2008 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

This document sets forth the views of the Department of Labor concerning the legal standards imposed on fiduciaries of employee benefit plans by sections 403 and 404 of Title I of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) when considering investments in ``economically targeted investments.'' These guidelines affect fiduciaries of employee benefit plans, including trustees, investment managers and others responsible for the management of employee benefit plan assets.

This action announces that on August 26, 2008, EPA Region 10, and the Coeur d'Alene Tribe, entered into a Partial Delegation of Administrative Authority to carry out certain day-to-day activities associated with implementation of the Federal Implementation Plan for the Coeur d'Alene Reservation (Coeur d'Alene FIP). A note of this partial delegation is being added to the Coeur d'Alene FIP.

The Commission addresses the obligations of small cable systems, and grants them an exemption from the material degradation requirement to carry high definition broadcast signals under the Commission's rules. The Commission holds that cable systems that either have 2,500 or fewer subscribers and are not affiliated with a large cable operator, or have an activated channel capacity of 552 MHz or less, are exempt from the requirement to carry high definition versions of broadcast signals. This exemption will sunset three years after the conclusion of the digital television (DTV) Transition. The Commission notes that the signals of all must-carry stations must continue to be made viewable to all subscribers pursuant to the Commission's rules.

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) proposes to amend its test procedures for microwave ovens under the Energy Policy and Conservation Act to provide for the measurement of standby mode and off mode power use by microwave ovens. The proposed amendments would incorporate into the DOE test procedure provisions from the International Electrotechnical Commission's Standard 62301, Household electrical appliances[m

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), are designating final revised critical habitat for the San Bernardino kangaroo rat (Dipodomys merriami parvus) under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). Approximately 7,779 acres (ac) (3,148 hectares (ha)) of habitat in San Bernardino and Riverside Counties, California, are being designated as critical habitat for the San Bernardino kangaroo rat. This final revised designation constitutes a reduction of approximately 25,516 ac (10,326 ha) from the 2002 designation of critical habitat for the San Bernardino kangaroo rat.

The Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation's regulations on Benefits Payable in Terminated Single-Employer Plans and Allocation of Assets in Single-Employer Plans prescribe interest assumptions for valuing and paying benefits under terminating single-employer plans. This final rule amends the regulations to adopt interest assumptions for plans with valuation dates in November 2008. Interest assumptions are also published on the PBGC's Web site (https://www.pbgc.gov).

The Secretary amends the regulations implementing the Privacy Act of 1974, as amended (Privacy Act). These changes are intended to exempt from certain Privacy Act requirements investigative material in a new system of records maintained by the Department that will be known as the Office of Inspector General Data Analytics System (ODAS) (18-10- 02). Specifically, the exemption applies to materials compiled by the Department's Office of Inspector General (OIG) for law enforcement purposes to identify internal control weaknesses and system issues and to improve methods of data modeling and annual audit planning in order to detect and investigate fraud, waste, and mismanagement in Department programs and operations.

The Small Business Administration is correcting a Final rule that appeared in the Federal Register on October 1, 2008. The 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 will correct the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section of the rule.

The EPA has determined that the Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW) 1-hour ozone nonattainment area is currently attaining the 1-hour ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS). This determination is based upon certified ambient air monitoring data that show the area has monitored attainment of the 1-hour ozone NAAQS for the 2004-2006 monitoring period. In addition, quality controlled and quality assured ozone data for 2007 and 2008 that are available in the EPA Air Quality System database show this area continues to attain the 1-hour ozone NAAQS. The requirements for this area to submit an attainment demonstration or 5% Increment of Progress (IOP) plan, a reasonable further progress (RFP) plan, contingency measures, and other planning State Implementation Plans (SIPs) related to attainment of the 1-hour ozone NAAQS are suspended for so long as the area continues to attain the 1-hour ozone NAAQS.

NMFS is opening directed fishing for Atka mackerel in the Eastern Aleutian District and the Bering Sea subarea of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area (BSAI) by vessels participating in the BSAI trawl limited access fishery. This action is necessary to fully use the 2008 total allowable catch (TAC) of Atka mackerel in these areas specified for vessels participating in the BSAI trawl limited access fishery.

We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for the products listed above that would supersede an existing AD. This proposed AD results from mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) originated by an aviation authority of another country to identify and correct an unsafe condition on an aviation product. The MCAI describes the unsafe condition as:

We are revising an earlier proposed airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Boeing Model 767 airplanes. The original NPRM would have required sealing certain fasteners and stiffeners in the fuel tank, and changing certain wire bundle clamp configurations on the fuel tank walls. The original NPRM resulted from fuel system reviews conducted by the manufacturer. This action revises the original NPRM by adding inspections, for certain airplanes, of additional fasteners in the fuel tanks and of the method of attachment of the vortex generators, and corrective action if necessary. We are proposing this supplemental NPRM to prevent possible ignition sources in the auxiliary fuel tank, main fuel tanks, and surge tanks caused by a wiring short or lightning strike, which could result in fuel tank explosions and consequent loss of the airplane.

The FAA is superseding an existing airworthiness directive (AD) that applies to all Bombardier Model CL-600-2B19 (Regional Jet Series 100 & 440) airplanes and Model CL-600-1A11 (CL-600), CL-600-2A12 (CL-601), and CL-600-2B16 (CL-601-3A, CL-601-3R, and CL-604) airplanes. The existing AD currently requires revising the airplane flight manuals (AFMs) to include new cold weather operations limitations and procedures. This AD requires revising the AFMs to include a requirement for flightcrew training regarding enhanced take-off procedures and winter operations. This AD results from reports of uncommanded roll during take-off. We are issuing this AD to prevent possible loss of control on take-off resulting from even small amounts of frost, ice, snow, or slush on the wing leading edges or forward upper wing surfaces.

This rule modifies the Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service, Domestic Mail Manual (DMM[supreg]) 604.9.0 to establish a minimum dollar amount for the issuance of checks by the USPS[supreg] for the refund of unused postage value in postage meters and PC Postage[supreg] accounts. In addition, we provide specific time frames and procedures for refunds of different types of postage produced by PC Postage and postage meter systems.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA or Department) is adopting a state-specific, final rule establishing management direction for designated roadless areas in the State of Idaho. The final rule designates 250 Idaho Roadless Areas (IRAs) and establishes five management themes that provide prohibitions with exceptions or conditioned permissions governing road construction, timber cutting, and discretionary mineral development. The final rule takes a balanced approach recognizing both local and national interests for the management of these lands. The Department and Forest Service are committed to the important challenge of protecting roadless areas and their important characteristics. The final rule achieves this through five land classifications that assign various permissions and prohibitions regarding road building, timber cutting, and discretionary mineral activities. The final rule also allows the Forest Service to continue to be a good neighbor and reduce the risk of wildland fires to at-risk communities and municipal water supply systems. The rule does not authorize the building of a single road or the cutting of a single tree; instead it establishes permissions and prohibitions that will govern what types of activities may occur in IRAs. Any decision to build a road, allow mineral activities, harvest a tree, or conduct any other activity permissible under this final rule will require appropriate site-specific analysis under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and other applicable laws. Projects will also be consistent with the applicable land management plan (LMP) components. This final rule supersedes the 2001 Roadless Area Conservation Rule (2001 roadless rule) for National Forest System (NFS) lands in the State of Idaho.

The FDIC is proposing to amend 12 CFR part 327 to: Alter the way in which it differentiates for risk in the risk-based assessment system; revise deposit insurance assessment rates, including base assessment rates; and make technical and other changes to the rules governing the risk-based assessment system.

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Boeing Model 747-400, 747-400D, and 747-400F series airplanes. This AD requires installing an extension tube to the existing pump discharge port of the scavenge pump on the outboard side of the center fuel tank in the main fuel tank 2. This AD results from fuel system reviews conducted by the manufacturer. We are issuing this AD to prevent a fire or explosion in the fuel tank and consequent loss of the airplane.

In accordance with the Agricultural Bioterrorism Protection Act of 2002, we are amending and republishing the list of select agents and toxins that have the potential to pose a severe threat to animal or plant health, or to animal or plant products. The Act requires the biennial review and republication of the list of select agents and toxins and the revision of the list as necessary. This action implements the findings of the second biennial review of the list.

This document informs owners and operators of facilities located within Captain of the Port Zones Portland (OR), Puget Sound, and San Francisco Bay that they must implement access control procedures utilizing TWIC no later than February 28, 2009.

This document amends the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) regulations relating to the list of foreign countries whose pleasure vessels may be issued U.S. cruising licenses. Pursuant to information provided by the British Embassy, the Department of State has recommended that CBP update the listing relating to the United Kingdom.

The Commander, First Coast Guard District, has issued a temporary deviation from the regulation governing the operation of the Sara M. Long (Route 1 Bypass) Bridge across the Piscataqua River at mile 4.0, between Portsmouth, New Hampshire, and Kittery, Maine. Under this temporary deviation, the bridge may remain in the closed position. This deviation is necessary to facilitate scheduled bridge maintenance.

The Commander, First Coast Guard District, has issued a temporary deviation from the regulation governing the operation of the 145 Street Bridge across the Harlem River, mile 2.8, at New York City, New York. Under this temporary deviation the bridge may remain in the closed position for five days to facilitate bridge maintenance.

The Commander, First Coast Guard District, has issued a temporary deviation from the regulations governing the operation of the NJTRO Bridge, across the Raritan River, mile 0.5, at Perth Amboy, New Jersey. Under this temporary deviation the draw may remain in the closed position for one weekend to facilitate scheduled bridge maintenance.

NMFS announces the availability of Amendment 4 to the Spiny Lobster Fishery Management Plan (FMP) of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands and Amendment 8 to the Joint Spiny Lobster FMP of the Gulf of Mexico and South Atlantic prepared by the Caribbean, South Atlantic, and Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Councils (Councils). Amendments 4 and 8 would establish minimum conservation standards for imported spiny lobster. The intended effect of Amendments 4 and 8 is to eliminate the primary market for lobster that do not meet the minimum size limit or mean size at sexual maturity, which is expected to result in a reduction in the foreign harvest of these undersized animals and increase the spawning stock biomass and long-term potential yield within the pan-Caribbean spiny lobster fishery.

In the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM), the Federal Communications Commission (Commission) recognizes that it has continually sought to ensure that it has access to the data necessary for its public safety and broadband policymaking, and that certain infrastructure and operating data might be useful, but only if collected on an industry-wide basis from all relevant facilities-based providers of broadband and/or telecommunications. In addition, the Commission recognizes that certain service quality and customer satisfaction data might be useful, but only if collected on an industry-wide basis from all relevant facilities-based providers of broadband and/or telecommunications. The NPRM therefore seeks comment on whether and what types of such data should be collected from all relevant providers in furtherance of those goals.