August 2008 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Secretary of Education requests comments on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) that the Secretary proposes to use for the 2009-2010 award year. The FAFSA is completed by students and their families and the information submitted on the form is used to determine the students' eligibility and financial need for financial aid under the student financial assistance programs authorized under Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended (Title IV, HEA Programs). The Department acknowledges the recent passage of the Higher Education Opportunity Act (HEOA) of 2008 and its instruction to the Department to simplify the Federal Student Aid application process, to reduce the number of questions on the FAFSA form, to create a FAFSA-EZ form, and to revise the form so that it contains consumer friendly language as well as take other measures to streamline the process of applying for federal student aid. The Department is committed to improving the federal student aid application process for individuals completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). We were challenged to incorporate each of the changes required to satisfy the intent of Congress in implementing the College Cost Reduction and Access Act (CCRAA) and the recently passed post 9/11 legislative changes while not losing focus on our customers' need for a simple, straightforward application. Because 99 percent of student applicants opt to apply electronically, much of the Department's recent improvements have focused on the FAFSA suite of products. The most heavily used application, FAFSA on the Web, maximizes the use of `skip logic' and previously submitted FAFSA data, to dramatically reduce the time-to- complete benchmark for returning customers. New customers have the benefit of answering specific questions up front that determine if, for example, the student needs to provide additional asset or parental information. Students that are eligible to skip asset and/or parental questions complete a shorter, more streamlined FAFSA. During 2007-2008, the Department launched the use of a `real-time' PIN that enables every applicant to electronically sign their FAFSAs during their on-line session; eliminating the time consuming process of separately requesting, and waiting for the delivery of, a PIN. For the one percent of FAFSA applicants that complete the paper FAFSA, the Department has simplified the application process by grouping like questions together, incorporating previously supplemental worksheets into the application; improving the layout of the form; and clearly delineating between student and parental questions. For those students that prefer to submit a paper FAFSA but don't have access to a pre-printed FAFSA form, the Department has created a FAFSA PDF that can be downloaded from the Internet and completed, either on a PC or by hand, and mailed to the Department. In addition, the Department has created numerous on-line and paper sources to assist students with the FAFSA process. The Web site Student Aid on the Web (https://www.studentaid.ed.gov) provides a vast array of student-centric information on researching colleges, finding scholarships, preparing academically, and applying for federal student assistance. The FAFSA4caster Web site (https:// www.fafsa4caster.ed.gov) enables students to obtain an early estimate of their eligibility for federal student aid while increasing their knowledge of the financial aid process. FAFSA4caster users that opt to provide demographic information about themselves can later `pre- populate' a FAFSA, thereby shortening the application completion time. Working with customers, stakeholders, partners and Congress, the Department will continue its commitment to further streamline the experience for FAFSA applicants into the future.

The inventions listed below are owned by an agency of the U.S. Government and are available for licensing in the U.S. in accordance with 35 U.S.C. 207 to achieve expeditious commercialization of results of federally-funded research and development. Foreign patent applications are filed on selected inventions to extend market coverage for companies and may also be available for licensing.

The Department of the Treasury, as part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, invites the general public and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on proposed and/or continuing information collections, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 104-13 (44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)). Currently, the IRS is soliciting comments concerning an existing final regulation, REG-103043-05, Material Advisor of Reportable Transaction Must Keep List of Advisees, etc. (previously REG-103736-00, Requirement to Maintain List of Investors in Potentially Abusive Tax Shelters).

The public is invited to comment on the following applications to conduct certain activities with endangered species.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is publishing a list of premarket approval applications (PMAs) that have been approved. This list is intended to inform the public of the availability of safety and effectiveness summaries of approved PMAs through the Internet and the agency's Division of Dockets Management.

The FAA proposes to rule and invite public comment on the release of land at the Love Field Airport under the provisions of Section 125 of the Wendell H. Ford Aviation Investment Reform Act for the 21st Century (AIR 21).

In response to a Notice of Proposed Rule Making, this Report and Order allots Channel 231C3 to Boardman, Oregon, and Channel 247C3 to Owyhee, Nevada, as first local aural transmission services to those communities. The coordinates for Channel 231C3 at Boardman, Oregon are 45-53-51 NL and 119-55-21 WL. The coordinates for Channel 247C3 at Owyhee, Nevada are 41-55-26 NL and 116-11-16 WL. The Report and Order also grants an amended counterproposal filed by College Creek Media, LLC (``College Creek'') that includes the above referenced allotment at Owyhee, Nevada. See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.

FSIS is conforming its regulations to the Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) regulations, entitled, ``Mandatory Country of Origin Labeling of Beef, Pork, Lamb, Chicken, Goat Meat, Perishable Agricultural Commodities, Peanuts, Pecans, Ginseng, and Macademia Nuts.'' Therefore, FSIS is amending its regulations to require that a country of origin statement on the label of any meat or poultry product that is a covered commodity, as defined in AMS' interim final regulations (73 FR 45106), and is to be sold by a retailer, as also defined in AMS' interim final regulation, must comply with AMS' interim final regulations. FSIS is also amending its regulations to provide that the addition of country of origin statements on labels of meat or poultry product covered commodities that are to be sold by covered retailers and that comply with the country of origin labeling requirements will be considered to be generically approved. FSIS is not amending its regulations or labeling policies for meat or poultry products that are non-covered commodities. The effective date of AMS' interim final rule for country of origin labeling is September 30, 2008. Therefore, in order to meet the deadline, FSIS is issuing this interim final rule.

We are proposing to amend the fruits and vegetables regulations to allow the importation, under certain conditions, of sweet oranges and grapefruit from Chile into the continental United States. Based on the evidence in a recent pest risk analysis, we believe these articles can be safely imported from all provinces of Chile, provided certain conditions are met. This action would provide for the importation of sweet oranges and grapefruit from Chile into the continental United States while continuing to protect the United States against the introduction of plant pests.

EPA is approving a State Implementation Plan (SIP) revision submitted by the State of Delaware. This SIP revision establishes limits on the emissions of nitrogen oxides (NOX) and sulfur dioxide (SO2) from Delaware's large electric generating units (EGUs). EPA is approving this SIP revision in accordance with the Clean Air Act (CAA).

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain transport category airplanes identified above. This AD requires modifying the fuel boost pumps. This AD results from a fuel boost pump found with blown thermal fuses and a fractured thrust washer. We are issuing this AD to prevent failure of the fuel boost pumps, which could lead to the potential of ignition sources inside fuel tanks. This condition, in combination with flammable fuel vapors, could result in fuel tank explosions and consequent loss of the airplane.

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Boeing Model 737-600, -700, -800, and -900 series airplanes. This AD requires installing hot short protector (HSP) support brackets and equipment for the fuel quantity indicating system (FQIS) fuel densitometer and other specified actions as applicable. This AD also requires revising the Airworthiness Limitations (AWLs) section of the Instructions for Continued Airworthiness to incorporate AWL No. 28-AWL- 07. This AD results from fuel system reviews conducted by the manufacturer. We are issuing this AD to prevent the center tank fuel densitometer from overheating and becoming a potential ignition source inside the center fuel tank, which, in combination with flammable fuel vapors, could result in a center fuel tank explosion and consequent loss of the airplane.

This notice announces the Department of Energy's Decision and Order in Case No. CAC-013, which grants a waiver to Cascade Group, LLC (Cascade) from the existing Department of Energy (DOE) residential central air conditioner and heat pump test procedure for its product line of residential Cascade Energy Saver (CES) multi-blower air- conditioning and heating equipment. DOE is granting a waiver because the multi-blower feature of these products, which impacts the calculation of energy efficiency, is not accounted for in the DOE test procedure. As a condition of this waiver, Cascade must test and rate the energy consumption of specified CES products (indoor units combined with the listed outdoor units) according to the alternate test procedure set forth in this notice.

The FAA is superseding an existing airworthiness directive (AD), which applies to certain Airbus Model A319, A320, and A321 series airplanes equipped with certain Litton air data inertial reference units (ADIRUs). That AD currently requires modifying the shelf (floor panel) above ADIRU 3, modifying the polycarbonate guard that covers the ADIRUs for certain airplanes, and modifying the ladder located in the avionics compartment for certain airplanes. This new AD requires those modifications on additional airplanes. This new AD also requires replacing all three ADIRUs with improved ADIRUs. This new AD also adds Model A318 series airplanes to the applicability. This AD results from reports that ``NAV IR FAULT'' messages have occurred during takeoff due to failure of an ADIRU and subsequent analysis showing that the shelf modification has not sufficiently addressed failure of an ADIRU. We are issuing this AD to prevent failure of an ADIRU during flight, which could result in loss of one source of critical attitude and airspeed data and reduce the ability of the flightcrew to control the airplane.

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Boeing Model 707 airplanes, and Model 720 and 720B series airplanes. This AD requires repetitive detailed inspections to detect cracks and corrosion on any existing repairs and at certain body stations of the visible surfaces of the wing to body terminal fittings including the web, flanges, and ribs; and applicable related investigative and corrective actions. This AD results from reports of cracks found in the wing to body terminal fittings during routine inspections. We are issuing this AD to prevent cracks and corrosion in the body terminal fittings, which could cause loss of support for the wing and could adversely affect the structural integrity of the airplane.

The Commission will consider a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking regarding implementation of the New and Emerging Technologies 911 Improvement Act of 2008.

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501-3521), this notice announces that the Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA), Department of Veterans Affairs, will submit the collection of information abstracted below to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and comment. The PRA submission describes the nature of the information collection and its expected cost and burden; it includes the actual data collection instrument.

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501-3521), this notice announces that the Veterans Health Administration (VHA), Department of Veterans Affairs, has submitted the collection of information abstracted below to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and comment. The PRA submission describes the nature of the information collection and its expected cost and burden and includes the actual data collection instrument.

The Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA), Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), is announcing an opportunity for public comment on the proposed collection of certain information by the agency. Under the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995, Federal agencies are required to publish notice in the Federal Register concerning each proposed collection of information, including each proposed extension of a currently approved collection, and allow 60 days for public comment in response to the notice. This notice solicits comments on the information needed to determine children with spina bifida eligibility for reimbursement of transportation expenses.

The Coast Guard proposes to temporarily change the enforcement period for special local regulations during the ``Cambridge Offshore Challenge'', a marine event held annually on the waters of Choptank River near Cambridge, Maryland. Special local regulations are necessary to provide for the safety of life on navigable waters during the event. This action is intended to restrict vessel traffic in portions of the Choptank River during the event.

The Department of Homeland Security, Office of the Chief Procurement Officer, Acquisition Policy and Legislation Office, will submit the following information collection request (ICR) to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and clearance in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104-13 (as amended), 44 U.S.C. Chapter 35). The Office of the Chief Procurement Officer is soliciting comments related to its request for extension of an existing information collection authority for the solicitation of proposal information for award of public contracts under Homeland Security Acquisition Regulation (HSAR). DHS previously published this information collection request (ICR) in the Federal Register on June 6, 2008 at 73 FR 32343, for a 60-day public comment period. No comments were received by DHS. The purpose of this notice is to allow additional 30-days for public comments.