May 11, 2009 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.), the ODNI invites the general public and Federal agencies to comment on the standard data elements being reviewed under regular review procedures for use by the Intelligence Community agencies and elements, as defined by the National Security Act of 1947, as amended. The title of the standard data element set is ``Ancestry and Ethnicity Data Elements'', and is for the purpose of collecting ancestry and ethnicity data not otherwise captured in Standard Form (SF) 181, ``Ethnicity and Race Identification''. Data collected, obtained by responding to three questions, will assist the Intelligence Community in recruiting and retaining employees of various national, sub- national, cultural and ethnic backgrounds important to the Intelligence Community's mission. Once the standard data elements are approved, each Federal agency and element of the Intelligence Community may make the form available to every Intelligence Community job applicant to voluntarily report this information and data through use of a paper form or other agency information collection process. 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. These data elements can be viewed on the Web site https:// www.intelligence.gov.

The Regulatory Flexibility Act requires that agencies publish semiannual regulatory agendas in the Federal Register describing regulatory actions they are developing that may have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities (5 U.S.C. 602). Executive Order 12866 ``Regulatory Planning and Review,'' signed September 30, 1993 (58 FR 51735) and Office of Management and Budget memoranda implementing section 4 of that Order establish minimum standards for agencies' agendas, including specific types of information for each entry.

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is publishing its semiannual regulatory agenda in accordance with Public Law 96-354, ``The Regulatory Flexibility Act,'' and Executive Order 12866, ``Regulatory Planning and Review.'' The agenda is a compilation of all rules on which the NRC has recently completed action or has proposed or is considering action. This issuance updates any action occurring on rules since publication of the last semiannual agenda on November 24, 2008 (73 FR 71510).

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) publishes the semiannual regulatory agenda online (the e-agenda) at www.reginfo.gov to update the public about:

The regulatory agenda is a semiannual summary of all current and projected rulemakings, reviews of existing regulations, and completed actions of the Department. The agenda provides the public with information about the Department of Transportation's regulatory activity. It is expected that this information will enable the public to be more aware of and allow it to more effectively participate in the Department's regulatory activity. The public is also invited to submit comments on any aspect of this agenda.

In accordance with section 4(b) of Executive Order 12866 ``Regulatory Planning and Review,'' as amended, HUD is publishing its agenda of regulations already issued or that are expected to be issued during the next several months. The agenda also includes rules currently in effect that are under review and describes those regulations that may affect small entities, as required by section 602 of the Regulatory Flexibility Act. The purpose of publication of the agenda is to encourage more effective public participation in the regulatory process by providing the public with advance information about pending regulatory activities.

This document sets forth the Department's semiannual agenda of regulations that have been selected for review or development during the coming year. The Department's agencies have carefully assessed their available resources and what they can accomplish in the next 12 months and have adjusted their agendas accordingly.

This regulatory agenda is a semiannual summary of all current and projected rulemakings, reviews of existing regulations, and completed actions of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and its component agencies and divisions. This agenda provides the public with information about DHS' regulatory activity. DHS expects that this information will enable the public to be more aware of and effectively participate in the Department's regulatory activity. The public also is invited to submit comments on any aspect of this agenda.

In compliance with Executive Order 12866, entitled ``Regulatory Planning and Review,'' and the Regulatory Flexibility Act, as amended, the Department of Commerce (Department), in the spring and fall of each year, publishes in the Federal Register an agenda of regulations under development or review over the next 12 months. Rulemaking actions are grouped according to prerulemaking, proposed rules, final rules, long-term actions, and rulemaking actions completed since the fall 2008 agenda. The purpose of the agenda is to provide information to the public on regulations currently under review, being proposed, or issued by the Department. The agenda is intended to facilitate comments and views by interested members of the public.

This agenda provides summary descriptions of regulations being developed by the Civilian Agency Acquisition Council and the Defense Acquisition Regulations Council in compliance with Executive Order 12866 ``Regulatory Planning and Review.'' This agenda is being published to allow interested persons an opportunity to participate in the rulemaking process.