April 9, 2009 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Coast Guard announces a public meeting to receive comments on an advanced notice of proposed rulemaking (ANPRM) entitled Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC)Reader Requirements that was published in the Federal Register on March 27, 2009. As stated in that document, the ANPRM discusses the Coast Guard's preliminary thoughts on potential requirements for owners and operators of certain vessels and facilities regulated by the Coast Guard under 33 CFR chapter I, subchapter H, for use of electronic readers designed to work with TWICs as an access control measure.

The consent agreement in this matter settles alleged violations of federal law prohibiting unfair or deceptive acts or practices or unfair methods of competition. The attached Analysis to Aid Public Comment describes both the allegations in the complaint and the terms of the consent orderembodied in the consent agreementthat would settle these allegations.

This document cancels a public hearing on proposed rulemaking relating to the foreign base company sales income, in cases in which personal property sold by a controlled foreign corporation (CFC) is manufactured, produced, or constructed pursuant to a contract manufacturing arrangement or by one or more branches of the CFC. The temporary regulations modify the foreign base company sales income

As part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, CBP invites the general public and other Federal agencies to comment on an information collection requirement concerning the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI). This request for comment is being made pursuant to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104-13; 44 U.S.C. 3505(c)(2)).

As part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, CBP invites the general public and other Federal agencies to comment on an information collection requirement concerning the Exportation of Used Self-Propelled Vehicles. This request for comment is being made pursuant to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104-13; 44 U.S.C. 3505(c)(2)).

As part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, CBP invites the general public and other Federal agencies to comment on an information collection requirement concerning the Certificate of Registration (Forms 4455 and 4457). This request for comment is being made pursuant to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104-13; 44 U.S.C. 3505(c)(2)).

The SEDAR Steering Committee will meet to discuss the SEDAR assessment schedule and the SEDAR process. See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.

Under the Federal Advisory Committee Act, Public Law 92-463, EPA gives notice of a meeting of the Farm, Ranch, and Rural Communities Committee (FRRCC). The purpose of the FRRCC is to provide advice to the Administrator of EPA on environmental issues and programs that impact, or are of concern to, farms, ranches, and rural communities. The FRRCC is a part of EPA's efforts to expand cooperative working relationships with the agriculture industry and others who are interested in agricultural issues to achieve greater progress in environmental protection.

Under the Federal Advisory Committee Act, Public Law 92-463, EPA gives notice of a meeting of the National Advisory Committee (NAC) and Governmental Advisory Committee (GAC) to the U.S. Representative to the North American Commission for Environmental Cooperation (CEC). The National and Governmental Advisory Committees advise the EPA Administrator in her capacity as the U.S. Representative to the CEC Council. The Committees are authorized under Articles 17 and 18 of the North American Agreement on Environmental Cooperation (NAAEC), North American Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act, Public Law 103-182, and as directed by Executive Order 12915, entitled ``Federal Implementation of the North American Agreement on Environmental Cooperation.'' The NAC is composed of 12 members representing academia, environmental non-governmental organizations, and private industry. The GAC consists of 12 members representing state, local, and Tribal governments. The Committees are responsible for providing advice to the U.S. Representative on a wide range of strategic, scientific, technological, regulatory, and economic issues related to implementation and further elaboration of the NAAEC.

The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is amending its administrative regulations to add a new part that establishes regulations governing the submission to FSIS of petitions for rulemaking. The new regulations supersede existing guidance on the submission of petitions to FSIS to issue, amend, or repeal its regulations. FSIS is taking this action to help ensure the filing of well-supported petitions that contain information that the Agency needs to proceed with consideration of the requested rulemaking in a timely manner.

We are proposing to amend the regulations to provide for the importation of wooden handicrafts from China under certain conditions. From 2002 to 2005, the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Services (APHIS) issued more than 300 emergency action notices and conducted national recalls to remove infested Chinese-origin wooden handicrafts from the U.S. marketplace. In 2005, APHIS suspended the importation of certain Chinese wooden handicrafts until we could more fully analyze the pest risks associated with those articles. Based on the evidence in a recent pest risk analysis, APHIS has determined that these articles can be safely imported from China, provided certain conditions are met. This action would allow for trade in Chinese wooden handicrafts to resume while continuing to protect the United States against the introduction of plant pests.

This notice announces the appointment of the Performance Review Board (PRB) of the United States Commission on Civil Rights. Publication of PRB membership is required pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 4314(c)(4).

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce a 12-month finding on a petition to list the San Francisco Bay-Delta population of the longfin smelt (Spirinchus thaleichthys) as endangered with critical habitat under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). After a thorough review of all available scientific and commercial information, we find that the San Francisco Bay-Delta population of the longfin smelt does not meet our definition of a distinct population segment (DPS), as identified in our DPS policy (61 FR 4721, February 7, 1996). As a result, listing the species as a DPS is not warranted. However, we are initiating a status assessment of the longfin smelt, and we solicit information on the status of the species range wide.

As part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, CBP invites the general public and other Federal agencies to comment on an information collection requirement concerning the Importer's ID Input Record. This request for comment is being made pursuant to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104-13; 44 U.S.C. 3505(c)(2)).

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce the availability of an amendment and supplement to our draft revised Recovery Plan (Recovery Plan) for the Rio Grande silvery minnow (Hybognathus amarus) under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). The species currently inhabits the Rio Grande in New Mexico and has been introduced to the Big Bend area of Texas. This amendment and supplement consist of revised draft recovery criteria and a population viability assessment (PVA, or draft Appendix H), respectively. We invite public review and comment on these documents. After review we will incorporate the documents into the Final Recovery Plan (the PVA as Appendix H).

We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Airbus model series airplanes. This proposed AD would require revising the Airworthiness Limitations Section of the Instructions for Continuing Airworthiness to incorporate new fuel system limitations for airplanes modified in accordance with STC ST00092BO. This AD also requires performing a general visual inspection for tank unit separation and compensator separation of the: center, inner, outer fuel tanks, and trim fuel tanks of the tank units, and corrective actions if necessary. This proposed AD results from fuel system reviews conducted by the manufacturer. We are proposing this AD to prevent a potential of ignition sources inside fuel tanks, which in combination with flammable fuel vapors, could result in a fuel tank fire or explosion and consequent loss of the airplane.

Announcement regarding Colorado, Maryland, and Texas triggering ``on'' to the Second-Tier of Emergency Unemployment Compensation (EUC08).