May 2009 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The National Institute of Corrections (NIC) is soliciting proposals from organizations, groups, or individuals who would like to enter an 8-month cooperative agreement to write a 45-50 page white paper exploring implementation strategies to introduce and increase awareness of environmental and conservation efforts to the field of corrections.

The Department of Labor, as part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, conducts a preclearance consultation program to provide the general public and Federal agencies with an opportunity to comment on proposed and/or continuing collection of information in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA95) [44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)]. This program helps to ensure that requested data can be provided in the desired format, reporting burden (time and financial resources) is minimized, collection instruments are clearly understood, and the impact of collection requirements on respondents can be properly assessed.

This rule imposes a license requirement for certain exports and reexports of military commodities manufactured outside the United States that are not subject to the International Traffic in Arms Regulations, regardless of the level of U.S. origin content, if those military commodities incorporate certain thermal imaging cameras that are subject to the Export Administration Regulations. This rule also removes Commerce Control List (CCL) based export and reexport license requirements with respect to 36 destinations for certain thermal imaging cameras when they are not incorporated into military commodities and if they are not being exported or reexported to be embedded in a civil product. It imposes a semi-annual reporting requirement on the transactions from which it removes the CCL based license requirements. This rule limits use of License Exception APR for reexports of certain cameras controlled by Export Control Classification Number 6A003.b.4.b and certain foreign made military commodities incorporating such cameras. This rule imposes a license requirement for software used to increase the frame rate of certain cameras. BIS is making these changes in recognition of the emerging availability of these cameras around the world, the export licensing practices of other governments and the potential use of these cameras in military applications.

EPA is approving a request submitted by the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) on October 26, 2007, to revise the Michigan State Implementation Plan (SIP). The State has submitted revisions to two rules in Part 6, ``Emission Limitations and Prohibitions-Existing Sources of Volatile Organic Compound (VOC) Emissions.'' First, the State has revised R 336.1660 by adopting by reference, with some modifications, the Ozone Transport Commission's September 13, 2006, Model Rule (Model Rule). Second, the State has amended R 336.1661 by adopting by reference the Federal definition of ``volatile organic compound.''

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) announces the availability of the Record of Decision (ROD) and Approved Resource Management Plan (RMP) for the Butte Field Office, Montana. The Montana State Director signed the ROD, which constitutes the final decision of the BLM and makes the Approved RMP effective immediately.

The Plumas County Resource Advisory Committee (RAC) will hold a meeting on June 5, 2009, in Quincy, CA. The purpose of the meeting is to review applications for Cycle 9 funding and select projects to be recommended to the Plumas National Forest Supervisor for calendar year 2010 funding consideration. The funding is available under Title II provisions of the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self Determination Act of 2000.

We are proposing to revise the Medicare hospital inpatient prospective payment systems (IPPS) for operating and capital-related costs of acute care hospitals to implement changes arising from our continuing experience with these systems, and to implement certain provisions made by the Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008 (MIPPA, Pub. L. 110-275) and the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA, Pub. L. 111-5). In addition, in the Addendum to this proposed rule, we describe the proposed changes to the amounts and factors used to determine the rates for Medicare acute care hospital inpatient services for operating costs and capital-related costs. These proposed changes would be applicable to discharges occurring on or after October 1, 2009. We also are setting forth the proposed update to the rate-of-increase limits for certain hospitals excluded from the IPPS that are paid on a reasonable cost basis subject to these limits. The proposed updated rate-of-increase limits would be effective for cost reporting periods beginning on or after October 1, 2009.

The President's January 21, 2009, memorandum entitled, Transparency and Open Government, directed the Chief Technology Officer, in coordination with the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and the General Services Administration (GSA), to develop a set of recommendations that will inform an Open Government Directive. This directive will be issued by OMB and will instruct executive departments and agencies on specific actions to implement the principles set forth in the President's memorandum. Members of the public are invited to participate in the process of developing recommendations via email or the White House Web site at https://www.whitehouse.gov/open offering comments, ideas, and proposals about possible initiatives and about how to increase openness and transparency in government.

The Teacher Exchange Branch in the Office of Global Educational Programs at the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA), U.S. Department of State, announces an open competition for a program that will enable U.S. language teachers to study Arabic, Chinese (Mandarin) and Russian in an Arabic-speaking country, the People's Republic of China, and Russia respectively during the summer of 2010. Public and private non-profit organizations meeting the provisions described in Internal Revenue Code section 501(c)(3) may submit proposals to cooperate with the Bureau in the administration of the program. Applicant organizations should design and implement three summer institutes for a minimum total of 25 teachersfifteen to study Chinese (Mandarin), and five each to study Arabic and Russian. These summer institutes should offer intensive, structured classroom instruction as well as less formal interactive learning opportunities through a comprehensive exchange experience that primarily emphasizes language learning.

The Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) is reopening the comment period until October 9, 2009 for the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking on Quality Assurance Requirements for Respirators that was published in the Federal Register on Wednesday, December 10, 2008 (73 FR 75045). The comment period previously closed on April 10, 2009.

Under section 4(d) of the Endangered Species Act (ESA), the Secretary of Commerce (Secretary) is required to adopt such regulations as he deems necessary and advisable for the conservation of species listed as threatened. This proposed ESA 4(d) rule represents the regulations that we, the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), believe necessary and advisable to conserve the threatened Southern Distinct Population Segment of North American green sturgeon (Acipenser medirostris; hereafter Southern DPS). We propose to apply the prohibitions listed under ESA sections 9(a)(1)(A) through 9(a)(1)(G) for the Southern DPS, and we highlight specific categories of activities that are likely to result in take of Southern DPS fish. We do not find it necessary and advisable to apply the take prohibitions to certain categories of activities that contribute to conserving the Southern DPS. We also propose a variety of methods by which take of the Southern DPS may be authorized.

In accordance with the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) and implementing regulations, notification is hereby given that NMFS has issued one-year Letters of Authorization (LOA) to take marine mammals incidental to the explosive removal of offshore oil and gas structures (EROS) in the Gulf of Mexico.

In accordance with the memorandum of January 20, 2009, from the Assistant to the President and Chief of Staff, entitled ``Regulatory Review,'' this action delays until December 30, 2010, the effective date of the final rule entitled ``State Parent Locator Service; Safeguarding Child Support Information,'' published in the Federal Register on September 26, 2008 (73 FR 56422). The delay in effective date is necessary to give Department officials the opportunity for further review of the issues of law and policy raised by this rule.

In this document, the Commission seeks comment on whether it should adopt new Video Relay Service (VRS) reimbursement rates that reflect the cost data in the fund administrator's recent filing with the FCC, rather than continuing the current rates.

Notice is hereby given that, pursuant to 19 CFR 151.12 and 19 CFR 151.13, Intertek USA, Inc., 101 20th Street South, Texas City, TX 77590, has been approved to gauge and accredited to test petroleum and petroleum products, organic chemicals and vegetable oils for customs purposes, in accordance with the provisions of 19 CFR 151.12 and 19 CFR 151.13. Anyone wishing to employ this entity to conduct laboratory analyses and gauger services should request and receive written assurances from the entity that it is accredited or approved by the U.S. Customs and Border Protection to conduct the specific test or gauger service requested. Alternatively, inquires regarding the specific test or gauger service this entity is accredited or approved to perform may be directed to the U.S. Customs and Border Protection by calling (202) 344-1060. The inquiry may also be sent to cbp.labhq@dhs.gov. Please reference the Web site listed below for a complete listing of CBP approved gaugers and accredited laboratories.https://cbp.gov/xp/cgov/import/operationssupport/ labs scientificsvcs/commercialgaugers/.