September 7, 2007 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Travel and Transportation Reform Act of 1998 (Pub. L. 105- 264, October 19, 1998), authorized Federal agencies to conduct travel and relocation expenses test programs when determined by the Administrator of General Services to be in the interest of the Government. The provisions of the Act were implemented by a Federal Travel Regulation (FTR) amendment, and published in the Federal Register at 64 FR 28880, May 27, 1999. They permit agencies to test new and innovative methods of reimbursing travel and relocation expenses without seeking a waiver of current rules or authorizing legislation. However, the test authority for the travel and relocation programs expired in October 2005. Pub. L. 109-325, October 11, 2006, amends 5 U.S.C. 5739 by extending the authority for the General Services Administration (GSA) to approve relocation expenses test programs for an additional four years. In addition, the law removes the 24-month period in which an agency had to complete an approved relocation expense test program. The amendments provided by Pub. L. No. 109-325 are effective as though enacted as part of the Travel and Transportation Reform Act of 1998. This final rule incorporates Pub. L. 109-325 by removing the required period of time to complete a relocation test program and extends the authority to conduct relocation tests for an additional four years. The authority to conduct a travel test expense program was not renewed; accordingly, this final rule also deletes those provisions. The FTR and any corresponding documents may be accessed at GSA's website at https://www.gsa.gov/ftr.

The IC Clearance Official, Regulatory Information Management Services, Office of Management, invites comments on the proposed information collection requests as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.

The National Science Foundation (NSF) is required to publish notice of permit applications received to conduct activities regulated under the Antarctic Conservation Act of 1978. NSF has published regulations under the Antarctic Conservation Act at Title 45 Part 670 of the Code of Federal Regulations. This is the required notice of permit applications received.

Pursuant to Section 2201(c) of the Implementing Recommendations of the 9/11 Commission Act of 2007, Public Law No. 110- 53, 121 Stat. 266, (2007) (Act), the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), Department of Commerce, and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) are establishing the Joint Advisory Committee on Communications Capabilities of Emergency Medical and Public Health Care Facilities (Committee). By February 4, 2008, the Committee is to assess and submit a report to Congress on the communications capabilities and needs of emergency medical and public health care facilities and the options to accommodate growth of communications services and to improve integration of communications systems used by such facilities. NTIA and FCC are requesting nominations from interested organizations of qualified individuals, and the submission of expressions of interest from individuals who desire to serve as members of the Committee.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is amending the animal drug regulations to reflect approval of a new animal drug application (NADA) filed by Fort Dodge Animal Health, Division of Wyeth. The NADA provides for veterinary prescription use of etodolac injectable solution in dogs for the control of pain and inflammation associated with osteoarthritis.

In accordance with the requirement of the Privacy Act of 1974 (5 U.S.C. 552a), the Office of Child Support Enforcement (OCSE) is publishing notice of its amendment of its system of records entitled ``The Location and Collection System,'' No. 09-90-0074.

The Board grants an exemption, under 49 U.S.C. 10502, from the prior approval requirements of 49 U.S.C. 11323-25 for Soo Line Railroad Company d/b/a Canadian Pacific Railway's (CPR), a Class I rail carrier, acquisition and operation of BNSF Railway Company's (BNSF), a Class I rail carrier, property interests in 35.26 miles of rail lines that are jointly owned by CPR and BNSF and a contiguous 9.96-mile rail line that is solely owned by BNSF,\1\ subject to labor protective conditions.

In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the Federal Land Policy and Management Act (FLPMA), and BLM management policies, the BLM announces the availability of the RMP/ROD for the East Alaska planning area.

The Federal Communications Commission (Commission) announces that a certain rule adopted in its Public Safety 700 MHz Band proceeding (WT Docket No. 96-86; FCC 00-264) in 2000, to the extent it contained an information collection requirement that required approval by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) was approved, and became effective November 15, 2000, following approval by OMB.

EPA is proposing ``Update of Continuous Instrumental Test Methods: Technical Amendments'' to correct errors in a recent final rule that amended five instrumental test methods and was published on May 15, 2006. As published, the amendments contained inadvertent errors and provisions that need to be clarified. We are correcting errors and clarifying portions of the amendments to reflect the intent of the rule and to make them more understandable by affected parties. In the ``Rules and Regulations'' section of this Federal Register, we are correcting errors and making clarifications as a direct final rule without a prior proposed rule. If we receive no adverse comment, we will not take further action on this proposed rule.

The USDA Forest Service, together with the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC), will prepare a joint Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) and Environmental Impact Report (EIR) in response to applications received from Southern California Edison for construction of a series of transmission system improvements to deliver electricity from new wind energy projects in eastern Kern County. The proposed project would be located in Kern, Los Angeles, and San Bernardino counties. The purpose of the project is to provide the electrical facilities necessary to integrate levels of new wind generation in the Tehachapi Wind Resource Area, and accommodate solar and geothermal projects currently being planned or expected in the future. It would also improve the reliability of the transmission grid in the Antelope Valley and address existing constraints in the transmission system south of the Lugo Substation in Hesperia, California. The Forest Service is the lead Federal agency for the preparation of this EIS/EIR in compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and all other applicable federal laws, executive orders, regulations, and direction. The CPUC is the lead State of California agency for the preparation of the EIS/EIR in compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), California Public Resource Code Division 13, and all other applicable state laws and regulations. Both agencies have determined an EIS/EIR is needed to effectively analyze the proposal and evaluate impacts. The proposed project involves several types of transmission upgrades, including: (1) Constructing new 500-kV transmission lines; (2) constructing o new single-circuit 220-kV transmission lines; (3) rebuilding existing 220-kV lines to 500-V standards; (4) rebuilding existing single-circuit transmission lines to double-circuit transmission lines; (5) relocating several existing 66-kV subtransmission lines; (6) constructing a new 500-kV substation; and (7) upgrading five existing substations. Approximately 46 miles of the project would be located in a 200- to 400-foot right-of-way on National Forest System land (managed by the Angeles National Forest) and approximately 3 miles would require expanded right-of-way within the Angeles National Forest. The USDA Forest Service and the CPUC invite written comments on the scope of this proposed project. In addition, the agencies give notice of this analysis so that interested and affected individuals are aware of how they may participate and contribute to the final decision.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is providing notice of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) between FDA and the University System of Maryland to establish terms of collaboration to support shared interests that can proceed through a variety of programs including collaborative research, public outreach, cooperative international initiatives, interdisciplinary training, and exchange of scientists and staff through sabbaticals, postdoctoral fellowships, and student internships.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) Jacksonville District issued a draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS) on August 17, 2007 to evaluate potential impacts of further rock mining within wetlands in western Miami-Dade County, FL. In order to accept public comments on the Draft SEIS, the Corps has scheduled a public meeting. The Corps invites Federal agencies, American Indian Tribal Nations, state and local governments, and other interested private organizations and parties to attend the public meeting and to comment on the draft SEIS.

The Army Corps of Engineers and the State of Florida have established interim targets for the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan as required by section 385.39(c) of the Programmatic Regulations for the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan. The purpose of the interim targets is to evaluate progress towards other water related needs of the region provided for in the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan throughout the implementation process. The parties have chosen to memorialize the proposed interim targets in an Interim Targets Agreement.

This rule invites comments on changes to the reporting requirements established under the California pistachio marketing order (order). The order regulates the handling of pistachios grown in California and is administered locally by the Administrative Committee for Pistachios (committee). These changes would modify one existing committee form and add a new form to a currently-approved information collection. The information collected would require handlers to report production and producer data, enabling the committee to obtain better information for preparing its annual marketing policy statement and conducting committee nominations and periodic referenda under the marketing order for California pistachios. This proposal announces the Agricultural Marketing Service's (AMS) intention to request revisions to a currently-approved information collection issued under the order. These changes are intended to enhance the efficient operation of the program.

This rule decreases the assessment rate established for the California Date Administrative Committee (committee) for the 2007-08 and subsequent crop year from $0.95 to $0.75 per hundredweight of dates handled. The committee recommended decreasing the assessment rate to reduce its cash reserve levels. The committee locally administers the marketing order which regulates the handling of dates grown or packed in Riverside County, California. Assessments upon date handlers are used by the committee to fund reasonable and necessary expenses of the program. The crop year begins October 1 and ends September 30. The assessment rate will remain in effect indefinitely unless modified, suspended, or terminated.

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), this notice announces that PHMSA has forwarded an Information Collection Request to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for a new information collection. This information collection is a survey of hazardous liquid operators to obtain information on unregulated low- stress hazardous liquid pipeline characteristics. The purpose of this notice is to invite the public to submit comments on the request to OMB.