October 2009 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

In accordance with the Privacy Act of 1974 the Department of Homeland Security proposes to update and reissue a Department of Homeland Security system of records notice titled, Department of Homeland Security/ALL001 Freedom of Information Act and Privacy Act Records System of Records. The updated system of records consists of information that is created and used by the Department's Freedom of Information Act and Privacy Act staff to process requests as well as to manage the Freedom of Information Act and Privacy Act programs. As a result of the biennial review of this system, the Privacy Office has: Updated the system classification to include unclassified information; updated the categories of individuals and records to include individuals who are the subjects of requests, Department of Justice and other government litigators and/or DHS personnel assigned to handle such requests or appeals; revised the routine uses to conform with the needs of the Freedom of Information Act and Privacy Act program; and updated the Privacy Act exemptions for this system of records to include the addition of 5 U.S.C. 552a(k)(3) and (k)(6) of the Privacy Act. A Notice of Proposed Rulemaking is published elsewhere in the Federal Register further exempting these records from 5 U.S.C. 552a(k)(3) and (k)(6) of the Privacy Act. The initial Privacy Act exemptions published with this system of records (December 6, 2004), will remain in place until this rule is finalized with the addition of 5 U.S.C. 552a(k)(3) and (k)(6). This updated system will be included in the Department of Homeland Security's inventory of record systems.

The North American Wetlands Conservation Council (Council) will meet to select North American Wetlands Conservation Act (NAWCA) grant proposals for recommendation to the Migratory Bird Conservation Commission (Commission). This meeting is open to the public, and interested persons may present oral or written statements.

On September 2 and 25, 2009, we, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), published two final rules that established special early- and late-season migratory bird hunting regulations for certain tribes on Federal Indian reservations, off-reservation trust lands, and ceded lands. In error, the second of these rules omitted from the regulatory text pertaining to late-season hunting by the White Mountain Apache Tribe the dates and bag limits for duck and Canada goose. This document corrects those errors.

Under title II of the Social Security Act (Act), there will be no cost-of-living increase in Social Security benefits effective for December 2009. As a result, the following items will remain at their 2009 levels:

The Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration (GIPSA) is amending the U.S. Standards for Rough Rice, Brown Rice for Processing, and Milled Rice, to change the requirement that certain information currently provided on the grade line of official certificates for Mixed rice be moved to the Results section of the inspection certificate. GIPSA believes that these changes will enhance the use of the inspection certificate, and as a result, help to facilitate the marketing of Mixed rice.

A proposal by Dr. Harlan Caldwell at the Rocky Mountain Laboratories (RML) involving the deliberate transfer of a tetracycline resistance trait to non-ocular strains of Chlamydia trachomatis has been submitted to the NIH Office of Biotechnology Activities (OBA). The introduction of tetracycline resistance could compromise the ability to treat disease caused by Chlamydia trachomatis as doxycycline is currently used to treat disease caused by this organism. Under Section III-A-1 of the NIH Guidelines, if the deliberate transfer of a drug resistance trait to microorganisms could compromise the use of the drug to control disease in humans, veterinary medicine, or agriculture the experiment must be reviewed by the NIH Recombinant DNA Advisory Committee (RAC) and approved by the NIH Director.

The Federal Communications Commission, as part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork burden invites the general public and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on the following information collection(s), as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, 44 U.S.C. 3501-3520. An agency may not conduct or sponsor a collection of information unless it displays a currently valid control number. No person shall be subject to any penalty for failing to comply with a collection of information subject to the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) that does not display a valid control number. Comments are requested concerning (a) whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the Commission, including whether the information shall have practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the Commission's burden estimate; (c) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information collected; and (d) ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on the respondents, including the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is announcing an opportunity for public comment on the proposed collection of certain information by the agency. Under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (the PRA), Federal agencies are required to publish notice in the Federal Register concerning each proposed collection of information, including each proposed extension of a collection of information and to allow 60 days for public comment in response to the notice. This notice solicits comments on the medicated feed mill licensing applications.

On November 19, 2007, the Federal Election Commission (``Commission'') published a procedural rule making permanent a program allowing respondents in enforcement proceedings under the Federal Election Campaign Act, to have a hearing before the Commission. The Commission is now amending its procedures to provide that the Commissioners may ask questions of the General Counsel and the Staff Director, and their staff, during probable cause hearings. This amendment will conform the procedures for enforcement hearing with the Commission's procedures for audit hearing published earlier this year.

The Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control (``OFAC'') is publishing the name of 6 individuals and 1 entity whose property and interests in property have been blocked pursuant to the Foreign Narcotics Kingpin Designation Act (``Kingpin Act'') (21 U.S.C. 1901-1908, 8 U.S.C. 1182).