of this Notice.

The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) is withdrawing the document soliciting comments on its proposal to amend the voluntary United States Standards for Grades of Table Grapes (European or Vinifera Type). After reviewing and considering the comments received, the agency has decided not to proceed with this action.

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for the products listed above. This AD results from mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) issued by an aviation authority of another country to identify and correct an unsafe condition on an aviation product. The MCAI describes the unsafe condition as:

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for the products listed above. This AD results from mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) issued by an aviation authority of another country to identify and correct an unsafe condition on an aviation product. The MCAI describes the unsafe condition as:

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain McDonnell Douglas Model 717-200 airplanes. This AD requires modifying the fuel boost pump container of the center tank. This AD results from fuel system reviews conducted by the manufacturer. We are issuing this AD to prevent exposing the fuel pump container vapor area to electrical arcing during a fuel pump motor case or connector burn through, which could result in a fuel tank explosion.