February 9, 2009 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Securities and Exchange Commission (``Commission'') is extending the comment period for a release proposing a Roadmap for the potential use of financial statements prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (``IFRS'') as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board by U.S. issuers for purposes of their filings with the Commission and amendments to various regulations, rules and forms that would permit early use of IFRS by a limited number of U.S. issuers [Release No. 33-8982; 73 FR 70816 (Nov. 21, 2008)]. The original comment period for Release No. 33-8982 is scheduled to end on February 19, 2009. The Commission is extending the time period in which to provide the Commission with comments on that release for 60 days until Monday, April 20, 2009. This action will allow interested persons additional time to analyze the issues and prepare their comments.

In compliance with the requirements of section 3506(c)(2)(a) of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub. L. No. 104-13), the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (Commission) is soliciting public comment on the specific aspects of the information collection described below.

In compliance with section 203(f) of the ATPA, as amended, 19 U.S.C. 3202(f)(2), the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) is requesting the views of interested parties on whether the designated beneficiary countries are meeting the eligibility criteria under the ATPA. (See 19 U.S.C. 3203(b)(6)(B).) This information will be used in the preparation of a report to the Congress on the operation of the program.

This notice announces the decision of the Consumer Product Safety Commission (``CPSC'' or ``Commission'') to stay enforcement of certain provisions of subsection 14(a) of the Consumer Product Safety Act (``CPSA'') as amended by section 102(a) of the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008 (``CPSIA''), Public Law 110-314. Specifically, the Commission is staying certain of the requirements of paragraphs 14(a)(1), (2), and (3) that otherwise require testing and issuance of certificates of compliance by manufacturers, including importers, of products subject to an applicable consumer product safety rule as defined in the CPSA or similar rule, ban, standard, or regulation under any other Act enforced by the Commission. This stay covers all such requirements with the exception of: (1) Those where testing and certification was required by subsection 14(a) of the CPSA prior to enactment of the CPSIA; and (2) Those requirements, when they become effective, applicable to children's product certifications required to be supported by third party testing for which the Commission has issued requirements for acceptance of accreditation of third party testing laboratories to test for: Lead paint (effective for products manufactured after December 21, 2008), Full-size and non-full size cribs and pacifiers (effective for products manufactured after January 20, 2009), Small parts (effective for products manufactured after February 15, 2009), and Metal components of children's metal jewelry (effective for products manufactured after March 23, 2009); and (3) Any and all certifications expressly required by CPSC regulations; and (4) The certifications required due to certain requirements of the Virginia Graeme Baker Pool & Spa Safety Act being defined as consumer product safety ``rules;'' and (5) The certifications of compliance required for ATVs in section 42(a)(2) of the CPSA which were added by CPSIA; and (6) Any voluntary guarantees provided for in the Flammable Fabrics Act (``FFA'') or otherwise (to the extent a guarantor wishes to issue one). This stay will remain in effect until February 10, 2010, at which time the Commission will vote to terminate the stay. This stay does not alter or postpone the requirement that all products meet applicable consumer product safety rules as defined in the CPSA or similar rules, bans, standards, or regulations under any other Act enforced by the Commission.

The Federal Communications Commission, as part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork burdens, invites the general public and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on the following information collection, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), Public Law No. 104-13. 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 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.

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has received Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approval for the following public information collections pursuant to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 104-13. An agency may not conduct or sponsor and a person is not required to respond to a collection of information unless it displays a currently valid control number.

In conjunction with the publication today, in a separate release, of the Commission's final rule amendments to its existing rules governing the conduct of nationally recognized statistical rating organizations (``NRSROs''), the Commission is proposing amendments which would require the public disclosure of credit rating histories for all outstanding credit ratings issued by an NRSRO on or after June 26, 2007 paid for by the obligor being rated or by the issuer, underwriter, or sponsor of the security being rated. The Commission also is soliciting detailed information about the issues surrounding the application of a disclosure requirement on subscriber-paid credit ratings. The Commission is re-proposing for comment an amendment to its conflict or interest rule that would prohibit an NRSRO from issuing a rating for a structured finance product paid for by the product's issuer, sponsor, or underwriter unless the information about the product provided to the NRSRO to determine the rating and, thereafter, to monitor the rating is made available to other persons. The Commission is proposing these rules to address concerns about the integrity of the credit rating procedures and methodologies at NRSROs.

FMCSA announces its decision to exempt eighty-four individuals from its rule prohibiting persons with insulin-treated diabetes mellitus (ITDM) from operating commercial motor vehicles (CMVs) in interstate commerce. The exemptions will enable these individuals to operate CMVs in interstate commerce.

EPA is revising the area source category list by changing the name of the ``Secondary Aluminum Production'' category to ``Aluminum Foundries'' and the ``Nonferrous Foundries, not elsewhere classified (nec)'' category to ``Other Nonferrous Foundries.'' At the same time, EPA is proposing national emission standards for the Aluminum Foundries, Copper Foundries, and Other Nonferrous Foundries area source categories. These proposed emission standards for new and existing sources reflect EPA's proposed determination regarding the generally available control technology or management practices for each area source category.