November 3, 2008 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

Pursuant to the provisions of the Federal Advisory Committee Act, notice is hereby given of meetings of the Invasive Species Advisory Committee. The purpose of the Advisory Committee is to provide advice to the National Invasive Species Council, as authorized by Executive Order 13112, on a broad array of issues related to preventing the introduction of invasive species and providing for their control and minimizing the economic, ecological, and human health impacts that invasive species cause. The Council is co-chaired by the Secretary of the Interior, the Secretary of Agriculture, and the Secretary of Commerce. The duty of the Council is to provide national leadership regarding invasive species issues. The purpose of a meeting on November 18-19, 2008 is to convene the full Advisory Committee and to discuss implementation of action items outlined in the 2008-2012 National Invasive Species Management Plan, which was finalized on August 1, 2008.

This notice sets forth the dates of March 19, 2009 and September 10, 2009 of the Gettysburg National Military Park Advisory Commission.

Pursuant to section 102(2)(C) of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (Pub. L. 91-190, as amended), and the Council on Environmental Quality Regulations (40 CFR Part 1500-1508), the National Park Service (NPS), Department of the Interior, has prepared a final environmental impact statement (FEIS) for updating the General Management Plan (GMP) for San Juan Island National Historical Park located in San Juan County, Washington. The current GMP was prepared in 1979. This FEIS describes and analyzes three GMP alternatives that respond to both NPS planning requirements and to the public's concerns and issues, identified during the scoping and public involvement process. Each alternative presents management strategies for resource protection and preservation, education and interpretation, visitor use and facilities, land protection and boundaries, and long-term operations and management of the park. The potential environmental consequences of all the alternatives, and mitigation strategies, are identified and analyzed in the FEIS. In addition to a ``no-action'' alternative, an ``environmentally preferred'' alternative is identified. Proposed Plan and Alternatives: Alternative A constitutes the ``no- action'' alternative and assumes a continuation of existing management and trends at San Juan Island National Historical Park. The primary emphasis in current management is placed on the protection and preservation of cultural resources. Since 1966, the park has been listed in the National Register of Historic Places and is a National Historic Landmark. The management of cultural landscapes around the immediate encampment areas at American Camp and English Camp would continue to emphasize cultural landscape management while respecting the natural environment and natural processes. No new construction would be authorized. Alternative B would increase visitor opportunities and outreach at both English Camp and American Camp, as well as in the town of Friday Harbor through additional visitor facilities, recreational opportunities, programs, and services. Natural and cultural resources interpretation would be enhanced through more extensive facilities and programs. At English Camp, the road system would be reconfigured as a one-way loop road by connecting a road segment approximately one-fifth mile long from the entrance road to the administrative road. The road would follow the existing historic road alignment where possible. The Crook house would be rehabilitated as a visitor contact facility on the ground floor and for administrative use on the second floor. At American Camp, the 1979 double-wide trailer that serves as the temporary visitor center at American Camp would be removed, the site restored to natural conditions, and a new enlarged visitor center would be constructed north of the redoubt. The new visitor center would include space for a collections study room for natural and cultural resource items, including a portion of the military-era collections. The existing road to the redoubt off Pickett's Lane would be removed and converted to a trail. The cultural landscapes would be enhanced to aid visitor understanding and interpretation through a variety of techniques. The prairie would be restored to native plant species. Off- island interpretation would be enhanced through partnerships. The park would propose boundary adjustments at both sites to include important natural and cultural resources related to the purpose of the park. Alternative C is the agency-preferred alternative as it would broaden the scope of resource management and interpretation programs to emphasize connections and interrelationships between the park's natural and cultural resources. New facilities, trails and programs provide opportunities for visitors to understand the importance of the park's natural resources in defining the cultural landscapes and influencing the settlement and historic events of San Juan Island. At English Camp, the Crook house would be retained, stabilized, and used as an exterior exhibit while the hospital would be rehabilitated and opened to the public for interpretation. The 1979 double-wide trailer that serves as the temporary visitor center at American Camp would be removed and replaced with a permanent, enlarged visitor center at the existing site, allowing for improved exhibits and staff space. A collections study room for natural and cultural resource items, including a portion of the military-era collections would be relocated to the park. Additional buildings would be open to the public for interpretation as well as research and academic study. As in Alternative B, the existing road to the redoubt would be removed and converted to a trail and the prairie would be restored to native plant species. Historic buildings from the encampment period still existing on the island would be repatriated back to their original locations within the camps. Off-island interpretation would be enhanced through partnerships. Finally, the park would also propose adjusting the boundary at both sites to include important natural and cultural resources related to the purpose of the park. Alternative C is deemed to be the ``environmentally preferred'' alternative.

Stagecoach Group PLC (Stagecoach), a noncarrier, its noncarrier intermediate subsidiaries (Stagecoach Transport Holdings plc, SCUSI Ltd., Coach USA Administration, Inc.), Coach USA, Inc. (Coach USA), and ASTI, Inc. d/b/a Coach USA (ASTI), a motor passenger carrier (MC-252353) controlled by Coach USA (collectively, applicants), have filed an application under 49 U.S.C. 14303 for acquisition and operation of certain assets of New Today Bus Corp. (MC- 651183) and New Today Bus, Inc. (MC-657415) (collectively, New Today). Upon acquisition, New Today will cease operations and ASTI will assume such operations. The Board has tentatively approved the transaction, and if no opposing comments are timely filed, this notice will be the final Board action. Persons wishing to oppose the application must follow the rules under 49 CFR 1182.5 and 1182.8.

The Department of Commerce (DOC), 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.

Pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, 42 U.S.C. 4332(2)(C), the National Park Service announces the availability of the Record of Decision for the Avalanche Hazard Reduction by Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway (BNSF) in Glacier National Park (GNP) and Flathead National Forest, Montana, Final Environmental Impact Statement. On September 12, 2008, the Regional Director, Intermountain Region approved the Record of Decision. As soon as practicable, the National Park Service will begin to implement the Preferred Alternative contained in the FEIS issued on August 2, 2008. Four alternatives were analyzed and Alternative B was identified as the preferred which will include the following actions: GNP will issue a special use permit to BNSF for non-explosive snow stability testing, installation of a weather station and other avalanche forecasting equipment and detection devices in the Middle Fork area within the park. All installations will be painted to blend in and reduce their visibility. GNP will not permit the use of explosives for avalanche hazard reduction within the park except during emergency extenuating circumstances after all other options, including railroad delays, have been exercised. GNP recommends that BNSF build snowsheds in areas of the John Stevens Canyon that currently do not have them. GNP also recommends that BNSF lengthen existing snowsheds that do not provide sufficient protection from avalanche activity. In the event that BNSF constructs snowsheds, GNP recommends that wildlife crossings be incorporated into the structures where appropriate. Wildlife specialists from GNP, FNF and the USFWS will work closely with BNSF to assist with this effort. GNP also recommends that BNSF design historically compatible extensions on the existing historic snowsheds. Cultural Resource Specialists from both GNP and FNF will assist with this effort. Other alternatives analyzed were: (1) No ActionBNSF would continue to use avalanche forecasting, travel restrictions, and delays to protect employees, freight, equipment and Amtrak passengers; (2) Alternative C-GNP would permit explosive use for up to ten years for avalanche hazard reduction after a commitment from BNSF to build snowsheds and fund a 15 year resource monitoring program; and (3) Alternative D-GNP would permit BNSF to conduct a permanent explosive avalanche hazard reduction program using military artillery in the park. Construction of less than one mile of snowsheds offers the best avalanche protection for Amtrak passengers, BNSF employees, equipment, and freight. Explosive avalanche hazard reduction is an inappropriate use of park lands and may have unacceptable impacts on park resources and values, as defined in the 2006 NPS Management Policies. GNP along with Waterton Lakes National Park is the world's first International Peace Park, an International Biosphere Reserve, and a World Heritage Site. Three comments were received on the Final EIS supporting the preferred alternative. Over 13,000 comments were received on the Draft EIS in addition to 1,100 comments received during scoping. The public as well as other agencies and tribes were overwhelmingly in support of the preferred alternative. The Record of Decision includes a description of the decision, key actions and mitigation measures, a synopsis of other alternatives considered, the basis for the decision, findings on impairment, unacceptable impacts and appropriate use of park resources and values, a description of the environmentally preferable alternative, and an overview of public and agency involvement in the decision-making process.

As required by 43 CFR 2650.7(d), notice is hereby given that an appealable decision approving the surface and subsurface estates in certain lands for conveyance pursuant to the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act will be issued to NANA Regional Corporation, Inc. The lands are in the vicinity of Ambler, Alaska, and are located in:

Under the provisions of 30 U.S.C. 188(d) and (e), and 43 CFR 3108.2-3(a) and (b)(1), the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) received a petition for reinstatement of oil and gas lease COC70014 from Nobel Energy, Inc., for lands in Garfield County, Colorado. The petition was filed on time and was accompanied by all the rentals due since the date the lease terminated under the law.

The IC Clearance Official, Regulatory Information Management Services, Office of Management invites comments on the submission for OMB review as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.

The Board has approved the private sector adjustment factor (PSAF) for 2009 of $62.2 million and the 2009 fee schedules for Federal Reserve priced services and electronic access. These actions were taken in accordance with the requirements of the Monetary Control Act of 1980, which requires that, over the long run, fees for Federal Reserve priced services be established on the basis of all direct and indirect costs, including the PSAF. The Board has also approved maintaining the current earnings credit rate on clearing balances.

This interim final rule amends the WIC Farmers' Market Nutrition Program (FMNP) regulations to codify three FMNP nondiscretionary provisions mandated in the Child Nutrition and WIC Reauthorization Act of 2004. The three nondiscretionary provisions include the option to authorize roadside stands, a reduction in the required amount of State matching funds, and an increase in the maximum Federal benefit level. These changes are intended to increase State agency flexibility in managing the Program. The first two provisions became effective on October 1, 2004, while the increased maximum Federal FMNP benefit level was effective as of June 30, 2004. The provisions set forth in this rulemaking are nondiscretionary, i.e., the Department has not exercised any authority to interpret the statutory provisions beyond the language that is specifically provided in the legislation. However, the Department believes that at least one of the provisions in this rulemaking may generate additional questions or comments concerning its implementation. Therefore, the rule is being issued as an interim final rule, to afford the public the opportunity to comment on the possible implications of the provisions contained herein.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is announcing an opportunity for public comment on the proposed collection of certain information by the agency. Under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (the PRA), Federal agencies are required to publish notice in the Federal Register concerning each proposed collection of information, including each proposed extension of an existing collection of information, and to allow 60 days for public comment in response to the notice. This notice solicits comments on the information collection contained in the guidance for industry on formal dispute resolution.

The OCC, 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 a continuing information collection, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. Currently, the OCC is soliciting comment concerning its extension, without change, of an information collection titled, ``Release of Non-Public Information12 CFR 4, Subpart C.''

In accordance with Section 122(i) of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (``CERCLA''), as amended, 42 U.S.C. 9622(i), notice is hereby given of a proposed Administrative Agreement for Recovery of Past Response Costs (``Agreement,'' Region 9 Docket No. 9-2008-16) pursuant to Section 122(h) of CERCLA concerning the AuClair Superfund SITE (the ``Site''), located on the Torres Martinez Desert Cahuilla Indian Reservation, Riverside County, California. The settling party is Mr. George Stanley Auclair Jr. (``settling party''). In the Agreement, the ``Settling Party'' will fully reimburse the United States up to $627,022.00 for response costs incurred at the Site. The Agreement provides the ``Settling Party'' with a covenant not to sue for these response costs, and contribution protection. For thirty (30) days following the date of publication of this Notice, the Agency will receive written comments relating to the proposed Agreement. The Agency's response to any comments received will be available for public inspection at EPA's Region IX offices, located at 75 Hawthorne Street, San Francisco, California 94105.

On October 2, 2008, the Maritime Administration published a request in the Federal Register for applications for one eligible vessel to fill one MSP Operating Agreement in accordance with the provisions of Subtitle C, Title XXXV of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2004, the Maritime Security Act of 2003 (MSA 2003). The MSA 2003 authorizes the creation of a Maritime Security Program (MSP) that establishes a fleet of active, commercially viable, privately owned vessels to meet national defense and other security requirements and to maintain a United States presence in international commercial shipping. This request for applications provided, among other things, application criteria and a deadline for submitting applications for enrollment of one vessel in the MSP. The deadline established for the receipt of applications in that notice was established as close of business, eastern-time, November 3, 2008. In order to provide sufficient time for interested parties to prepare applications in response to that notice, the deadline is hereby extended to close of business, eastern-time, November 18, 2008.

The Bureau of the Census (Census Bureau) is requesting nominations of individuals to the Census Advisory Committee (CAC) on the Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander Populations. The Census Bureau will consider nominations received in response to this notice, as well as from other sources. The SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section of this notice provides Committee and membership criteria.