January 10, 2008 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce a 90-day finding on a petition to list the Amargosa River population of the Mojave fringe-toed lizard (Uma scoparia) in the State of California 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 this population may be warranted. Therefore, with the publication of this notice, we are initiating a status review of the Amargosa River population of the Mojave fringe-toed lizard, and we will issue a 12- month finding on our determination as to if the petitioned action is warranted. To ensure that the status review of the Amargosa River population of the Mojave fringe-toed lizard is comprehensive, we are soliciting scientific and commercial data regarding this species. We will make a determination on critical habitat for this species if, and when, we initiate a listing action.

The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Boeing Model 777 airplanes. This proposed AD would require an inspection to determine the manufacturer and manufacture date of the oxygen masks in the center and outboard passenger service units (PSUs), crew rests, and lavatory and flight attendant oxygen boxes, as applicable. This proposed AD would also require related investigative/ corrective actions if necessary. This proposed AD results from a report that several passenger masks with broken in-line flow indicators were found following a mask deployment. We are proposing this AD to prevent the in-line flow indicators of the passenger oxygen masks from fracturing and separating, which could inhibit oxygen flow to the masks and consequently result in exposure of the passengers and cabin attendants to hypoxia following a depressurization event.

The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Boeing Model 737-300 and -400 series airplanes. This proposed AD would require testing and inspecting a certain web panel of the main wheel well pressure deck to determine the material type and thickness; and related investigative and corrective actions if necessary. This proposed AD results from several reports indicating that cracks ranging from 0.8 to 8.0 inches long were found on a certain web panel of the main wheel well pressure deck. We are proposing this AD to prevent fatigue cracking in the web panel of the main wheel well pressure deck, which could result in venting and consequent rapid decompression of the airplane.

This document provides notice of a public hearing on a notice of proposed rulemaking under section 6411 of the Internal Revenue Code relating to the computation and allowance of the tentative carryback adjustment. These regulations clarify that for purposes of allowing the tentative adjustment, the IRS may credit or reduce the tentative adjustment by an assessed tax liability, whether or not that tax liability was assessed before the date the application for tentative carryback is filed, and other unassessed liabilities in certain other circumstances.

DoD has adopted as final, without change, an interim rule amending the Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS) to implement the Dominican Republic-Central America-United States Free Trade Agreement with respect to the Dominican Republic. The rule also includes Bulgaria and Romania on the list of countries covered by the World Trade Organization Government Procurement Agreement.

DoD has issued a final rule amending the Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS) to address training requirements that apply to contractor personnel who perform information assurance functions for DoD. Contractor personnel accessing information systems must meet applicable training and certification requirements.

DoD has issued a final rule amending the Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS) to address the DFARS provisions included in the Online Representations and Certifications Application (ORCA). Use of ORCA eliminates the need for offerors to repetitively submit the same information in response to Government solicitations.

DoD has issued an interim rule amending the Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS) to implement Section 807 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2007. Section 807 places limitations on contractors acting as lead system integrators in the acquisition of major DoD systems. Such contractors may have no direct financial interest in the development or construction of any individual system or element of any system of systems unless an exception applies.

DoD has issued an interim rule amending the Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS) to implement Section 130 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2007. Section 130 requires DoD to establish a quality control policy for the procurement, modification, repair, and overhaul of ship critical safety items.

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Learjet Model 45 airplanes. This AD requires revising the Airworthiness Limitations section of the airplane maintenance manual to incorporate certain inspections and compliance times to detect fatigue cracking of certain principal structural elements (PSEs). This AD results from new and more restrictive life limits and inspection intervals for certain PSEs. We are issuing this AD to ensure that fatigue cracking of various PSEs is detected and corrected; such fatigue cracking could adversely affect the structural integrity of these airplanes.

The FAA is correcting an error in an existing airworthiness directive (AD) that was published in the Federal Register on November 13, 2007 (72 FR 63800). The error resulted in the wrong appendix information. This AD applies to all Boeing Model 707 airplanes and Model 720 and 720B series airplanes. This AD requires accomplishing an airplane survey to define the configuration of certain system installations, and repair of any discrepancy found. This AD also requires modifying the fuel system by installing lightning protection for the fuel quantity indication system (FQIS), ground fault relays for the fuel boost pumps, and additional power relays for the center tank fuel pumps and uncommanded on-indication lights at the flight engineer's panel.

NMFS is adjusting the 2008 total allowable catch (TAC) amounts for pollock in the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). This action is necessary because NMFS has determined these TACs are incorrectly specified. This action will ensure the GOA pollock TACs do not exceed the appropriate amount based on the best available scientific information for pollock in the GOA. This action is consistent with the goals and objectives of the Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska Area (FMP).