2008 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

This final rule amends the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) regulations governing small business contracting programs to set forth procedures that will govern the new Women-Owned Small Business (WOSB) Federal Contract Assistance Procedures as authorized in the Small Business Act.

This notice announces the President's proposed action to suspend Bolivia's designation as a beneficiary country under the Andean Trade Preference Act (ATPA), as amended, and the Andean Trade Promotion and Drug Eradication Act of 2002 (ATPDEA), based on the Bolivian government's failure to meet the programs' counternarcotics cooperation criteria. The President has directed the U.S. Trade Representative to publish this notice and, in accordance with the statute, the U.S. Trade Representative seeks public comment and will hold a public hearing on the proposed action. Comments must be submitted in accordance with the requirements set forth below.

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has received a request for lease and subsequent conveyance of approximately 19.375 acres of public land in the City of Las Vegas, Clark County, Nevada, under the Recreation and Public Purposes (R&PP) Act. The Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada (RTC) proposes to use the land for a public Park and Ride bus facility.

In accordance with the Federal Land Policy and Management Act and the Federal Advisory Committee Act of 1972 (FACA), the Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Nevada's three Resource Advisory Council will hold a joint meeting.

This notice rescinds the previous Notice of Intent (issued July 14, 2001) to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for improvements to State Route 56 through West End of Johnstown, Pennsylvania. Studied improvements extended from the east of Minersville to north of Oakhurst through Johnstown, Tannerville Coopersdale, Morrelville, Cambria City, and Minersville.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is announcing a correction to the notice of a public meeting entitled ``Preparation for International Conference on Harmonization Meetings in Brussels, Belgium; Public Meeting.'' This meeting was announced in the Federal Register of September 16, 2008 (73 FR 53428). The correction is being made to reflect changes in the Summary, Date and Time, Location, Contact Person, Background, and Agenda portions of the document.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), intend to prepare a revised Comprehensive Conservation Plan (CCP) and environmental assessment (EA) for Selawik National Wildlife Refuge (Selawik Refuge, Refuge). We furnish this notice in compliance with our CCP policy to advise other agencies, Tribes, and the public of our intentions, and to obtain suggestions and information on the scope of issues to consider in the planning process. We will use local announcements, special mailings, newspaper articles, the Internet, and other media announcements to inform people of opportunities to provide input throughout the planning process. We will hold public meetings in communities within and near Selawik Refuge during preparation of the revised plan.

The Economic Development Administration (EDA) publishes this notice to introduce its new Application for Investment Assistance (Form ED-900). Previously, applicants were required to complete and submit a Pre-Application for Investment Assistance (Form ED-900P), followed by an Application for Investment Assistance (Form ED-900A) if EDA deemed that the proposed project merited further consideration. In addition, applicants were required to submit additional application forms to address EDA's programmatic requirements, depending on the type of funding assistance sought. The new Form ED-900 consolidates all EDA- specific requirements into a single application form. EDA will continue to require additional government-wide federal grant assistance forms from the Standard Form 424 family as part of the application package. This change, which is effective November 1, 2008, is prospective and will not affect previously submitted applications or require the submission of new application packages.

In accordance with the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act of 2004 (FLREA) (Pub. L. 108-447), the Recreation Subcommittee of the Bureau of Land Management's (BLM) Nevada Resource Advisory Committees will hold a meeting to discuss fee proposals to increase fees at campgrounds managed by the Forest Service in the Ely area, increase fees at Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area, and to initiate a meeting room reservation fee at the California National Historic Trail Interpretive Center managed by the BLM Nevada Elko District Office.

As authorized by 46 U.S.C. 12121, the Secretary of Transportation, as represented by the Maritime Administration (MARAD), is authorized to grant waivers of the U.S.-build requirement of the coastwise laws under certain circumstances. A request for such a waiver has been received by MARAD. The vessel, and a brief description of the proposed service, is listed below. The complete application is given in DOT docket MARAD-2008-0091 at https://www.regulations.gov. Interested parties may comment on the effect this action may have on U.S. vessel builders or businesses in the U.S. that use U.S.-flag vessels. If MARAD determines, in accordance with 46 U.S.C. 12121 and MARAD's regulations at 46 CFR part 388 (68 FR 23084; April 30, 2003), that the issuance of the waiver will have an unduly adverse effect on a U.S.-vessel builder or a business that uses U.S.-flag vessels in that business, a waiver will not be granted. Comments should refer to the docket number of this notice and the vessel name in order for MARAD to properly consider the comments. Comments should also state the commenter's interest in the waiver application, and address the waiver criteria given in Sec. 388.4 of MARAD's regulations at 46 CFR part 388.

On October 8, 2008 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., the Securities and Exchange Commission will hold a roundtable to discuss ways in which its current disclosure system can be modernized to provide investors more useful and timely information to help them make investment choices. The roundtable will be organized as two panels. The panels will be moderated by Commission staff and will include investor representatives, company officials, information intermediaries, practitioners, and academics. The roundtable is part of the Commission's 21st Century Disclosure Initiative. The roundtable will be held in the auditorium of SEC headquarters at 100 F Street, NE., Washington, DC, from 9 a.m. until approximately 1 p.m. The roundtable will be open to the public with seating on a first- come, first-served basis. The roundtable discussions will be Webcast on the Commission's Web site at https://www.sec.gov. The roundtable agenda and other related materials, including a list of participants and moderators, will be accessible at https://www.sec.gov/ disclosureinitiative. The Commission welcomes comments regarding any of the topics to be addressed at the roundtable and is particularly interested in comments responding to the questions that are set forth below.

This notice is hereby given of the appointment of members of the updated USAID OIG SES Performance Review Board.

The FHWA is issuing this notice to advise the public that an environmental impact statement will be prepared for a proposed highway project from NC 107 to U.S. 23-74 east of Sylva, Jackson County, NC. (TIP Project R-4745.)

The Farm Credit System Insurance Corporation (FCSIC or Corporation) is publishing its notice under the Notification and Federal Employee Antidiscrimination and Retaliation Act of 2002 (No FEAR Act) (Pub. L. 107-174), as required by the No FEAR Act and 5 CFR 724. Under the No FEAR Act, agencies are required to notify employees, former employees, and applicants of their rights and remedies under Federal antidiscrimination and whistleblower protection laws applicable to them. The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) has published implementing regulations at 5 CFR 724, which require notice and training, and include model language for agency notices.

At its regular business meeting on September 11, 2008, in Lewisburg, Pennsylvania, the Commission held a public hearing as part of its regular business meeting. At the public hearing, the Commission: (1) Approved certain water resources projects; (2) approved enforcement actions for six projects; and (3) granted a request for extension of an emergency certificate issued on July 24, 2008. Details concerning these and other matters addressed at the public hearing and business meeting are contained in the Supplementary Information section of this notice.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) hereby gives notice that it has submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) a request to approve a new information collection as described below.