2007 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

This decision proposes amendments to Marketing Agreement No. 121 and Order No. 915 (order), which regulate avocados grown in South Florida, 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 Florida Avocado Administrative Committee (Committee), which is responsible for local administration of the order. The amendments would: Add authority for the Committee to borrow funds; revise voting requirements for changing the assessment rate; allow for District 1 nominations to be conducted by mail; and add authority for the Committee to accept voluntary contributions. The proposed amendments are intended to improve the operation and functioning of the marketing order program.

This proposed rule would address certain provisions of the Tax Relief and Health Care Act of 2006, as well as make other proposed changes to Medicare Part B payment policy. We are proposing these changes to ensure that our payment systems are updated to reflect changes in medical practice and the relative value of services. This proposed rule also discusses refinements to resource-based practice expense (PE) relative value units (RVUs); geographic practice cost indices (GPCI) changes; malpractice RVUs; requests for additions to the list of telehealth services; several coding issues including additional codes from the 5-Year Review; payment for covered outpatient drugs and biologicals; the competitive acquisition program (CAP); clinical lab fee schedule issues; payment for renal dialysis services; performance standards for independent diagnostic testing facilities; expiration of the physician scarcity area (PSA) bonus payment authorized by section 413 of the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement and Modernization Act of 2003 (MMA); conforming and clarifying changes for comprehensive outpatient rehabilitation facilities (CORFs); a process for updating the drug compendia at section 1861(t)(2)(B) of the Social Security Act (the Act); physician self-referral issues; beneficiary signature for ambulance transport services; durable medical equipment (DME) update; the chiropractic services demonstration; a Medicare economic index (MEI) data change; technical corrections; issues related to therapy services; revisions to the ambulance fee schedule; the ambulance inflation factor for CY 2008; and the proposal to eliminate the exemption for computer-generated facsimile transmissions from the National Council for Prescription Drug Programs (NCPDP) SCRIPT standard for transmitting prescription and certain prescription-related information for Part D eligible individuals.

In this document, the Federal Communications Commission (Commission or FCC) directs the Public Safety and Homeland Security (PSHSB) to implement several of the recommendations made by the Independent Panel Reviewing the Impact of Hurricane Katrina on Communications Networks (Katrina Panel). The Commission also adopts rules requiring some communications providers to have emergency/back-up power and to conduct analyses and submit reports on the redundancy and resiliency of their 911 and E911 networks. Finally, the Commission extended limited regulatory relief from Section 272 of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended, accorded last year by the Wireline Competition Bureau (WCB).

This action established Class E airspace at Centreville, AL. An Area navigation (RNAV) Global Positioning System (GPS) Standard Instrument Approach Procedure (SIAP) Runway (RWY) 10 has been developed for Bibb County Airport. As a result, controlled airspace extending upward from 700 feet Above Ground Level (AGL) is needed to contain the SIAP and for Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) operations at Bibb County Airport. The operating status of the airport will change from Visual Flight Rules (VFR) to include IFR operations concurrent with the publication of the SIAP.

The staff grants a counterproposal filed by Michael Birdsill to allot Channel 221A to Cottonwood, California, as a first local aural service, and a counterproposal filed by Educational Media Foundation to allot Channel 224A to Shasta Lake, California, as a third local service. It denies rulemaking petitions filed by Linda Davidson and Paul Barth to allot Channel 221A to Redding, California, as a tenth local service, and a counterproposal filed by Wild Thing Broadcasters to allot Channel 221C3 at Cottonwood. With this action, the proceeding is terminated. See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.

On April 20, 2007, NMFS proposed the listing of the Cook Inlet beluga whale as an endangered species under the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (ESA), as amended. As part of that proposal, NMFS announced a public comment period to end on June 19, 2007, and then extended the comment period to August 3, 2007. NMFS has received requests for public hearings on this issue. In response, NMFS announced two public hearings to be held in Alaska and one public hearing to be held in Maryland in two previous Federal Register notices. In addition, NMFS is announcing a separate hearing in this notice that will be held in Soldotna, Alaska, in order to provide greater opportunity for public comment.

EPA is notifying the public that it has received negative declarations for other solid waste incinerator (OSWI) units from the States of Delaware, and West Virginia. These negative declarations certify that OSWI units subject to the requirements of sections 111(d) and 129 of the Clean Air Act (CAA) do not exist within the jurisdictional boundaries of these air pollution control agencies.

This regulation establishes tolerances for residues of cymoxanil in or on grape, hop, and caneberry. The Interregional Research Project (IR-4) requested these tolerances under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA).

This regulation establishes tolerances for combined residues of indoxacarb and its R-enantiomer in or on cranberry; fruit, pome, except pear, group 11; fruit, stone, group 12; grape; grape, raisin; okra; pea, southern, seed; pear, oriental; peppermint, tops; spearmint, tops; turnip greens; vegetable, Brassica, leafy, group 5; vegetable, cucurbit, group 9; vegetable, leafy, except Brassica, group 4; and vegetable, tuberous and corm, subgroup 1-C. E.I. du Pont de Nemours and Company and the Interregional Research Project No. 4 (IR-4) requested these tolerances under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA). This regulation also removes existing tolerances on apple; Brassica, head and stem, subgroup 5A; lettuce, head; lettuce, leaf; and potato, which are superseded by the new tolerances; and removes expired time-limited tolerances on cherry, sweet; cherry, tart; peach; and collards; and the time-limited tolerance on cranberry (set to expire December 31, 2007), which are no longer needed as a result of this action. Finally, this regulation corrects a typographical error in the spelling of the word ``enantiomer'' in the tolerance expression for indoxacarb given in 40 CFR 180.564(a)(1).

Based on its review of the air quality criteria for ozone (O3) and related photochemical oxidants and national ambient air quality standards (NAAQS) for O3, EPA proposes to make revisions to the primary and secondary NAAQS for O3 to provide requisite protection of public health and welfare, respectively, and to make corresponding revisions in data handling conventions for O3. With regard to the primary standard for O3, EPA proposes to revise the level of the 8-hour standard to a level within the range of 0.070 to 0.075 parts per million (ppm), to provide increased protection for children and other ``at risk'' populations against an array of O3-related adverse health effects that range from decreased lung function and increased respiratory symptoms to serious indicators of respiratory morbidity including emergency department visits and hospital admissions for respiratory causes, and possibly cardiovascular-related morbidity as well as total nonaccidental and cardiopulmonary mortality. The EPA also proposes to specify the level of the primary standard to the nearest thousandth ppm. The EPA solicits comment on alternative levels down to 0.060 ppm and up to and including retaining the current 8-hour standard of 0.08 ppm (effectively 0.084 ppm using current data rounding conventions). With regard to the secondary standard for O3, EPA proposes to revise the current 8-hour standard with one of two options to provide increased protection against O3-related adverse impacts on vegetation and forested ecosystems. One option is to replace the current standard with a cumulative, seasonal standard expressed as an index of the annual sum of weighted hourly concentrations, cumulated over 12 hours per day (8 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.) during the consecutive 3- month period within the O3 season with the maximum index value, set at a level within the range of 7 to 21 ppm-hours. The other option is to make the secondary standard identical to the proposed primary 8-hour standard. The EPA solicits comment on specifying a cumulative, seasonal standard in terms of a 3-year average of the annual sums of weighted hourly concentrations; on the range of alternative 8-hour standard levels for which comment is being solicited for the primary standard, including retaining the current secondary standard, which is identical to the current primary standard; and on an alternative approach to setting a cumulative, seasonal secondary standard(s).

The Assistant Administrator for Fisheries (AA), NOAA, announces temporary restrictions consistent with the requirements of the Atlantic Large Whale Take Reduction Plan's (ALWTRP) implementing regulations. These regulations apply to lobster trap/pot and anchored gillnet fishermen in an area totaling approximately 3,370 nm\2\ (11,559 km\2\), east of Chatham, Massachusetts, for 15 days. The purpose of this action is to provide protection to an aggregation of northern right whales (right whales).

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce a 90-day finding on a petition to list 12 penguin species: emperor penguin (Aptenodytes forsteri), southern rockhopper penguin (Eudyptes chrysocome), northern rockhopper penguin (Eudyptes moseleyi (E. chrysocome moseleyi)), fiordland crested penguin (Eudyptes pachyrhynchus), snares crested penguin (Eudyptes robustus), erect- crested penguin (Eudyptes sclateri), macaroni penguin (Eudyptes chrysolophus), royal penguin (Eudyptes schlegeli), white-flippered penguin (Eudyptula albosignata (E. minor albosignata)), yellow-eyed penguin (Megadyptes antipodes), African penguin (Spheniscus demersus), and Humboldt penguin (Spheniscus humboldti) as threatened or endangered under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). We find that the petition presents substantial scientific or commercial information indicating that listing 10 species of penguins may be warranted. We, therefore, are initiating a status review of 10 species of penguins to determine if listing under the Act is warranted. To ensure that the status review is comprehensive, we are soliciting scientific and commercial information regarding these species. We find the petition does not provide substantial scientific or commercial information indicating that listing of two species may be warranted: snares crested penguin and royal penguin. Therefore, we will not be initiating a status review for these two species in response to this petition. However, we ask the public to submit to us any new information that becomes available concerning the status of these two species or threats to them or their habitat at any time.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is amending the animal drug regulations to reflect approval of a supplemental new animal drug application (NADA) filed by Novartis Animal Health US, Inc. The supplemental NADA provides for the addition of a 75-milligram size deracoxib tablet which is used for the control of pain and inflammation in dogs.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is amending the animal drug regulations to reflect approval of a supplemental new animal drug application (NADA) filed by Merial Ltd. The supplemental NADA revises the approved concentration of ivermectin in Type C medicated feed administered as a top dress to adult and breeding swine for the treatment and control of various internal and external parasites.

The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Boeing airplanes, identified above. This proposed AD would require inspecting to determine if certain motor-operated shutoff valve actuators for the fuel tanks are installed, and related investigative and corrective actions if necessary. This proposed AD would also require revising the Airworthiness Limitations (AWLs) section of the Instructions for Continued Airworthiness to incorporate AWL No. 28-AWL- 21, No. 28-AWL-22, and No. 28-AWL-24 (for Model 737-600, -700, -700C, - 800 and -900 series airplanes), and No. 28-AWL-23, No. 28-AWL-24, and No. 28-AWL-25 (for Model 757-200, -200PF, -200CB, and -300). This proposed AD results from a design review of the fuel tank systems. We are proposing this AD to prevent electrical energy from lightning, hot shorts, or fault current from entering the fuel tank through the actuator shaft, which could result in fuel tank explosions and consequent loss of the airplane.

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:

We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for the products listed above. This proposed AD results from mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) issued 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 set-up in January 1999 an Ageing Transport Systems Rulemaking Advisory Committee (ATSRAC) to investigate the potential safety issues in aging aircraft as a result of wear and degradation in their operating systems. Under this plan, all Holders of type Certificates aircraft are required to conduct a design review, to preclude the occurrence of potential unsafe conditions as the aircraft aged. * * * * * The unsafe condition is degradation of the fuel system, which could result in loss of the airplane. The proposed AD would require actions that are intended to address the unsafe condition described in the MCAI.

The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Boeing Model 737-600, -700, -700C, -800, and -900 series airplanes. This proposed AD would require installation of an automatic shutoff system for the center tank fuel boost pumps, installation of a placard in the airplane flight deck if necessary, and concurrent modification of the P5-2 fuel control module assembly. This proposed AD would also require revisions to the Limitations and Normal Procedures sections of the airplane flight manual to advise the flightcrew of certain operating restrictions for airplanes equipped with an automated center tank fuel pump shutoff control. This proposed AD would also require a revision to the Airworthiness Limitations (AWLs) section of the Instructions for Continued Airworthiness to incorporate AWL No. 28-AWL- 19 and No. 28-AWL-23. This proposed AD would also require installation of two secondary override fuel pump control relays to each existing primary override fuel pump control relay for the center fuel tank fuel boost pumps. This proposed AD results from fuel system reviews conducted by the manufacturer. We are proposing this AD to prevent center tank fuel pump operation with continuous low pressure, which could lead to friction sparks or overheating in the fuel pump inlet or could create a potential ignition source inside the center fuel tank; these conditions, in combination with flammable fuel vapors, could result in a center fuel tank explosion and consequent loss of the airplane.

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) and the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) are jointly seeking proposed issues or identified problems with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Regulations for the Safe Transport of Radioactive Material (referred to as TS-R-1). Proposed issues or identified problems that are submitted by the United States and other IAEA member states and International Organizations might necessitate subsequent domestic compatibility rulemakings by both NRC and DOT.

We propose to amend our regulations to extend the quick disability determination process (QDD), which is operating now in the Boston region, to all of the State disability determination services. We also propose to remove from the QDD process the existing requirements that each State disability determination service maintain a separate QDD unit and that each case referred under QDD be adjudicated within 20 days. These proposed actions stem from our continuing effort to improve our disability adjudication process.

This action corrects errors in the legal description contained in a Final Rule that was published in the Federal Register on Friday, June 8, 2007 (72 FR 31714), Airspace Docket No. 06-AAL-29, FAA Docket No. FAA-2006-25852.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is conducting a review of its Methylene Chloride Standard under Section 610 of the Regulatory Flexibility Act and Section 5 of Executive Order 12866 on Regulatory Planning and Review. In 1997, OSHA promulgated the Standard to protect workers from occupational exposure to methylene chloride. The purpose of this review is to determine whether there are ways to modify this Standard to reduce regulatory burden on small business and to improve its effectiveness. Written comments on these and other relevant issues are welcomed.

On October 19, 2006, the Commission issued a Final Rule amending its regulations to expand the scope and scale of activities that may be undertaken pursuant to blanket certificate authority and clarifying that existing Commission policies permit natural gas companies to charge different rates to different classes of customers. The revised regulations allow interstate natural gas pipelines to employ the streamlined blanket certificate procedures for larger projects and for a wider variety of types of projects, thereby increasing efficiencies, and decreasing time and costs, associated with the construction and maintenance of the nation's natural gas infrastructure. The Commission grants in part, and denies in part, requests for rehearing and clarification of the Final Rule.

This notice proposes to establish Class E5 airspace at Lady Lake, FL. An Area Navigation (RNAV) Global Positioning System (GPA) Standard Instrument Approach Procedure (SIAP), helicopter point in space approach, has been developed for Lady Lake Hospital, Lady Lake, FL. As a result, controlled airspace extending upward from 700 feet Above Ground Level (AGL) is needed to contain the SIAP.

This notice proposes to establish Class E5 airspace at Live Oak, FL. An Area Navigation (RNAV) Global Positioning System (GPA) Standard Instrument Approach Procedure (SIAP), helicopter point in space approach, has been developed for Suwannee Hospital Emergency Heliport, Live Oak, FL. As a result, controlled airspace extending upward from 700 feet Above Ground Level (AGL) is needed to contain the SIAP.