August 12, 2008 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The FAA is requiring ``special awareness'' training for any pilot who flies under visual flight rules (VFR) within a 60-nautical- mile (NM) radius of the Washington, DC VHF omni-directional range/ distance measuring equipment (DCA VOR/DME). This training has been developed and provided by the FAA on its www.FAASafety.gov Web site and focuses primarily on training pilots on the procedures for flying in and around the Washington, DC Metropolitan Area Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ) and the Washington, DC Metropolitan Area Flight Restricted Zone (FRZ). The rule will reduce the number of unauthorized flights into the airspace of the Washington, DC Metropolitan Area ADIZ and FRZ through education of the pilot community.

This final rule implements sections 704 and 705 of the Ronald W. Reagan National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2005. These provisions apply to eligible family members who become eligible for TRICARE as a result of their Reserve Component (RC) sponsor (including those with delayed effective date orders up to 90 days) being called or ordered to active duty for more than 30 days in support of a federal/contingency operation and choose to participate in TRICARE Standard or Extra, rather than enroll in TRICARE Prime. The first provision gives the Secretary the authority to waive the annual TRICARE Standard (or Extra) deductible, which is set by law (10 U.S.C. 1079(b)) at $150 per individual and $300 per family ($50/$100 for families of members in pay grades E-4 and below). The second provision gives the Secretary the authority to increase TRICARE payments up to 115 percent of the TRICARE maximum allowable charge, less the applicable patient cost share if not previously waived under the first provision, for covered inpatient and outpatient health services received from a provider that does not participate (accept assignment) with TRICARE. These provisions help ensure timely access to health care and maintain clinically appropriate continuity of health care to family members of Reservists and Guardsmen activated in support of a federal/contingency operation; limit the out-of-pocket health care expenses for those family members; and remove potential barriers to health care access by Guard and Reserve families.

The Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau proposes to establish the 23,941-acre ``Happy Canyon of Santa Barbara'' American viticultural area in Santa Barbara County, California. This area lies within the larger Santa Ynez Valley viticultural area and the multicounty Central Coast viticultural area. We designate viticultural areas to allow vintners to better describe the origin of their wines and to allow consumers to better identify wines they may purchase. We invite comments on this proposed addition to our regulations.

The Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau proposes to establish the 24,040-acre ``Lake Chelan'' American viticultural area in Chelan County, Washington. It lies within the larger Columbia Valley viticultural area in north-central Washington. We designate viticultural areas to allow vintners to better describe the origin of their wines and to allow consumers to better identify wines they may purchase. We invite comments on this proposed addition to our regulations.

Comments are requested on the proposed Base (1 percent annual- chance) Flood Elevations (BFEs) and proposed BFE modifications for the communities listed in the table below. The purpose of this notice is to seek general information and comment regarding the proposed regulatory flood elevations for the reach described by the downstream and upstream locations in the table below. The BFEs and modified BFEs are a part of the floodplain management measures that the community is required either to adopt or show evidence of having in effect in order to qualify or remain qualified for participation in the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). In addition, these elevations, once finalized, will be used by insurance agents, and others to calculate appropriate flood insurance premium rates for new buildings and the contents in those buildings.

Base (1% annual chance) Flood Elevations (BFEs) and modified BFEs are made final for the communities listed below. The BFEs and modified BFEs are the basis for the floodplain management measures that each community is required either to adopt or to show evidence of being already in effect in order to qualify or remain qualified for participation in the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP).

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce the reopening of the comment period on the revised proposed designation of critical habitat for 12 species of Hawaiian picture-wing flies (Drosophila aglaia, D. differens, D. hemipeza, D. heteroneura, D. montgomeryi, D. mulli, D. musaphilia, D. neoclavisetae, D. obatai, D. ochrobasis, D. substenoptera, and D. tarphytrichia) under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). We also announce the availability of a draft economic analysis (DEA) and an amended required determinations section of the proposal. We are reopening the comment period to allow all interested parties an opportunity to comment simultaneously on the revised proposed rule, the associated DEA, and the amended required determinations section. If you submitted comments previously, you do not need to resubmit them because we have already incorporated them into the public record and will fully consider them in preparation of the final rule.

DoD has issued a final rule amending the Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS) to reflect the redesignation of the ``Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization'' to the ``Office of Small Business Programs'' within DoD. The redesignation resulted from Section 904 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2006.

DoD has issued a final rule amending the Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS) to update text addressing contractor standards of conduct and the handling of extraordinary contractual actions. The DFARS changes are consistent with changes made to the Federal Acquisition Regulation.

DoD has adopted as final, without change, an interim rule amending the Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS) to incorporate increased dollar thresholds for application of the World Trade Organization Government Procurement Agreement and the Free Trade Agreements, as determined by the United States Trade Representative.

DoD is making technical amendments to the Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS) to update a subpart heading, a cross-reference, and a form title.

This proposed rule would modify HUD's policies and practices regarding responses to subpoenas and other demands for testimony of HUD employees, or for production of documents by HUD. This proposed rule would delegate authority to additional officials within HUD's Office of General Counsel and would revise the criteria used to evaluate such demands. Finally, this rule would eliminate unnecessary provisions covering HUD's response to demands in cases in which the United States is a party to the case in which testimony or documents are requested.