2008 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The General Services Administration (GSA) is amending the General Services Administration Acquisition Regulation (GSAR) by updating language pertaining to protests, disputes, and appeals.

Pursuant to the Privacy Act of 1974, the Department of Homeland Security proposes to add a new system of records titled Research, Development, Test, and Evaluation Records. This system maintains records collected in support of, or during the conduct of, Science & Technology-funded research, development, test, and evaluation activities. This new system will be added to the Department's inventory of record systems.

In accordance with the Privacy Act of 1974 and as part of the Department of Homeland Security's ongoing effort to review and update legacy system of records notices, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is giving notice that it proposes to update and reissue the following legacy record system Justice/INS. 023 Law Enforcement Support Center Database as an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) system of records titled Law Enforcement Support Center (LESC) Alien Criminal Response Information Management System (ACRIMe). The information in this system of records includes data collected and maintained by the ICE LESC to carry out its mission to respond to inquiries from law enforcement agencies concerning immigration status of an individual, and whether the individual is under investigation and/or wanted by ICE or other law enforcement agencies. Categories of individuals, categories of records, and the routine uses of this legacy system of records notice have been updated. Additionally, DHS is issuing a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) concurrent with this SORN elsewhere in the Federal Register. The exemptions for the legacy system of records notices will continue to be applicable until the final rule for this SORN has been completed. This system will be included in the DHS inventory of record systems.

In accordance with the Privacy Act of 1974, the Department of Homeland Security is giving notice that it proposes to consolidate two legacy record systems: Treasury/CS.212 Search/Arrest/Seizure Report and Treasury/CS.214 Seizure File into a Immigration and Customs Enforcement system of records notice titled Search, Arrest, and Seizure Records. Categories of individuals, categories of records, and the routine uses of these legacy system of records notices have been consolidated and updated to better reflect Immigration and Custom Enforcement's search, arrest, and seizure records. Additionally, DHS is issuing a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) concurrent with this SORN elsewhere in the Federal Register. The exemptions for the legacy system of records notices will continue to be applicable until the final rule for this SORN has been completed. This system will be included in the Department's inventory of record systems.

The Department of Homeland Security is giving concurrent notice of a revised and updated system of records pursuant to the Privacy Act of 1974 for the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Confidential and Other Sources of Information (COSI) system of records and this proposed rulemaking. In this proposed rulemaking, the Department proposes to exempt portions of the system of records from one or more provisions of the Privacy Act because of criminal, civil, and administrative enforcement requirements. The exemptions for the legacy system of records notices will continue to be applicable until the final rule for this SORN has been completed.

Under the provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. Chapter 35), the General Services Administration has submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) a request to review and approve an extension of a currently approved information collection requirement regarding the Civilian Board of Contract Appeals (CBCA) Rules of Procedure. A request for public comments was published at 72 FR 65341, November 20, 2007. No comments were received. The clearance currently expires on October 31, 2008. Public comments are particularly invited on: Whether this collection of information is necessary and whether it will have practical utility; whether our estimate of the public burden of this collection of information is accurate, and based on valid assumptions and methodology; ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected.

Under the provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. Chapter 35), the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Secretariat will be submitting to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) a request to review and approve an extension of a currently approved information collection requirement concerning incentive contracts. The clearance currently expires on December 31, 2008. Public comments are particularly invited on: Whether this collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of functions of the FAR, and whether it will have practical utility; whether our estimate of the public burden of this collection of information is accurate, and based on valid assumptions and methodology; ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and ways in which we can minimize the burden of the collection of information on those who are to respond, through the use of appropriate technological collection techniques or other forms of information technology.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is giving concurrent notice of a revised and updated system of records pursuant to the Privacy Act of 1974 for the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Search, Arrest, and Seizure Records system of records and this proposed rulemaking. In this proposed rulemaking, the Department proposes to exempt portions of the system of records from one or more provisions of the Privacy Act because of criminal, civil, and administrative enforcement requirements. The exemptions for the legacy system of records notices will continue to be applicable until the final rule for this SORN has been completed.

The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) announces the availability of approximately $1.3 million in competitive grant funds for fiscal year 2009, subject to final appropriation action by Congress, which would enable States to explore new market opportunities for U.S. food and agricultural products and to encourage research and innovation aimed at improving the efficiency and performance of the U.S. marketing system. Eligible applicants include State departments of agriculture, State agricultural experiment stations, and other appropriate State Agencies. Applicants are encouraged to involve industry groups, academia, community-based organizations, and other stakeholders in developing proposals and conducting projects. In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the information collection requirements have been previously approved by OMB under 0581-0240, Federal-State Marketing Improvement Program (FSMIP).

The Forest Service is revising the travel management rule to make it consistent with language proposed in the rule's implementing directives that was published for public notice and comment in the Federal Register and that has been adopted in the final directives. The notice adopting the final travel management directives is contained in the same issue of the Federal Register as this rule. The change to the travel management rule is needed to allow for limited motor vehicle use on National Forest System (NFS) lands within a specified distance of State or county roads or trails solely for the purposes of dispersed camping or big game retrieval. In addition, the agency is removing a redundant paragraph from the regulations concerning the travel management rule.

The Office of National Marine Sanctuaries is seeking applicants for the following vacant seats on the Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuary Advisory Council (Council): Conservation Alternate and Primary, Maritime Activities Alternate and Primary. Applicants are chosen based upon their particular expertise and experience in relation to the seat for which they are applying; community and professional affiliations; philosophy regarding the protection and management of marine resources; and possibly the length of residence in the area affected by the Sanctuary. Applicants who are chosen as members should expect to serve 2-3 year terms, pursuant to the Council's Charter.

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSM) is announcing that the information collection request for 30 CFR Part 772Requirements for Coal Exploration has been submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval. This information collection request describes the nature of the information collection and the expected burden and cost for 30 CFR Part 772.

With this notice, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (``OSHA'' or ``the Agency'') is making technical amendments to existing permanent variances, and revoking several others. The technical amendments involve renaming the employers identified on eight of the variances, and also revising the worksites covered by one of these variances. In addition, the Agency is revoking six variances based on evidence that the employers no longer need the variances.

In compliance with Section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 which requires 30 days for public comment on proposed information collection projects, the Indian Health Service (IHS) has submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) a request to review and approve the information collection listed below. This proposed information collection project was previously published in the Federal Register (73 FR 23254) on August 25, 2008 and allowed 60 days for public comment. No public comment was received in response to the notice. The purpose of this notice is to allow 30 days for public comment to be submitted directly to OMB. Proposed Collection: Title: 0917-NEW, ``Indian Health Service Health Promotion/Disease Prevention Grantee Survey.'' Type of Information Collection Request: This is a one-time survey to fulfill an OMB request for an independent external evaluation collection, 0917-NEW, ``Indian Health Service Health Promotional Disease Prevention (HP/DP) Grantee Survey.'' Form Number(s): None. Need and Use of Information Collection: The IHS goal is to raise the health status of the American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) people to the highest possible level by providing comprehensive health care and preventive health services. HP/DP is one of the three IHS Director's initiatives to reduce health disparities among AI/AN populations through a coordinated and systematic approach to enhance health promotion and chronic disease prevention approaches at the local, regional, and national levels. The HP/DP competitive grant was established in 2005 to encourage Tribal and urban Indian programs to fully engage their local schools, communities, health care providers, health centers, faith-based/ spiritual communities, senior centers, youth programs, local governments, academia, non-profit organizations, and many other community sectors to work together to enhance and promote health and prevent chronic disease in their communities. Thirty-three Tribal/urban Indian organizations and programs were awarded competitive grants to expand and enhance health promotion and disease prevention to address health disparities among AI/AN populations. To conduct a thorough evaluation of the grant program, 29 telephone and four face-to-face interviews will be conducted to collect information to complete a quantitative and qualitative evaluation of the HP/DP grant program. The teleconference interviews may include one staff member per site. Each of the Tribal/urban organization/programs will determine the number of their staff members that will participate in the interview. The evaluation will include an assessment of whether HP/DP grantees achieve measurable health outcomes, synthesize the evaluation findings, and include a written report with recommendations to enhance program effectiveness. The information gathered will be used to prepare a final report for OMB. Affected Public: Individuals. Type of Respondents: Tribal/urban organizations program staff. The table below provides: Types of data collection instruments, estimated number of respondents, number of responses per respondent, average burden hour per response, and total annual burden hour(s).

This notice announces the intention of the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) to request the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to allow the proposed information collection project: ``Overcoming Barriers to Expanded Health Information Exchange (HIE) Participation in Indiana.'' 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 June 10th, 2008 and allowed 60 days for public comment. No comments were received. The purpose of this notice is to allow an additional 30 days for public comment.

It is the policy of the Commission to publish settlements which it provisionally accepts under the Federal Hazardous Substances Act in the Federal Register in accordance with the terms of 16 CFR 1118.20(e). Published below is a provisionally-accepted Settlement Agreement with Nordstrom, Inc., containing a civil penalty of $60,000.00.

The Secretary amends our regulations implementing the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), which is section 444 of the General Education Provisions Act. These amendments are needed to implement a provision of the USA Patriot Act and the Campus Sex Crimes Prevention Act, which added new exceptions permitting the disclosure of personally identifiable information from education records without consent. The amendments also implement two U.S. Supreme Court decisions interpreting FERPA, and make necessary changes identified as a result of the Department's experience administering FERPA and the current regulations. These changes clarify permissible disclosures to parents of eligible students and conditions that apply to disclosures in health and safety emergencies; clarify permissible disclosures of student identifiers as directory information; allow disclosures to contractors and other outside parties in connection with the outsourcing of institutional services and functions; revise the definitions of attendance, disclosure, education records, personally identifiable information, and other key terms; clarify permissible redisclosures by State and Federal officials; and update investigation and enforcement provisions.

The U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) is proposing to change the cost-of-living allowance (COLA) rates received by certain white-collar Federal and U.S. Postal Service employees in the Pacific and Alaska COLA areas. The proposed rate changes are the result of interim adjustments OPM calculated based on relative Consumer Price Index differences. The proposed regulations would reduce the COLA rates for the Pacific allowance areas and Anchorage, Fairbanks, and Juneau, Alaska, by 1 percentage point.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce the reopening of the public information solicitation period on the July 10, 2008, 90-day finding on a petition to reclassify the delta smelt (Hypomesus transpacificus) from threatened to endangered under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). This action will provide all interested parties with an additional opportunity to submit information and materials on the status of delta smelt. Information previously submitted need not be resubmitted as it will already be incorporated into the public record and will be fully considered in the 12-month finding.