2007 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

Notice is hereby given that the Secretary of Agriculture has reestablished the Edward R. Madigan United States Agricultural Export Excellence Award Board of Evaluators. The Secretary of Agriculture has determined that the Board is necessary and in the public interest.

The National Science Foundation (NSF), on behalf of the Chief Financial Officers Council's Grants Policy Committee, the Grants.gov Executive Board, and the National Science & Technology Council's Research Business Models Subcommittee, is soliciting public comment on a standardized Research Performance Progress Report (RPPR) format. The NSF has agreed to serve as the ``sponsor'' of this Federal-wide format for receipt of comments under this interagency initiative. Development of a standardized RPPR is an initiative of the Research Business Models (RBM) Subcommittee of the Committee on Science (CoS), a Committee of the National Science and Technology Council (NSTC). It is also part of the implementation of the Federal Financial Assistance Management Improvement Act of 1999 (Pub. L. 106-107). Consistent with the purposes of that Act, the objective of this initiative is to establish a uniform format for reporting performance on Federally- funded research projects. Although different Federal agencies utilize a variety of formats for reporting progress on activities supported by research grants, similar information is usually collected. These variations increase administrative effort and costs for recipients of Federal awards and make it difficult to compare research programs across government. Development of standard reporting categories will facilitate the development of a common electronic solution for collecting the information in lieu of collecting it through numerous agency-unique reporting forms currently used. In furtherance of Public Law 106-107, this proposed format will directly benefit award recipients by making it easier for recipients to administer Federal grant programs through standardization of the types of research information required in performance reports. This proposed format is for interim progress reports only, and once implemented, it is intended to replace other formats. The NSTC RBM Subcommittee may consider a similar format for final reports, subsequent to this RPPR initiative. Agencies may use other OMB-approved reporting formats for specialized research grants, such as centers/institutes, clinical trials, or fellowship/training awards. Each category is in the proposed RPPR is a separate reporting component. Award recipients would be required to report on the mandatory category and may be required to report on the mandatory category and may be required to report on any of the optional categories as instructed by an awarding agency. Agencies may develop an agency- or program-specific category, if necessary, to meet programmatic requirements, although agencies would be instructed to minimize the degree to which they supplement the standard categories. Comment is requested on any aspect of the reporting components proposed, such as appropriateness, feasibility, completeness, or mandatory specification. The NSF also invites the general public and other Federal agencies to comment on estimates of burden as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA).

The FHWA is issuing this notice to advise the public that an Environmental Impact Statement will be prepared for a proposed bridge project in Worcester County, Maryland. The purpose of the EIS is to provide information and analyses for decisions on the project in accordance with the policies and purposes of the National Environmental Policy Act.

The OCC, Board, FDIC, OTS, NCUA and FTC (the Agencies) are jointly issuing final rules and guidelines implementing section 114 of the Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act of 2003 (FACT Act) and final rules implementing section 315 of the FACT Act. The rules implementing section 114 require each financial institution or creditor to develop and implement a written Identity Theft Prevention Program (Program) to detect, prevent, and mitigate identity theft in connection with the opening of certain accounts or certain existing accounts. In addition, the Agencies are issuing guidelines to assist financial institutions and creditors in the formulation and maintenance of a Program that satisfies the requirements of the rules. The rules implementing section 114 also require credit and debit card issuers to assess the validity of notifications of changes of address under certain circumstances. Additionally, the Agencies are issuing joint rules under section 315 that provide guidance regarding reasonable policies and procedures that a user of consumer reports must employ when a consumer reporting agency sends the user a notice of address discrepancy.

The John Day/Snake Resource Advisory Council (JDSRAC) meeting is scheduled for December 4, 2007, in Pendleton, Oregon. The John Day/Snake Resource Advisory Council meeting is scheduled for December 4, 2007. The meeting will take place at the Red Lion Inn, 304 SE. Nye Avenue, Pendleton, OR from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. The meeting may include such topics as Forest and Resource Management Planning, Salmon Recovery, Transportation Planning, and other matters as may reasonably come before the council. The meeting is open to the public. Public comment is scheduled for 1 p.m. to 1:15 p.m. (Pacific Time) December 4, 2007. For a copy of the information to be distributed to the Council members, please submit a written request to the Vale District Office 10 days prior to the meeting.

The Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) is providing notice that the United States has requested, in accordance with the Marrakesh Agreement Establishing the World Trade Organization (WTO Agreement), that the WTO Dispute Settlement Body establish a dispute settlement panel to review the U.S. claims concerning: (1) Certain measures that restrict trading rights with respect to imported films for theatrical release, audiovisual home entertainment products (e.g., video cassettes and DVDs), sound recordings, and publications (e.g., books, magazines, newspapers, and electronic publications); (2) certain measures that restrict market access for, or discriminate against, foreign suppliers of distribution services for publications, foreign suppliers of audiovisual services (including distribution services) for audiovisual home entertainment products, and foreign suppliers of sound recording distribution services; (3) certain measures that provide less favorable distribution opportunities for imported films for theatrical release than for like domestic films; and (4) certain measures that provide less favorable opportunities for foreign suppliers of sound recording distribution services and for the distribution of imported sound recordings than are provided to like service suppliers and like products. The panel request may be found at https://www.wto.org contained in a document designated as WT/DS363/5. USTR invites written comments from the public concerning the issues raised in this dispute.

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announces the availability of the Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the Mesaba Energy Project (DOE/EIS-0382D) for public comment, as well as the dates, locations and times for public hearings. The draft environmental impact statement (EIS) analyzes the potential environmental consequences of DOE's proposed action to provide a total of $36 million in co-funding, through a financial assistance cooperative agreement, for the design and one-year operational demonstration of a coal-based, Integrated Gasification Combined Cycle (IGCC) electric generating facility on the Iron Range of northern Minnesota. DOE may also provide a loan guarantee pursuant to the Energy Policy Act of 2005 to guarantee a portion of private sector financing for the project; however, this loan guarantee is not part of DOE's proposed action. The facility would be demonstrated through a cooperative agreement between DOE and Excelsior Energy Inc. (Excelsior) under the Clean Coal Power Initiative (CCPI) program.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104-13, May 22, 1995 and 5 CFR part 1320), this notice announces that the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) has submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) a request for extension, without change, of a currently approved collection. RI 25-51, Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS) Survivor Annuitant Express Pay Application for Death Benefits, will be used by the Civil Service Retirement System solely to pay benefits to the widow(er) of an annuitant. This application is intended for use in immediately authorizing payments to an annuitant's widow or widower, based on the report of death, when our records show the decedent elected to provide benefits for the applicant. Approximately 34,800 RI 25-51 forms are completed annually. The form takes approximately 30 minutes to complete. The annual estimated burden is 17,400 hours. For copies of this proposal, contact Mary Beth Smith-Toomey on (202) 606-8358, FAX (202) 418-3251 or E-mail to MaryBeth.Smith- Toomey@opm.gov. Please include your mailing address with your request.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104-13, May 22, 1995), this notice announces that the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) has submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) a request for extension without change, of a currently approved information collection. SF 2809, Health Benefit Election Form, is used by Federal employees, annuitants other than those under the Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS) and the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS) including individuals receiving benefits from the Office of Workers' Compensation Programs, former spouses eligible for benefits under the Spouse Equity Act of 1984, and separated employees and former dependents eligible to enroll under the Temporary Continuation of Coverage provisions of the FEHB law (5 U.S.C. 8905a). A different form (OPM 2809) is used by CSRS and FERS annuitants whose health benefit enrollments are administered by OPM's Retirement Services Program. Approximately 18,000 SF 2809 forms are completed annually. Each form takes approximately 30 minutes to complete. The annual estimated burden is 9,000 hours. For copies of this proposal, contact Mary Beth Smith-Toomey on (202) 606-8358, Fax (202) 418-3251 or via E-mail to MaryBeth.Smith- Toomey@opm.gov. Please include a mailing address with your request.

The Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements (CITA) has determined that certain three-thread circular knit fleece fabrics, as specified below, are not available in commercial quantities in a timely manner in the CAFTA-DR region. The product will be added to the list in Annex 3.25 of the CAFTA-DR in unrestricted quantities.

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration, as part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, invites the general public and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on proposed and/or continuing information collections, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104-13, 44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)).

The Department of Commerce, as part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, invites the general public and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on proposed and/or continuing information collections, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.

The Department of State has submitted the following information collection request to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for approval in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. Title of Information Collection: Foreign Service Officer Test Registration Form. OMB Control Number: 1405-0008. Type of Request: Extension of a Currently Approved Collection. Originating Office: Human Resources, HR/REE/BEX. Form Number: DS-1998E. Respondents: Registrants for the Foreign Service Officer Test. Estimated Number of Respondents: 20,000. Estimated Number of Responses: 20,000. Average Hours Per Response: 3 hours. Total Estimated Burden: 60,000 hours. Frequency: On occasion. Obligation to Respond: Required to Obtain or Retain a Benefit.

EPA is announcing that there will be a public hearing regarding the proposed rule on the National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants from Petroleum Refineries, published September 4, 2007. The public hearing will be held on November 27, 2007 in Houston, Texas. EPA is also announcing that the comment period is being reopened until December 28, 2007. In addition, we note that additional material has been added to the docket since the proposed rule was published.

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.), this document announces that an Information Collection Request (ICR) has been forwarded to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval. This is a request for a new collection. The ICR, which is abstracted below, describes the nature of the information collection and its estimated burden and cost.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA or Agency) Science Advisory Board (SAB) Staff Office announces a public teleconference of the Clean Air Scientific Advisory Committee (CASAC) Particulate Matter (PM) Review Panel (CASAC Panel) to conduct a consultation on EPA's Draft Integrated Review Plan for the National Ambient Air Quality Standards for Particulate Matter (Draft Integrated Plan for Review of the PM NAAQS, October 16, 2007).

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is holding a public workshop to discuss the development of proposed regulations for the underground injection of carbon dioxide for geologic sequestration under the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA). SDWA requires EPA to protect underground sources of drinking water from contamination due to underground injection activities. The Underground Injection Control Program works with States and Tribes to oversee underground injection activities and prevent endangerment of drinking water sources. This public workshop will provide an opportunity for dialogue with representatives from industry, government, public interest groups, and the general public on geologic sequestration of carbon dioxide. The Agency plans to hold a second workshop in early 2008.

In accordance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act, as amended (5 U.S.C. Appendix 2), the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) announces a meeting of the Advisory Committee on the Electronic Records Archives (ACERA). The committee serves as a deliberative body to advise the Archivist of the United States, on technical, mission, and service issues related to the Electronic Records Archives (ERA). This includes, but is not limited to, advising and making recommendations to the Archivist on issues related to the development, implementation and use of the ERA system. Date of Meeting: November 28-29, 2007. Time of Meeting: 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Place of Meeting: 700 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW.,Washington, DC 20408-0001. This meeting will be open to the public. However, due to space limitations and access procedures, the name and telephone number of individuals planning to attend must be submitted to the Electronic Records Archives Program at era.program@nara.gov.

The President's Export Council (PEC) will hold a full Council meeting to discuss topics related to export expansion. The meeting will include discussion of trade priorities and initiatives, PEC subcommittee activity, and proposed letters of recommendation to the President. The PEC was established on December 20, 1973, and reconstituted May 4, 1979, to advise the President on matters relating to U.S. trade. It was most recently renewed by Executive Order 13446. Date: December 4, 2007. Time: 10 a.m. (EST). Location: U.S. Department of Commerce, Room 4830, 1401 Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, DC, 20230. Because of building security, all non-government attendees must pre-register. Please RSVP to the PEC Executive Secretariat no later than November 30, 2007, to J. Marc Chittum, President's Export Council, Room 4043, 1401 Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20230, telephone (202) 482-1124, or e-mail Marc.Chittum@mail.doc.gov. This program will be physically accessible to people with disabilities. Seating is limited and will be on a first come, first served basis. Requests for sign language interpretation, other auxiliary aids, or pre-registration, should be submitted no later than June 1, 2007, to J. Marc Chittum, President's Export Council, Room 4043, 1401 Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20230, telephone (202) 482-1124, or e-mail Marc.Chittum@mail.doc.gov.