September 2, 2009 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

We are advising the public that the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service has received a petition from Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc., seeking a determination of nonregulated status for soybean designated as transformation event 305423, which has been genetically engineered to have higher levels of oleic acid, and lower levels of linoleic and linolenic acids in the soybean oil. The petition has been submitted in accordance with our regulations concerning the introduction of certain genetically engineered organisms and products. In accordance with those regulations, we are soliciting comments on whether this genetically engineered soybean is or could be a plant pest. We are also making available for public comment an environmental assessment for the proposed determination of nonregulated status.

The U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC) will host a one-day conferences for participants in the agribusiness industry during which senior U.S. government officials will inform private sector stakeholders, particularly manufacturers of irrigation and agricultural equipment and relevant alternative energy technology, food processors, and specialized service providers, of Commerce Department programs, services, and data that may be of assistance to them in reducing their consumption of water and energy. By lowering U.S. companies' costs associated with water and energy consumption, Commerce Department programs can assist American firms to be more competitive in domestic and international markets, as well as advance U.S. Government objectives with respect to sustainability and climate change. A secondary purpose is to inform attendees of preparations for the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) negotiations and for them to advise U.S. officials on the impact a new UNFCCC agreement could have on their respective operations and on associated commercial opportunities.

As stipulated by the Federal Advisory Committee Act, as amended (5 U.S.C. App.), the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is hereby giving notice that the Secretary's Committee on National Health Promotion and Disease Prevention Objectives for 2020 will hold a meeting. The meeting will be open to the public.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. Chapter 35, as amended), the Rural Utilities Service (RUS) invites comments on this information collection for which approval from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) will be requested.

The U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC) will host a one-day conference for participants in the agribusiness industry during which senior U.S. government officials will inform private sector stakeholders, particularly manufacturers of irrigation and agricultural equipment and relevant alternative energy technology, food processors, and specialized service providers, of Commerce Department programs, services, and data that may be of assistance to them in reducing their consumption of water and energy. By lowering U.S. companies' costs associated with water and energy consumption, Commerce Department programs can assist American firms to be more competitive in domestic and international markets, as well as advance U.S. Government objectives with respect to sustainability and climate change.

The Commission is adding the Priority Mail Contract 17 to the Competitive Product List. This action is consistent with changes in a recent law governing postal operations. Republication of the lists of market dominant and competitive products is also consistent with new requirements in the law.

The proposed information collection requirement described below will be submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act. The Department is soliciting public comments on the subject proposal.

This notice announces final environmental actions taken by the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) for the Downtown Boise Multimodal Center Project, Boise, Idaho; Ketchikan Shipyard Improvement Project, Ketchikan, Alaska; Colorado Springs Transportation Station, Colorado Springs, Colorado; and Central Corridor Light Rail Transit Project, Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota. The purpose of this notice is to announce publicly the environmental decisions by FTA on the subject projects and to activate the limitation on any claims that may challenge these final environmental actions.

FMCSA previously announced its decision to renew the exemptions from the vision requirement in the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations for 7 individuals. FMCSA has statutory authority to exempt individuals from the vision requirement if the exemptions granted will not compromise safety. The Agency has concluded that granting these exemptions will provide a level of safety that will be equivalent to, or greater than, the level of safety maintained without the exemptions for these commercial motor vehicle (CMV) drivers.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is announcing a 30- day public comment period for the external peer review draft of ``Recommended Toxicity Equivalency Factors (TEFs) for Human Health Risk Assessments of Dioxin and Dioxin-Like Compounds,'' a draft guidance document. An EPA contractor for external peer review will convene a panel of experts and will organize and conduct an independent expert external peer review meeting to review the draft document. All comments received by the closing date of October 2, 2009 will be shared with the external peer review panel for their consideration. Comments received after the close of the comment period may be considered by EPA when it finalizes the document. This draft guidance document does not represent and should not be construed to represent any EPA policy, viewpoint, or determination. Members of the public may obtain the draft document from https://www.regulations.gov; or https://www.epa.gov/raf/hhtefguidance; or from Seema Schappelle via the contact information below. The public comment period and external peer review are separate processes that provide opportunities for all interested parties to comment on the document.

Pursuant to Section 102(2)(C) of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4332(2)(C)), the National Park Service (NPS) announces the availability of the Draft General Management Plan (GMP)/Wilderness Management Plan (WMP)/Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for Apostle Islands National Lakeshore, Wisconsin.

This regulation establishes tolerances for residues of methoxyfenozide in or on citrus oil and fruit, citrus, group 10 with regional registrations; and corn, pop, grain; corn, pop, stover; pea, dry seed; and pomegranate. The Interregional Research Project No. 4 (IR-4) requested these tolerances under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA).

We, the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), issue a final rule to designate critical habitat for the U.S. distinct population segment (DPS) of smalltooth sawfish (Pristis pectinata), which was listed as endangered on April 1, 2003, under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). The critical habitat consists of two units: the Charlotte Harbor Estuary Unit, which comprises approximately 221,459 acres of coastal habitat; and the Ten Thousand Islands/Everglades Unit (TTI/E), which comprises approximately 619,013 acres of coastal habitat. The two units are located along the southwestern coast of Florida between Charlotte Harbor and Florida Bay.

In preparation for the 2009 International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) meeting, the Advisory Committee to the U.S. Section to ICCAT will convene the first of two fall meetings.

Notice is hereby given that Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, USA (CNMI), Division of Fish and Wildlife, [Sylvan Igisomar, responsible official] P.O. Box 10007, Saipan, Mariana Islands, 96950, has requested a modification to scientific research Permit No.1556-01.

This notice announces a meeting of the Environmental Management Advisory Board (EMAB). The Federal Advisory Committee Act (Pub. L. No. 92-463, 86 Stat. 770) requires that public notice of this meeting be announced in the Federal Register.

This notice announces a meeting of the Ultra-Deepwater Advisory Committee. The Federal Advisory Committee Act (Pub. L. 92-463, 86 Stat. 770) requires that public notice of this meeting be announced in the Federal Register.

The Civilian Agency Acquisition Council and the Defense Acquisition Regulations Council (Councils) are proposing to amend the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) to establish procedures for contracting officers to provide contractor information into the Past Performance Information System (PPIRS). This case sets forth requirements for reporting defective cost or pricing data and terminations for cause or default. Evaluation of past performance information, especially terminations, manages risks associated with timely, effective and cost efficient completion of contracts, a key objective of the President's March 4, 2009, Memorandum on Government Contracting.