May 16, 2008 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

Williamson County, Texas (Applicant), has applied to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) for an incidental take permit (TE- 181840-0) under section 10(a)(1)(B) of the Endangered Species Act (Act) of 1973, as amended. The requested permit, which would be in effect for a period of 30 years, if granted, would authorize incidental take of the following federally listed species: Golden-cheeked warbler (Dendroica chrysoparia), black-capped vireo (Vireo atricapilla), Bone Cave harvestman (Texella reyesi), and Coffin Cave mold beetle (Batrisodes texanus). The proposed take would occur in Williamson County, Texas, as a result of activities including, but not limited to, road construction, maintenance, and improvement projects; utility construction and maintenance; school development and construction; public or private construction and development; and land clearing. Such actions cause effects to upland (bird) and underground (karst) habitats. Williamson County has completed a draft Habitat Conservation Plan (dHCP) as part of the application package. We have issued a draft environmental impact statement (dEIS) that evaluates the impacts of, and alternatives to, possible issuance of an incidental take permit (ITP).

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice announces the Small Business Administration's intentions to request approval on a new and/or currently approved information collection.

The National Science Foundation (NSF) has submitted the following information collection requirement to OMB for review and clearance under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Pub. L. 104-13. This is the second notice for public comment; the first was published in the Federal Register at 73 FR 12471, and no substantial comments were received. NSF is forwarding the proposed renewal submission to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for clearance simultaneously with the publication of this second notice. Comments regarding (a) Whether the collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including whether the information will have practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of burden including the validity of the methodology and assumptions used; (c) ways to enhance the quality, utility and clarity of the information to be collected; (d) ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on those who are to respond, including through the use of appropriate automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or other forms of information technology should be addressed to: Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs of OMB, Attention: Desk Officer for National Science Foundation, 725 17th Street, NW., Room 10235, Washington, DC 20503, and to Suzanne H. Plimpton, Reports Clearance Officer, National Science Foundation, 4201 Wilson Boulevard, Suite 295, Arlington, Virginia 22230 or send e-mail to splimpto@nsf.gov. Comments regarding these information collections are best assured of having their full effect if received within 30 days of this notification. Copies of the submission may be obtained by calling 703-292-7556. NSF may not conduct or sponsor a collection of information unless the collection of information displays a currently valid OMB control number and the agency informs potential persons who are to respond to the collection of information that such persons are not required to respond to the collection of information unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number.

The 9/11 Heroes Stamp Act of 2001 directed the United States Postal Service to issue a semipostal stamp and distribute the proceeds through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to the families of emergency relief personnel killed or permanently disabled while serving in the line of duty in connection with the terrorist attacks against the United States on September 11, 2001. In response, FEMA issued interim regulations that governed the distribution of those funds. Now that all funds have been distributed and all appeals resolved, FEMA is issuing this Final rule to remove the interim regulations from the Code of Federal Regulations.

The Department of Labor, as part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden conducts a preclearance consultation program to provide the general public and federal agencies with an opportunity to comment on proposed and/or continuing collections of information in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA 95) [44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)]. This program helps to ensure that requested data can be provided in the desired format, reporting burden (time and financial resources) is minimized, collection instruments are clearly understood, and the impact of collection requirements on respondents can be properly assessed. Currently, the Employment and Training Administration is soliciting comments concerning the proposed extension of the O*NET (Occupational Information Network) Data Collection Program. A copy of the proposed information collection request (ICR) can be obtained by contacting the office listed below in the addressee section of this notice or by accessing: https://www.doleta.gov/OMBCN/OMBControlNumber.cfm.

Section 107 of the Bunning-Bereuter-Blumenauer Flood Insurance Reform Act of 2004 requires that geospatial digital flood hazard data distributed by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), or its designee, or the printed products derived from that data, be interchangeable and legally equivalent for the determination of the location of 1-in-100-year and 1-in-500-year floodplains, provided that all other geospatial data shown on the printed product meets or exceeds any accuracy standard promulgated by FEMA. This is required for the purposes of flood insurance and floodplain management activities conducted pursuant to the National Flood Insurance Program under the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968. The FEMA Mitigation Directorate has developed a policy to implement this requirement. The policy states: To which FEMA products it applies; that ``printed products'' refers to both printed paper products produced by FEMA and by others; and that the horizontal location of the special flood hazard area on new products is defined by geographic coordinates.

The National Geospatial Advisory Committee (NGAC) will meet on June 3-4, 2008 in the 2nd Floor Boardroom of the American Institute of Architects Building, 1735 New York Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20006. The NGAC, which is composed of representatives from governmental, private sector, non-profit, and academic organizations, has been established to advise the Chair of the Federal Geographic Data Committee on management of Federal geospatial programs, the development of the National Spatial Data Infrastructure, and the implementation of Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Circular A-16. Topics to be addressed at the meeting include: Discussion of NGAC Bylaws/NGAC Mission Geospatial Line of Business/OMB Circular A-16 Imagery for the Nation Subcommittee Reports National Geospatial Strategy Design The meeting will include an opportunity for public comment during the morning of June 4. Comments may also be submitted to the NGAC in writing. While the meeting will be open to the public, seating may be limited due to room capacity.

EPA is proposing to revoke the existing obsolete tolerance exemption under 40 CFR 180.910 for residues of sperm oil conforming to 21 CFR 172.210 as part of a broader administrative effort to correct errors and clarify permitted uses of pesticide inert ingredients in the Code of Federal Regulations. There have not been any active Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) pesticide product registrations containing this substance for many years. In addition, the sperm whale (from which sperm oil is derived) is a federally listed endangered species, and taking (or harming) this species is prohibited under the U.S. Endangered Species Act. Therefore, since this exemption corresponds to uses no longer current or registered under FIFRA in the United States, EPA is proposing to revoke the existing tolerance exemption under 40 CFR 180.910 because it is no longer necessary.

We are proposing to amend the fruits and vegetables regulations to allow the importation into the continental United States of baby squash and baby courgettes from Zambia. As a condition of entry, both commodities would have to be produced in accordance with a systems approach that would include requirements for pest exclusion at the production site, fruit fly trapping inside and outside the production site, and pest-excluding packinghouse procedures. Both commodities would also be required to be accompanied by a phytosanitary certificate with an additional declaration stating that the baby squash or baby courgettes have been produced in accordance with the proposed requirements. This action would allow for the importation of baby squash and baby courgettes from Zambia into the United States while continuing to provide protection against the introduction of quarantine pests.

We are proposing to amend the regulations regarding the importation of live horses, ruminants, swine, and dogs by removing Panama from the lists of regions where screwworm is considered to exist. We are taking this action because the eradication of screwworm from Panama has been confirmed. This action would relieve certain screwworm-related certification and inspection requirements for live animals imported into the United States from Panama.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Los Angeles District (Corps) in coordination with the Port of Long Beach has completed a Draft Environmental Impact Statement/ Environmental Impact Report (EIS/EIR) for the Middle Harbor Redevelopment project in the Port of Long Beach. The Corps is considering an application for Section 404 and Section 10 permits to conduct dredge and fill activities associated with the proposed consolidation of Piers D, E and F into a single 345-acre marine terminal with a 4,250-foot-long wharf at build-out. This would include redevelopment of 294 acres of existing land, creation of 10.7 acres of new open water and the placement of dredged material in 65.3 acres open water for a net gain of approximately 54.6 acres of new land in the consolidated terminal. The new terminal, which would be constructed over a 10-year time period, is intended to accommodate increasing cargo volumes being produced by the new generation of larger container vessels, and would include four deep-water berths, a container terminal yard, and an intermodal rail yard.

Closed meeting of the Art Advisory Panel will be held in Washington, DC.

NHTSA published in the Federal Register of April 30, 2008, a final rule making certain changes in the 17-character vehicle identification number (VIN) system so that the system will remain viable for at least another 30 years. The regulatory text of the final rule contained several typographical errors, which this document corrects. In addition, this document makes clear that all motor vehicles identified by their manufacturer as model year (MY) 2009 or earlier vehicles must comply with the current Part 565 VIN requirements (which are set forth in subpart C of Part 565 of the final rule).

In accordance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act, Public Law 92-463, as amended, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration announces an open meeting of the NASA International Space Station Advisory Committee.

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSM) is announcing that the information collection requests for the titles described below have been forwarded to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and comment. The information collection requests describe the nature of the information collections and the expected burden and cost for 30 CFR parts 750 and 842.

This action amends the Class E airspace area at Waynesburg, PA, to accommodate a new Standard Instrument Approach Procedure (SIAP) that has been developed for Green County Airport. As a result, controlled airspace extending upward from 700 feet Above Ground Level (AGL) will be expanded to contain the SIAP and other Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) operations at Green County Airport. The operating status of the airport will change from Visual Flight Rules (VFR) to include IFR operations concurrent with the publication of the SIAP. A minor correction is also being made in the geographic position coordinates of the Green County Airport.