January 27, 2010 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Pacific Fishery Management Council (Pacific Council) will convene a joint meeting of the Ecosystem Plan Development Team (EPDT) and Ecosystem Advisory Subpanel (EAS) which is open to the public.

In this Notice of Inquiry, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (Commission) seeks comment on the extent to which barriers may exist that impede the reliable and efficient integration of variable energy resources (VERs) into the electric grid, and whether reforms are needed to eliminate those barriers. In order to meet the challenges posed by the integration of increasing numbers of VERs, ensure that jurisdictional rates are just and reasonable, eliminate impediments to open access transmission service for all resources, facilitate the efficient development of infrastructure, and ensure that the reliability of the grid is maintained, the Commission seeks to explore whether reforms are necessary to ensure that wholesale electricity tariffs are just, reasonable and not unduly discriminatory. This Notice will enable the Commission to determine whether wholesale electricity tariff reforms are necessary.

The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council (MAFMC) will hold public hearings in February 2010 to allow for input on Amendment 11 to the Atlantic Mackerel, Squid, and Butterfish (MSB) Fishery Management Plan (FMP). See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION below for times and locations.

The Department of the Navy is amending its certifications and exemptions under the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea, 1972 (72 COLREGS), to reflect that the Deputy Assistant Judge Advocate General (Admiralty and Maritime Law) has determined that USS JASON DUNHAM (DDG 109) is a vessel of the Navy which, due to its special construction and purpose, cannot fully comply with certain provisions of the 72 COLREGS without interfering with its special function as a naval ship. The intended effect of this rule is to warn mariners in waters where 72 COLREGS apply.

This notice announces the voting age population estimates as of July 1, 2009, for each state and the District of Columbia. We are providing this notice in accordance with the 1976 amendment to the Federal Election Campaign Act, Title 2, United States Code, Section 441a(e).

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for the Lifesavings Systems Corp., D-Lok Hook assembly installed on certain rescue hoist assemblies. This AD results from a mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) AD issued by the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), which is the Technical Agent for the Member States of the European Community. The MCAI AD states that rescue hoist operators have reported surface irregularities and discontinuities on certain D-Lok Hooks because of an unapproved change in the hook design and manufacturing process from forged material to cast material that have different physical properties. The actions are intended to prevent failure of a hook during rescue hoist operations, loss of the rescued passenger, and subsequent serious injury or fatality.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is announcing the availability of a draft guidance for industry entitled ``Assessment of Abuse Potential of Drugs.'' This draft guidance is intended to assist sponsors who are developing drug and other medical products with the potential for abuse that may need to be scheduled under the Controlled Substances Act. Drugs with abuse potential generally include drugs that affect the central nervous system, drugs that are chemically or pharmacologically similar to other drugs with known abuse potential, and drugs that produce psychoactive effects such as sedation, euphoria, or mood change.

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501-3521), this notice announces that the Veterans Benefits Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs, will submit the collection of information abstracted below to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and comment. The PRA submission describes the nature of the information collection and its expected cost and burden; it includes the actual data collection instrument.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Ocean Service, publishes this notice to re-open the solicitation period for the National Estuarine Research Reserve Land Acquisition and Construction Program FY10 to provide National Estuarine Research Reserve lead State agencies or designated universities in coastal States the opportunity to submit proposals for funds.

The Financial Management Service, 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 a continuing information collection. By this notice, the Financial Management Service solicits comments concerning the ``Final Rule Management of Federal Agency Disbursements''.

EPA is amending the polymer exemption rule, which provides an exemption from the premanufacture notification (PMN) requirements of the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA), to exclude from eligibility polymers containing as an integral part of their composition, except as impurities, certain perfluoroalkyl moieties consisting of a CF3- or longer chain length. This exclusion includes polymers that contain any one or more of the following: Perfluoroalkyl sulfonates (PFAS), perfluoroalkyl carboxylates (PFAC), fluorotelomers, or perfluoroalkyl moieties that are covalently bound to either a carbon or sulfur atom where the carbon or sulfur atom is an integral part of the polymer molecule (affected polymers). In general, any person who intends to manufacture (which is defined by TSCA to include import into the customs territory of the United States) any of these polymers not already on the TSCA Inventory (Inventory) must complete the TSCA PMN review process prior to commencing the manufacture or import of such polymers. Alternatively, manufacturers or importers may submit a request for a different exemption, such as the Low Volume Exemption (LVE) or Low Release and Exposure Exemption (LoREX), for affected polymers that they reasonably believe may qualify for such exemptions. Those persons who are currently manufacturing or importing affected polymers, or who have previously manufactured or imported them but are not doing so now, in full compliance with the 1995 polymer exemption rule, may continue manufacturing or importing them until January 27, 2012. After that date, manufacture of these polymers will no longer be authorized under the polymer exemption rule, and continued manufacture or import must be authorized under a different TSCA section 5(h)(4) exemption or under a different TSCA section 5 authority, such as TSCA section 5(a)(1) or section 5(e). This change is necessary because, based on current information, EPA can no longer conclude that these polymers ``will not present an unreasonable risk to human health or the environment'' under the terms of the polymer exemption rule, which is the determination necessary to support an exemption under TSCA section 5(h)(4).

This action confirms the effective date of a direct final rule published in the Federal Register September 14, 2009 that establishes Class E Airspace at Harvey Point Defense Testing Activity, Hertford, NC.

This action confirms the effective date of a direct final rule published in the Federal Register September 14, 2009 that establishes Class E Airspace at Heaven's Landing Airport, Clayton, GA.

This action confirms the effective date of a direct final rule published in the Federal Register October 28, 2009 that modifies the Class E airspace at Anniston Metropolitan Airport, Anniston, AL.