September 16, 2008 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) is issuing an interim final regulation, with a request for comments, setting forth factors to be considered by the Director of FHFA in acting upon the Director's authority to limit golden parachute payments to entity- affiliated parties in connection with the Federal National Mortgage Association, the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation, and the Federal Home Loan Banks.

In a Federal Register notice published on August 19, 2008, the Federal Trade Commission (``Commission'' or ``FTC'') requested comment on its Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (``NPRM'') in connection with its rulemaking pursuant to Section 811 of the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 (``EISA''). The NPRM stated that comments must be received on or before September 18, 2008. In response to a request to extend the comment period received on September 5, 2008, the Commission has determined to extend the comment period until October 17, 2008.

Through this notice, the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) clarifies its policy with respect to its interpretation of ``tripper service'' and ``school bus operations'' under 49 CFR part 605.

The Department of the Treasury (Treasury) is issuing this interim final rule as part of its implementation of amendments made by the Terrorism Risk Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2007 (Reauthorization Act) to Title I of the Terrorism Risk Insurance Act of 2002 (TRIA, or Act), as previously amended by the Terrorism Risk Insurance Extension Act of 2005 (Extension Act). The Act established a temporary Terrorism Risk Insurance Program (Program) that was scheduled to expire on December 31, 2005, under which the Federal Government shared the risk of insured losses from certified acts of terrorism with commercial property and casualty insurers. The Extension Act extended the Program through December 31, 2007, and made other changes. The Reauthorization Act extends the Program through December 31, 2014, revises the definition of an ``act of terrorism,'' and makes other changes. This interim final rule contains regulations that Treasury is issuing to implement certain aspects of the Reauthorization Act. In particular, the rule addresses mandatory availability (``make available'') and disclosure requirements.

The Coast Guard proposes to establish a safety zone on the navigable waters of Buck Island Channel, St. Croix, USVI. This proposed regulation is necessary to provide for the safety of participants, marine spectators, and recreational and professional mariner traffic during the St. Croix Coral Reef Swim event. This zone is intended to restrict vessels from entering into, transiting through, or anchoring within the waters where the event will be held unless authorized by the Captain of the Port (COTP) San Juan or a designated representative.

This action changes the using agency of R-3807, Glencoe, LA, from ``USAF, Southeast Air Defense Sector, Tyndall AFB, FL,'' to ``Western Air Defense Sector (WADS), McChord AFB, WA.'' The FAA is taking this action in response to a request from the United States Air Force (USAF) to reflect an administrative change of responsibility for the restricted area. There are no changes to the boundaries; designated altitudes; time of designation; or activities conducted within the affected restricted area.

EPA is proposing to approve the State Implementation Plan (SIP) revision submitted by the State of Florida (Florida) on May 31, 2007, for the purpose of removing Stage II vapor control requirements for new and upgraded gasoline dispensing facilities in Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach Counties (hereafter referred to as the ``Southeast Florida Area''), and to phase out Stage II requirements for existing facilities in those counties. In addition, EPA is proposing to approve this SIP revision which would require new and upgraded gasoline dispensing facilities and new bulk gasoline plants statewide to employ Stage I vapor control systems, and would phase in Stage I vapor control requirements statewide for existing gasoline dispensing facilities. In the Final Rules Section of this Federal Register, EPA is approving the State's SIP revision as a direct final rule without prior proposal because the Agency views this as a noncontroversial submittal and anticipates no adverse comments. A detailed rationale for the approval is set forth in the direct final rule. If no adverse comments are received in response to this rule, no further activity is contemplated. If EPA receives adverse comments, the direct final rule will be withdrawn and all public comments received will be addressed in a subsequent final rule based on this proposed rule. EPA will not institute a second comment period on this document. Any parties interested in commenting on this document should do so at this time.

EPA is conditionally approving into Michigan's State Implementation Plan (SIP) specified revisions to add the prevention of significant deterioration (PSD) construction permit program for the purpose of meeting the requirements of the Clean Air Act (CAA) with regard to new source review in areas attaining the National Ambient Air Quality Standards. The Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) submitted these rules to EPA for approval and inclusion into the Michigan SIP on December 21, 2006. In addition, in a separate action in today's Federal Register, EPA is proposing to partially disapprove the portion of Michigan's SIP revision submission consisting of Michigan Rule R 336.2816. The PSD SIP revision affects major stationary sources in Michigan that are subject to, or potentially subject to, the PSD construction permit program.

EPA is approving this revision to the Louisiana State Implementation Plan (SIP) concerning the maintenance plan addressing the 1997 8-hour ozone standard for the New Orleans Ozone Maintenance Area. On June 29, 2007, the State of Louisiana submitted a maintenance plan for the New Orleans Ozone Maintenance Area, which includes the parishes of Jefferson, Orleans, St. Bernard and St. Charles, which ensures continued attainment of the 1997 8-hour ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS) through the year 2014. This maintenance plan meets the statutory and regulatory requirements, and is consistent with EPA's guidance. EPA is approving the revision pursuant to section 110 of the Federal Clean Air Act (CAA). On March 12, 2008, EPA issued a revised ozone standard. Today's action, however, is being taken to address requirements under the 1997 ozone standard. Requirements for the New Orleans area under the 2008 standard will be addressed in future actions.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), propose to revise designated critical habitat for the California red-legged frog (Rana aurora draytonii), pursuant to the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). The previous final rule designated 450,288 acres (ac) (182,225 hectares (ha)) of critical habitat. We herein propose to revise those critical habitat boundaries to better reflect lands containing essential features for the California red-legged frog, and we now propose to designate approximately 1,804,865 ac (730,402 ha) of critical habitat in 28 California counties, an increase of approximately 1,354,577 ac) (548,177 ha).