May 19, 2008 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

NMFS issues a final rule to modify the Individual Fishing Quota (IFQ) Program and the Community Development Quota (CDQ) Program for the fixed-gear commercial Pacific halibut and sablefish fisheries. This action amends current regulations to allow the use of longline pot fishing gear in the Bering Sea sablefish IFQ and sablefish CDQ fisheries in the month of June. This action also adds regulatory provisions to allow members of the National Guard and military reserves who are mobilized to active duty to temporarily transfer their annual halibut and sablefish IFQ to other eligible IFQ recipients. This final rule is necessary to increase the efficiency of fishermen operating longline pot vessels in the Bering Sea sablefish fishery and to allow guardsmen and reservists to accrue some economic benefit from their annual IFQ if unable to harvest it due to military service. This action is intended to promote the conservation and management provisions in the Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area (FMP) and the Northern Pacific Halibut Act of 1982 (Halibut Act).

This document contains final regulations providing rules for testing whether the economic effect of an allocation is substantial within the meaning of section 704(b) where partners are look-through entities or members of a consolidated group. The final regulations clarify the application of section 704(b) to partnerships the interests of which are owned by look-through entities and members of consolidated groups and, through an example, reiterate the effect of other provisions of the Internal Revenue Code (Code) on partnership allocations. The final regulations affect partnerships and their partners.

In this document, the Commission reconsider in part, sua sponte, our March 3, 2008, decision in this proceeding, in which we adopted digital television (DTV) transition consumer education and outreach requirements for a number of industry participants, and clarify some of those requirements. In this Order, the Commission modifies our requirements regarding the timing, scope, and content of manufacturer notices and the method of delivery of ETC notices, and clarifies other manufacturer requirements.

The Coast Guard is establishing a security zone around any vessel being escorted by one or more Coast Guard, State, or local law enforcement assets within the Captain of the Port Zone Jacksonville, FL. This action is necessary to ensure the safe transit of escorted vessels as well as the safety and security of personnel and port facilities. No vessel or person is allowed inside the security zone unless authorized by the Captain of the Port Jacksonville, FL or a designated representative.

The Coast Guard is establishing safety zones for various fireworks events in the Captain of the Port Buffalo zone. This rule consolidates current regulations establishing safety zones for annual fireworks events in the former Captain of the Port Cleveland Zone and the former Captain of the Port Buffalo Zone. In addition, it adds events not previously published in Coast Guard regulations. These safety zones are necessary to protect spectators, participants, and vessels from the hazards associated with fireworks displays or other events.

The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for Lycoming Engines (formerly Textron Lycoming) models 320, 360, and 540 series, ``Parallel Valve'' reciprocating engines, with certain Engine Components Inc. (ECi) cylinder assemblies, part number (P/N) AEL65102 series ``Titan'', installed. This proposed AD would require initial and repetitive visual inspections and compression tests to detect cracks at the head-to-barrel interface, replacement of cylinder assemblies found cracked, and replacement of certain cylinder assemblies, at new reduced times-in-service. This proposed AD results from reports of 45 failures with head separations of ECi cylinder assemblies. We are proposing this AD to prevent loss of engine power due to cracks at the head-to-barrel interface in the cylinder assemblies and possible engine failure caused by separation of a cylinder head, which could result in loss of control of the aircraft.

The FAA proposes to supersede an existing airworthiness directive (AD) that applies to various aircraft equipped with certain Honeywell Primus II RNZ-850( )/-851( ) integrated navigation units (INUs). The existing AD, as one alternative for compliance, provides for a one-time inspection to determine whether a certain modification has been installed on the Honeywell Primus II NV-850 navigation receiver module (NRM), which is part of the INU. In lieu of accomplishing this inspection, and for aircraft found to have an affected NRM, that AD provides for revising the aircraft flight manual to include new limitations for instrument landing system approaches. That AD also requires an inspection to determine whether certain other modifications have been done on the NRM; and doing related investigative, corrective, and other specified actions, as applicable; as well as further modifications to address additional anomalies. This proposed AD would extend the compliance time for a certain inspection and associated actions. This proposed AD would also revise the applicability to include additional affected INUs. This proposed AD results from reports indicating that erroneous localizer and glideslope indications have occurred on certain aircraft equipped with the subject INUs. We are proposing this AD to ensure that the flight crew has accurate localizer and glideslope deviation indications. An erroneous localizer or glideslope deviation indication could lead to the aircraft making an approach off the localizer, which could result in impact with an obstacle or terrain.

The EPA is proposing to use the Delisting Risk Assessment Software (DRAS) Version 3.0 in the evaluation of a delisting petition. Based on waste specific information provided by the petitioner, EPA is proposing to use the DRAS to evaluate the impact of the petitioned waste on human health and the environment. This proposal provides background information on the updates and revisions made to the DRAS, and the use of the DRAS in delisting decision-making. The EPA is also proposing to grant petitions submitted by Bayer Material Science in Baytown, Texas; Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Company in Ft. Worth, Texas; and ConnocoPhillips Company Borger Refinery in Borger, Texas, to exclude (or delist) certain solid wastes generated by these facilities from the lists of hazardous wastes.

The Veterans' Employment and Training Service is publishing a new set of regulations, and adopting a new Federal Contractor Veterans' Employment Report VETS-100A (``VETS-100A Report'') form, to implement the requirement under the Vietnam Era Veterans' Readjustment Assistance Act of 1974 (``VEVRAA'') that Government contractors track and annually report the number of employees in their workforces who are veterans covered under the law. The final regulations published today implement amendments to the reporting requirements under VEVRAA that were made by the Jobs for Veterans Act (``JVA'') in 2002. The JVA amendments: Raised the dollar amount of the Government contracts that trigger a contractor's obligation to report on veterans' employment; and changed the categories of veterans that contractors are to track and report. The final regulations published today apply only to covered Government contracts entered into or modified on or after December 1, 2003. The existing regulations in 41 CFR part 61-250, which require contractors to use the Federal Contractor Veterans' Employment Report VETS-100 (``VETS-100 Report'') form to provide the information on the covered veterans in their workforces, will continue to apply to Government contracts entered into before December 1, 2003.

This interim final rule implements portions of the Veterans Benefits, Health Care, and Information Technology Act of 2006. This law requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to verify ownership and control of veteran-owned small businesses, including service- disabled veteran-owned small businesses. According to this interim final rule, a contracting officer in the Department of Veterans Affairs may restrict competition for a requirement to a service-disabled veteran-owned small business (SDVOSB) or to a veteran-owned small business (VOSB) if that business is listed as ``verified'' in the VetBiz.gov Vendor Information Pages (VIP) database. The interim final rule defines the eligibility requirements for businesses to obtain ``verified'' status, explains examination procedures, and establishes records retention and review processes.

The Federal Reserve Board (Board) proposes to amend Regulation DD, which implements the Truth in Savings Act, and the staff commentary to the regulation, to provide additional disclosures about account terms and costs associated with overdrafts. The proposed amendments would set forth content and timing requirements for a notice to consumers about any right to opt out of an institution's overdraft service. Requirements for disclosing overdraft fees on periodic statements would be expanded to apply to all institutions and not solely to institutions that promote the payment of overdrafts. The proposed amendments also address balance disclosures provided in response to balance inquiries from consumers.