2007 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

We are proposing to revise our regulations for the Ticket to Work and Self-Sufficiency Program (Ticket to Work program), authorized by the Ticket to Work and Work Incentives Improvement Act of 1999. The Ticket to Work program provides beneficiaries with disabilities expanded options for access to employment, vocational rehabilitation, and other support services. The program is an important part of the comprehensive SSA work opportunity initiative which is focused on helping beneficiaries with disabilities who want to work to do so. We are proposing revisions to our current Ticket to Work program rules to simplify and improve the definition of ``using a ticket'' and our related requirements for measuring ``timely progress toward self-supporting employment.''

The Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (Ohio EPA) submitted a request on November 6, 2006, and supplemented it on November 29, 2006, December 4, 2006, December 13, 2006, January 11, 2007, March 9, 2007, March 27, 2007, and May 31, 2007, for redesignation of the Dayton-Springfield, Ohio area (Clark, Greene, Miami, and Montgomery Counties) to attainment for the 8-hour ozone standard. On June 20, 2007, EPA proposed to approve this submission. EPA provided a 30-day review and comment period. The comment period closed on July 20, 2007. EPA received one comment in favor of redesignation from the Dayton area Regional Air Pollution Control Agency. Today, EPA is approving Ohio's request and the associated plan for continuing to attain the standard. As part of this action, EPA is making a determination that the Dayton- Springfield area has attained the 8-hour ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS). This determination is based on three years of complete, quality-assured ambient air quality monitoring data for the 2004-2006 ozone seasons that demonstrate that the 8-hour ozone NAAQS has been attained in the area. Preliminary 2007 air quality data show that the area continues to attain the 8-hour ozone standard. EPA is approving the maintenance plan for this area and is redesignating the area to attainment. Finally, EPA is approving, for purposes of transportation conformity, the motor vehicle emission budgets (MVEBs) for the years 2005 and 2018.

EPA proposes to approve the State Implementation Plan (SIP) revision submitted by the Commonwealth of Virginia for the purpose of establishing a variance for the International Paper, Franklin Paper Mill facility located in Franklin, Virginia. The variance provides regulatory relief from compliance with state regulations governing new source review for the implementation of the International Paper, Franklin Paper Mill innovation project. In lieu of compliance with these regulatory requirements, the variance requires the facility to comply with site-wide emission caps. In the Final Rules section of this Federal Register, EPA is approving the Commonwealth'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. A detailed rationale for the approval is set forth in the direct final rule. 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.

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Taylorcraft A, B, and F series airplanes. This AD requires you to initially inspect the left and right wing front and aft lift struts for corrosion and cracks, replace any cracked strut or strut with corrosion that exceeds certain limits with either sealed or non-sealed struts, and repetitively inspect any non-sealed struts. This AD results from inspections where several different struts were found with moderate to severe corrosion and required strut replacement. We are issuing this AD to detect and correct corrosion or cracks in the right and left wing front and aft lift struts. This condition, if not corrected, could result in failure of the lift strut and lead to in-flight separation of the wing with consequent loss of control.

This document contains corrections to notice of proposed rulemaking by cross-reference to temporary regulations (REG-138707-06) that were published in the Federal Register on Monday, June 25, 2007 (72 FR 34650) modifying final regulations issued under section 883(a) and (c) of the Internal Revenue Code, relating to income derived by foreign corporations from the international operation of ships or aircraft.

This document contains corrections to final and temporary regulations (TD 9332) that were published in the Federal Register on Monday, June 25, 2007 (72 FR 34600) relating to the exclusion from gross income of income derived by certain foreign corporations engaged in the international operation of ships or aircraft.

The Architectural and Transportation Barriers Compliance Board (Access Board) has decided to establish an advisory committee to make recommendations on issues related to the effectiveness of emergency alarm systems for individuals with hearing loss or deafness on passenger vessels. This notice also announces the time and place of the first Committee meeting.

We are adopting as a final rule, with one change, an interim rule that amended the witchweed regulations by adding or removing areas in North Carolina and South Carolina from the list of regulated areas. Based on information provided by the State of South Carolina, this final rule removes one farm from the list of suppressive areas that appeared in the interim rule. This action is necessary to remove restrictions that are no longer necessary on the interstate movement of regulated articles from areas where witchweed has been eradicated.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) is amending the existing regulations for a restricted area at Naval Air Station Key West (NASKW). Naval Air Station Key West maintains ammunition magazines on Fleming Island that have explosive safety quality-distance (ESQD) requirements in place to ensure reasonable safety from serious injury should there be a magazine fire or explosion. The previous restricted area regulations did not adequately cover the ESQD requirements. This amendment to the existing regulation is necessary to protect the public from potentially hazardous conditions that may exist as a result of military use of the area.

The Department of Energy (DOE or Department) is initiating the rulemaking process to adopt new energy conservation standards for small electric motors. Accordingly, the Department will hold an informal public meeting to discuss and receive comments on issues it will address in this rulemaking proceeding. The Department also encourages written comments on these subjects. To inform stakeholders and facilitate this process, DOE has prepared a Framework Document, which is available at: https://www.eere.energy.gov/buildings/appliance standards/.

Florida has applied to EPA for Final authorization of the changes to its hazardous waste program under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA). EPA is granting Final authorization to Florida. EPA is authorizing the changes by this immediate final rule. EPA did not make a proposal prior to the immediate final rule because we believe this action is not controversial and do not expect comments that oppose it. We have explained the reasons for this authorization in the preamble of this immediate final rule. Unless we get written comments which oppose this authorization during the comment period, this immediate final rule will become effective on the date it establishes, and we will not take further action on this proposal. If we receive comments that oppose this action, we will withdraw this immediate final rule and it will not take effect. We will respond to public comments in a later final rule based on this immediate final rule. You may not have another opportunity for comment.

The Department of Transportation (DOT), in coordination with the Department of Energy, Department of Agriculture, and others, is considering current and future transportation challenges posed by growing demand for ethanol and other biofuels and biofuel blends. Although pipelines have long been a primary mode for high volume transportation of gasoline and other petroleum products, most biofuels used in the U.S. today are transported exclusively by marine vessel, rail, and/or highway. In support of the President's energy agenda, DOT is prepared to facilitate pipeline options by sponsoring research and development, resolving technical issues, and, if necessary, clarifying safety standards. The PHMSA is the DOT agency with regulatory authority over the safe and reliable transportation of hazardous materials by all modes, including pipelines. The PHMSA's Hazardous Materials Regulations govern the transportation of ethanol and other biofuels and blends by rail, air, motor carrier, and barge. The PHMSA's Pipeline Safety Regulations cover the transportation by pipeline of all petroleum products, including gasoline blended with biofuel. In this Notice, PHMSA sets forth a formal determination (for purposes of 49 U.S.C. 60101(a)(4)(B)) that the transportation of unblended biofuels by pipeline is subject to the agency's jurisdiction and invites comments on the adequacy of existing regulatory definitions and standards. This Notice also describes and invites comments on the agency's ongoing efforts to identify and address the short-, medium-, and long- term opportunities and challenges associated with transporting biofuels. The PHMSA is seeking comments on technical issues, adequacy of standards, and research and development needs associated with the transportation of biofuels by pipeline. We describe and invite comments on the agency's ongoing efforts to prepare communities and emergency responders to mitigate hazards associated with transportation involving new fuels.

We are removing a number of references to filers' IRS identification numbers currently found in several disclosure schedules and forms because we do not need that information to process the documents, nor is the information material to investors.

The United States Patent and Trademark Office (Office) is proposing to revise the rules of practice pertaining to any claim using alternative language to claim one or more species. The search and examination of such claims often consume a disproportionate amount of Office resources as compared to other types of claims, because determining the patentability of these claims often requires a separate examination of each of the alternatives within the claims. The Office expects that requiring applicants who choose to draft claims that read on multiple species using alternative language to maintain a certain degree of relatedness among the alternatives will enable the Office to do a more thorough and more reliable examination of such claims.

This proposed rule is a companion to the Department of Labor/ Employee Benefits Security Administration's (Department) direct final rule (published today in the ``Rules and Regulations'' section of the Federal Register) amending the Department's civil penalty regulation under section 502(c)(7) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA or the Act) to reflect recent amendments to section 502(c)(7) by the Pension Protection Act of 2006. These amendments authorize the Secretary of Labor to assess civil penalties not to exceed $100 per day for each violation of section 101(m) of ERISA. Section 101(m) of ERISA requires plan administrators of individual account plans to notify participants and beneficiaries of their right to sell the company stock in their accounts and reinvest the proceeds into other investments available under the plan. The Department is publishing these amendments as a direct final rule without prior proposal because the Department views them as highly technical and anticipates no significant adverse comment. The Department has explained its reasons in the preamble to the direct final rule. If the Department receives no significant adverse comment during the comment period, no further action on this proposed rule will be taken. However, if the Department receives significant adverse comment, the Department will withdraw the direct final rule and it will not take effect. In that case, the Department will address all public comments in a subsequent final rule based on this proposed rule. The Department will not institute a second comment period on this rule. Any parties interested in commenting must do so during this comment period.

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is amending the size standards it uses to qualify an NRC licensee as a small entity under the Regulatory Flexibility Act and making the same change to its annual fee rule. NRC is increasing the receipts- based small business size standard from $5 million to $6.5 million to conform to the standard set by the Small Business Administration (SBA). This size standard reflects the most commonly used SBA size standard for the nonmanufacturing industries. SBA adjusted this standard on January 23, 2002 (67 FR 3041) and on December 6, 2005 (70 FR 72577) to account for inflation.

The Department of Labor amends the regulations governing the employee protection (``whistleblower'') provisions of Section 211 of the Energy Reorganization Act of 1974, as amended (``ERA''), to implement the statutory changes enacted into law on August 8, 2005, as part of the Energy Policy Act of 2005. The regulations also make the procedures for handling retaliation complaints under Section 211 of the ERA and the environmental whistleblower statutes listed in Part 24 as consistent as possible with the more recently promulgated procedures for handling retaliation complaints under other employee protection provisions administered by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (``OSHA''), see 29 CFR parts 1979-1981.

This decision proposes amending the marketing agreement and order (order) for onions grown in South Texas, and provides growers with the opportunity to vote in a referendum to determine if they favor the changes. The amendments are based on those proposed by the South Texas Onion Committee (committee), which is responsible for local administration of the order. The amendments include: Adding authority to the order to establish supplemental assessment rates on specified containers of onions; authorizing interest and late payment charges on assessments not paid within a prescribed time period; and authorizing the committee to engage in marketing promotion and paid advertising activities. Two additional amendments were proposed by the Department of Agriculture (USDA): Requiring that a continuance referendum be conducted every six years to determine grower support for the order; and, limiting the number of consecutive terms of office a member can serve on the committee. The proposed amendments are intended to improve the operation and functioning of the South Texas onion marketing order program.

The FMCSA published in the Federal Register on July 24, 2007, a document announcing regulatory guidance concerning its definition of ``accident.'' This notice corrects that document by providing the correct telephone number for the agency contact.

We are defining the term ``significant deficiency'' for purposes of the Commission's rules implementing Section 302 and Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

The Coast Guard is changing the permanent security zones in waters adjacent to the islands of Oahu, Maui, Hawaii, and Kauai, Hawaii. Review of the established zones indicated the need for some adjustment to better suit vessel and facility security in and around Hawaiian ports. The changes are intended to enhance the protection of personnel, vessels, and facilities from acts of sabotage or other subversive acts, accidents, or other causes of a similar nature.

The Financial Crimes Enforcement Network is issuing this final rule to implement the enhanced due diligence requirements for correspondent accounts for certain foreign banks set forth in section 312 of the Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act of 2001 (USA PATRIOT Act), Pub. L. No. 107-56. Section 312 requires U.S. financial institutions to establish due diligence and, where necessary, enhanced due diligence, policies, procedures, and controls reasonably designed to detect and report money laundering through correspondent accounts and private banking accounts established or maintained by U.S. financial institutions for non-U.S. persons. We issued final rules implementing the due diligence requirements for correspondent accounts and the due diligence and enhanced due diligence requirements for private banking accounts for non-U.S. persons on January 4, 2006. This final rule completes the section 312 rulemaking process.

We are announcing this interim final rule to modify, on a temporary basis, the prehearing procedures we follow in claims for Social Security disability benefits or supplemental security income (SSI) payments based on disability or blindness. Under the interim final rule, we may allow certain attorney advisors, under managerial oversight, to conduct certain prehearing proceedings, and where the documentary record developed as a result of these proceedings warrants, issue decisions that are wholly favorable to the parties to the hearing.

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Fokker Model F27 Mark 050 airplanes equipped with Dowty Type R.352 or R.410 series propellers. This AD requires checking the maintenance records to determine whether Minnesota Mining and Manufacture Co. (3M) 1300L adhesive was used to attach the de-icer assembly overshoes (boots) to the propeller blades, repetitive inspections of affected boots, and replacing boots attached with defective adhesive. This AD results from three events of propeller blade de-icer assembly boots debonding and detaching during flight. This condition was caused by using 3M 1300L adhesive to attach the boot to the propeller blade. We are issuing this AD to detect and correct boots attached with defective adhesive, which could result in debonding and separation of a boot from the airplane, consequent reduced structural integrity of the airplane, and possible injury to passengers and crew.

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for the products listed above. This 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: