August 9, 2007 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

EPA proposes to approve the State Implementation Plan (SIP) revision submitted by the state of Missouri for the purpose of including the Kansas City 8-hour ozone maintenance plan into the SIP. Section 110(a)(1) of the Clean Air Act requires that areas which were maintenance areas for the 1-hour ozone standard and attainment for the 8-hour ozone standard develop a plan showing how the state will maintain the ozone standard for the area. The maintenance plan includes an emissions inventory demonstration, a plan for how the states will track progress on reducing emissions, a commitment to continue ozone monitoring, and a contingency plan that will ensure that a violation of the 8-hour ozone standard is promptly addressed.

On June 6, 2007, the Department of Justice published a notice of proposed rulemaking in the Federal Register, 72 FR 31217, concerning a process for certifying state systems for providing counsel to indigent capital defendants. That rulemaking was issued pursuant to section 507 of the USA PATRIOT Improvement and Reauthorization Act. The original 60-day comment period expired on August 6, 2007. The Department is reopening the comment period for an additional 45-day period.

We are issuing these final rules to adopt without change the interim final rules published on April 5, 2007 to reflect in our regulations three self-implementing statutory provisions in the Social Security Protection Act of 2004 (SSPA) and three related self- implementing provisions in earlier legislation. These earlier provisions are in the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1990 (OBRA), the Social Security Independence and Program Improvements Act of 1994 (SSIPIA), and the Ticket to Work and Work Incentives Improvement Act of 1999 (TWWIIA).

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Boeing Model 737-100, -200, -200C, -300, -400, and -500 series airplanes. This AD requires repetitive inspections for discrepancies of the elevator tab control rod assemblies and/or damage to the surrounding structure, and related corrective action. This AD results from reports indicating loose jam nuts and/or thread wear at the rod ends on the elevator tab control rod assembly. We are issuing this AD to find and fix discrepancies of the elevator tab control rod assembly, which could result in excessive freeplay in the elevator tab control rods. Such freeplay could cause loss of both load paths, subsequent elevator tab flutter, and consequent reduced structural integrity and loss of controllability of the airplane.

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 airworthiness authority of another country to identify and correct an unsafe condition on an aviation product. The MCAI describes the unsafe condition as keel beam rupture, which affects the structural integrity of the area. We are issuing this AD to require actions to correct the unsafe condition on these products.

NMFS is closing directed fishing for rock sole, flathead sole, and ``other flatfish'' by vessels using trawl gear in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area (BSAI). This action is necessary to prevent exceeding the third seasonal allowance of the 2007 halibut bycatch allowance specified for the trawl rock sole, flathead sole, and ``other flatfish'' fishery category in the BSAI.

NMFS is closing directed fishing for yellowfin sole by vessels using trawl gear in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area (BSAI). This action is necessary to prevent exceeding the 2007 halibut bycatch allowance specified for the trawl yellowfin sole fishery category in the BSAI.

In accordance with 5 U.S.C., 4314(c)(4), Department of Commerce (DOC) announces the appointment of persons to serve as members of the Departmental Performance Review Board (DPRB). The DPRB provides an objective peer review of the initial performance ratings, performance-based pay adjustment and bonus recommendations, higher- level review requests and other performance-related actions submitted by appointing authorities for Senior Executive Service (SES) members whom they directly supervise, and makes recommendations based on its review. The term of the new members of the DPRB will expire December 31, 2009.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announces its determination that the noise exposure maps submitted by the City of Des Moines for the Des Moines International Airport under the provisions of 49 U.S.C. 47501 et seq. (Aviation Safety and Noise Abatement Act) and 14 CFR Part 150 are in compliance with applicable requirements.

The Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) is reporting for the quarter April 1, 2007 through June 30, 2007 with respect to both assistance provided under Section 605 of the Millennium Challenge Act of 2003 (Pub. L. 108-199, Division D (the Act)), and transfers of funds to other federal agencies pursuant to Section 619 of that Act. The following report shall be made available to the public by means of publication in the Federal Register and on the Internet Web site of the MCC (www.mcc.gov) in accordance with Section 612(b) of the Act.

The FHWA is issuing this notice to advise the public that an environmental impact statement will be prepared for proposed transportation improvements between U.S. Route 30 and IL Route 136 intersection near Fulton, Illinois eastward to the U.S. Route 30 and IL Route 40 intersection in Rock Falls, Illinois.

The staff of the Department of State has prepared a draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Proposed TransCanada Keystone Pipeline Project. On April 19, 2006, TransCanada Keystone Pipeline, LLC (``Keystone'') filed an application for a Presidential permit for the construction, operation, and maintenance of pipeline facilities at the border of the U.S. and Canada for the transport of crude oil across the U.S.-Canada international boundary. According to the application, Keystone has requested authorization to construct and operate the border crossing facilities at the U.S.-Canadian border at Cavalier County, North Dakota, in connection with its proposed international pipeline project (the ``Keystone Pipeline Project''), which is designed to transport incremental Canadian crude oil production from the Western Canadian Sedimentary Basin (``WCSB'') to existing terminals in Missouri, Illinois, and potentially Oklahoma. The Secretary of State is designated and empowered to receive all applications for Presidential permits, as referred to in Executive Order 13337, as amended, for the construction, connection, operation, or maintenance, at the borders of the United States, of facilities for the exportation or importation of petroleum, petroleum products, coal, or other fuels to or from a foreign country. any person wishing to comment on the draft EIS may do so. To ensure consideration prior to a Department of State decision on the Keystone proposal, it is important that we receive your comments by no later than September 24, 2007.

The Eastern Region Recreation Resource Advisory Committee will hold its second meeting at the Hilton Milwaukee City Center, 509 W. Wisconsin Ave., Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The purpose of the meeting is to receive recommendations concerning recreation fee proposals on areas managed by the Forest Service in Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, New York, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Missouri, Minnesota, Michigan and Wisconsin; and to discuss other items of interest related to the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act of 2004. A final detailed agenda, with any additions/corrections to agenda topics and meeting times, will be sent to regional media sources at least 14 days before the meeting and hard copies can also be mailed or sent via Fax. Individuals who need special assistance such as sign language interpretation or other reasonable accommodations, or who wish a hard copy of each agenda, should contact Marcia Heymen at 626 East Wisconsin Ave., Milwaukee, WI (by phone 414-297-3662) no later than 10 days prior to the meeting.