2008 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

Public Law 104-275 was enacted on October 9, 1996. It allows the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to provide a monetary allowance towards the private purchase of an outer burial receptacle for use in a VA national cemetery. Under VA regulation (38 CFR 38.629), the allowance is equal to the average cost of Government-furnished graveliners less any administrative costs to VA. The law provides a veteran's survivors with the option of selecting a Government-furnished graveliner for use in a VA national cemetery where such use is authorized. The purpose of this Notice is to notify interested parties of the average cost of Government-furnished graveliners, administrative costs that relate to processing and paying the allowance, and the amount of the allowance payable for qualifying interments that occur during calendar year 2009.

The Commission is adding Express Mail and Priority Mail Contract 2 to the Competitive Product List. This action is consistent with changes in a recent law governing postal operations and a recent Postal Service request. Republication of the lists of market dominant and competitive products is also consistent with new requirements in the law.

The Defense Information Systems Agency is deleting two systems of records notices in its existing inventory of records systems subject to the Privacy Act of 1974, (5 U.S.C. 552a), as amended.

This is an amendment of the Presidential declaration of a major disaster for the State of Texas (FEMA-1791-DR), dated 09/13/2008. Incident: Hurricane Ike. Incident Period: 09/07/2008 through 10/02/2008. Effective Date: 12/12/2008. Physical Loan Application Deadline Date: 01/12/2009. EIDL Loan Application Deadline Date: 06/15/2009.

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 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.

FMCSA announces its decision to renew the exemptions from the vision requirement in the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations for 44 individuals. FMCSA has statutory authority to exempt individuals from the vision requirement if the exemptions granted will not compromise safety. The Agency has concluded that granting these exemption renewals will provide a level of safety that is equivalent to, or greater than, the level of safety maintained without the exemptions for these commercial motor vehicle (CMV) drivers.

The Coast Guard is making permanent an interim rule establishing a security zone around any vessel being escorted by one or more Coast Guard assets, or other Federal, State, or local law enforcement assets within the Captain of the Port Zone Jacksonville, FL. This action is necessary to ensure the safe transit of escorted vessels as well as the safety and security of personnel and port facilities. No vessel or person is allowed inside the security zone unless authorized by the Captain of the Port Jacksonville, FL or a designated representative.

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) will hold a public meeting on January 21, 2009, at 7 p.m. at the Emery City Town Hall, 15 South Center, Emery, Utah, for the proposed competitive sale, of the Miller Canyon coal tract. BLM requests public comment on the fair market value and environmental effects of this tract. BLM is in the process of completing the Environmental Assessment that will address the environmental effects of mining this tract. The lands included in the delineated Federal coal lease tract (``Miller Canyon'') are located in Emery County, Utah, approximately three miles south of Emery, Utah, on private lands with federally administered minerals and are described as follows:

FMCSA announces its decision to renew the exemptions from the vision requirement in the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations for 11 individuals. FMCSA has statutory authority to exempt individuals from the vision requirement if the exemptions granted will not compromise safety. The Agency has concluded that granting these exemption renewals will provide a level of safety that is equivalent to, or greater than, the level of safety maintained without the exemptions for these commercial motor vehicle (CMV) drivers.

EPA is proposing amendments to the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) section 5 Premanufacture and Significant New Use Notification regulations to facilitate the introduction and use of electronic reporting. This action is intended to streamline and reduce the administrative costs and burdens of TSCA section 5 notifications for both industry and EPA by establishing standards and requirements for the use of EPA's Central Data Exchange (CDX) to electronically submit premanufacture notices (PMNs) and other TSCA section 5 notices and support documents to the Agency. EPA is also proposing to amend the TSCA section 5 User Fee regulations to add a new User Fee Payment Identity Number field to the PMN form, which would enable the Agency to match more easily a particular user fee with its notice submission. Lastly, EPA is proposing to remove the Agent signature block field on the PMN form, and thus the requirement for designated Agents to sign the form.

This bulletin cancels and replaces GSA Bulletin FPMR D-245, Protecting Federal Employees and the Public From Exposure to Tobacco Smoke in the Federal Workplace, which was published in the Federal Register on October 20, 1997 (62 FR 54461). This bulletin announces and provides details of a recent amendment to Federal Management Regulation, Part 102-74, Facility Management, revising the restrictions on the smoking of tobacco products in leased or owned space under the jurisdiction, custody or control of the Administrator of General Services. The revisions to the smoking policy also serve as a best practices model for other federal agencies.

As required by the Federal Advisory Committee Act, Public Law 92-463, the Department of State gives notice of the fourth meeting of the Advisory Committee on International Postal and Delivery Services. This Committee has been formed in fulfillment of the provisions of the 2006 Postal Accountability and Enhancement Act (Pub. L. 109-435) and in accordance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act. Public input: Any member of the public interested in providing public input to the meeting should contact Mr. Chris Wood, whose contact information is listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section of this notice. Each individual providing oral input is requested to limit his or her comments to five minutes. Requests to be added to the speaker list must be received in writing (letter, e-mail or fax) prior to the close of business on February 6, 2009; written comments from members of the public for distribution at this meeting must reach Mr. Wood by letter, e-mail or fax by this same date. Meeting agenda: The agenda of the meeting will include a review of the results of the October-November 2008 sessions of the UPU Postal Operations Council and Council of Administration as well as other subjects related to international postal and delivery services of interest to Advisory Committee members and the public.

The Commission is adding Parcel Select & Parcel Return Service Contract 1 to the Competitive Product List. This action is consistent with changes in a recent law governing postal operations and a recent Postal Service request. Republication of the lists of market dominant and competitive products is also consistent with new requirements in the law.

The responsible lead agency is the U.S. Army Corps of EngineersNew York District (District). The Dredged Material Management Plan (DMMP) project area is in the Port of New York/New Jersey and includes the New York Bight Apex, the Lower Bay Complex (Lower Bay, Raritian and Sandy Hook Bays), the Upper Bay Complex (Hudson and East Rivers, Kill Van Kull, and Newark Bay), and the lands contiguous to these water bodies for a radius of approximately 20 miles. The study area approximates the boundaries of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (PANY/NJ). The Final Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (PEIS) that was listed in the October 31, 2008 Federal Register (73 FR 64944) completed the NEPA process, laying out the goals and generic impacts of the alternatives considered in preparing the overall DMMP. This finalized PEIS includes Appendix (D) which lists the comments received during the draft PEIS comment period. Comments, if warranted, were incorporated into the main text of the final PEIS as well. It should be noted that the DMMP outlines a series of goals and an overall master plan on meeting the dredged material needs of the Port through 2062. Its alternatives analysis is, as of necessity, generic in nature, identifying potential concerns, generic impacts and overall issues to be considered in greater site-specific detail before implementing any alternative in a given location. As such, it does not recommend or prioritize any site-specific alternative, but clearly sets out the process to be followed should any of the alternatives be implemented. Since no sustentative changes or addition of new alternatives to the DMMP have been identified that would alter the discussion or conclusion of generic impacts in the FPEIS, a supplemental PEIS was not deemed warranted. However, separate 2005 and 2008 DMMP Update reports are available tracking the progress in meeting the DMMP goals and a copy of the latest update is included with the Final PEIS as Appendix A. As individual site-specific projects are initiated to implement various DMMP goals individual NEPA and/or permit documents will continue to be prepared by the implementing agencies.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) intends to prepare a supplemental environmental impact statement (SEIS) for the Louisiana Coastal Area (LCA)Louisiana, Terrebonne Basin Barrier Shoreline Restoration Project. This restoration project will restore major reaches of the Terrebonne barrier islands chain. This SEIS will be tiered off of the programmatic EIS for the Louisiana Coastal Area (LCA)Louisiana, Ecosystem Restoration Study, November 2004. The record of decision for the programmatic EIS was signed on November 18, 2005.

Pursuant to the Federal Advisory Committee Act of 1972 (5 U.S.C., Appendix, as amended), the Sunshine in the Government Act of 1976 (U.S.C. 552b, as amended) and 41 Code of the Federal Regulations (CFR 102-3. 140 through 160, the Department of the Army announces the following committee meeting: Name of Committee: Army Science Board (ASB). Date(s) of January Plenary Meeting: January 13-14, 2009. Time(s) of Meeting: 0800-1700, January 13, 2009. 0800-1500, January 14, 2009. Place of Meeting: University of Maryland University College, Inn and Conference Center, 3501 University Boulevard East, Adelphi, MD 20783.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) intends to prepare a supplemental environmental impact statement (SEIS) for the Louisiana Coastal Area (LCA)Louisiana, Medium Diversion at White's Ditch restoration project. This restoration project will provide additional freshwater, nutrients, and fine sediment to the area between the Mississippi River and River aux Chenes ridges. This area is currently isolated from the beneficial effects of the Caernarvon freshwater diversion. The introduction of additional freshwater would facilitate organic sediment deposition, improve biological productivity, and prevent further deterioration of the marshes. This SEIS will be tiered off of the programmatic EIS for the Louisiana Coastal Area (LCA)Louisiana, Ecosystem Restoration Study, November 2004. The record of decision for the programmatic EIS was signed on November 18, 2005.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) intends to prepare a supplemental environmental impact statement (SEIS) for the Louisiana Coastal Area (LCA)Louisiana, Convey Atchafalaya River Water to Northern Terrebonne Marshes restoration project. This restoration project will increase existing Atchafalaya River influence to central (Lake Boudreaux) and eastern (Grand Bayou) Terrebonne marshes via the GIWW by introducing flow into the Grand Bayou Basin. This SEIS will be tiered off of the programmatic EIS for the Louisiana Coastal Area (LCA)Louisiana, Ecosystem Restoration Study, November 2004. The record of decision for the programmatic EIS was signed on November 18, 2005.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) intends to prepare a supplemental environmental impact statement (SEIS) for the Louisiana Coastal Area (LCA)Louisiana, Small Diversion at Convent/Blind River restoration project. This restoration project involves a small diversion (less than 5,000 cubic feet per second [cfs]) from the Mississippi River into the Blind River through a new control structure. This SEIS will be tiered off of the programmatic EIS for the Louisiana Coastal Area (LCA)Louisiana, Ecosystem Restoration Study, November 2004. The record of decision for the programmatic EIS was signed on November 18, 2005.

The purpose of this notice is to request public nominations to fill one position in Category Three, (Elected Official), for Utah's Resource Advisory Council. The Federal Land Policy and Management Act (FLPMA) (43 U.S.C. 1730) directs the Secretary of the Interior to involve the public in planning and issues related to management of lands administered by BLM. Section 309 of FLPMA directs the Secretary to select 10 to 15 member citizen-based advisory councils, which are consistent with the requirements of the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA). RACs are found at 43 CFR part 1784.

The Department of Treasury's Advisory Committee on the Ten- Year Framework for Energy and Environment Cooperation with China did not convene its first meeting on Monday, December 1, 2008 due to scheduling conflicts.

Notice is hereby given that, pursuant to 19 CFR 151.12, Inspectorate America Corporation, 2184 Jefferson Hwy., Lutcher, LA 70071, has been accredited to test petroleum, petroleum products, organic chemicals and vegetable oils for customs purposes, in accordance with the provisions of 19 CFR 151.12. Anyone wishing to employ this entity to conduct laboratory analyses should request and receive written assurances from the entity that it is accredited by the U.S. Customs and Border Protection to conduct the specific test requested. Alternatively, inquires regarding the specific test this entity is accredited to perform may be directed to the U.S. Customs and Border Protection by calling (202) 344-1060. The inquiry may also be sent to cbp.labhq@dhs.gov. Please reference the Web site listed below for a complete listing of CBP approved gaugers and accredited laboratories.

As required by 43 CFR 2650.7(d), notice is hereby given that an appealable decision approving lands for conveyance pursuant to the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act will be issued to Sea Lion Corporation. The lands are in the vicinity of Hooper Bay, Alaska, and are located in: