December 31, 2008 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

This notice announces the opportunity to enter into a cooperative agreement with the Office of Economic Adjustment (OEA) for Research and Technical Assistance (RTA) and invites proposals. The OEA is authorized by 10 U.S.C. 2391, to make grants to, or conclude cooperative agreements or enter into contracts with, a State or local government or any private entity to conduct research and provide technical assistance in support of the Defense Economic Adjustment Program, and assist communities, businesses and workers responding to Defense changes under 10 U.S.C. 2391 and Executive Order 12788, as amended. OEA is the Department of Defense's primary source for assisting communities that are adversely impacted by Defense program changes, including base closures or realignments, base expansions, and contract or program cancellations. Awards provided under this announcement support the Defense Economic Adjustment Program by: (1) Providing analysis and dissemination of information; and (2) support to innovative approaches.

NMFS issues a final rule that implements Amendment 73 to the Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area and Amendment 77 to the Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska (collectively, Amendments 73/77). Amendments 73/77 remove dark rockfish (Sebastes ciliatus) from both fishery management plans (FMPs). The State of Alaska (State) will assume management of dark rockfish catch by State-permitted vessels in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area and the Gulf of Alaska, in addition to its existing authority in State waters. This action is necessary to allow the State to implement more responsive, regionally based management of dark rockfish than is currently possible under the FMPs. This action will improve conservation and management of dark rockfish and promote the goals and objectives of the Magnuson- Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, the FMPs, and other applicable laws.

EPA issued a final rule in the Federal Register of September 17, 2008, concerning the modification of certain tolerances for a number of pesticides including the herbicides DCPA and sethoxydim as a follow-up to the Agency's reregistration program under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) and tolerance reassessment program under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA). This document corrects clerical errors made in the final rule.

This notice announces the initial filing of pesticide petitions proposing the amendment of regulations 40 CFR 180.940(a) for residues of antimicrobial pesticide formulation containing n-Alkyl(C12- C14) dimethyl ethylbenzyl ammonium chlorides applied to food contact surfaces in public eating places, dairy processing equipment, and food processing equipment and utensils.

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.

NMFS proposes a rule to set the 2009-2010 harvest specifications and management measures for groundfish taken in the U.S. exclusive economic zone (EEZ) off the coasts of Washington, Oregon, and California and to revise rebuilding plans for four of the seven overfished rockfish species, consistent with the Mangunson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act and the Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery Management Plan. Together, the revisions to rebuilding plans and the 2007-2008 harvest specifications and management measures are intended to rebuild overfished stocks as soon as possible, taking into account the status and biology of the stocks, the needs of fishing communities, and the interaction of the overfished stocks within the marine environment.

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: ``The AHRQ Data Inventory.'' 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 October 24th, 2008 and allowed 60 days for public comment. One comment was received. The purpose of this notice is to allow an additional 30 days for public comment.

Under the Federal Advisory Committee Act, Public Law 92-463, EPA gives notice of a meeting of the Farm, Ranch, and Rural Communities Committee (FRRCC). The purpose of the FRRCC is to provide advice to the Administrator of EPA on environmental issues and programs that impact, or are of concern to, farms, ranches, and rural communities. The FRRCC is a part of EPA's efforts to expand cooperative working relationships with the agriculture industry and others who are interested in agricultural issues to achieve greater progress in environmental protection. The purpose of this teleconference is to discuss and approve the draft FRRCC recommendations on EPA's Draft Biofuels Strategy. A copy of the meeting agenda will be posted at https://www.epa.gov/ocemlfrrcc.

The final rule establishes the Mine Safety and Health Administration's (MSHA) requirements for refuge alternatives in underground coal mines and the training of miners in their use. It includes testing and approval requirements. The final rule implements section 13 of the Mine Improvement and New Emergency Response (MINER) Act of 2006. Consistent with the MINER Act, it includes MSHA's response to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Report on Refuge Alternatives.

The Coast Guard is amending the vessel response plan salvage and marine firefighting requirements for tank vessels carrying oil. These revisions clarify the salvage and marine firefighting services that must be identified in vessel response plans and set new response time requirements for each of the required salvage and marine firefighting services. The changes ensure that the appropriate salvage and marine firefighting resources are identified and available for responding to incidents up to and including the worst case discharge scenario.