October 25, 2007 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

Pursuant to 49 U.S.C. 5323(n), FTA is authorized to consolidate the certifications and assurances required by Federal law or regulations for its programs into a single document. FTA is also required by 49 U.S.C. 5323(n) to publish a list of those certifications and assurances annually. Appendix A of this Notice contains the comprehensive compilation of FTA's Certifications and Assurances for Federal Fiscal Year (Federal FY) 2008 applicable to the various Federal assistance programs that FTA will administer during that fiscal year. FTA's Certifications and Assurances for Federal FY 2008 reflect Federal statutory, regulatory, and programmatic changes that have now become effective.

NMFS is opening directed fishing for groundfish by vessels using trawl gear in the Gulf of Alaska (GOA), effective 1200 hrs, Alaska local time, October 22, 2007. This action is necessary to fully use the 2007 Pacific halibut prohibited species catch (PSC) limit specified for vessels using trawl gear in the GOA.

The Department of the Army announces the availability of the Final PEIS for the growth and realignment of the U.S. Army. Pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the Department of the Army has prepared a PEIS that evaluates the potential environmental and socioeconomic effects associated with alternatives for growing and realigning the Army's force structure. The Army's preferred alternative identified in the Final PEIS is Alternative 3 which will allow the Army to grow and restructure its forces to accommodate modular forces initiatives and critical shortfalls, while adding six Brigade Combat Teams (BCTs) to the Army's end strength. Potential impacts have been analyzed at installations that are being considered for the stationing of 1,000 or more additional Soldiers.

The Federal Communications Commission, as part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork burdens, invites the general public and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on a proposed collection of information, pursuant to the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995 (PRA), Public Law No. 104-13. An agency may not conduct or sponsor a collection of information unless it displays a currently valid control number. Subject to the PRA, no person shall be subject to any penalty for failing to comply with a collection of information that does not display a valid control number. Comments are requested concerning (a) whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the Commission, including whether the information shall have practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the Commission's burden estimate; (c) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information collected; and (d) ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on the respondents, including the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology.

In accordance with Section 10(a)(2) of the Federal Advisory Committee Act (Pub. L. 92-463), announcement is made of the following committee meeting: Name of Committee: Board of Visitors, United States Military Academy. Date: Friday, November 16, 2007. Place of Meeting: The Superintendent's Conference Room, Building 600 (Taylor Hall), West Point, NY. Time of Meeting: Approximately 1 p.m. through 4 p.m. Board Mission: The Board, under the provisions of 10 U.S.C. 4355, and the Federal Advisory Committee Act of 1972, as amended, shall provide the President of the United States independent advice and recommendations on matters relating to the U.S. Military Academy, to include but not limited to morale and discipline, curriculum, instruction, physical equipment, and academic methods. Board Membership: The Board is composed of 15 members, 9 of which are members of Congress and 6 persons designated by the President. The 2007 Chairman of the Board is Congressman John McHugh, New York23rd District.

The Military Surface Deployment and Distribution Command (SDDC) as the Program Manager for DOD's Personal Property Non-Temporary Storage Program is withdrawing the proposed Warehouse Performance Bond Requirement Proposal for Non-Temporary Storage Transportation Service Providers. In light of the information and comments provided and considering the other major on-going initiatives such as implementation of Full Replacement Value liability, Phase III of the Families First initiative, etc. within the DOD Personal Property Program, SDDC has decided to withdraw the proposed Warehouse Performance Bond Requirement Proposal.

Pursuant to the provisions of Subsection (d) of section 10 of Public Law 92-463, as amended by section 5 of Public Law 94-409, notice is hereby given that a closed meeting of the DIA National Defense Intelligence College Board of Visitors has been scheduled as follows:

The Forest Service will prepare an environmental impact statement on a proposal to use multiple vegetation treatments focused on creating a landscape condition more adapted to fire and that reduces potential for high severity wildfire near at-risk communities and in the wildland-urban interface, and reduce the threat to ecosystem components including forest resources from an existing insect epidemic. The proposal is being planned for the 44,100 acre Upper Spring Creek Project Area that includes about 39,700 acres of National Forest System land and about 4,300 acres of interspersed private land. The project area generally extends westward from west of Hill City, South Dakota encompassing the Upper Spring Creek watershed. This project will be conducted as an authorized project under section 102 of the Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2003 (HFRA). Actions proposed for the Upper Spring Creek Project Area include the following: Remove conifers from hardwood stands such as aspen and birch and by restoring meadows (est. 3,800 acres). Reduce the amount of fuel that currently exists and that created by vegetation treatment activities. Treatment could include lopping, crushing, piling and burning; creating fuel breaks along roads and adjacent to private property, particularly those properties with houses and subdivisions. Prescribed broadcast burning of up to 14,200 acres is also planned to not only reduce fuel levels, but also benefit big game and other wildlife resources. Thin and harvest approximately 23,500 acres of pine stands using a variety of treatments to reduce the overall density of pine trees and create a mosaic of structural stages across the landscape. Both commercial harvest and non-commercial thinning will be sued to reduce the stand density, associated fuel hazard conditions and susceptibility to Mountain Pine Beetle (MPB) infestations.

Under this notice, the FAA announces that New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) has been designated a Level 3 Coordinated Airport for the summer 2008 scheduling season in accordance with the International Air Transport Association (IATA) Worldwide Scheduling Guidelines. This notice supercedes the September 24, 2007, notice that designated JFK a Level 2 Schedules Facilitated Airport. 72 FR 54317. Based on a recently completed capacity analysis, a review of last summer's demand, the projections for summer 2008, and the agency's decision to seek voluntary schedule reductions from domestic air carriers, the FAA has determined that a Level 3 airport declaration is warranted. The primary coordination constraint is runway/air traffic control capacity. JFK is experiencing increased congestion and delay. Comparing the period of October 2006 through July 2007 to the same period in the previous year, the average daily operations at JFK increased 23 percent; the average daily arrivals with delays greater than one hour increased 114 percent; and on-time gate arrivals within 15 minutes of scheduled time decreased from 69.7 percent to 61.2 percent. The average taxi-out delay increased 19 percent from 30 to almost 36 minutes. On- time departures within 15 minutes of scheduled time declined from 74.7 percent to 65.2 percent. Much of this delay is attributed to volume and is not likely to be entirely mitigated by short-term air traffic control procedural enhancements, airport or airspace efficiency gains, or airport infrastructure changes. For example, from February 2007 through July 2007, JFK's average airport capacity was 81 operations per hour while demand during the busiest hour, 4 p.m., was over 110 scheduled arrivals and departures during summer 2007. Adjacent hours had fewer scheduled flights but still above the average hourly capacity rate. Under a preliminary review of the schedule submissions for summer 2008, the FAA notes that there are proposed schedule increases by domestic carriers and foreign flag carriers. These proposed schedules will result in a significant increase of operations at JFK. While JFK has available capacity for additional flights during some periods of the day, certain hours are currently beyond capacity and would get only worse if the schedules were implemented as proposed. Thus, based on the level of congestion experienced this past summer season, the planned increases for next summer, and the decision to seek voluntary reductions of existing schedules from domestic operators through a scheduling reduction meeting,\1\ an immediate Level 3 designation is warranted.

Notice is hereby given that the comment period on proposed changes to the regulatory period when minimum grade, size, quality, and maturity requirements apply to southeastern California grapes under Marketing Order No. 925 (order) and to imported grapes under the table grape import regulation is reopened. The original proposed rule regarding this matter was published in the Federal Register on May 25, 2005 (70 FR 30001), and cited statistical information through the 2004 shipping season. The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) is now considering updated statistical information for the 2005 through 2007 shipping seasons. AMS hereby invites comments on the updated statistical information contained herein, as it pertains to the proposed rule to change the regulatory period.

The FAA publishes a monthly notice, as appropriate, of PFC approvals and disapprovals under the provisions of the Aviation Safety and Capacity Expansion Act of 1990 (Title IX of the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1990) (Pub. L. 101-508) and Part 158 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR Part 158). This notice is published pursuant to paragraph (d) of Sec. 158.29.