October 5, 2007 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

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

Technical information or comments are requested on the proposed Base (1% annual chance) Flood Elevations (BFEs) and proposed BFEs modifications for the communities listed below. The BFEs are the basis for the floodplain management measures that the community is required either to adopt or to show evidence of being already in effect in order to qualify or remain qualified for participation in the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP).

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 and its implementing regulations, the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) hereby announces that it is seeking renewal of the following currently approved information collection activities. Before submitting these information collection requirements for clearance by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), FRA is soliciting public comment on specific aspects of the activities identified below.

The Coast Guard proposes to establish a 600 foot radius safety zone in the vicinity of Hopewell, VA centered on position 37-19.18' N/ 077-16.93' W (NAD 1983) in support of the Christmas Holiday Boat Parade and Fireworks Event. This action is intended to restrict vessel traffic on the Appomattox River as necessary to protect mariners from the hazards associated with fireworks displays.

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the U.S. Coast Guard intends to submit Information Collection Requests (ICRs) to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) requesting an extension of their approval for the following collections of information: (1) 1625-0024, Safety Approval of Cargo Containers; (2) 1625-0036, Plan Approval and Records for U.S. and Foreign Tank Vessels Carrying Oil in Bulk; (3) 1625-0061, Commercial Fishing Industry Vessel Safety Regulations; and (4) 1625-0100, Advance Notice of Vessel Arrival. Before submitting these ICRs to OMB, the Coast Guard is inviting comments as described below.

The proposed information collection requirement described below has been 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 rule would implement the Department's program that offers single family properties to local governments for one dollar and to Community Development Corporations (CDCs) on a cost recovery basis. The information collected will be used in binding contracts between the purchaser and HUD. The respondents are purchasers of HUD-owned properties: Community development corporations and governmental entities.

In the Third Memorandum Opinion and Order, the Federal Communications Commission finds that Sprint Corporation (Sprint) has not met the December 26, 2006, eighteen-month benchmark for clearing Channel 1-120 incumbents as required by the 800 MHz rebanding process. In that connection, the Commission denies the portion of Sprint's Petition for Reconsideration that sought ``clarification'' of the eighteen-month benchmark. The Commission also establishes additional benchmarks to ensure timely clearing of the Channel 1-120 band by all incumbent licensees, including Sprint itself. The Commission also requires Sprint to provide monthly reports on its channel-clearing efforts. In addition, the Commission clarifies the 30-month rebanding benchmark, which requires all 800 MHz licensees that must reband to have ``commenced'' reconfiguration of their systems by December 26, 2007. Finally, the Commission grants several petitions by NPSPAC licensees to extend their rebanding deadline until after incumbent analog broadcasters operating in their area on TV Channel 69 have vacated the spectrum as part of the DTV transition.

The Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB or ``the Board'') is revising its regulations to clarify the procedures applicable to MSPB processing and adjudication of cases arising under the Department of Homeland Security's new human resources management system established pursuant to the Homeland Security Act of 2002. As is discussed below, these revisions to the Board's regulations are necessary to reconcile the Board's regulations and procedures with final regulations published by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) on February 1, 2005, at 70 FR 5272.

EPA is taking direct final action to approve a revision to the Pennsylvania State Implementation Plan (SIP) that was submitted on March 19, 2007 by the Pennsylvania Department of the Environment. This revision is a conversion of the currently approved full maintenance plan for carbon monoxide for the years 2007-2017, to a maintenance plan that will utilize a limited maintenance plan option for the same period. This will allow Federal actions requiring conformity determinations to be considered as automatically satisfying the budget test for carbon monoxide. EPA is approving these revisions to the Philadelphia County carbon monoxide maintenance plan in accordance with the requirements of the Clean Air Act (the Act). This action is being taken under section 110 of the Act.

EPA is proposing to approve revisions to the North Carolina State Implementation Plan (SIP) submitted by the State of North Carolina, through the North Carolina Department of Environmental and Natural Resources on August 7, 2006. These revisions will incorporate provisions related to the implementation of EPA's Clean Air Interstate Rule (CAIR), promulgated on May 12, 2005, and subsequently revised on April 28, 2006, and December 13, 2006, and the CAIR Federal Implementation Plan (FIP) concerning sulfur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen oxides (NOX) annual, and NOX ozone season emissions for the State of North Carolina, promulgated on April 28, 2006, and subsequently revised December 13, 2006. EPA is not proposing to make any changes to the CAIR FIP, but is proposing to amend, to the extent EPA approves North Carolina's SIP revisions, the appropriate appendices in the CAIR FIP trading rules simply to note that approval. On July 3, 2007, North Carolina requested that EPA only act on a portion of the August 7, 2006, submittal as an abbreviated SIP. Consequently, EPA is proposing to approve the abbreviated SIP revisions that address the methodology to be used to allocate annual and ozone season NOX allowances to existing and new units under the CAIR FIPs and CAIR FIP opt-in provisions. This action is being taken pursuant to section 110 of the Clean Air Act. The intended effect of these revisions is to clarify certain provisions and to ensure consistency with the requirements of the CAA. In the Final Rules Section of this Federal Register, the EPA is approving the State's SIP revision as a direct final rule without prior proposal because the Agency views this as a noncontroversial submittal and anticipates no adverse comments. A detailed rationale for the approval is set forth in the direct final rule. If no adverse comments are received in response to this rule, no further activity is contemplated. If EPA receives adverse comments, the direct final rule will be withdrawn and all public comments received will be addressed in a subsequent final rule based on this proposed rule. The EPA will not institute a second comment period on this document. Any parties interested in commenting on this document should do so at this time.

This Rule establishes, amends, suspends, or revokes Standard Instrument Approach Procedures (SIAPs) and associated Takeoff Minimums and Obstacle Departure Procedures for operations at certain airports. These regulatory actions are needed because of the adoption of new or revised criteria, or because of changes occurring in the National Airspace System, such as the commissioning of new navigational facilities, adding new obstacles, or changing air traffic requirements. These changes are designed to provide safe and efficient use of the navigable airspace and to promote safe flight operations under instrument flight rules at the affected airports.

NMFS is opening directed fishing for Pacific cod by catcher vessels using pot gear in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area (BSAI). This action is necessary to fully use the 2007 total allowable catch (TAC) of Pacific cod specified for catcher vessels using pot gear in the BSAI.

Under the provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. Chapter 35), the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Secretariat has submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) a request to review and approve an extension to a currently approved information collection requirement concerning contract financing. A request for public comments was published in the Federal Register at 72 FR 31815, June 8, 2007. No comments were received. Public comments are particularly invited on: Whether this collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of functions of the FAR, and whether it will have practical utility; whether our estimate of the public burden of this collection of information is accurate, and based on valid assumptions and methodology; ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and ways in which we can minimize the burden of the collection of information on those who are to respond, through the use of appropriate technological collection techniques or other forms of information technology.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce the extension of the public comment period on nine new United States Geological Survey (USGS) reports produced for the Service to provide current data and modeling results relevant to the final determination of whether the polar bear (Ursus maritimus) qualifies for listing under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). We intend to take these reports into consideration as we make our final listing determination on the polar bear, and are extending the reopened public comment period on the January 9, 2007, proposed rule to list the polar bear as threatened throughout its range under the Act (72 FR 1064) for an additional 15 days to allow interested parties to comment on the USGS reports. We are limited in how long we can extend the public comment period because of the statutory deadline, which requires a final listing determination within one year of publication of the proposed rule, unless an extension of up to six months is granted due to substantial disagreement regarding the sufficiency or accuracy of the available data relevant to the determination. Please note that comments previously submitted should not be resubmitted. This comment period is open only for comments on the nine USGS reports listed below. Comments submitted during the prior comment period have been incorporated into the public record and will be fully considered during preparation of our final determination.

This notice announces the inpatient hospital deductible and the hospital and extended care services coinsurance amounts for services furnished in calendar year (CY) 2008 under Medicare's Hospital Insurance program (Medicare Part A). The Medicare statute specifies the formulae used to determine these amounts. For CY 2008, the inpatient hospital deductible will be $1024. The daily coinsurance amounts for CY 2008 will be: (a) $256 for the 61st through 90th day of hospitalization in a benefit period; (b) $512 for lifetime reserve days; and (c) $128 for the 21st through 100th day of extended care services in a skilled nursing facility in a benefit period.

This annual notice announces Medicare's Hospital Insurance (Part A) premium for uninsured enrollees in calendar year (CY) 2008. This premium is to be paid by enrollees age 65 and over who are not otherwise eligible for benefits under Medicare Part A (hereafter known as the ``uninsured aged'') and by certain disabled individuals who have exhausted other entitlement. The monthly Part A premium for the 12 months beginning January 1, 2008 for these individuals will be $423. The reduced premium for certain other individuals as described in this notice will be $233.