2007 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

DoD has issued an interim rule amending the Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS) to revise requirements for reporting of Government property in the possession of DoD contractors. The rule replaces existing DD Form 1662 reporting requirements with requirements for DoD contractors to electronically submit, to the Item Unique Identification (IUID) Registry, the IUID data applicable to the Government property in the contractor's possession. This will result in more efficient and accurate reporting of Government property in the possession of contractors.

This proposed rule would amend regulations concerning the reporting requirements for the BE-11, Annual Survey of U.S. Direct Investment Abroad. The BE-11 survey is conducted annually and is a sample survey that obtains financial and operating data covering the overall operations of U.S. parent companies and their foreign affiliates. Currently, banks are excluded from coverage. BEA proposes to expand the reporting requirements on the BE-11 annual survey so that U.S. parent companies that are banks, foreign affiliates of bank parents, and bank foreign affiliates of nonbank parents will be reportable. A few minor changes will be required to the instructions on Form BE-11A, Report for U.S. Reporter, so it can be used to collect bank as well as nonbank data. BEA is now implementing a new, specialized Form BE-11B for foreign affiliates of bank parents and bank foreign affiliates of nonbank parents.

The Federal Activities Inventory Reform (FAIR) Act, Public Law 105-270, requires agencies to develop inventories each year of activities performed by their employees that are not inherently governmentali.e., inventories of commercial activities. The FAIR Act further requires OMB to review the inventories in consultation with the agencies and publish a notice of public availability in the Federal Register after the consultation process is completed. In accordance with the FAIR Act, OMB is publishing this notice to announce the availability of inventories from the agencies listed below. These inventories identify both commercial activities and activities that are inherently governmental. This is the third and final release of the FAIR Act inventories for FY 2006. Interested parties who disagree with the agency's initial judgment may challenge the inclusion or the omission of an activity on the list of activities that are not inherently governmental within 30 working days and, if not satisfied with this review, may appeal to a higher level within the agency. The Office of Federal Procurement Policy has made available a FAIR Act User's Guide through its Internet site: https://www.whitehouse.gov/ omb/procurement/fair-index.html. This User's Guide will help interested parties review FY 2006 FAIR Act inventories.

The National Science Foundation (NSF) is required to publish notice of permit applications received to conduct activities regulated under the Antarctic Conservation Act of 1978. NSF has published regulations under the Antarctic Conservation Act at Title 45 Part 670 of the Code of Federal Regulations. This is the required notice of permit applications received.

This notice is issued in accordance with 35 U.S.C. 209(c)(1) and 37 CFR 404.7(a)(1)(i). NASA hereby gives notice of its intent to grant an exclusive license worldwide to practice the inventions described and claimed in U.S. Patent No. 6,046,398, entitled ``Micromachined Thermoelectric Sensors and Arrays and Process for Producing'' to Ithaco Space Systems, a wholly owned subsidiary of Goodrich Corporation, having its principal place of business in Ithaca, New York. The fields of use may be limited to sensor applications for FTIR spectroscopy, aerospace, automotive, industrial process control, medical, and pharmaceutical fields. The patent rights in these inventions have been assigned to the United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. The prospective exclusive license will comply with the terms and conditions of 35 U.S.C. 209 and 37 CFR 404.7.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) of the Department of Homeland Security has submitted the following information collection request to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act: Articles Assembled Abroad with Textile Components Cut to Shape in the U.S. This is a proposed extension of an information collection that was previously approved. CBP is proposing that this information collection be extended with no change to the burden hours. This document is published to obtain comments from the public and affected agencies. This proposed information collection was previously published in the Federal Register (72 FR 38094-38095) on July 12, 2007, allowing for a 60-day comment period. This notice allows for an additional 30 days for public comments. This process is conducted in accordance with 5 CFR 1320.10.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) of the Department of Homeland Security has submitted the following information collection request to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act: Free Trade Agreements. This is a proposed extension of an information collection that was previously approved. CBP is proposing that this information collection be extended with no change to the burden hours. This document is published to obtain comments from the public and affected agencies. This proposed information collection was previously published in the Federal Register (72 FR 38093) on July 12, 2007, allowing for a 60-day comment period. This notice allows for an additional 30 days for public comments. This process is conducted in accordance with 5 CFR 1320.10.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) of the Department of Homeland Security has submitted the following information collection request to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act: U.S.-Jordan Free Trade Agreement. This is a proposed extension of an information collection that was previously approved. CBP is proposing that this information collection be extended with no change to the burden hours. This document is published to obtain comments from the public and affected agencies. This proposed information collection was previously published in the Federal Register (72 FR 38092) on July 12, 2007, allowing for a 60-day comment period. This notice allows for an additional 30 days for public comments. This process is conducted in accordance with 5 CFR 1320.10.

EPA is approving a March 30, 2007, request from the Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) to revise the Indiana State Implementation Plan (SIP) by adding a volatile organic compound (VOC) rule for fuel grade ethanol production at dry mills. This rule revision creates an industry-specific Best Available Control Technology (BACT) standard for new fuel grade ethanol production dry mills that replaces the otherwise required case-by-case SIP BACT determination for new facilities with the potential to emit 25 tons or more of VOC per year. The benefit of this rule is that establishing specific standards in place of a case-by-case analysis improves the clarity, predictability, and timeliness of certain State permit decisions.

EPA proposes to approve the State Implementation Plan (SIP) revision submitted on June 8, 2007 by the State of West Virginia for the Clean Air Interstate Rule (CAIR) Nitrogen Oxides (NOX) Annual and NOX Ozone Season Abbreviated SIP. The abbreviated SIP revision EPA is proposing to approve includes West Virginia's methodology for allocation of annual NOX and ozone season NOX allowances for Phase 1 of CAIR, which is comprised of control periods 2009 through 2014. EPA is not proposing to make any changes to the CAIR Federal Implementation Plan currently in effect in West Virginia, but is proposing, to the extent EPA approves West Virginia's SIP revision, to amend the appropriate appendices in the CAIR FIP trading rules simply to note that approval. The intended effect of this action is to reduce NOX emissions in West Virginia that are contributing to nonattainment of the 8 hour ozone and PM2.5 National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS) in downwind states. This action is being taken under section 110 of the Clean Air Act. In the Final Rules section of this Federal Register, EPA is approving the State's SIP submittal as a direct final rule without prior proposal because the Agency views this as a noncontroversial submittal and anticipates no adverse comments. If no adverse comments are received in response to this action, 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. EPA will not institute a second comment period. Any parties interested in commenting on this action should do so at this time.

EPA is approving a State Implementation Plan (SIP) revision submitted by the State of Delaware. This SIP revision pertains to the control of volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions from crude oil lightering operations. EPA is approving this SIP revision in accordance with the Clean Air Act.

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 the following information collection(s), as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995, 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.

EPA is proposing to approve a revision to the Kentucky State Implementation Plan (SIP) submitted by the Kentucky Environmental and Public Protection Cabinet on December 14, 2006. The revision includes changes to the definitions section of Kentucky's Air Quality Regulations regarding the definition of ``volatile organic compounds,'' which was updated to be consistent with the federal definition. In the Final Rules Section of this Federal Register, the EPA is approving Kentucky'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 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.

The Commission will consider a Memorandum Opinion and Order concerning requests for forbearance from Title II and Computer Inquiry requirements with respect to certain broadband services.

This notice announces the 19th meeting of the American Health Information Community Electronic Health Records Workgroup in accordance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act (Pub. L. No. 92-463, 5 U.S.C., App.)

This notice announces the 14th meeting of the American Health Information Community Confidentiality, Privacy, and Security Workgroup in accordance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act (Pub. L. No. 92- 463, 5 U.S.C., App.)

This notice announces the 19th meeting of the American Health Information Community Population Health and Clinical Care Connections Workgroup [formerly Biosurveillance Workgroup] in accordance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act (Pub. L. No. 92-463, 5 U.S.C., App.)

Under the provisions of the Federal Advisory Committee Act of 1972, (5 U.S.C. appendix, as amended), the government in the sunshine Act of 1976 (5 U.S.C. 552b, as amended),k and 41 CFR 102-3.55, the Department of Defense gives notice that it will terminate the charter for the U.S. Southern Command Advisory Group on September 30, 2007. The committee's charter was filed April 2, 2007; however, changing priorities within the U.S. Southern Command have negated the need for this advisory committee. The Department of Defense did not expend any funds on this committee nor did it approve the appointment of any committee members.

The Shasta-Trinity National Forest is proposing to charge fees for overnight camping at three campgrounds and eight popular day use sites in 2008. The proposed fees include:

The Export-Import Bank, as a part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, invites the general public and other Federal agencies to comment on the proposed information collection as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), in cooperation with the State of Tennessee and Conservation Fisheries, Inc., a nonprofit organization, plan to reintroduce 15 mussels listed as endangered under section 4 of the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act): Appalachian monkeyface (pearlymussel) (Quadrula sparsa), birdwing pearlymussel (Lemiox rimosus), cracking pearlymussel (Hemistena lata), Cumberland bean (pearlymussel) (Villosa trabalis), Cumberlandian combshell (Epioblasma brevidens), Cumberland monkeyface (pearlymussel) (Quadrula intermedia), dromedary pearlymussel (Dromus dromas), fanshell (Cyprogenia stegaria), fine-rayed pigtoe (Fusconaia cuneolus), orange-foot pimpleback (pearlymussel) (Plethobasus cooperianus), oyster mussel (Epioblasma capsaeformis), ring pink (mussel) (Obovaria retusa), rough pigtoe (Pleurobema plenum), shiny pigtoe (Fusconaia cor), and white wartyback (pearlymussel) (Plethobasus cicatricosus); 1 endangered aquatic snail: Anthony's riversnail (Athearnia anthonyi); 2 endangered fishes: duskytail darter (Etheostoma percnurum) and pygmy madtom (Noturus stanauli); and 3 fishes listed as threatened under section 4 of the Act: slender chub (Erimystax cahni), spotfin chub (=turquoise shiner) (Erimonax monachus), and yellowfin madtom (Noturus flavipinnis). We published the proposed rule for this action on June 13, 2006 (71 FR 34196). The species will be released into their historical habitat in the free-flowing reach of the French Broad River from below Douglas Dam to its confluence with the Holston River, Knox County, Tennessee, and in the free-flowing reach of the Holston River from below Cherokee Dam to its confluence with the French Broad River. Based on the evaluation of species experts, none of these 21 species currently exist in these river reaches or their tributaries. These species are being reintroduced under the authority of section 10(j) of the Act and would be classified as a nonessential experimental population (NEP). The geographic boundaries of the NEP would extend from the base of Douglas Dam (river mile (RM) 32.3 (51.7 kilometers (km)) down the French Broad River, Knox and Sevier Counties, Tennessee, to its confluence with the Holston River and then up the Holston River, Knox, Grainger, and Jefferson Counties, Tennessee, to the base of Cherokee Dam (RM 52.3 (83.7 km)) and would include the lower 5 RM (8 km) of all tributaries that enter these river reaches. These reintroductions are recovery actions and are part of a series of reintroductions and other recovery actions that the Service, Federal and State agencies, and other partners are conducting throughout the species' historical ranges. This rule provides a plan for establishing the NEP and provides for limited allowable legal take of these 16 mollusks and 5 fishes within the defined NEP area. We have decided to include all 21 species in a single rulemaking to allow us to restore the aquatic ecosystem as quickly as possible as we bring each of these species on line in the propagation facilities. We have reasons to believe all of these species co-existed in the past, and we also want the public to understand that all of these species will be reintroduced into the same stretch of river. We are not establishing 21 separate NEPs.