2007 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will begin to accept requests, from December 1, 2007 through January 31, 2008, for grants to supplement State and Tribal Response Programs. This notice provides guidance on eligibility for funding, use of funding, grant mechanisms and process for awarding funding, the allocation system for distribution of funding, and terms and reporting under these grants. EPA has consulted with state and tribal officials in developing this guidance. The primary goal of this funding is to ensure that state and tribal response programs include, or are taking reasonable steps to include, certain elements and a public record. Another goal is to provide funding for other activities that increase the number of response actions conducted or overseen by a state or tribal response program. This funding is not intended to supplant current state or tribal funding for their response programs. Instead, it is to supplement their funding to increase their response capacity. For fiscal year 2008, EPA will consider funding requests up to a maximum of $1.5 million per state or tribe. Subject to the availability of funds, EPA regional personnel will be available to provide technical assistance to states and tribes as they apply for and carry out these grants.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA or Agency) Science Advisory Board (SAB) Staff Office announces a public teleconference of the SAB Ecological Processes and Effects Committee to discuss advisory activities for the coming year.

The Office of Citizen Exchanges of the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs announces an open competition for grants that support exchanges and build relationships between U.S. non- profit organizations and civil society and cultural groups in Africa, East Asia, Europe, the Near East, North Africa, South Central Asia and the Western Hemisphere. Pending availability of funds, it is anticipated that approximately $5,000,000 or more will be available to support this competition. ECA/PE/C expects to fund approximately 15-20 projects under this competition in FY 2008. U.S. public and non-profit organizations meeting the provisions described in Internal Revenue code section 26 U.S.C. 501(c)(3) may submit proposals that support the goals of The Professional Exchange Program. Projects should promote mutual understanding and partnerships between key professional and cultural groups in the United States and counterpart groups in other countries through multi-phased exchanges taking place over one to two years. Proposals should encourage citizen engagement in current issues, with a particular focus on youth and those who influence them, and promote the development of democratic societies and institutions, with a view toward creating a more stable world. To the fullest extent possible, programs should be two-way exchanges supporting roughly equal numbers of participants from the U.S. and foreign countries. Proposed projects should transform institutional and individual understanding of key issues, foster dialogue, share expertise, and develop capacity. Through these people-to-people exchanges, the Bureau seeks to break down stereotypes that divide peoples, to promote good governance and economic growth, to contribute to conflict prevention and management, and to build respect for cultural expression and identity in the world. Projects should be structured to allow American professionals and their international counterparts in eligible countries to develop a common dialogue for dealing with shared challenges and concerns. Projects should include current or potential leaders who will effect positive change in their communities. Exchange participants may include community leaders, elected and professional government officials, religious leaders, educators, and proponents of democratic ideals and institutions, including for example, the media and judiciary, or others who influence the way in which different communities approach these issues. The Bureau is especially interested in engaging socially and economically diverse groups that may not have had extensive contact with counterpart institutions in the United States and particularly seeks proposals that engage educators or other groups that directly influence youth in innovative ways. Applicants may not submit proposals that address more than one region or that include countries not eligible under a specific theme designated in the RFGP. Proposals that do so will be declared technically ineligible and will receive no further consideration in the review process. For the purposes of this competition, eligible regions are Africa, East Asia, Europe, the Near East, North Africa, South Central Asia, and the Western Hemisphere. No guarantee is made or implied that grants will be awarded in all themes and for all countries listed.

EPA is proposing to approve revisions to the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District (SJVAPCD) portion of the California State Implementation Plan (SIP). These revisions concern volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions from flare operations at facilities such as oil and chemical refineries. We are proposing to approve a local rule regulating these emission sources under the Clean Air Act as amended in 1990 (CAA or the Act). We are taking comments on this proposal and plan to follow with a final action.

As stipulated by the Federal Advisory Committee Act, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is hereby giving notice that the Advisory Committee on Blood Safety and Availability (ACBSA) will hold a meeting. The meeting will be open to the public.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is announcing that a proposed collection of information has been submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and clearance under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.

This document announces that the fee collected by Customs and Border Protection regarding the submission of fingerprints for those applying for certain positions or requesting various identification cards which necessitate a fingerprint records check, will be raised to a total of $32.49 to offset the fee being charged Customs and Border Protection by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

The Defense Science Board Task Force on Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) Part II will meet in closed session on December 11-12, 2007, at Strategic Analysis, Inc., 3601 Wilson Boulevard, Arlington, VA. The Task Force members will discuss interim findings and recommendations resulting from ongoing Task Force activities. The Task Force will also discuss plans for future consideration of scientific and technical aspects of specific strategies, tactics, and policies as they may affect the U.S. national defense posture. The mission of the Defense Science Board is to advise the Secretary of Defense and the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology & Logistics on scientific and technical matters as they affect the perceived needs of the Department of Defense. At these meetings, the Defense Science Board Task Force will act as an independent sounding board to the Joint IED organization by providing feedback at quarterly intervals; and develop strategic and operational plans, examining the goals, processes, and substance of the plans. The task force's findings and recommendations, pursuant to 41 CFR 102-3.140 through 102-3.165, will be presented and discussed by the membership of the Defense Science Board prior to being presented to the Government's decision maker. Pursuant to 41 CFR 102-3.120 and 102-3.150, the Designated Federal Officer for the Defense Science Board will determine and announce the Federal Register when the findings and recommendations of the December 11-12, 2007, meeting are deliberated by the Defense Science Board. Interested persons may submit a written statement for consideration by the Defense Science Board. Individuals submitting a written statement must submit their statement to the Designated Federal Official at the address detailed below, at any point, however, if a written statement is not received at least 10 calendar days prior to the meeting, which is the subject of this notice, then it may not be provided to or considered by the Defense Science Board. The Designated Federal Official will review all timely submissions with the Defense Science Board Chairperson, and ensure they are provided to members of the Defense Science Board before the meeting that is the subject of this notice.

The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council (Council) will convene Public Hearings on an Aquaculture Amendment.

The Employment and Training Administration (ETA) is providing additional clarification to the procedures by which State Workforce Agencies and ETA National Processing Centers (NPC) process employer applications for H-2A temporary agricultural labor certification issued in the Training and Employment Guidance Letter (TEGL) No. 11-07 on November 6, 2007. These additional clarifications have been made under TEGL No. 11-07, Change 1, which is published below in order to inform the public. The clarifications and requirements stated in the TEGL take effect immediately.

This document announces a reopening of the comment period for the above-referenced NPRM. The NPRM proposed the adoption of a new airworthiness directive for all BAE Systems (Operations) Limited Model BAe 146 and Model Avro 146-RJ airplanes. That NPRM invites comments concerning the proposed requirements for repetitive detailed visual inspections for corrosion, pitted fasteners, or pillowing of the APU heat shield and surrounding skin and, if applicable, removal of the heat shield and repair. This reopening of the comment period is necessary to provide additional opportunity for public comment on the proposed requirements of that NPRM.

There will be a 4-day meeting of the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act Scientific Advisory Panel (FIFRA SAP) to consider and review the Scientific Issues Associated with the Agency's Proposed Action under FIFRA 6(b) Notice of Intent to Cancel Carbofuran.

Pursuant to the provisions of the Privacy Act of 1974 (5 U.S.C. 552a), HUD's Single Family Claims Branch is providing notification of the establishment of this new record system, the Single Family Insurance System CLAIMS Subsystem, A43C. The purpose of A43C is to collect, maintain and verify data needed to support the claim payment activities received from mortgagees.