November 18, 2008 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Consumer Product Safety Act (``CPSA''), at section 14(a) as amended by section 102(a) of the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008 (``CPSIA''), Public Law 110-314, requires that, for products manufactured on or after November 12, 2008, manufacturers (including importers) and private labelers of the products certify that the products comply with all applicable CPSA consumer product safety rules and similar rules, bans, standards and regulations under any other laws administered by the Commission by issuing a certificate that accompanies the product and can be furnished to certain parties. The certificate must specify each such rule, ban, standard, or regulation with which the product must comply. In general, the certification must be based on a test of each product or upon a reasonable testing program. Certificates and certification for certain children's products must be based on testing by third party laboratories whose accreditation to do so has been accepted by the Commission. The third party testing requirements become effective on a rolling schedule as the Commission issues specific laboratory accreditation requirements. Section 14(a)(4) of the CPSA gives the Commission the authority where there is more than one manufacturer, importer, or private labeler to designate one or more of such entities as the person(s) who shall issue the required certificate and to relieve all others of that responsibility. The final rule published today limits the parties who must certify to the U.S. importer and, in the case of domestically produced products, the U.S. manufacturer. It also specifies the requirements that an electronic certificate must meet.

In accordance with the framework procedures for adjusting management measures of the Fishery Management Plan for the Shrimp Fishery of the Gulf of Mexico (FMP), NMFS issues this final rule to decertify the expanded mesh bycatch reduction device (BRD), the ``Gulf fisheye'' BRD, and the ``fisheye'' BRD, as currently specified, for use in the Gulf of Mexico (Gulf) shrimp fishery. NMFS is also certifying a new specification for the fisheye device to be used in the Gulf. In addition, this final rule incorporates a number of minor revisions to remove outdated regulatory text and revise references within regulatory text. The intended effect of this final rule is to improve bycatch reduction in the shrimp fishery and better meet the requirements of national standard 9.

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.), this notice announces that the Information Collection Request (ICR) abstracted below has been forwarded to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and comment. The ICR describes the nature of the information collection and its expected costs and burden; it includes the actual data collection instruments (if any).

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.), this notice announces that the Information Collection Request (ICR) abstracted below has been forwarded to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and comment. The ICR describes the nature of the information collection and its expected costs and burden; it includes the actual data collection instruments [if any].

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.), this notice announces that the Information Collection Request (ICR) abstracted below has been forwarded to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and comment. The ICR describes the nature of the information collection and the expected costs and burden; it includes the actual data collection instruments [if any].

The Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements (CITA) has determined that certain 100% polyester pin dot dobby fabric, as specified below, is not available in commercial quantities in a timely manner in the CAFTA-DR countries. The product will be added to the list in Annex 3.25 of the CAFTA-DR Agreement in unrestricted quantities.

This Notice is to inform the public of the Secretary's decision to increase the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Beneficiary Travel program mileage reimbursement rate under 38 U.S.C. 111 for travel of eligible beneficiaries in connection with VA health care and for other purposes. Effective November 17, 2008, the beneficiary travel mileage reimbursement rate is increased from 28.5 cents to 41.5 cents based upon mileage traveled to or from a Department facility or other place in connection with vocational rehabilitation, counseling required by the Secretary pursuant to 38 U.S.C. Chapter 34, ``Educational Assistance'' or Chapter 35, ``Survivors and Dependents' Education Assistance'' or for the purpose of examination, treatment or care. The deductible requirements for purposes of beneficiary travel of mileage reimbursement will remain at $7.77 one-way; $15.54 round trip; with a monthly cap of $46.62.

This proposed rule would adjust the North and South Atlantic swordfish quotas for the 2008 fishing year (January 1, 2008, through December 31, 2008) to account for underharvests, and to transfer 18.8 metric tons (mt) dressed weight (dw) to Canada per the 2006 International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) recommendations 06-02 and 06-03. The North Atlantic 2008 directed baseline quotas plus the 2007 underharvest would be divided equally between the semiannual periods of January through May and June through December. In addition, NMFS proposes to modify the vessel chartering regulations to potentially allow Atlantic Highly Migratory Species (HMS) limited access permit (LAP) holders to charter foreign vessels under a chartering arrangement where catches taken would count against U.S. Atlantic HMS quotas or entitlements.

NMFS issues this proposed rule to implement Amendment 30B to the Fishery Management Plan for the Reef Fish Resources of the Gulf of Mexico (FMP) prepared by the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council (Council). This proposed rule would establish annual catch limits (ACLs) and accountability measures (AMs) for commercial and recreational gag, red grouper, and shallow-water grouper (SWG); establish a commercial quota for gag; adjust the commercial quotas for red grouper and shallow-water grouper; establish an incidental bycatch allowance trip limit for commercial gag and red grouper; reduce the commercial minimum size limit for red grouper; reduce the gag bag limit and the aggregate grouper bag limit; increase the red grouper bag limit; extend the closed season for recreational shallow-water grouper; establish a new reef fish seasonal-area closure; eliminate the end date for the Madison-Swanson and Steamboat Lumps marine reserves; and require that federally permitted reef fish vessels comply with the more restrictive of Federal or state reef fish regulations when fishing in state waters. In addition, Amendment 30B would establish management targets and thresholds for gag consistent with the requirements of the Sustainable Fisheries Act; set the gag and red grouper total allowable catch (TAC); and establish interim allocations for the commercial and recreational gag and red grouper fisheries. This proposed rule is intended to end overfishing of gag and maintain catch levels of red grouper consistent with achieving optimum yield.

The Caribbean Fishery Management Council (Council) and its Administrative Committee will hold meetings.

The North Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) and its advisory committees will hold public meetings, December 10-16, 2008, in Anchorage, AK.

NMFS is closing the commercial fishery for porbeagle sharks in the Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of Mexico. This action is necessary because the porbeagle shark quotas for the 2008 fishing season have reached or are projected to have reached at least 80 percent of the available quota.

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.), the U.S. Department of Transportation invites the general public, industry and other governmental parties to comment on the information collection request (ICR) OMB No. 2105-0009, Advisory Committee Candidate Biographical Information Request Form. The current information collection request approved by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) expires on March 31, 2009.

The Commission is adding Priority Mail Contract 3 (MC2009-4 and CP2009-5) to the Competitive Product List. It is also noticing a related contract. These actions are consistent with changes in a recent law governing postal operations and a related Postal Service request. Republication of the lists of market dominant and competitive products is also consistent with new requirements in the law.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is announcing the availability of a draft guidance for industry entitled ``Process Validation: General Principles and Practices.'' FDA is revising its guidance for industry entitled ``Guideline on General Principles of Process Validation,'' which issued in May 1987 (the 1987 guidance). The revised draft guidance promotes a ``lifecycle'' approach to process validation that includes scientifically sound design practices, robust qualification, and process verification. When finalized, this draft guidance will replace the 1987 guidance.

The Susquehanna River Basin Commission will hold a public hearing as part of its regular business meeting beginning at 8:30 a.m. on December 4, 2008, in Bel Air, Maryland. At the public hearing, the Commission will consider: (1) Approval of certain water resources projects; (2) a request for extension of an emergency certificate issued on October 30, 2008; and (3) adjustments to the SRBC Project Fee Schedule. Details concerning the matters to be addressed at the public hearing and business meeting are contained in the Supplementary Information section of this notice.

In accordance with the requirement of Section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 which provides opportunity for public comment on new or revised data collections, the Railroad Retirement Board (RRB) will publish periodic summaries of proposed data collections. Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the proposed information collections are necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including whether the information has practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the RRB's estimate of the burden of the collection of the information; (c) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (d) ways to minimize the burden related to the collection of information on respondents, including the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology.