2009 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Commodity Futures Trading Commission (Commission) is requesting comment on whether to exempt certain over-the-counter (OTC) swaps from certain of the requirements otherwise imposed by Commission Regulation 35.2. Specifically, the Kansas City Board of Trade (KCBT), a designated contract market, and the Kansas City Board of Trade Clearing Corporation (KCBTCC), a registered derivatives clearing organization (DCO), have petitioned for an exemption permitting them to list for clearing and to clear, respectively, wheat calendar swaps. Authority for granting such an exemption is found in Section 4(c) of the Commodity Exchange Act (CEA).

The Bureau of Reclamation is reopening the comment period for the Draft EIS/EIR to December 31, 2009. The notice of availability of the Draft EIS/EIR was published in the Federal Register on August 17, 2009 (74 FR 41453). The public review period ended on Friday October 16, 2009.

The National Geospatial Advisory Committee (NGAC) will meet on December 1-2, 2009 at the Marriott Metro Center Hotel, 775 12th Street, NW., Washington, DC 20005. The meeting will be held in the London Room. The NGAC, which is composed of representatives from governmental, private sector, non-profit, and academic organizations, was established to advise the Chair of the Federal Geographic Data Committee on management of Federal geospatial programs, the development of the National Spatial Data Infrastructure, and the implementation of Office

The Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA), Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), is announcing an opportunity for public comment on the proposed collection of certain information by the agency. Under the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995, Federal agencies are required to publish notice in the Federal Register concerning each proposed collection of information, including each proposed extension of a currently approved collection, and allow 60 days for public comment in response to the notice. This notice solicits comments on information needed by lenders to determine whether any benefits-related debts exist in the veteran-borrower's name prior to the closing of any VA-guaranteed loans on an automatic basis.

We, the Fish and Wildlife Service, announce the availability of proposed HCPs, 32 accompanying ITP applications, and an EA related to proposed developments that would take the Alabama beach mouse (Peromyscus polionotus ammobates) on Fort Morgan Peninsula, Baldwin County, Alabama. The HCPs analyze the take of the federally endangered Alabama beach mouse incidental to constructing 28 new single-family and replacing four existing single-family homes with four duplex residences (Projects). The 24 individual applicants request a total of 32 ITPs under the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (Act), as amended. The Applicants' HCPs describe the mitigation and minimization measures

The FAA invites public comments about our intention to request the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to approve a current information collection. This information is needed to meet the requirements of Title 49, Section 40117(k), Competition Plans, and to carry out a passenger facility charge application.

The FAA invites public comments about our intention to request the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to approve a current information collection. The FAA Office of the Associate Administrator for Commercial Space Transportation (AST) conducts this survey in order to obtain industry input on customer service standards which have been developed and distributed to industry customers.

The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council (Council) will convene a meeting of the Red Snapper Advisory Panel.

The North Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) and the Alaska Board of Fisheries will meet in Anchorage, AK.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Tulsa District (USACE) has received an application for a Department of the Army Permit under Section 404 of the Clean Water Act (CWA) from the North Texas Municipal Water District (NTMWD) to construct Lower Bois d'Arc Creek Reservoir. In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), the USACE has determined that issuance of such a permit may have a significant impact on the quality of the human environment and, therefore, requires the preparation of an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS).

Under the provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. Chapter 35), the General Services Administration will be submitting to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) a request to review and approve a reinstatement of a previously approved information collection requirement regarding industrial funding fee and sales reporting.

Under the provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. Chapter 35), the Regulatory Secretariat will be submitting to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) a request to review and approve an extension of a previously approved information collection requirement concerning rights of first refusal of employment.

Under the provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. Chapter 35), the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Secretariat will be submitting to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) a request to review and approve a reinstatement of a previously approved information collection requirement concerning schedules for construction contracts. A request for public comments was published in the Federal Register at 74 FR 30092, on June 24, 2009.

Under the provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. Chapter 35), the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Secretariat will be submitting to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) a request to review and approve an extension of a previously approved information collection requirement concerning cost accounting standards administration.

This action proposes to modify Class E airspace at Astoria Regional Airport, Astoria, OR. Additional controlled airspace is necessary to accommodate aircraft using a new Area Navigation (RNAV) Global Positioning System (GPS) Standard Instrument Approach Procedure (SIAP) at Astoria Regional Airport, Astoria, OR. The FAA is proposing this action to enhance the safety and management of aircraft operations at Astoria Regional Airport, Astoria, OR. This will also correct the airport name from Port of Astoria Airport.

On September 2, 2009, FRA published a direct final rule in the Federal Register requiring the ten States with the most highway-rail grade crossing collisions, on average, over the past three years, to develop State highway-rail grade crossing action plans. FRA received one adverse comment regarding the direct final rule. Under FRA regulations, FRA must withdraw a direct final rule where an adverse comment is submitted. As a result, in a separate document elsewhere in this issue of the Federal Register, FRA is publishing a removal of the direct final rule provisions, which removes the changes effected by the direct final rule. FRA is also contemporaneously publishing this NPRM. The NPRM complies with a statutory mandate that the Secretary of Transportation (Secretary) issue a rule to require the ten States with the most highway-rail grade crossing collisions, on average, over the past three years, to develop State highway-rail grade crossing action plans. This proposed rule is not intended for general application; instead, it would only apply to the ten identified States with the most highway-rail grade crossing collisions over the specified period of

This notice describes the eligibility of pedestrian and bicycle improvements for Federal Transit Administration (FTA) funding and proposes a formal policy on the catchment area for pedestrians and bicyclists in relationship to public transportation stops and stations. FTA seeks comment from all interested parties. After consideration of the comments, FTA will issue a second Federal Register notice responding to comments and noting any changes made to the policy statement as a result of comments received.

The Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) is proposing to amend its Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) regulations to reflect its current policy and practice and to implement changes to the FOIA. These proposed regulations reaffirm CEQ's commitment to providing the fullest possible disclosure of records to the public. The proposal provides for an online FOIA Requester Service Center and Reading Room; electronic FOIA requests; access to records published or released under FOIA in electronic format, provided the record is readily reproducible in that form or format; designation of a Chief FOIA Officer and FOIA Public Liaison; referral of requests to appropriate Federal agencies or consultation with another agency, if appropriate; review of requests in order of receipt; multi-tracking of FOIA requests based on the amount of time and work involved in processing requests; revision of CEQ's initial determination period from 10 days to 20 days, beginning on the date CEQ receives a written request; assignment of individualized tracking numbers for certain requests; tolling of the time limit CEQ has to act on a request; expedited processing of FOIA requests upon a showing of compelling need; CEQ consultations with a requester to determine if a FOIA request may be modified to allow for a timely response, or to arrange an alternative timeframe for a response; informing the requester of the volume of requested material withheld and the extent of deletions in records released in response to a FOIA request; reduction in time for appeal from 45 to 30 days of denial of a request; extension of the time limit to respond to a request in ``unusual circumstances''; and aggregation of clearly related requests by a single requester or group of requesters. Further, CEQ's fee structure is revised to include a method for computing fees based upon the classification of the requester and the base pay of the employee making the search, an increase of copying costs from $0.10 to $0.15 per page, and a provision for waiving fees. Additional administrative changes including reorganizing, renumbering, and