September 4, 2008 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

Based on affirmative final determinations by the Department of Commerce (the Department) and the International Trade Commission (ITC), the Department is issuing an antidumping duty order on certain new pneumatic off-the-road tires (``OTR tires'') from the People's Republic of China (``PRC''). On August 28, 2008, the ITC notified the Department of its affirmative determination of material injury to a U.S. industry and its negative determination of critical circumstances. See Certain Off-The-Road Tires from China , USITC Pub. 4031, Inv. Nos. 701-TA-448 and 731-TA-1117 (Final) (August 2008).

We (NMFS) announce a 90-day finding on a petition to list three ice seal species, [ringed (Phoca hispida), bearded (Erignathus barbatus), and spotted (Phoca largha)] as threatened or endangered under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). Although the petition identifies ringed seals as Pusa hispida, at this time we believe that the ringed seal is more properly identified as Phoca hispida. We find that the petition presents substantial scientific or commercial information indicating that the petitioned action of listing the ice seals may be warranted. Therefore, we have initiated status reviews of the ice seals to determine if listing under the ESA is warranted. To ensure these status reviews are comprehensive, we are soliciting scientific and commercial information regarding all of these ice seal species.

This document announces that, as required by the Warning, Alert and Response Network (WARN) Act, by September 8, 2008, each Commercial Mobile Service (CMS) provider must file an election with the Federal Communications Commission (``FCC'' or ``Commission'') indicating whether or not it intends to transmit emergency alerts as part of the Commercial Mobile Alert System.

The Department hereby solicits applications from persons (including firms, corporations, or other legal entities) who weave worsted wool fabrics in the United States for an allocation of the 2009 tariff rate quotas on certain worsted wool fabric. Interested persons must submit an application on the form provided to the address listed below by October 6, 2008. The Department will cause to be published in the Federal Register its determination to allocate the 2009 tariff rate quotas and will notify applicants of their respective allocation as soon as possible after that date. Promptly thereafter, the Department will issue licenses to eligible applicants.

This notice announces a public meeting of the Spectrum Management Advisory Committee (Committee). The Committee provides advice to the Assistant Secretary for Communications and Information on spectrum management matters.

FMCSA previously announced its decision to renew Volvo Trucks North America's (Volvo) exemption for eight of its drivers to enable them to test-drive commercial motor vehicles (CMVs) in the United States without a commercial driver's license (CDL) issued by one of the States. FMCSA requested comment on the renewal of the exemption, but received no comments.

NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for species that comprise the shallow-water species fishery by vessels using trawl gear in the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). This action is necessary because the fourth seasonal apportionment of the 2008 Pacific halibut bycatch allowance specified for the shallow-water species fishery in the GOA has been reached.

The U.S. Naval Academy Board of Visitors will meet to make such inquiry, as the Board shall deem necessary into the state of morale and discipline, the curriculum, instruction, physical equipment, fiscal affairs, and academic methods of the Naval Academy. The meeting will include discussions of personnel issues at the Naval Academy, the disclosure of which would constitute a clearly unwarranted invasion of personal privacy. The executive session of this meeting will be closed to the public.

The Commission hereby gives notice of the scheduling of the final phase of antidumping investigation No. 731-TA-1143 (Final) under section 735(b) of the Tariff Act of 1930 (19 U.S.C. 1673d(b)) (the Act) to determine whether an industry in the United States is materially injured or threatened with material injury, or the establishment of an industry in the United States is materially retarded, by reason of less-than-fair-value imports from China of small diameter graphite electrodes, provided for in subheading 8545.11.00 of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States.\1\

This notice lists the location and time of the fourteenth and fifteenth meetings of the National Surface Transportation Infrastructure Financing Commission.

The Corporation for National and Community Service (hereinafter the ``Corporation''), has submitted a public information collection request (ICR) entitled the AmeriCorps*VISTA Assessment of VISTA Project Sustainability to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 104-13 (44 U.S.C. Chapter 35). Copies of this ICR, with applicable supporting documentation, may be obtained by calling the Corporation for National and Community Service, Mr. Craig Kinnear at (202) 606-9708. Individuals who use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TTY-TDD) may call (202) 565- 2799 between 8:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. eastern time, Monday through Friday.

This rule provides regulations to administer the Specialty Crop Block Grant ProgramFarm Bill (SCBGP-FB) to enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops. This rule is intended to establish eligibility and application requirements and grant administration procedures for the SCBGP-FB consistent with the Food, Conversation, and Energy Act of 2008 (Farm Bill) amendments to the Specialty Crops Competitiveness Act of 2004. This program is separate from the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program (SCBGP) found in 7 CFR part 1290.

The National Maritime Security Advisory Committee (NMSAC) will meet in Washington, DC to discuss various issues relating to national maritime security. This meeting will be open to the public.

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this request for comments announces that the U.S. Coast Guard is forwarding three Information Collection Requests (ICRs), abstracted below, to the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA), Office of Management and Budget (OMB) requesting an extension of their approval for the following collections of information: (1) 1625-0028, Course Approval and Records for Merchant Marine Training Schools; (2) 1625- 0034, Ships' Stores Certification for Hazardous Materials Aboard Ships, and (3) 1625-0043, Ports and Waterways SafetyTitle 33 CFR Subchapter P. Our ICRs describe the information we seek to collect from the public. Review and comments by OIRA ensure we only impose paperwork burdens commensurate with our performance of duties.

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.

This final rule adopts, without change, an interim rule that made two technical changes to HUD's Home Equity Conversion Mortgage (HECM) program. First, the interim rule extended the date for calculating the maximum claim amount in the HECM program from the date of the underwriter's receipt of the appraisal report to the date of closing. This change provides a more easily verifiable and more easily identifiable date. Second, the interim rule corrected an unintended consequence that results in a situation where HECM loans that are not in default but have been assigned pursuant to regulatory provisions, and remain in effect, are not eligible to be refinanced with a discounted initial mortgage insurance premium (MIP). The interim rule permitted such HECM loans to be eligible for the discounted initial MIP upon refinancing, in accordance with the purpose of the HECM program, which is to improve the financial situation of elderly homeowners. HUD received one public comment in response to a solicitation of comments on the interim rule, which was supportive of the interim rule.