February 8, 2008 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Farm Credit Administration (FCA or Agency), through the FCA Board (Board), issued a direct final rule with opportunity for comment under part 630 on November 15, 2007 (72 FR 64129) amending our regulation on the external auditor's assessment of internal control over financial reporting concerning the System-wide annual report to investors. The opportunity for comment expired on December 17, 2007. The FCA received no comments and therefore, the direct final rule becomes effective without change. In accordance with 12 U.S.C. 2252, the effective date of the final rule is 30 days from the date of publication in the Federal Register during which either or both Houses of Congress are in session. Based on the records of the sessions of Congress, the effective date of the regulations is January 31, 2008.

We propose to add ``swine contractors'' to the list of regulated entities subject to specific regulations under the Packers and Stockyards Act (the P&S Act). In 2002, Congress added swine contractors as entities regulated under the P&S Act. The specific regulations we propose to amend prohibit regulated entities from circulating misleading reports about market conditions or prices. We also propose to amend regulations that address inspection of business records and facilities, information that regulated entities are required to share with the Secretary of Agriculture, and USDA's responsibility to refrain from unauthorized disclosure of that information. The goal of these regulations is to ensure fairness in the marketing of livestock, meat, and poultry. Adding swine contractors to specific regulations under the P&S Act will assist swine contractors and swine production contract growers with determining which regulations apply to them. Adding swine contractors to specific regulations will also make it easier for GIPSA to identify potential violations and to enforce the provisions of the P&S Act and regulations.

This document revises an earlier proposed airworthiness directive (AD), applicable to all EMBRAER Model EMB-120 series airplanes, that would have required revising the airplane flight manual to include operational limitations for use of the autopilot, and installing two placards that advise the flight crew to check the pitch trim before descent. This new action would retain the original requirements, but with revised placard language. This new action would also require modifying the elevator trim system, which would terminate the requirements of the AD. The actions specified by this new proposed AD are intended to prevent pitch trim upsets if the pitch trim actuators jam or freeze, which could result in reduced controllability of the airplane. This action is intended to address the identified unsafe condition.

We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Boeing Model 727 airplanes. This proposed AD would require repetitive inspections for any crack in the area of the elevator side fitting/ hinge fitting joint and for any crack or elongation inside and outside of the holes in the clevis and in the lug, corrective actions if necessary, and other specified actions. This proposed AD results from reports of elongated holes and cracks found in the lugs of the attachment fittings of the elevator quadrant upper support assembly at the tip of the vertical fin. We are proposing this AD to detect and correct damage to the aft attachment lugs of the elevator quadrant support assembly that could lead to failure of the lugs. This condition could accelerate wear elsewhere in the elevator control system, which could reduce the crew's ability to maintain safe flight.

We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Boeing Model 747 airplanes. This proposed AD would require a one-time inspection of certain fuselage skins at section 41 to find any external doublers that cover the inspection areas and to identify the external doublers that end on a stringer and those that do not, and related investigative and corrective actions if necessary. This proposed AD results from reports of cracks found at fastener locations in the fuselage skins at section 41. We are proposing this AD to detect and correct fuselage skin cracks at fastener locations along the skin-to- stringer attachments, which could join together and become large and consequently result in rapid decompression of the cabin.

NMFS has determined that the daily Highly Migratory Species (HMS) Angling category retention limits for Atlantic bluefin tuna (BFT) should be adjusted in order to prevent overharvest of the 2008 Angling category quota. Vessels permitted in the HMS Angling and HMS Charter/ Headboat categories are eligible to land BFT under the HMS Angling category quota. This action is being taken to meet domestic management objectives for the BFT fishery.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is confirming the effective date of February 19, 2008, for the direct final rule that appeared in the Federal Register of August 16, 2007 (72 FR 45883). The direct final rule amends the biologics regulations by removing, revising, or updating specific regulations applicable to blood, blood components and Source Plasma to be more consistent with current practices in the blood industry and to remove unnecessary or outdated requirements. In addition, FDA is making technical amendments to the biologics regulations in response to comments received on the direct final rule.

In the Rules and Regulations section of this issue of the Federal Register, the IRS is issuing a temporary regulation that provides the time and manner for making an election to treat the sale or exchange of musical compositions or copyrights in musical works created by the taxpayer (or received by the taxpayer from the works' creator in a transferred basis transaction) as the sale or exchange of a capital asset. The temporary regulation reflects changes to the law made by the Tax Increase Prevention and Reconciliation Act of 2005 and the Tax Relief and Health Care Act of 2006. The temporary regulation affects taxpayers making the election under section 1221(b)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code (Code) to treat gain or loss from such a sale or exchange as capital gain or loss. The text of the temporary regulation also serves as the text of this proposed regulation.

EPA is approving a State Implementation Plan (SIP) revision submitted by the State of Maine. This revision establishes transportation conformity criteria and procedures related to interagency consultation and enforceability of certain transportation- related control measures and mitigation measures. The intended effect of this action is to approve State criteria and procedures to govern transportation conformity determinations. This action is being taken in accordance with the Clean Air Act.

EPA is proposing to approve a revision to the Kansas State Implementation Plan (SIP) for the purpose of revoking the Sulfur Compound Emissions rule and for the purpose of approving revisions to a Class I major source operating permit annual emissions inventory rule and several Class II minor source operating permits rules. EPA is also proposing to approve additional amendments adopted by KDHE on February 20, 1998 which pertain to the Class II operating permit rules. The rules were primarily revised to align the annual emission inventory reporting date deadline with the June 1 payment of applicable emissions fees. EPA's proposed approval of these amendments would ensure consistency between the state and the Federally-approved rules.

NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for Atka mackerel for vessels participating in the Amendment 80 limited access fishery in the Eastern Aleutian District and Bering Sea subarea of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area (BSAI). This action is necessary to prevent exceeding the A season allowance of the 2008 Atka mackerel allowable catch (TAC) specified for vessels participating in the Amendment 80 limited access fishery in the Eastern Aleutian District and Bering Sea subarea of the BSAI.

This Rule establishes, amends, suspends, or revokes Standard Instrument Approach Procedures (SIAPs) and associated Takeoff Minimums and Obstacle Departure Procedures for operations at certain airports. These regulatory actions are needed because of the adoption of new or revised criteria, or because of changes occurring in the National Airspace System, such as the commissioning of new navigational facilities, adding 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.