October 15, 2007 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is conducting research to support development of regulatory guidance for using risk information related to digital systems in the licensing actions of nuclear power plants (NPPs). The objective of this research is to identify and develop methods, analytical tools, and regulatory guidance to support (1) Using information on the risks of digital systems in NPP licensing decisions, and (2) including models of digital systems into NPP probabilistic risk assessments (PRAs). In support of this research, Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL) is working on the use of traditional methods to develop and quantitatively assess reliability models of digital systems. As part of this work, BNL will apply two selected traditional methods to two benchmark digital systems. The initial tasks in the BNL project, including preparatory work for developing the reliability models of the first benchmark system, are addressed in draft NUREG/CR-XXXX, ``Approaches for Using Traditional Probabilistic Risk Assessment Methods for Digital Systems.'' This notice announces the availability of the draft NUREG/CR for public comment.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is announcing that a proposed collection of information has been submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and clearance under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.

This supplemental NOI is being issued pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969, as amended (42 United States Code 4321, et seq.), the Council on Environmental Quality Regulations for implementing procedural provisions of NEPA (40 Code of Federal Regulation (CFR) parts 1500-1508), and Air Force policy and procedures (32 CFR part 989). This supplemental NOI is issued to advise the public that the Air Force intends to further publicly scope information necessary to complete preparation of an EIS for the proposed BRAC activities at Eglin AFB, FL. This supplements the initial NOI which appeared in the Federal Register July 28, 2006 [Federal Register: July 28, 2006 (Volume 71, Number 145), page 42838-42839]. In the year since the initial NOI was published and initial scoping meetings were held, the Air Force has developed additional information that bears on the proposal and its impacts. The Air Force will present this additional information to the public and solicit comments. Public input is important to determining the scope of issues to be addressed and for identifying significant issues that were not known when the initial NOI was published. The supplemental scoping meetings will be held in a ``Town Hall'' format allowing interested parties to review information and related materials. Oral and written comments presented at the public meetings, as well as written comments received by the Air Force throughout the EIS process, will be considered and made a part of the administrative record. All the information and comments gathered in response to the initial NOI remain in the record, and there is no need to repeat information submitted at that time.

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The Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation's regulations on Benefits Payable in Terminated Single-Employer Plans and Allocation of Assets in Single-Employer Plans prescribe interest assumptions for valuing and paying benefits under terminating single-employer plans. This final rule amends the regulations to adopt interest assumptions for plans with valuation dates in November 2007. Interest assumptions are also published on the PBGC's Web site (https://www.pbgc.gov).

This notice informs the public of the interest rates and assumptions to be used under certain Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation regulations. These rates and assumptions are published elsewhere (or can be derived from rates published elsewhere), but are collected and published in this notice for the convenience of the public. Interest rates are also published on the PBGC's Web site (https://www.pbgc.gov).

The NCUA is amending its management interlocks rule to conform it to a change the Financial Services Regulatory Relief Act of 2006 (FSRAA) made in the dollar threshold that triggers the prohibition on management officials serving at unaffiliated depository organizations. This final rule changes the threshold from $20 million to $50 million.

The Commission has scheduled a public hearing regarding whether Amendment 9 pertaining to offenses involving cocaine base (``crack'') and Amendment 12 pertaining to certain criminal history rules, see 72 FR 28558 (May 21, 2007); 72 FR 51882 (September 11, 2007), should be applied retroactively to previously sentenced defendants.

Notice is hereby given of the following determinations: Pursuant to the authority vested in me by the Act of October 19, 1965 (79 Stat. 985; 22 U.S.C. 2459), Executive Order 12047 of March 27, 1978, the Foreign Affairs Reform and Restructuring Act of 1998 (112 Stat. 2681, et seq.; 22 U.S.C. 6501 note, et seq.), Delegation of Authority No. 234 of October 1, 1999, Delegation of Authority No. 236 of October 19, 1999, as amended, and Delegation of Authority No. 257 of April 15, 2003 [68 FR 19875], I hereby determine that the objects to be included in the exhibition ``Lucien Freud: The Painter's Etchings,'' imported from abroad for temporary exhibition within the United States, are of cultural significance. The objects are imported pursuant to loan agreements with the foreign owners or custodians. I also determine that the exhibition or display of the exhibit objects at the Museum of Modern Art, New York, from on or about December 16, 2007, until on or about March 10, 2008, and at possible additional exhibitions or venues yet to be determined, is in the national interest. Public Notice of these Determinations is ordered to be published in the Federal Register.

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 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 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service or we) is publishing migratory bird subsistence harvest regulations in Alaska for the 2008 season. This proposed rule establishes regulations that prescribe dates when harvesting of birds may occur, species that can be taken, and methods and means excluded from use. These regulations were developed under a Co-management process involving the Service, the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, and Alaska Native representatives. These regulations enable the continuation of customary and traditional subsistence uses of migratory birds in Alaska. The rulemaking is necessary because the regulations governing the subsistence harvest of migratory birds in Alaska are subject to annual review. This rulemaking proposes region-specific regulations that go into effect on April 2, 2008, and expire on August 31, 2008.

This rule prescribes special early and late season migratory bird hunting regulations for certain tribes on Federal Indian reservations, off-reservation trust lands, and ceded lands. This responds to tribal requests for U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (hereinafter Service or we) recognition of their authority to regulate hunting under established guidelines. This rule allows the establishment of season bag limits and, thus, harvest at levels compatible with populations and habitat conditions.

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 ensure that requested data is 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 following permits were issued.

The following permits were issued.

Notice is hereby given that individuals and institutions have been issued Letters of Confirmation for activities conducted under the General Authorization for Scientific Research on marine mammals. See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for a list of names and address of recipients.