November 2008 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The proposed information collection requirement described below will be submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act. The Department is soliciting public comments on the subject proposal.

FRA announces the thirty-seventh meeting of the RSAC, a Federal advisory committee that develops railroad safety regulations through a consensus process. The RSAC meeting topics will include opening remarks from the FRA Administrator, and status reports will be provided by the Passenger Safety, Locomotive Safety Standards, Railroad Bridge Safety, Medical Standards, Railroad Operating Rules, and Track Safety Standards Working Groups. FRA may offer several tasks pertaining to the mandates contained in the Rail Safety Improvement Act of 2008. Subjects to be addressed by these tasks include hours of service recordkeeping and reporting, implementing regulations for Positive Train Control systems, hours of service limitations and fatigue management for employees of intercity and commuter passenger railroads, certification of conductors, and potentially other topics. This agenda is subject to change.

This action adds to the Procurement List services to be furnished by nonprofit agencies employing persons who are blind or have other severe disabilities, and deletes from the Procurement List products previously furnished by such agencies.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA 95) (44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)), the Department of Labor (the Department) conducts a preclearance consultation program so that the general public and other federal agencies can comment on proposed and continuing collections of information. This program helps to ensure that the data the Department gathers arrive in the desired format, that the reporting burden on the public (time and financial resources) is minimized, that the public understands the collection instruments, and that the Department can accurately assess the impact of collection requirements on respondents. By this notice, the Department is soliciting comments on the information collection provisions of regulations pertaining to section 101(f) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (ERISA). The statute and the regulatory provisions codified at 29 CFR 2520.101-4 require the administrator of a defined benefit plan which is a multiemployer plan to furnish an annual plan funding notice to each plan participant and beneficiary, each labor organization representing such participants or beneficiaries, each employer that has an obligation to contribute under the plan, and the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation. A copy of the information collection request (ICR) can be obtained by contacting the office shown in the addresses section of this notice. ICRs submitted to OMB also are available at https://www.RegInfo.gov.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA 95) (44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)), the Department of Labor (the Department) conducts a preclearance consultation program to provide the general public and Federal agencies with an opportunity to comment on proposed and continuing collections of information. This program helps to ensure that the data the Department gathers can be provided in the desired format, that the reporting burden on the public (time and financial resources) is minimized, that the public understands the Department's collection instruments, and that the Department can accurately assess the impact of collection requirements on respondents. By this notice, the Department is soliciting comments concerning the information collection provisions of the regulation pertaining to section 401(c) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (ERISA). The statute and the regulatory provisions codified at 29 CFR 2550.401c-1 require insurers that issue certain types of insurance policies to employee benefit plans to make specific one-time and annual disclosures to such plans if assets of the plan are held in the insurer's general account. A copy of the ICR may be obtained by contacting the office listed in the ADDRESSES section of this notice.

Section 211(o) of the Clean Air Act (CAA or the Act) requires the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to annually determine a renewable fuel standard (RFS) which is applicable to refiners, importers and certain blenders of gasoline, and publish the standard in the Federal Register. On the basis of this standard, each obligated party determines the volume of renewable fuel that it must ensure is consumed as motor vehicle fuel. This standard is calculated as a percentage, by dividing the amount of renewable fuel that the Act requires to be used in a given year by the amount of gasoline expected to be used during that year, including certain adjustments specified by the Act. In this notice we are publishing an RFS of 10.21% for 2009. This standard is intended to lead to the use of 11.1 billion gallons of renewable fuel in 2009, as required by the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 (EISA). As discussed below, we expect the 11.1 billion gallons of renewable fuel required in 2009 to include approximately 0.5 billion gallons of biodiesel and renewable diesel.

The Securities and Exchange Commission (``Commission'') is proposing a Roadmap for the potential use of financial statements prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (``IFRS'') as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board by U.S. issuers for purposes of their filings with the Commission. This Roadmap sets forth several milestones that, if achieved, could lead to the required use of IFRS by U.S. issuers in 2014 if the Commission believes it to be in the public interest and for the protection of investors. This Roadmap also includes discussion of various areas of consideration for market participants related to the eventual use of IFRS in the United States. As part of the Roadmap, the Commission is proposing amendments to various regulations, rules and forms that would permit early use of IFRS by a limited number of U.S. issuers where this would enhance the comparability of financial information to investors. Only an issuer whose industry uses IFRS as the basis of financial reporting more than any other set of standards would be eligible to elect to use IFRS, beginning with filings in 2010.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announces its findings on the Noise Compatibility Program submitted by the Piedmont Triad Airport Authority (PTAA) under the provisions of 49 U.S.C. (the Aviation Safety and Noise Abatement Act, hereinafter referred to as ``the Act'') and 14 CFR part 150. These findings are made in recognition of the description of Federal and nonfederal responsibilities in Senate Report No. 96-52 (1980). On June 10, 2008, the FAA determined that the noise exposure maps submitted by the Piedmont Triad Airport Authority (PTAA) under Part 150 were in compliance with applicable requirements. On November 7, 2008, the FAA approved the Piedmont Triad International Airport noise compatibility program. All of the recommendations of the program were approved.

The FAA proposes to rule and invite public comment on the release of land at the Eagle County Regional Airport under the provisions of Section 125 of the Wendell H. Ford Aviation Investment Reform Act for the 21st Century (AIR 21).

This Final Rule amends regulations in part 800 of 31 CFR that implement section 721 of the Defense Production Act of 1950 (``section 721''), as amended by the Foreign Investment and National Security Act of 2007, codified at 50 U.S.C. App. 2170. While the revised regulations retain many features of the prior regulations, a number of changes have been made to implement section 721, increase clarity, reflect developments in business practices over the past several years, and make additional improvements based on experiences with the prior regulations.

This notice announces the intention of the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) to request that the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approve the proposed information collection project: ``Conducting Measurement Activities in Support of the AHRQ Health IT Initiative.'' In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, 44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A), AHRQ invites the public to comment on this proposed information collection. This proposed information collection was previously published in the Federal Register on September 19th, 2008 and allowed 60 days for public comment. No comments were received. The purpose of this notice is to allow an additional 30 days for public comment.

We are revising an earlier proposed airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Boeing Model 767 airplanes. The original NPRM would have required modifying the link arms of the number 2 windows in the flight compartment. The original NPRM resulted from reports of the number 2 windows opening during takeoff roll, which has resulted in aborted takeoffs. This supplemental NPRM would require an inspection of the number 2 windows to determine whether the link arms are in the over-center position. The results of the inspection would determine the need for the modification. This supplemental NPRM would also require the inspection and applicable corrective action following any rigging change or replacement of any number 2 window assembly. We are proposing this supplemental NPRM to prevent the opening of the number 2 windows during takeoff roll, which could result in an aborted takeoff or an unscheduled landing, and adversely affect the flightcrew's ability to perform critical takeoff communication.

This Notice identifies unutilized, underutilized, excess, and surplus Federal property reviewed by HUD for suitability for possible use to assist the homeless.

NARA is giving public notice that the agency proposes to renew the information collections described in this notice, which are used in the National Historical Publications and Records Commission (NHPRC) grant program. The public is invited to comment on the proposed information collections pursuant to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.

This document denies an Application for Review filed by Long Nine, Inc. directed to the Memorandum Opinion and Order in this proceeding. With this action, the proceeding is terminated.

The Federal Communications Commission, as part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork burden invites the general public and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on the following information collection(s), as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995, 44 U.S.C. 3501-3520. An agency may not conduct or sponsor a collection of information unless it displays a currently valid control number. No person shall be subject to any penalty for failing to comply with a collection of information subject to the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) that does not display a valid control number. Comments are requested concerning (a) whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the Commission, including whether the information shall have practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the Commission's burden estimate; (c) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information collected; and (d) ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on the respondents, including the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology.

The Office of the United States Trade Representative (``USTR'') is providing notice that on October 24, 2008, Mexico requested consultations with the United States under the Marrakesh Agreement Establishing the World Trade Organization (``WTO Agreement'') concerning U.S. limitations on the use of a dolphin-safe label for tuna and tuna products. That request may be found at https://www.wto.org contained in a document designated as WT/DS381/1. USTR invites written comments from the public concerning the issues raised in this dispute.