2007 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) and the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (LACMTA) issue this early scoping notice to advise other agencies and the public that they intend to explore, in the context of the Council on Environmental Quality's early scoping process, alternative means of improving transit capacity and service in and through the central core of Los Angeles, California. The early scoping process is part of a planning Alternatives Analysis (AA) required by 49 United States Code (U.S.C.) 5309 that will lead to the selection of the alternatives that will be subject to the appropriate environmental process. Early scoping meetings have been planned and are announced below. The proposed Regional Connector would provide a link connecting several light rail service lines in operation or in construction (i.e., the Metro Gold Line to Pasadena, the Metro Gold Line Eastside Extension, the Metro Blue Line, and the Metro Expo Line). This connection would broaden and improve the region's public transit, mobility, and accessibility. The project study area within which various alternatives will be considered for the Regional Connector is situated in downtown Los Angeles, generally encompassing the area between the 101 Freeway on the north, 9th Street/Los Angeles Street and 7th Street on south, the 110 Freeway on the west, and Alameda Street on the east. After selection of the alternatives by the LACMTA Board, the alternatives will then be the subject of the appropriate environmental review under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). If the alternatives have significant impacts, an environmental impact statement (EIS), combined with a California environmental impact report (EIR) would be initiated with a Notice of Intent (NOI) in the Federal Register and distribution of a Notice of Preparation (NOP) required under CEQA and final public and agency scoping of the EIS/EIR. In particular, the purpose and need for the project, the range of alternatives to be considered in the EIS/ EIR, the environmental and community impacts to be evaluated, and the methodologies to be used, would be subject to public and interagency review and comment, in accordance with 23 U.S.C. 139 and CEQA.

The Farm Credit Administration (FCA or we) is considering possible modifications to our risk-based capital rules for Farm Credit System institutions (FCS or System) that are similar to the standardized approach delineated in the New Basel Capital Accord. We are seeking comments to facilitate the development of a proposed rule that would enhance our regulatory capital framework and more closely align minimum capital requirements with risks taken by System institutions. We are also withdrawing our previously published ANPRM.

The Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) is revising the regulations governing procedures related to the procurement of goods and services in the National School Lunch Program, School Breakfast Program and Special Milk Program to remedy deficiencies identified in audits and program reviews. This final rule makes changes in a school food authority's responsibilities for proper procurement procedures and contracts, limits a school food authority's use of nonprofit school food service account funds to costs resulting from proper procurements and contracts, and clarifies a State agency's responsibility to review and approve school food authority procurement procedures and contracts. This final rule also amends the Special Milk Program and School Breakfast Program regulations to make the procurement and contract requirements consistent with the National School Lunch Program regulations. These changes are intended to promote full and open competition in school food authority procurements, clarify State agency responsibilities, and ensure that only allowable contract costs are paid with nonprofit school food service account funds.

The General Services Administration (GSA) has issued Bulletin B-16 which provides a deviation for executive agencies to purchase premium fuel for Government owned and leased vehicles when lower grade fuels are not available due to market shortages in parts of California affected by wildfires. FMR Bulletin B-16 became effective on October 24, 2007 and will remain effective until January 24, 2008, unless extended or rescinded by GSA. This bulletin and all FMR bulletins are located at gsa.gov/bulletin.

The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is considering granting a request for a waiver of the Nonmanufacturer Rule for Irradiation Apparatus Manufacturing. According to the request, no small business manufacturers supply these classes of products to the Federal government. If granted, the waiver would allow otherwise qualified regular dealers to supply the products of any domestic manufacturer on a Federal contract set aside for small businesses; service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses or SBA's 8(a) Business Development Program.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is announcing the availability of a guidance for industry entitled ``Role of HIV Resistance Testing in Antiretroviral Drug Development.'' This guidance is intended to assist sponsors in the clinical development of drugs for the treatment of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. Specifically, this guidance addresses the agency's current thinking regarding the role of HIV resistance testing during antiretroviral drug development and postmarketing. This guidance discusses important nonclinical studies that are recommended before the initiation of phase 1 clinical studies in HIV-infected patients. In addition, this guidance addresses the use of resistance testing in clinical phases of drug development and recommends the type of information that should be collected and the types of analyses that should be conducted to characterize an antiretroviral's resistance profile. This guidance finalizes the draft guidance published on November 29, 2004.

The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) proposes to change the small business size standard for the Heating Oil Dealers industry (North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code 454311)) from $11.5 million in average annual receipts to 50 employees, and the size standard for the Liquefied Petroleum Gas (Bottled Gas) Dealers industry (NAICS code 454312) from $6.5 million in average annual receipts to 50 employees. Large and fluctuating increases in the prices of heating oil and propane over the past several years indicate that a more stable measure of firm size based on number of employees rather than receipts is needed for these two industries.

The information collection requirements described below will be submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (``OMB'') for review, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act. The FTC is seeking public comments on its proposal to extend through November 30, 2010 the current OMB clearance for the information collection requirements contained in the Commission's Rule Concerning Disclosure of Written Consumer Product Warranty Terms and Conditions. The clearance is scheduled to expire on November 30, 2007. The FTC is also seeking public comments on its proposal to extend through December 31, 2010 the current OMB clearances for the information collection requirements contained in the Commission's Rule Governing Pre-Sale Availability of Written Warranty Terms and the Informal Dispute Settlement Procedures Rule. Those clearances are scheduled to expire on December 31, 2007.

NCUA is issuing a rule reincorporating the Federal Credit Union (FCU) Bylaws into NCUA regulations. This change clarifies NCUA's ability to use a range of enforcement authorities, in appropriate cases, to enforce the FCU Bylaws. In addition, NCUA is adding a bylaw provision on director succession, an issue it has previously addressed in legal opinions, and is revising the introduction to the Bylaws to conform it to these changes.

This publication supersedes in its entirety the previous publication dated October 18, 2007, found on page 59110, Volume 72, Number 201. The surface owner of the lands described in this notice, aggregating approximately 25 acres, has filed an application for the purchase of the Federally-owned mineral interests in the lands. Publication of this notice temporarily segregates the mineral interest from appropriation under the public land laws, including the mining law.