May 21, 2008 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

In this document, the Federal Trade Commission (``FTC'' or ``Commission'') issues its Statement of Basis and Purpose and final Discretionary Rule (``final Rule'') pursuant to section 7711(a) of the Controlling the Assault of Non-Solicited Pornography and Marketing Act of 2003 (``CAN-SPAM'' or ``the Act''), which gives the FTC discretionary authority to ``issue regulations to implement the provisions of [the] Act.''

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is denying a petition for rulemaking (PRM-35-18) submitted by Peter G. Crane (petitioner). The petitioner requested that the NRC amend the regulations that govern medical use of byproduct material concerning release of individuals who have been treated with radiopharmaceuticals. The petitioner believes that this regulation is defective on legal and policy grounds. The petitioner requested that the patient release rule be partially revoked insofar as it allows patients to be released from radioactive isolation with more than the equivalent of 30 millicuries of radioactive iodine I-131 (I-131) in their bodies. The NRC, for the reasons described in the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION of this document has determined that the issues raised in the petition do not justify a rule change.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce the reopening of the comment period on the proposed revised designation of critical habitat for the northern spotted owl (Strix occidentalis caurina) under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). We also announce the availability of the draft economic analysis (DEA) of the proposed revised critical habitat designation and an amended required determination section of the proposal. We are reopening the comment period to allow all interested parties an opportunity to comment simultaneously on the proposed revised rule, the associated draft economic analysis, and the amended required determinations section. If you submitted comments previously, then you do not need to resubmit them because we have already incorporated them into the public record and we will fully consider them in preparation of our final rule.

The Commission is amending its regulations to expand and clarify the right of an entity to submit a written response to the Commission in the event staff intends to recommend that the Commission initiate a proceeding governed by 18 CFR Part 385, or make the entity a defendant in a civil action to be brought by the Commission. Subjects of investigations currently have the right under 18 CFR 1b.19 to be informed in the latter instance, but only in the event staff finds it appropriate and in the public interest. The amendment would grant that right, for both types of proceedings, in all cases except those in which extraordinary circumstances make prompt Commission review necessary to prevent detriment to the public interest or irreparable harm. The amendment also clarifies the timing requirements for such submissions. These changes codify current staff practice regarding recommendations for orders to show cause, and will allow subjects of investigations a fuller opportunity to present their positions to the Commission.

On June 12, 2007, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WDNR) submitted a request to redesignate Kewaunee County to attainment of the 8-hour ozone standard. EPA proposed to approve this submission on December 11, 2007. EPA provided a 30-day review and comment period. The comment period closed on January 10, 2008. EPA received comments from the Sierra Club and the Door County Corporation Counsel. EPA is approving Wisconsin's request and the associated maintenance plan for continuing to attain the standard. As part of this action, EPA is making a determination that Kewaunee County has attained the 1997 8-hour ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS). This determination is based on complete, quality-assured ambient air quality monitoring data for the 2004-2006 ozone seasons that demonstrate that the 8-hour ozone NAAQS has been attained in Kewaunee County. Monitoring data for 2007 continue to show monitored attainment of the NAAQS. EPA is approving the maintenance plan for Kewaunee County and is redesignating Kewaunee County to attainment. Finally, EPA is approving, for purposes of transportation conformity, Wisconsin's 2012 and 2018 Motor Vehicle Emission Budgets (MVEBs) for Kewaunee County.

In the Second Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (Second FNPRM), the Commission seeks comment on clarifications or revisions to the rules governing the Public Safety Broadband Licensee and the Upper 700 MHz D Block licensee. The Commission seeks comment on whether to continue to require these licensees to enter into a 700 MHz Public/ Private Partnership for the purpose of enabling the construction of a nationwide, interoperable broadband network, and if so, what clarifications or revisions to adopt to the rules governing the licensees and the 700 MHz Public/Private Partnership. Further, the Commission seeks comment on what rules to adopt if it determines that the public/private partnership obligation should not be retained. This Second Further Notice is another step in the Commission's ongoing efforts to develop a regulatory framework in which to meet current and future public safety communications needs.

The Department of the Navy is amending its certifications and exemptions under the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea, 1972 (72 COLREGS), to reflect that the Deputy Assistant Judge Advocate General (Admiralty and Maritime Law) has determined that USS DECATUR (DDG 73) is a vessel of the Navy which, due to its special construction and purpose, cannot fully comply with certain provisions of the 72 COLREGS without interfering with its special function as a naval ship. The intended effect of this rule is to warn mariners in waters where 72 COLREGS apply.

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Boeing Model 737-100, -200, -200C, -300, -400, and -500 series airplanes. This AD requires repetitive inspections for cracking in and around the upper and lower hinge cutouts of the forward entry and forward galley service doorways, and corrective actions if necessary. This AD results from multiple reports of cracks found in the skin, bearstrap, and/or frame outer chord in the hinge cutout areas of the forward entry and forward galley service doorways. We are issuing this AD to detect and correct such cracking, which could result in rapid decompression of the airplane.

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Boeing Model 737-100, -200, and -200C series airplanes. This AD requires revising the FAA-approved maintenance inspection program to include inspections that will give no less than the required damage tolerance rating for each structural significant item (SSI), doing repetitive inspections to detect cracks of all SSIs, and repairing cracked structure. This AD results from a report of incidents involving fatigue cracking in transport category airplanes that are approaching or have exceeded their design service objective. We are issuing this AD to maintain the continued structural integrity of the entire fleet of Model 737-100, -200, and -200C series airplanes.

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Lockheed Model L-1011 series airplanes. This AD requires revising the FAA-approved maintenance program by incorporating new airworthiness limitations for fuel tank systems to satisfy Special Federal Aviation Regulation No. 88 requirements. This AD also requires the accomplishment of certain fuel system modifications, the initial inspections of certain repetitive fuel system limitations to phase in those inspections, and repair if necessary. This AD results from a design review of the fuel tank systems. We are issuing this AD to prevent the potential for ignition sources inside fuel tanks caused by latent failures, alterations, repairs, or maintenance actions, which, in combination with flammable fuel vapors, could result in a fuel tank explosion and consequent loss of the airplane.

This final rule establishes the Honey Packers and Importers Research, Promotion, Consumer Education and Industry Information Order (Packers Order). The Packers Order is authorized under the Commodity Promotion, Research, and Information Act of 1996 (1996 Act). Under the Packers Order, first handlers and importers will pay an assessment of $0.01 per pound on honey and honey products. First handlers and importers of less than 250,000 pounds of honey and honey products annually will be exempt from the assessment. The assessments will be remitted to the Honey Packers and Importers Board (Board) to conduct a generic program of promotion, research, consumer education, and industry information to maintain and expand markets for honey and honey products. A referendum was conducted among honey first handlers and importers between April 2 and April 16, 2008. Seventy-eight percent of those covered under the Packers Orderrepresenting ninety-two percent of the volume of those voting in the referendumfavored implementation of the program. This rule also suspends the requirement of the existing Honey Research, Promotion, and Consumer Information Order (Current Order) and regulations authorized under the Honey Research, Promotion, and Consumer Information Act (Honey Act) that honey producers and importers pay to the National Honey Board (Current Board) an assessment in the amount of $0.01 per pound on honey and honey products. The provisions of the Current Order and regulations issued thereunder will be terminated at a later date.

The FAA proposes to establish procedures to address congestion in the New York City area by assigning slots at John F. Kennedy (JFK) and Newark Liberty (Newark) International Airports in a way that allows carriers to respond to market forces to drive efficient airline behavior. This proposal is a companion to a separate rulemaking initiative addressing congestion mitigation at New York's LaGuardia airport. Today's proposal is similar to what we have proposed for LaGuardia airport, but it takes into consideration the characteristics of both JFK and Newark, including the large number of international flights at these airports and our international obligations. The FAA proposes to extend the caps on the operations at the two airports, assign to existing operators the majority of slots at the airports, and create a market by annually auctioning off a limited number of slots in each of the first five years of this rule. The FAA is proposing two alternatives. Under the first alternative, the assignment of slots at JFK and Newark would be conducted through a uniform mechanism. The FAA would auction off a portion of the slots and would use the proceeds to mitigate congestion and delay in the New York City area. Under the second alternative, the same auction procedure would apply at Newark as under the first alternative but at JFK the auction proceeds would go to the carrier holding the slot rather than to the FAA. For both alternatives, this proposal also contains provisions for minimum usage, capping unscheduled operations, and withdrawal for operational need. The FAA proposes to sunset the rule in ten years.