December 15, 2008 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The U.S. Department of Commerce, as part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, invites the general public and other Federal agencies to comment on a proposed information collection as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 104-13 (44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)).

The Department of the Air Force is proposing to alter a system of records notice in its existing inventory of record systems subject to the Privacy Act of 1974, (5 U.S.C. 552a), as amended.

To comply with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), we are notifying the public that we have submitted an information collection request (ICR) to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for renewal approval of the paperwork requirements in the regulations under 30 CFR part 208. This notice also provides the public a second opportunity to comment on the paperwork burden of these regulatory requirements. The previous title of this information collection request (ICR) was ``30 CFR Part 208Sale of Federal Royalty Oil; Sale of Federal Royalty Gas; and Commercial Contracts (Forms MMS-4070, Application for the Purchase of Royalty Oil; MMS-4071, Letter of Credit; and MMS-4072, Royalty-in-Kind Contract Surety Bond).'' The new title of this ICR is ``30 CFR Part 208, RIK Oil and Gas.''

Pursuant to 42 U.S.C. 4332(2)(C) of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 and Director's Order Number 12 (Conservation Planning, Environmental Impact Analysis, and Decision-Making) the NPS is preparing an EIS for a GMP for Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park, located in Tennessee and Georgia. The GMP will prescribe the desired resource conditions and visitor experience opportunities that are to be achieved and maintained in the park over approximately the next 15 to 20 years. The park's purpose, significance, special mandates, and relevant laws and policies directing park management will be reviewed and assessed to establish the foundation for the GMP. The GMP will build upon these foundation elements to determine the appropriate type, level and location for resource management activities, visitor use, and potential development. In consultation with the park's stakeholders (i.e., government agencies, affiliated tribal representatives, partnership organizations, and other concerned members of the public), issues bearing on the long- term management of the park will be factored into the development of a reasonable range of management alternatives. The resource impacts and other anticipated consequences of implementing the planning alternatives will be assessed in the EIS. From initial discussions among NPS planners, park staff and partners, issues that are anticipated to be addressed by the GMP will include (but are not limited to) the following: Long-term management of the battlefield landscape to achieve objectives for restoring historic viewsheds and protecting important cultural and natural resources; articulation of resource stewardship and visitor management prescriptions for the recently acquired Moccasin Bend National Archeological District; determination of a range of appropriate and compatible visitor activities in the park; and, identification of opportunities for collaboration and partnership with community leaders and other entities to ensure park values are understood and considered in local decision making (e.g., viewshed protection and adjacent land- use).

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Forest Service is seeking comments from all interested individuals and organizations on the extension with revision of a currently approved information collection, Role of Communities in Stewardship Contracting Projects.

Pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, 42 U.S.C. 4332(2)(C), the National Park Service (NPS) announces the availability of the Final Environmental Impact Statement for the White- tailed Deer Management Plan (FEIS) for Catoctin Mountain Park in Thurmont, Maryland. The plan will support forest regeneration and provide for long-term protection, conservation, and restoration of native species and cultural landscapes at Catoctin Mountain Park. The document describes four management alternatives which include a no action alternative (continue existing management) and three action alternatives, one of which was identified as the preferred alternative.

The Defense Finance and Accounting Service proposes to amend a system of records notice in its inventory of record systems subject to the Privacy Act of 1974 (5 U.S.C. 552a), as amended.

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSM) is announcing its intention to seek continued approval for two collections of information which we are consolidating into one collection activity: 30 CFR Parts 779 and 783Surface and Underground Mining Permit ApplicationsMinimum Requirements for Information on Environmental Resources.

The USDA Forest Service announces its intent to prepare a supplement to the Pockets Resource Management Project (PRMP) Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS). PRMP FEIS evaluated alternatives for vegetation management and associated road improvements within the Englemann spruce/subalpine fir and aspen forest types on the Escalante Ranger District, Dixie National Forest. The original proposed action and subsequent analysis disclosed in the FEIS remains unchanged. The purpose of this supplement is to provide additional analysis and disclosure on the effects of the proposed action on unroaded and undeveloped areas identified on a 2005 draft map produced during forest plan revision as part of a required inventory and evaluation of areas with wilderness potential. This analysis will focus on the impacts to the wilderness attributes of the three areas being affected by the proposed action.

EPA is taking direct final action to reaffirm the promulgation of certain revisions of the Acid Rain Program rules in order to prevent disruption of this program, which has achieved significant, cost- effective reductions in sulfur dioxide (SO2) emissions from utility sources since its commencement in 1995. These rule revisions were finalized in the Federal Register notices that also finalized the Clean Air Interstate Rule (CAIR) and the Federal Implementation Plans for CAIR (CAIR FIPs). The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit recently issued a decision vacating and remanding CAIR and the CAIR FIPs. EPA and other parties have petitioned for rehearing, and the Court has not yet issued a mandate in the case. These revisions to the Acid Rain Program rules were not addressed by, or involved in any of the issues raised by, any parties in the proceeding or the Court. EPA believes it is reasonable to view these revisions as unaffected by the Court's decision. However, EPA is reaffirming pursuant to its authority under Title IV of the Clean Air Act (CAA) and CAA section 301the promulgation of these revisions in this direct final rule in order to remove any uncertainty about their legal status because they have been in effect since mid-2006, most of them are crucial to the ongoing operation of the Acid Rain Program, and the rest of them streamline and clarify requirements of the program.

EPA is taking interim final action to reaffirm the promulgation of certain revisions of the Acid Rain Program rules in order to prevent disruption of this program, which has achieved significant, cost-effective reductions in sulfur dioxide (SO2) emissions from utility sources since its commencement in 1995. These rule revisions were finalized in the Federal Register notices that also finalized the Clean Air Interstate Rule (CAIR) and the Federal Implementation Plans for CAIR (CAIR FIPs). The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit recently issued a decision vacating and remanding CAIR and the CAIR FIPs. EPA and other parties have petitioned for rehearing, and the Court has not yet issued a mandate in the case. These revisions to the Acid Rain Program rules were not addressed by, or involved in any of the issues raised by, any parties in the proceeding or the Court. EPA believes it is reasonable to view these revisions as unaffected by the Court's decision. However, EPA is reaffirmingpursuant to its authority under Title IV of the Clean Air Act (CAA) and CAA section 301the promulgation of these revisions in this interim final rule in order to remove any uncertainty about their legal status because they have been in effect since mid- 2006, most of them are crucial to the ongoing operation of the Acid Rain Program, and the rest of them streamline and clarify requirements of the program.

The Securities and Exchange Commission (``Commission'') is adopting amendments to a rule under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (``Exchange Act'') relating to municipal securities disclosure. This final rule amends certain requirements regarding the information that the broker, dealer, or municipal securities dealer acting as an underwriter in a primary offering of municipal securities must reasonably determine that an issuer of municipal securities or an obligated person has undertaken, in a written agreement or contract for the benefit of holders of the issuer's municipal securities, to provide. Specifically, the amendments require the broker, dealer, or municipal securities dealer to reasonably determine that the issuer or obligated person has agreed: To provide the information covered by the written agreement to the Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board (``MSRB'' or ``Board''), instead of to multiple nationally recognized municipal securities information repositories (``NRMSIRs'') and state information depositories (``SIDs''); and to provide such information in an electronic format and accompanied by identifying information as prescribed by the MSRB. The Commission's rulemaking is intended to improve the availability of information about municipal securities to investors, market professionals, and the public generally. Concurrently, we have approved a companion proposal by the MSRB relating to its Electronic Municipal Market Access (``EMMA'') system for municipal securities disclosures. Finally, we are withdrawing proposed amendments to the Rule, issued in 2006, that would have eliminated the MSRB as a location to which issuers could submit certain municipal disclosure documents.

This action revises the Class E Airspace at Rutland-Southern Vermont Regional (RUT); Rutland, VT to provide adequate controlled airspace for those aircraft using Instrument Approach Procedures to the airport. The IRA NDB has been decommissioned and new Standard Instrument Approach Procedures (SIAPs) have been developed. This rule also imparts a technical amendment to change the name of the airport from Rutland State Airport to Rutland-Southern Vermont Regional. This action will enhance the safety and airspace management around Rutland- Southern Vermont Regional.

This action establishes Class E Airspace at Russellville, AL. Airspace is needed to support new Area Navigation (RNAV) Global Positioning System (GPS) Standard Instrument Approach Procedures (SIAPs) that have been developed for Russellville Municipal Airport. As a result, controlled airspace extending upward from 700 feet Above Ground Level (AGL) is needed to contain the SIAP and for Instrument Flight Rule (IFR) operations at the airport. The operating status of the airport will change from Visual flight Rules (VFR) to include IFR operations concurrent with the publication of the SIAP. This action enhances the safety and airspace management of Russellville Municipal Airport, Russellville, AL.