June 2009 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

On February 23, 2009, Western Area Power Administration (Western), an agency of the Department of Energy (DOE), announced the Notice of Intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement/ Environmental Impact Report (EIS/EIR) for the construction, operation, and maintenance of the proposed Transmission Agency of Northern California (TANC) Transmission Project. In that notice, Western described the schedule for scoping meetings and advised the public that comments on the scope of the EIS/EIR were due by April 30, 2009. On May 8, 2009, Western published a notice in the Federal Register extending the comment period to May 31, 2009. By this notice, Western extends the due date for comments on the scope of the EIS/EIR to July 30, 2009.

In Proclamation 8323 of November 25, 2008, the President modified the rules of origin for certain goods of Canada under the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) incorporated in the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (the ``HTS''). The proclamation stated that the modifications would be effective on the date that the United States Trade Representative (USTR) announced in the Federal Register and are effective with respect to goods of Canada that are entered, or withdrawn from warehouse for consumption, on or after the date indicated in the notice. The purpose of this notice is to announce that the effective date for the modifications is July 1, 2009. The changes were printed in the Federal Register of November 28, 2008, Volume 73, Number 230, page 72,682.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is announcing an amendment to the Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) (the Authorization) for doxycycline hyclate tablet emergency kits for eligible U.S. Postal Service (USPS) participants in the Cities Readiness Initiative (CRI) and their household members issued on October 3, 2008, under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (the act), as requested by the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA), Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (ASPR), Health and Human Services (HHS). Following issuance of FDA's October 3, 2008, Authorization letter, on February 19, 2009, BARDA submitted a request on behalf of ASPR, to amend the Authorization. In response to BARDA's request, FDA amended the Authorization letter and reissued the Authorization letter in its entirety on February 25, 2009. The Authorization, as amended and reissued in its entirety, is reprinted in this document.

The Department of the Treasury, as part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, invites the general public and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on proposed and/or continuing information collections, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 104-13 (44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)). Currently, the IRS is soliciting comments concerning Form 8844, Empowerment Zone Employment Credit.

The Department of the Treasury, as part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, invites the general public and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on proposed and/or continuing information collections, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 104-13 (44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)). Currently, the IRS is soliciting comments concerning Letter 109C, Return Requesting Refund Unlocatable or Not Filed; Send Copy.

The Department of the Treasury, as part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, invites the general public and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on proposed and/or continuing information collections, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 104-13 (44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)). Currently, the IRS is soliciting comments concerning Revenue Ruling 2000-33, Deferred Compensation Plans of State and Local Governments and Tax-Exempt Organizations.

The Department of the Treasury, as part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, invites the general public and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on proposed and/or continuing information collections, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 104-13 (44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)). Currently, the IRS is soliciting comments concerning Form 8633, Application to Participate in the IRS e-file Program.

The Department of the Treasury, as part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, invites the general public and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on proposed and/or continuing information collections, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 104-13 (44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)). Currently, the IRS is soliciting comments concerning an existing final regulation, REG-103805-99 (TD 9002), Agent for Consolidated Group (Sec. 1.1502-77).

The Department of the Treasury, as part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, invites the general public and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on proposed and/or continuing information collections, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 104-13 (44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)). Currently, the IRS is soliciting comments concerning an existing final regulation, INTL-64-93 (TD 8611). Conduit Arrangements Regulations (Sec. Sec. 1.881-4 and 1.6038A-3).

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.), this notice announces that the Information Collection Requirements (ICRs) abstracted below have been forwarded to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and comment. The ICRs describe the nature of the information collections and their expected burdens. The Federal Register notice with a 60-day comment period soliciting comments on the following collections of information was published on April 16, 2009 (74 FR 17762).

In this document FRA informs the public at large of the agency's interim position on certain interpretive questions arising out of the complex and important amendments enacted in 2008 to the Federal railroad safety laws that govern such matters as how long an employee in a certain category may remain on duty and how long the employee must be given off duty before the employee may go on duty again. In addition, FRA proposes an interpretation of one very significant provision of those amended laws that differs from FRA's existing interpretation of the laws before the 2008 amendments. Finally, FRA requests public comment on both the interim interpretations and the proposed interpretation.

The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) is considering implementation of a Partner Vetting System for USAID assistance and acquisition awards. The purpose of the Partner Vetting System is to help ensure that USAID funds and other resources do not inadvertently benefit individuals or entities that are terrorists, supporters of terrorists or affiliated with terrorists, while also minimizing the impact on USAID programs and its implementing partners. In order to apply the Partner Vetting System to USAID acquisitions, USAID is proposing to amend 48 CFR Chapter 7. The agency will not apply the Partner Vetting System to USAID acquisitions until after review of the public comments submitted under this proposed rule and promulgation of a final rule by USAID.

The Siskiyou Resource Advisory Committee will meet on Friday, July 31, 2009 to recommend Title II projects for fiscal year 2010 under the reauthorized Secure Rural Schools and Community Self Determination Act, Public Law 110-343. The meeting will be held at Smith River Rancheria (Howonquet Hall Community Center), 101 Indian Court, Smith River, CA 95567. It begins at 9:30 a.m., ends at 4:30 p.m.; the open public comments begin at 11 a.m. and end at 11:30 a.m. Written comments may be submitted prior to the meeting and delivered to Designated Federal Official, Scott Conroy, Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest, 3040 Biddle Road, Medford, OR 97504.

The Commission is noticing a recently-filed Postal Service request to add an additional Priority Mail contract to the Competitive

EPA is proposing to approve a request submitted by the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (Illinois EPA) on October 23, 2007, to revise the Illinois State Implementation Plan (SIP). The rules submitted by Illinois EPA satisfy the requirements of EPA's NOX SIP Call Phase II Rule (the Phase II Rule). We are proposing to approve these regulations based on Illinois' demonstration that the State will meet the emissions targets set forth in the Phase II Rule through reductions from stationary internal combustion (IC) engines and turbines which are identified in the NOX plan submittal. Limiting NOX emissions from IC engines and turbines will enable the State to meet the 7,055 ton reduction requirement contained in the Phase II Rule, thereby improving air quality and protecting the health of Illinois citizens.

Based on our review and observations, we have determined that the Joint Commission's accreditation standards for critical access hospitals (CAHs) meet or exceed our requirements. Therefore, this final notice announces our decision to approve without condition the Joint Commission's request for continued recognition as a national accreditation program for CAHs seeking to participate in the Medicare or Medicaid programs.

This notice lists CMS manual instructions, substantive and interpretive regulations, and other Federal Register notices that were published from January 2009 through March 2009, relating to the Medicare and Medicaid programs. This notice provides information on national coverage determinations (NCDs) affecting specific medical and health care services under Medicare. Additionally, this notice identifies certain devices with investigational device exemption (IDE) numbers approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) that potentially may be covered under Medicare. This notice also includes listings of all approval numbers from the Office of Management and Budget for collections of information in CMS regulations and a list of Medicare-approved carotid stent facilities. Included in this notice is a list of the American College of Cardiology's National Cardiovascular Data registry sites, active CMS coverage-related guidance documents, and special one-time notices regarding national coverage provisions. Also included in this notice is a list of National Oncologic Positron Emissions Tomography Registry sites, a list of Medicare-approved ventricular assist device (destination therapy) facilities, a list of Medicare-approved lung volume reduction surgery facilities, a list of Medicare-approved clinical trials for fluorodeoxyglucose positron emissions tomography for dementia, and a list of Medicare-approved bariatric surgery facilities.

The Coast Guard proposes to establish special local regulations during the ``Mattaponi Madness Drag Boat Race Series,'' a series of power boat races to be held on the waters of the Mattaponi River, near Wakema, Virginia. These special local regulations are necessary to provide for the safety of life on navigable waters during the events. This action is intended to restrict vessel traffic during the power boat races in a segment of the Mattaponi River that flows along the border of King William County and King and Queen County near Wakema, Virginia.

The National Park Service (NPS), Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area, in conjunction with the Federal Highway Administration, is repairing and reconstructing the Bushkill Creek Bridge along U.S. Route 209. During the repair and reconstruction period, Bushkill Creek Bridge will be closed. A detour route is available, but can only accommodate vehicles with a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) less than 15 tons. For this reason, NPS is instituting a temporary restriction of vehicles with a GVWR in excess of 15 tons (30,000 lbs GVWR) along U.S. Route 209 in the park. This temporary restriction will be in effect starting July 9, 2009 at 1800 hours and will remain in effect 24 hours a day until July 27, 2009 at 1800 hours.