January 2008 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The National Credit Union Administration (NCUA) will accept applications for participation in the Community Development Revolving Loan Fund's [Fund] Loan Program in September 2008, subject to availability of funds. The Fund's total appropriation is $13.4 million. As of December 31, 2007, the Fund's loan portfolio totaled to $13.3 \1\ million. Application procedures for the 2008 Fund Loan Program will be posted to the NCUA Web site.

This document provides notice of public hearing on proposed regulations regarding the treatment of transactions involving obligations between members of a consolidated group and the treatment of transactions involving the provision of insurance between members of a consolidated group.

The Office of the United States Trade Representative (``USTR'') is providing notice that on January 17, 2008, the United States submitted to the World Trade Organization (``WTO'') a request for authorization to suspend WTO concessions and other obligations with respect to the European Communities (``EC'') in an amount equal to the level of nullification and impairment resulting from EC non-compliance with the WTO recommendations and rulings. Under a sequencing agreement with the EC, that request will be referred to arbitration and the arbitration will be suspended while the United States and EC continue to try to resolve this dispute and related matters. To prepare for the possibility that the arbitration is resumed and the WTO Dispute Settlement Body (``DSB'') authorizes the United States to suspend WTO concessions with respect to the EC, USTR is inviting written comments on action that USTR should take to exercise such an authorization. In particular, USTR seeks written comments with respect to the specific products of the EC or EC member States, and/or with respect to the specific member States of the EC, that should be subject to a suspension of WTO concessions, such as through increases of rates of duty above current rates.

This document grants in full the petition of Hyundai-Kia Motors Corporation (Hyundai) in accordance with Sec. 543.9(c)(2) of 49 CFR Part 543, Exemption from the Theft Prevention Standard, for the Hyundai Genesis vehicle line beginning with model year (MY) 2009. This petition is granted because the agency has determined that the antitheft device to be placed on the line as standard equipment is likely to be as effective in reducing and deterring motor vehicle theft as compliance with the parts-marking requirements of the Theft Prevention Standard. Hyundai requested confidential treatment for its information and attachments submitted in support of its petition. The agency will address Hyundai's request for confidential treatment in a separate letter.

The Department of Commerce (United States Patent and Trademark Office) is requesting nominations of individuals to serve on the National Medal of Technology and Innovation Nomination Evaluation Committee. The United States Patent and Trademark Office will consider nominations received in response to this notice as well as from other sources. The SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section of this notice provides Committee and membership criteria.

The FAA proposes to supersede an existing airworthiness directive (AD) that applies to certain Airbus Model A319, A320, and A321 series airplanes equipped with certain Litton air data inertial reference units (ADIRUs). The existing AD currently requires modifying the shelf (floor panel) above ADIRU 3, modifying the polycarbonate guard that covers the ADIRUs for certain airplanes, and modifying the ladder located in the avionics compartment for certain airplanes. This proposed AD would require those modifications on additional airplanes. This proposed AD would also require replacing all three ADIRUs with improved ADIRUs. This proposed AD also adds Model A318 series airplanes to the applicability. This proposed AD results from reports that ``NAV IR FAULT'' messages have occurred during takeoff due to failure of an ADIRU and subsequent analysis showing that the shelf modification has not sufficiently addressed failure of an ADIRU. We are proposing this AD to prevent failure of an ADIRU during flight, which could result in loss of one source of critical attitude and airspeed data and reduce the ability of the flightcrew to control the airplane.

The Coast Guard will establish a safety zone on the waters of the Trent River between New Bern and James City, North Carolina in the vicinity of the U.S. Route 70 Highway Swing Bridge. This safety zone is necessary to provide for the safety of life on navigable waters during the movement of bridge construction equipment from the southern end of the bridge construction project to the northern end of the project.

Before a Federal agency can collect certain information from the public, it must receive approval from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). Under procedures established by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, before seeking OMB approval, Federal agencies must solicit public comment on proposed collections of information, including extensions and reinstatement of previously approved collections. This document describes a previously approved collection of information for which NHTSA intends to seek OMB approval for an extension.

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Boeing Model 727 airplanes. This AD requires repetitive external high frequency eddy current (HFEC) inspections of the crown skin for cracks at certain stringer attachment holes, and repair if necessary. This AD results from a report of cracks at multiple locations on certain areas of the crown skin. We are issuing this AD to detect and correct fatigue cracks of the crown skin, which could result in rapid decompression of the airplane.

This is a Notice of the Presidential declaration of a major disaster for Public Assistance Only for the State of Nebraska (FEMA- 1739-DR), dated 01/11/2008. Incident: Severe Winter Storm. Incident Period: 12/10/2007 through 12/12/2007.

This is an amendment of the Presidential declaration of a major disaster for Public Assistance Only for the State of Missouri (FEMA-1736-DR), dated 12/27/2007. Incident: Severe Winter Storms. Incident Period: 12/06/2007 through 12/15/2007.

DoD has issued a final rule amending the Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS) to address requirements for DoD contracting officers to ensure that an item meets the definition of ``commercial item'' specified in the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR), when using commercial item procedures for acquisitions exceeding $1 million in value.

With this advance notice of proposed rulemaking, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is soliciting comment on several issues concerning options the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency can pursue through Federal rulemaking under the Clean Air Act to regulate emissions of pollutants from existing stationary diesel engines, generally, and specifically from larger, older stationary diesel engines. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has taken several actions over the past several years to reduce exhaust pollutants from stationary diesel engines. The Agency continues to be interested in exploring opportunities to further reduce exhaust pollutants from stationary diesel engines, particularly existing stationary diesel engines that have not been subject to federal standards. This advance notice of proposed rulemaking is intended to explore possible options to achieve further emissions reductions, particularly from existing stationary diesel engines.

DoD is making technical amendments to the Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS) to update an office symbol and a cross-reference.

DoD has issued a final rule amending the Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS) to remove text addressing DoD procedures for closeout of contract files. Text on this subject has been relocated to the DFARS companion resource, Procedures, Guidance, and Information.

DoD has issued a final rule amending the Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS) to remove text addressing withholding of payments under time-and-materials and labor-hour contracts. The DFARS text is no longer necessary, since similar policy has been added to the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR).

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for the specified Eurocopter France (ECF) model helicopters. This AD results from mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) originated by an aviation authority to identify and correct an unsafe condition on an aviation product. The European Safety Agency (EASA), the Technical Agent for France, with which we have a bilateral agreement, states in the MCAI:

This rule amends Standard Instrument Approach Procedures (SIAPs) for operations at certain airports. These regulatory actions are needed because of changes in the National Airspace System, such as the commissioning of new navigational facilities, adding of new obstacles, or changing air traffic requirements. These changes are designed to provide safe and efficient use of the navigable airspace and to promote safe flight operations under instrument flight rules at the affected airports.

This notice lists the location and time of the eighth meeting of the National Surface Transportation Infrastructure Financing Commission.

The Department of Defense is publishing the unclassified text of a section 36(b)(1) arms sales notification. This is published to fulfill the requirements of section 155 of Public Law 104-164 dated 21 July 1996.

The Department of Commerce (United States Patent and Trademark Office) is accepting nominations for its National Medal of Technology and Innovation (NMTI) program. Since establishment by Congress in 1980, the President of the United States has awarded the National Medal of Technology and Innovation (formerly known as the National Medal of Technology) annually to our Nation's leading innovators. If you know of a candidate who has made an outstanding, lasting contribution to the economy through the promotion of technology or technological manpower, you may obtain a nomination form from: https://www.uspto.gov/nmti. Eligibilty and Criteria: Information on eligibility and nomination criteria is provided on the Nominations Guidelines Form at https:// www.uspto.gov/nmti.

In accordance with the procedures governing the application for, and the processing of, special permits from the Department of Transportation's Hazardous Material Regulations (49 CFR Part 107, Subpart B), notice is hereby given that the Office of Hazardous Materials Safety has received the application described herein. Each mode of transportation for which a particular special permit is requested is indicated by a number in the ``Nature of Application'' portion of the table below as follows: 1Motor vehicle, 2Rail freight, 3Cargo vessel, 4Cargo aircraft only, 5Passenger-carrying aircraft.