December 15, 2009 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation's regulations on Allocation of Assets in Single-Employer Plans and Benefits Payable in Terminated Single-Employer Plans prescribe interest assumptions for valuing and paying certain benefits under terminating single-employer plans. This final rule amends the asset allocation regulation to adopt interest assumptions for plans with valuation dates in the first quarter of 2010 and amends the benefit payments regulation to adopt interest assumptions for plans with valuation dates in January 2010. Interest assumptions are also published on PBGC's Web site (https:// www.pbgc.gov).

This final rule implements a legislative provision which requires school food authorities participating in the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) or the School Breakfast Program (SBP) to develop a school food safety program for the preparation and service of school meals served to children. The school food safety program must be based on the hazard analysis and critical control point (HACCP) system established by the Secretary of Agriculture. The food safety program will enable schools to take systematic action to prevent or minimize the risk of foodborne illness among children participating in the NSLP and SBP.

We are amending the regulations to allow for the importation of cooked pork skins from regions affected with foot-and-mouth disease, swine vesicular disease, African swine fever, and classical swine fever under certain conditions. We are taking this action after preparing a risk assessment that concluded that the cooking methods examined are sufficient to inactivate the pathogens of concern. This action will relieve restrictions on the importation of cooked pork skins while continuing to protect against the introduction of those diseases of concern.

This action will amend Class E airspace at Riverton Regional Airport, Riverton, WY. Additional controlled airspace is necessary to accommodate aircraft using the VHF Omni-Directional Radio Range (VOR), Area Navigation (RNAV) Global Positioning System (GPS) Standard Instrument Approach Procedure (SIAP) at Riverton Regional Airport, Riverton, WY. This will improve the safety of Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) aircraft executing the VOR (RNAV) GPS (SIAP) at Riverton Regional Airport, Riverton, WY.

The General Services Administration (GSA) is amending the GSA Acquisition Regulation (GSAR) to revise language that provide requirements for describing agency needs.

The Commander, Fifth Coast Guard District has issued a temporary deviation from the regulations governing the operation of the Grassy Sound Channel Bridge (County Route 619), mile 1.0, at Middle Township, NJ. The deviation restricts the operation of the draw span to facilitate the cleaning and painting of the structure.

By this final rule, the Coast Guard amends the list of special areas in effect under Annex V of the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships, 1973, as modified by the Protocol of 1978, as amended, (MARPOL) to include the Gulfs and Mediterranean Sea special areas. The current list of special areas in effect is now outdated because it does not list these two special areas. The Coast Guard must update its regulations to harmonize its list of special areas with MARPOL Annex V. This rule will correct the list of special areas in effect to provide accurate information to the public.

This final rule amends regulations of the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA), Department of Commerce, setting forth the reporting requirements for the 2009 BE-10, Benchmark Survey of U.S. Direct Investment Abroad. The benchmark survey covers the U.S. direct investment abroad universe, and is BEA's most comprehensive survey of such investment in terms of subject matter. Benchmark surveys are conducted every 5 years. The changes to the 2009 benchmark survey include: (a) Changes in survey form design and reporting criteria to simplify the survey forms and improve response rates; and (b) modifications, deletions and additions of specific items on the survey forms. Some of the items that will no longer be collected are those that are now collected on BEA's surveys of international services.

The Commission is adding Express Mail Contract 5 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.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, announce a 90-day finding on two petitions to list nine species of freshwater mussels, the Texas fatmucket (Lampsilis bracteata), Texas heelsplitter (Potamilus amphichaenus), Salina mucket (Potamilus metnecktayi), golden orb (Quadrula aurea), smooth pimpleback (Quadrula houstonensis), Texas pimpleback (Quadrula petrina), false spike (Quincuncina mitchelli), Mexican fawnsfoot (Truncilla cognata), and Texas fawnsfoot (Truncilla macrodon), as threatened or endangered under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act) and designate critical habitat. Based on our review, we find that the petitions present substantial scientific or commercial information indicating that listing these species may be warranted. Therefore, with the publication of this notice, we are initiating a status review of the nine species of mussels to determine if listing them is warranted. To ensure that the status review is comprehensive, we are soliciting scientific and commercial data and other information regarding these species. At the conclusion of this review, we will issue a 12-month finding on the petitions, which will

EPA is adjusting the allowance system controlling U.S. consumption and production of hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs). This action allocates production and consumption allowances for HCFC-22 and HCFC-142b, as well as other HCFCs for which allowances were not allocated previously, for the control periods 2010-2014. This action also establishes baselines for HCFCs for which EPA had not established baselines previously. The HCFC allowance system is part of EPA's Clean Air Act program to phase out ozone-depleting substances to protect the stratospheric ozone layer. Protection of the stratospheric ozone layer helps reduce rates of skin cancer and cataracts, as well as other health and ecological effects. The U.S. is obligated under the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer (Montreal Protocol) to limit HCFC consumption and production to a specific level and, using stepwise reductions, to decrease the specific level culminating in a complete HCFC phaseout in 2030. The next major milestone, to occur on January 1, 2010, is a 75 percent reduction from the aggregate U.S. HCFC baseline for production and consumption. The allowances allocated in this action ensure compliance with the international stepwise reduction, consistent with the 1990 Clean Air Act Amendments. In addition, this action amends the regulatory provisions concerning allowances for HCFC production for developing countries' basic domestic needs to be consistent with the September 2007 adjustments to the Montreal Protocol. Also, this action provides the Agency's interpretation of a self-effectuating ban on introduction into interstate commerce and use of HCFCs contained in section 605(a) of the Clean Air Act and amends existing regulatory provisions to facilitate implementation of the statutory requirements.

The Administrator finds that six greenhouse gases taken in combination endanger both the public health and the public welfare of current and future generations. The Administrator also finds that the combined emissions of these greenhouse gases from new motor vehicles and new motor vehicle engines contribute to the greenhouse gas air pollution that endangers public health and welfare under CAA section 202(a). These Findings are based on careful consideration of the full weight of scientific evidence and a thorough review of numerous public comments received on the Proposed Findings published April 24, 2009.