January 2, 2009 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has established a new system of records (see 72 FR 39042) pursuant to the provisions of the Privacy Act of 1974 (5 U.S.C. 552a), entitled the ``Partner Vetting System''. USAID published a proposed rule on July 20, 2007 (see 72 FR 39769) and is issuing this final rule after thorough review of all comments and suggestions received by the Agency through the public notice process and outreach sessions held for interested individuals. The final rule exempts portions of this system of records from one or more provisions of the Privacy Act. The decision as to whether to implement PVS will be made by the incoming Obama Administration.

The USDA, Forest Service, will prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) on a proposed action to construct a sno-park, designate motorized and non-motorized over-snow trails to link the parking facility to existing snowmobile and nordic trail systems, and designate new over-snow dog-friendly snowshoe and skier trails to enhance recreational opportunities from the new facility. The proposed sno-park would be located on National Forest lands between Kapka Butte and the junction of Forest Road 46 (Cascade Lakes Highway) and Forest Road 45 (Sunriver cutoff). The proposed sno-park area is located about 30 miles west of Bend, Oregon; it is located in Section 35, Township 18S, Range 9E. The alternatives will include the proposed action, no action, and additional alternatives that respond to issues generated through the scoping process. The agency will give notice of the full environmental analysis and decision making process so interested and affected people may participate and contribute to the final decision.

This is Supplement No. 6 to the Treasury Department Circular 570, 2008 Revision, published July 1, 2008, at 73 FR 37644.

The Department of Defense is publishing the unclassified text of a section 36(b)(1) arms sales notification. This is published to fulfill the requirements of section 155 of Public Law 104-164 dated 21 July 1996.

This report is provided in accordance with section 608(d)(1) of the Millennium Challenge Act of 2003, Public Law 108-199, Division D, (the ``Act''), 22 U.S.C. 7708(d)(1). The Act authorizes the provision of Millennium Challenge Account (``MCA'') assistance under section 605 of the Act to countries that enter into compacts with the United States to support policies and programs that advance the progress of such countries in achieving lasting economic growth and poverty reduction, and are in furtherance of the Act. The Act requires the Millennium Challenge Corporation (``MCC'') to take steps to determine the countries that, based on their demonstrated commitment to just and democratic governance, economic freedom, and investing in their people, as well as the opportunity to reduce poverty and generate economic growth in the country, will be eligible to receive MCA assistance during the fiscal year. These steps include the submission of reports to appropriate congressional committees and the publication of notices in the Federal Register that identify, among other things: 1. The countries that are ``candidate countries'' for MCA assistance during FY09 based on their per-capita income levels and their eligibility to receive assistance under U.S. law, and countries that would be candidate countries but for specified legal prohibitions on assistance (section 608(a) of the Act; 22 U.S.C. 7708(a)); 2. The criteria and methodology that the Board of Directors of MCC (the Board) will use to measure and evaluate the relative policy performance of the candidate countries consistent with the requirements of section 607 of the Act in order to select ``MCA eligible countries'' from among the ``candidate countries'' (section 608(b) of the Act, 22 U.S.C. 7708(b)); and 3. The list of countries determined by the Board to be ``MCA eligible countries'' for FY09, with justification for eligibility determination and selection for compact negotiation, including which of the MCA eligible countries the Board will seek to enter into MCA compacts (section 608(d) of the Act, 22 U.S.C. 7708(d)). This is the third of the above-described reports by MCC for fiscal year 2009 (FY09). It identifies countries determined by the Board to be eligible under section 607 of the Act for FY09 (22 U.S.C. 7706) and countries with which the Board will seek to enter into compacts under section 609 of the Act, as well as the justification for such decisions.

NOAA publishes this notice to supplement the agency's solicitation for applications published on July 11, 2008 in an action entitled ``Omnibus Notice Announcing the Availability of Grant Funds for Fiscal Year 2009''. This notice announces 13 additional programs that are soliciting applications for FY 2009 funding.

The Office of Management and Budget revised Circular A-94 in 1992. The revised Circular specified certain discount rates to be updated annually when the interest rate and inflation assumptions used to prepare the Budget of the United States Government were changed. These discount rates are found in Appendix C of the revised Circular. The updated discount rates are shown below. The discount rates in Appendix C are to be used for cost-effectiveness analysis, including lease-purchase analysis, as specified in the revised Circular. They do not apply to regulatory analysis.