September 2008 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

EPA is withdrawing its draft Pesticide Registration Notice (PR Notice) entitled ``Label Statements Regarding Third-Party Endorsements & Cause Marketing.'' The draft PR Notice, issued for public comment in October 2007, contained a description of the Agency's proposed framework for evaluating proposed statements and graphic material to appear on pesticide labeling regarding third-party endorsements or a relationship between the pesticide registrant and a charity (``cause marketing claims'') and the kinds of information EPA would expect to receive in applications to add such claims to pesticide labeling. Public comments on the draft raised serious issues, leading the Agency to conclude that considerably more information would likely be needed to support such claims than was described by the draft PR Notice. Rather than develop additional guidance, EPA believes it is better to allocate its resources to other initiatives which should improve pesticide labeling in ways that enhance users' understanding of and ability to use products safely and effectively. Thus, the Agency will continue to evaluate applications proposing to add labeling containing third-party endorsements or cause marketing claims on a case-by-case basis to ensure that the applicant has provided sufficient information to allow EPA to determine whether products containing such claims meet the standards for registration.

This notice announces a meeting of the Environmental Management Site-Specific Advisory Board (EM SSAB), Paducah. The Federal Advisory Committee Act (Pub. L. 92-463, 86 Stat. 770) requires that public notice of this meeting be announced in the Federal Register. This meeting is being held in place of the September 18, 2008, meeting, which was cancelled.

This notice announces a meeting of the Ultra-Deepwater Advisory Committee. Federal Advisory Committee Act (Pub. L. 92-463, 86 Stat. 770) requires that notice of these meetings be announced in the Federal Register.

The Bureau of the Census (U.S. Census Bureau) is giving notice of a meeting of the 2010 Census Advisory Committee. Committee members will address policy, research, and technical issues related to 2010 Decennial Census Programs. Working groups will be convened to assist in planning efforts for the 2010 Census and the American Community Survey. Last-minute changes to the agenda are possible, which could prevent giving advance notification of schedule changes.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation, we) intends to submit a request for renewal (with revisions) of an existing approved information collection to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB): Right-of-Use Application (Form 7-2540), OMB Control Number: 1006-0003. Title 43 CFR part 429 requires that applicants for certain uses of Bureau of Reclamation land apply using Form 7-2540. We request your comments on specific aspects of the revised Right-of-Use Application Form.

The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) has issued FTA Circular 4220.1F, ``Third Party Contracting Guidance'' to provide comprehensive guidance to grantees and recipients of cooperative agreements (recipients) to implement third party contracting requirements that apply to FTA assisted procurements.

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is noticing the completion of remediation activities at the Salmon River Uranium Development Site, near North Fork, Idaho. Background: The U.S. Atomic Energy Commission (AEC) issued Source Material License P-4001 to Salmon River Uranium Development, Inc. (SRUD) on October 10, 1958. This license authorized SRUD to possess and transfer source material. On March 30, 1959, the AEC issued Source Material License No. R-0230 to SRUD. This license authorized the receipt and possession of source material for processing. Source Material License No. R-0230 expired on June 30, 1959 and Source Material License No. P-4001 expired on October 31, 1959. Both uranium and thorium ores were processed at the site. Processing of source material occurred at two separate times, the late- 1950s and the late-1970s. Processing operations were conducted in the late-1950s in accordance with the AEC licenses. During the late-1970s, pilot plant operations were conducted at the site to determine the viability of experimental ore processing techniques. The SRUD site was placed on the NRC's Site Decommissioning Management Plan (SDMP) list in 1994. In May 2001, NRC staff visited the SRUD site and identified thorium contamination in the form of partially processed ore. In 2003, the NRC and the Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education conducted scoping surveys of the site. During 2004 and 2005, NRC staff worked with the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to establish an approach for remediation of the site. EPA agreed to perform remediation activities at the SRUD site in accordance with the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act, as amended, 42 U.S.C. 9601(14) and (33). A Removal Action Work Plan (ADAMS No. ML072880344), which specified its step-by- step process for conducting cleanup activities at the SRUD site, was developed by the EPA and approved by the NRC. The EPA's Removal Action Work Plan included the removal and disposal of hazardous chemical and radiological contaminants that may pose a threat to workers, public health and welfare, and the environment. EPA's radiological release criteria was based on a recreational use scenario for the site. Implementation of the EPA's work plan began on October 23, 2007, and was completed on June 3, 2008. Contaminated waste material above the unrestricted release criteria was shipped to licensed disposal sites. EPA's work activities summary report is documented in the Final Removal Action Report, dated September 12, 2008 (ADAMS No. ML082590288). The NRC staff conducted confirmatory radiological surveys of site structures and land areas and collected soil samples for analysis by the NRC's independent laboratory contractor to verify results obtained by EPA. Confirmatory surveys consisted of surface scans for alpha, beta and gamma radiation, direct measurements for total alpha and beta activity, collection and analysis of soil samples for thorium and uranium, and collection of smear samples for determining removable radioactivity levels. The survey information and sample results are documented in Inspection Reports 040-03400/07-01 (ADAMS No. ML080320117) and 040-03400/08-01 (ADAMS No. ML082180190). The NRC performed an independent dose assessment using the recreational scenario employed by the EPA to evaluate the EPA's cleanup criteria and evaluate the condition of the SRUD site. Based on the considerations discussed above, the Commission has concluded that: (1) Radioactive material above release limits has been properly disposed; (2) reasonable effort has been made to eliminate residual radioactive contamination; and (3) FSSs and associated documentation demonstrate that the site is suitable for unrestricted release in accordance with the criteria in 10 CFR Part 20, Subpart E. Therefore, the Salmon River site near North Fork, Idaho is suitable for unrestricted use.

This is a Notice of the Presidential declaration of a major disaster for Public Assistance Only for the State of Arkansas (FEMA- 1793-DR), dated 09/18/2008. Incident: Severe storms and flooding associated with Hurricane Gustav. Incident Period: 09/02/2008 through 09/08/2008. Effective Date: 09/18/2008. Physical Loan Application Deadline Date: 11/17/2008. Economic Injury (EIDL) Loan Application Deadline Date: 06/18/2009.

The Coast Guard proposes to establish a permanent security zone in the vicinity of the Coast Guard Base in San Juan, Puerto Rico. The security zone is needed for national security reasons to protect the public and the Coast Guard base from potential subversive acts. The proposed rule would exclude entry into the security zone by all vessels and personnel without permission of the U.S. Coast Guard Captain of the Port San Juan.

The Farm Service Agency (FSA) is proposing to amend its guaranteed farm loan program regulations governing interest rates to increase clarity and to be more consistent with other government loan guarantee programs. FSA is proposing to tie the maximum interest rate that may be charged on FSA guaranteed farm loans to nationally published indices such as the Wall Street Journal Prime (also known as New York Prime), or the 10-year Treasury note rate unless the lender uses a formal written risk-based pricing model for loans, in which case the rate will be the rate charged to moderate risk borrowers. This proposed rule specifically asks for comments on the index to be used and the maximum allowable spread between the base rate and the rate to be charged to FSA guaranteed borrowers.

This notice announces an Advisory Committee Meeting of the Defense Science Board. The Defense Science Board will meet in closed session on October 22-23, 2008 at the Pentagon, Arlington, VA.