October 2007 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Postal Service is amending the Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service, International Mail Manual (IMM[supreg]) to remove references to the Republic of the Marshall Islands and the Federated States of Micronesia. Mail to the Republic of the Marshall Islands and the Federated States of Micronesia is no longer treated as international mail.

The Copyright Royalty Judges are publishing for comment proposed regulations that set the rates and terms for the use of sound recordings by preexisting subscription services for the period January 1, 2008, through December 31, 2012.

The Agency is announcing the availability of and seeking public comment on a draft Pesticide Registration Notice (PR Notice) entitled ``Label Statements Regarding Third-Party Endorsements & Cause Marketing Claims.'' PR Notices are issued by the Office of Pesticide Programs (OPP) to inform pesticide registrants and other interested persons about important policies, procedures, and registration related decisions, and serve to provide guidance to pesticide registrants and OPP personnel. This particular draft PR Notice provides guidance to the registrant concerning the Agency's framework for evaluating label statements regarding third-party endorsements and cause marketing claims, in which registrants and other interested parties may wish to comment.

The Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) amended the Export Administration Regulations (EAR) to list names of end-users in the People's Republic of China (PRC) approved to receive exports, reexports and transfers of certain items under Authorization Validated End-User (VEU). The rule identified five specific validated end-users. This final rule amends the EAR to correct an inadvertent omission in the list of items approved for one of those validated end-users.

In 2004, the United States Mint prepared and marketed a product known as the ``2004 United States Mint Lewis and Clark Coin and Pouch Set.'' This product includes a 2004 Lewis and Clark Expedition Bicentennial Silver Dollar and a small pouch crafted by artisans from one of several American Indian tribes. The United States Mint, however, has now learned that one of the organizations whose artisans produced pouches for the productthe Shawnee Nation United Remnant Band of Ohiois not officially recognized as an Indian tribe by state or Federal authorities. The Shawnee Nation United Remnant Band of Ohio, therefore, does not have the legal right to claim that the pouches its artisans produced are authentic American Indian products. Accordingly, the United States Mint is offering a refund to members of the public who own a 2004 United States Mint Lewis and Clark Coin and Pouch Set containing a pouch produced by the Shawnee Nation United Remnant Band of Ohio. Owners may ascertain whether their pouch set was crafted by the Shawnee Nation United Remnant Band of Ohio by referring to the Certificate of Authenticity (COA) that accompanies the set. Owners wishing to obtain a refund have two options: (1) Return the entire United States Mint Lewis and Clark Coin and Pouch Set, including the COA from the Shawnee Nation United Remnant Band of Ohio, for a refund of $130.00 (original sales price, plus $10 for shipping and insurance), or (2) return just the pouch and the COA from the Shawnee Nation United Remnant Band of Ohio for a refund of $90.00 (prorated sales price for the pouch, plus $10 for shipping and insurance).

This notice is published in accordance with Section 9(a)(2) of the Federal Advisory Committee Act of 1972 (Pub. L. 92-463). Following consultation with the U.S. General Services Administration, notice is hereby given that the Chairperson of the National Council on Disability (NCD) is renewing the charter for the Youth Advisory Committee. The purpose of the Youth Advisory Committee is to provide input into NCD activities consistent with the values and goals of the Americans with Disabilities Act.

The Department of Commerce (the Department) has received requests to conduct administrative reviews of various antidumping and countervailing duty orders and findings with September anniversary dates. In accordance with the Department's regulations, we are initiating those administrative reviews.

EPA is taking direct final action to approve a negative declaration submitted by the Nevada Division of Environmental Protection. The negative declaration certifies that other solid waste incinerator units, subject to the requirements of sections 111(d) and 129 of the Clean Air Act, do not exist within the agency's air pollution control jurisdiction.

The EPA Science Advisory Board (SAB) Staff Office is announcing a public teleconference of the SAB Drinking Water Committee (DWC) to discuss advisory activities for the coming year.

Under Section 10(a)(2) of Public Law 92-423, ``The Federal Advisory Committee Act,'' notice is hereby given of a meeting of the National Drinking Water Advisory Council (NDWAC), established under the Safe Drinking Water Act, as amended (42 U.S.C. 300f et seq.). The Council will consider various issues associated with communicating about drinking water including how to communicate effectively on a daily basis and during a crisis. EPA staff will also provide information about efforts in these areas. The Council will receive updates about several on-going projects including the third Contaminant Candidate List, Geologic Sequestration and the Total Coliform Rule/ Distribution System Federal Advisory Committee. Members of the Council will give updates on Small Systems Subgroup and Performance Measures Subgroup.

NMFS has determined that the Atlantic tunas General category daily Atlantic bluefin tuna (BFT) retention limit should be adjusted for the November and December time periods of the 2007 fishing year and the January period of the 2008 fishing year. NMFS increases the daily BFT retention limits, including on previously scheduled Restricted Fishing Days (RFDs), to provide enhanced commercial fishing opportunities to harvest the established General category quota.

As described in the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section of this Notice, HUD is authorized by statute to waive statutory and regulatory requirements and specify alternative requirements for these disaster recovery grants, upon the request of the state grantee. This Notice describes the additional waivers for the disaster recovery grants made to the State of Mississippi under the subject appropriations acts.

This notice announces the initial filing of a pesticide petition proposing the establishment or modification of regulations for residues of pesticide chemicals in or on various commodities.

The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) and the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (LACMTA) issue this early scoping notice to advise other agencies and the public that they intend to explore, in the context of the Council on Environmental Quality's early scoping process, alternative means of improving transit capacity and service in and through the central core of Los Angeles, California. The early scoping process is part of a planning Alternatives Analysis (AA) required by 49 United States Code (U.S.C.) 5309 that will lead to the selection of the alternatives that will be subject to the appropriate environmental process. Early scoping meetings have been planned and are announced below. The proposed Regional Connector would provide a link connecting several light rail service lines in operation or in construction (i.e., the Metro Gold Line to Pasadena, the Metro Gold Line Eastside Extension, the Metro Blue Line, and the Metro Expo Line). This connection would broaden and improve the region's public transit, mobility, and accessibility. The project study area within which various alternatives will be considered for the Regional Connector is situated in downtown Los Angeles, generally encompassing the area between the 101 Freeway on the north, 9th Street/Los Angeles Street and 7th Street on south, the 110 Freeway on the west, and Alameda Street on the east. After selection of the alternatives by the LACMTA Board, the alternatives will then be the subject of the appropriate environmental review under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). If the alternatives have significant impacts, an environmental impact statement (EIS), combined with a California environmental impact report (EIR) would be initiated with a Notice of Intent (NOI) in the Federal Register and distribution of a Notice of Preparation (NOP) required under CEQA and final public and agency scoping of the EIS/EIR. In particular, the purpose and need for the project, the range of alternatives to be considered in the EIS/ EIR, the environmental and community impacts to be evaluated, and the methodologies to be used, would be subject to public and interagency review and comment, in accordance with 23 U.S.C. 139 and CEQA.

The Farm Credit Administration (FCA or we) is considering possible modifications to our risk-based capital rules for Farm Credit System institutions (FCS or System) that are similar to the standardized approach delineated in the New Basel Capital Accord. We are seeking comments to facilitate the development of a proposed rule that would enhance our regulatory capital framework and more closely align minimum capital requirements with risks taken by System institutions. We are also withdrawing our previously published ANPRM.

The Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) is revising the regulations governing procedures related to the procurement of goods and services in the National School Lunch Program, School Breakfast Program and Special Milk Program to remedy deficiencies identified in audits and program reviews. This final rule makes changes in a school food authority's responsibilities for proper procurement procedures and contracts, limits a school food authority's use of nonprofit school food service account funds to costs resulting from proper procurements and contracts, and clarifies a State agency's responsibility to review and approve school food authority procurement procedures and contracts. This final rule also amends the Special Milk Program and School Breakfast Program regulations to make the procurement and contract requirements consistent with the National School Lunch Program regulations. These changes are intended to promote full and open competition in school food authority procurements, clarify State agency responsibilities, and ensure that only allowable contract costs are paid with nonprofit school food service account funds.

The General Services Administration (GSA) has issued Bulletin B-16 which provides a deviation for executive agencies to purchase premium fuel for Government owned and leased vehicles when lower grade fuels are not available due to market shortages in parts of California affected by wildfires. FMR Bulletin B-16 became effective on October 24, 2007 and will remain effective until January 24, 2008, unless extended or rescinded by GSA. This bulletin and all FMR bulletins are located at gsa.gov/bulletin.