October 23, 2008 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

In accordance with the Privacy Act of 1974 and as part of the Department of Homeland Security's ongoing effort to review and update legacy system of record notices, the Department of Homeland Security is giving notice that it proposes to consolidate one legacy system of records notice, DOT/CG 536 Contract and Real Property File System as a Department of Homeland Security-wide system of records notice titled Department of Homeland Security Contractors and Consultants. The Department of Homeland Security also proposes to partially consolidate one legacy record system, Treasury/USSS.001 Administrative Information System into this Department-wide system of records. This system will allow the Department of Homeland Security to collect and maintain records on the Department's contractors and consultants. Categories of individuals, categories of records, and the routine uses of this legacy system have been reviewed and updated to better reflect the Department's contractor and consultant record system. This reclassified system, titled Department of Homeland Security Contractors and Consultants, will be included in the Department of Homeland Security's inventory of record systems.

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration, 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 (Pub. L. 104-13, 44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)).

The Office for Human Research Protections (OHRP), Office of Public Health and Science, is announcing the availability of a guidance document entitled, ``OHRP Guidance on Engagement of Institutions in Human Subjects Research.'' The guidance document describes: (1) Scenarios that, in general, would result in an institution being considered engaged in a human subjects research project; (2) scenarios that would result in an institution being considered not engaged in a human subjects research project; and (3) IRB review considerations for cooperative research in which multiple institutions are engaged in the same non-exempt human subjects research project. The guidance document is intended primarily for institutional review boards (IRBs), research administrators and other relevant institutional officials, investigators, and funding agencies that may be responsible for the conduct, review and oversight of human subject research that is conducted or supported by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The guidance document announced in this notice finalizes the draft guidance with the same title that was made available for public comment in the Federal Register on December 8, 2006 (71 FR 71169). OHRP received twenty-four comments on the draft guidance document, and those comments were considered as the guidance was finalized. The final guidance document replaces two existing OHRP guidance documents on the engagement of institutions in human subjects research: (1) The January 26, 1999, document on ``Engagement of Institutions in Research,'' and (2) the December 23, 1999, document on ``Engagement of Pharmaceutical Companies in HHS Supported Research.''

This notice announces actions taken by the FHWA that are final within the meaning of 23 U.S.C. 139(1)(1). The actions relate to a proposed highway project on new location, Route 460, between the Route 58 Bypass in Suffolk and Interstate 295 in Prince George County, in the City of Suffolk, Isle of Wight County, Town of Waverly, Southampton County, Sussex County, and Prince George County, State of Virginia. Those actions grant approvals for the project.

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSM) is announcing that the information collection request for 30 CFR 870 Abandoned Mine Reclamation FundFee Collection and Coal Production Reporting and the form OSM-1 has been forwarded to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and comment. The information collection request describes the nature of the information collection and its expected burden and cost.

In this document, comment is sought on a May 20, 2008 petition for rulemaking (Petition) filed by Rural Cellular Association (RCA) (Petitioner). The Petitioner asks the Federal Communications Commission to initiate a rulemaking to investigate the widespread use and anticompetitive effects of exclusivity arrangements between commercial wireless carriers and handset manufacturers, and, as necessary, adopt rules that prohibit such arrangements when contrary to the public interest.

Pursuant to section 215 of the Federal Power Act, the Commission is proposing to approve three revised Reliability Standards developed by the North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC), which the Commission has certified as the Electric Reliability Organization responsible for developing and enforcing mandatory Reliability Standards. The three revised Reliability Standards, designated by NERC as FAC-010-2, FAC-011-2 and FAC-014-2, set requirements for the development and communication of system operating limits of the Bulk-Power System for use in the planning and operation horizons.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is proposing to amend the Guidelines for Designating Biobased Products for Federal Procurement, by adding nine sections to designate the following nine items within which biobased products would be afforded Federal procurement preference: Chain and cable lubricants; corrosion preventatives; food cleaners; forming lubricants; gear lubricants; general purpose household cleaners; industrial cleaners; multipurpose cleaners; and parts wash solutions. USDA also is proposing minimum biobased content for each of these items.

The Department of Homeland Security is issuing a final rule to amend its regulations to exempt portions of a new system of records entitled the ``Immigration and Customs Enforcement Student and Exchange Visitor Information System'' (SEVIS) from certain provisions of the Privacy Act. Specifically, the Department exempts portions of the SEVIS system from one or more provisions of the Privacy Act because of criminal, civil, and administrative enforcement requirements.

The Department of Homeland Security is issuing a final rule to amend its regulations to exempt portions of a new system of records entitled the ``Immigration and Customs Enforcement General Counsel Electronic Management System'' (GEMS) from certain provisions of the Privacy Act. Specifically, the Department exempts portions of the GEMS system from one or more provisions of the Privacy Act because of criminal, civil, and administrative enforcement requirements.

Pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, 42 U.S.C. 4332(2)(C), the National Park Service announces the availability of a Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the Fire Management Plan for Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona. The document describes and analyzes the environmental impacts of several action alternatives including the preferred alternative for management of fire in Grand Canyon National Park. The preferred alternative analyzes the use of prescribed fire, wildland fire use, suppression fire and manual and mechanical thinning. A no action alternative was also evaluated.

This Guideline sets forth the administrative, programmatic, and financial requirements attendant to Fiscal Year 2009 State Justice Institute grants, cooperative agreements, and contracts.