2008 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

NCUA is adopting a final rule implementing a statutory amendment that expands the definition of ``net worth'' that applies to natural person credit unions under regulatory capital standards known as ``prompt corrective action.'' The expanded definition allows the acquiring credit union, in a merger of natural person credit unions, to combine the merging credit union's retained earnings with its own to determine the acquirer's post-merger ``net worth.'' For a merger in which the acquirer is a corporate credit union, the proposed rule similarly redefines corporate credit union capital to allow the acquirer to combine with its capital the retained earnings of the merging credit union to determine the acquirer's post-merger capital.

The Department of Commerce (``Department'') hereby publishes a list of scope rulings completed between July 1, 2008, and September 30, 2008. In conjunction with this list, the Department is also publishing a list of requests for scope rulings and anticircumvention determinations pending as of September 30, 2008. We intend to publish future lists after the close of the next calendar quarter.

This final rule announces inseason changes to management measures in the commercial Pacific Coast groundfish fisheries. These actions, which are authorized by the Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery Management Plan (FMP), are intended to allow fisheries to access more abundant groundfish stocks while protecting overfished and depleted stocks.

EPA is taking direct final action to amend the national emission standards for electric arc furnace (EAF) steelmaking facilities that are area sources of hazardous air pollutants published on December 28, 2007. The amendments to the area source standards for EAF steelmaking facilities clarify applicability of the opacity limit, make the performance test requirements for particulate matter consistent with requirements in the new source performance standards for EAF steelmaking facilities, allow title V test data to be used to demonstrate compliance, and revise the definition of ``scrap provider'' to include EAF steelmaking facilities that own and operate a scrap shredder.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Science Advisory Board (SAB) Staff Office announces a public teleconference of the chartered Clean Air Scientific Advisory Committee (CASAC) to consider and approve the CASAC Panel's draft report regarding its peer review of EPA's Risk and Exposure Assessment for Review of the Secondary National Ambient Air Quality Standards for Oxides of Nitrogen and Oxides of Sulfur: First Draft (August 2008). The CASAC will also discuss the Agency's schedule and process for National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) review of criteria pollutants with EPA's Office of Air and Radiation and Office (OAR) and Office of Research and Development (ORD).

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.), this document announces that an Information Collection Request (ICR) has been forwarded to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval. This is a request to renew an existing approved collection. The ICR, which is abstracted below, describes the nature of the information collection and its estimated burden and cost.

The EIA is soliciting comments on the proposed revision and three-year extension to the Form OE-781R ``Report of International Electrical Export/Import Data.''

We are approving an amendment to the Pennsylvania regulatory program (the Pennsylvania program) under the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 (SMCRA or the Act). The revisions relate to blasting for the development of shafts for underground mines and to blasting regulations in 25 Pa. Code Chapters 87, 88, 89, and 210.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104-13, May 22, 1995), this notice announces that the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) intends to submit to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) a request for review of an existing information collection. This information collection, ``Health Benefits Election Form'' (OMB Control No. 3206-0141; OPM Form 2809), is used by annuitants and former spouses to elect, cancel, suspend, or change health benefits enrollment during periods other than open season. Comments are particularly invited on: whether this information is necessary for the proper performance of functions of the Office of Personnel Management, 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; 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. There are approximately 30,000 changes to health benefits coverage per year. Of these, 20,000 are submitted on OPM Form 2809 and 10,000 verbally or in written correspondence. Each form takes approximately 45 minutes to complete; data collection by telephone or mail takes approximately 10 minutes. The annual burden for the form is 15,000 hours; the burden not using the form is 1,667 hours. The total burden is 16,667 hours. For copies of this proposal, contact Cyrus S. Benson on (202) 606- 4808, FAX (202) 606-0910 or via E-mail to Cyrus.Benson@opm.gov. Please include a mailing address with your request.

FRA is proposing to amend the Federal Track Safety Standards to promote the safety of railroad operations over continuous welded rail (CWR). In particular, FRA is proposing specific requirements for the qualification of persons designated to inspect CWR track, or supervise the installation, adjustment, or maintenance of CWR track. FRA is also proposing to clarify the procedures associated with the submission of CWR plans to FRA by track owners. FRA proposes that these plans focus on inspecting CWR for pull-apart prone conditions, and focus more specifically on CWR joint installation and maintenance procedures. This proposed rule would also make other changes to the requirements governing CWR.

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration, as part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, invites the general public and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on proposed and/or continuing information collections, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104-13, 44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)).

This is a notice of an Administrative declaration of a disaster for the State of North Carolina dated 11/21/2008. Incident: Severe Storms and Tornadoes. Incident Period: 11/14/2008 through 11/15/2008. Effective Date: 11/21/2008. Physical Loan Application Deadline Date: 01/21/2009. Economic Injury (EIDL) Loan Application Deadline Date: 08/21/2009.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), intend to prepare a comprehensive conservation plan (CCP) for the James Campbell and Pearl Harbor National Wildlife Refuges (refuges). We will also prepare an environmental assessment (EA) to evaluate the effects of various CCP alternatives. This notice also announces two public open house meetings; see SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for the details. Both refuges are located on the island of O`ahu, HI. We furnish this notice in compliance with CCP policy to advise other agencies and the public of our intentions, and to obtain suggestions and information on the scope of issues to consider in the planning process.

This rule amends the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation's regulation on Allocation of Assets in Single-Employer Plans by substituting a new table that applies to any plan being terminated either in a distress termination or involuntarily by the PBGC with a valuation date falling in 2009, and is used to determine expected retirement ages for plan participants. This table is needed in order to compute the value of early retirement benefits and, thus, the total value of benefits under the plan.

This notice informs the public of the PBGC flat premium rates for premium payment years beginning in 2009. These rates can be derived from information published elsewhere but are published in this notice for the convenience of the public.