December 19, 2007 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

Pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as amended (NEPA, 42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Little Snake Field Office, Colorado, announces its intent to prepare additional air quality information. On February 9, 2007, the BLM published a Notice of Availability in the Federal Register (Vol. 72, No. 27, pages 6284-6285) announcing the release of the Draft EIS for public review and comment. The 90-day comment period closed May 16, 2007. During the public comment period, the Environmental Protection Agency, in consultation with BLM, identified areas where additional air quality information would improve the existing analysis in the Draft EIS. As a result, the BLM is preparing an additional air quality analysis. When the additional air quality analysis has been completed, the BLM will present the information for public review and comment. At that time, BLM will only accept comments from the public pertaining to the new air quality information.

The inventions listed below are owned by an agency of the U.S. Government and are available for licensing in the U.S. in accordance with 35 U.S.C. 207 to achieve expeditious commercialization of results of federally-funded research and development. Foreign patent applications are filed on selected inventions to extend market coverage for companies and may also be available for licensing.

The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) is issuing an interim rule to revise the table of reduction factors for early commencing dates of survivor annuities for spouses of separated employees who die before the date on which they would be eligible for unreduced deferred annuities under the Federal Employees' Retirement System (FERS) Act of 1986. These rules are necessary to conform the tables to the economic assumptions adopted by the Board of Actuaries and published previously in the Federal Register.

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

The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Model 737-300, -400, and -500 series airplanes. This proposed AD would require an inspection to determine the manufacturer and manufacture date of the oxygen masks in the passenger service unit and the lavatory and attendant box assemblies, corrective action if necessary, and other specified action. This proposed AD results from a report that several passenger masks with broken in-line flow indicators were found following a mask deployment. We are proposing this AD to prevent the in-line flow indicators of the passenger oxygen masks from fracturing and separating, which could inhibit oxygen flow to the masks and consequently result in exposure of the passengers and cabin attendants to hypoxia following a depressurization event.

This action revises Class E airspace at Soldotna, AK to provide adequate controlled airspace to contain aircraft executing Standard Instrument Approach Procedures (SIAPs). Two SIAPs are being developed for the Soldotna Airport. This action revises existing Class E airspace upward from 700 feet (ft.) and 1,200 ft. above the surface at the Soldotna Airport, Soldotna, AK.

This action revises Class E airspace at Buckland, AK to provide adequate controlled airspace to contain aircraft executing Standard Instrument Approach Procedures (SIAPs). Two SIAPs and a textual departure procedure (DP) are being amended for the Buckland Airport. Additionally, two SIAPs are being developed. This action revises existing Class E airspace upward from 700 feet (ft.) and 1,200 ft. above the surface at the Buckland Airport, Buckland, AK.

This action revises Class E airspace at Chevak, AK to provide adequate controlled airspace to contain aircraft executing Standard Instrument Approach Procedures (SIAPs). Two SIAPs are being developed for the Chevak Airport. This action revises existing Class E airspace upward from 700 feet (ft.) and 1,200 ft. above the surface at the Chevak Airport, Chevak, AK.

The Postal ServiceTM establishes modern service standards for its market-dominant products. Section 301 of the Postal Accountability and Enhancement Act, Public Law 109-435, 120 Stat 3198 et seq. (December 20, 2006) requires the Postal Service, after consultation with the Postal Regulatory Commission (PRC), to establish by regulation within a year of its enactment, a set of modern service standards for its market-dominant products. This notice responds to that requirement by establishing the required regulations.

The Department of Defense is updating current policies and procedures reflecting the DoD FOIA Program as prescribed by Executive Order 13392. The changes will ensure appropriate agency disclosure of information and offer consistency with the goals of section 552 of title 5, United States Code.

This regulation extends time-limited tolerances for the pesticides listed in Unit II. of the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION. These actions are in response to EPA's granting of emergency exemptions under section 18 of the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) authorizing use of these pesticides. Section 408(l)(6) of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA) requires EPA to establish a time-limited tolerance or exemption from the requirement for a tolerance for pesticide chemical residues in food that will result from the use of a pesticide under an emergency exemption granted by EPA.

Pursuant to the authority in section 1(ii) of Executive Order 13382, ``Blocking Property of Weapons of Mass Destruction Proliferators and Their Supporters'', the Assistant Secretary of State, in consultation with the Secretary of the Treasury and the Attorney General, has determined that two Iranian entities, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corp (IRGC) and Ministry of Defense and Armed Forces Logistics (MODAFL), have engaged, or attempted to engage, in activities or transactions that have materially contributed to, or pose a risk of materially contributing to, the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction or their means of delivery.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is issuing a final rule establishing new warning statements and other labeling information for all over-the-counter (OTC) vaginal contraceptive drug products (also known as spermicides, hereinafter referred to as vaginal contraceptives or vaginal contraceptives/spermicides) containing nonoxynol 9 (N9). These warning statements will advise consumers that vaginal contraceptives/spermicides containing N9 do not protect against infection from the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), the virus that causes acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), or against getting other sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). The warnings and labeling information will also advise consumers that use of vaginal contraceptives and spermicides containing N9 can irritate the vagina and rectum and may increase the risk of getting the AIDS virus (HIV) from an infected partner. This final rule is part of FDA's ongoing review of OTC drug products. FDA is issuing this final rule after considering public comments on its proposed regulation, and all relevant data and information on N9 that have come to our attention.

This notice announces public meetings of PHMSA's Technical Pipeline Safety Standards Committee (TPSSC) and Technical Hazardous Liquid Pipeline Safety Standards Committee (THLPSSC). The Committees will meet in a joint session to discuss PHMSA's regulatory agenda and strategic plan. In conjunction with the advisory committee meetings, PHMSA will hold a public workshop. PHMSA will hold a half day public workshop to gather comments on the use of the special permit process to allow transmission pipeline operators to vary from the 7-year reassessment interval in integrity management programs. Specifically, special permits would allow operators to tailor their reassessment intervals, based on pipe specific threats. PHMSA will ask for feedback on criteria developed for use in special permits.

On November 28, 2007, the USDA Forest Service announced its intent to prepare a travel planning environmental impact statement (EIS). The proposed action would designate a site-specific transportation system and prohibit indiscriminate cross-country traffic. The EIS will analyze the effects of the proposed action and alternatives. This Revised Notice is being published because the due date for scoping comments has been extended to January 11, 2008. The Clearwater National Forest invites comments and suggestions on the issues to be addressed. The agency gives notice of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) analysis and decision-making process on the proposal so interested and affected members of the public may participate and contribute to the final decision.