January 2010 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The proposed information collection requirement described below has been 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.

The proposed information collection requirement described below has been 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.

The Federal Trade Commission (``FTC'' or ``Commission'') has completed its regulatory review of its Trade Regulation Rule Relating to Power Output Claims for Amplifiers Utilized in Home Entertainment Products (``Amplifier Rule'' or ``Rule''), as part of the Commission's systematic review of all current Commission regulations and guides, and has determined to retain the Rule in its current form. The Commission also takes this opportunity to issue guidance concerning the testing requirements under the Rule for measuring power ratings of multichannel amplifiers.

The Merchant Marine Personnel Advisory Committee (MERPAC) will hold a teleconference to discuss and prepare recommendations for the Coast Guard concerning the notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) on the Implementation of the 1995 Amendments to the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers, 1978 (USCG-2004-17914). These recommendations were developed during a MERPAC working group meeting on January 5-6, 2010, and this teleconference will be held to finalize those proposed recommendations. The teleconference will be open to the public.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, invite the public to comment on the following applications for permits to conduct certain activities with endangered species and/or marine mammals. Both the Endangered Species Act and the Marine Mammal Protection Act requires that we invite public comment on these permit applications.

EPA is finalizing a limited approval and limited disapproval of revisions to the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District (SJVAPCD or District) portion of the California State Implementation Plan (SIP). This action was proposed in the Federal Register on July 17, 2009 and concerns volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions from steam-enhanced crude oil production well vents, aerospace coating operations, and polyester resin operations. Under authority of the Clean Air Act as amended in 1990 (CAA or the Act), this action simultaneously approves local rules that regulate these emission sources and directs California to correct rule deficiencies.

This action confirms the effective date of a direct final rule published in the Federal Register June 24, 2009, that establishes Class D airspace, Class E surface airspace as an extension of the Class D airspace, and modifies the existing Class E airspace at Ocala International Airport-Jim Taylor Field, Ocala, FL. This action also makes a minor correction to the existing Class E airport description.

The Securities and Exchange Commission (``Commission'' or ``SEC'') is proposing for comment new Rule 15c3-5 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (``Exchange Act'') that would require brokers or dealers with access to trading directly on an exchange or alternative trading system (``ATS''), including those providing sponsored or direct market access to customers or other persons, to implement risk management controls and supervisory procedures reasonably designed to manage the financial, regulatory, and other risks of this business activity. Given the increased speed and automation of trading on securities exchanges and ATSs today, and the growing popularity of sponsored or direct market access arrangements where broker-dealers allow customers to trade in those markets electronically using the broker-dealers' market participant identifiers, the Commission is concerned that the various financial and regulatory risks that arise in connection with such access may not be appropriately and effectively controlled by all broker-dealers. The Commission believes it is critical that broker-dealers, which under the current regulatory structure are the only entities that may be members of exchanges and, as a practical matter, constitute the majority of subscribers to ATSs, appropriately control the risks associated with market access, so as not to jeopardize their own financial condition, that of other market participants, the integrity of trading on the securities markets, and the stability of the financial system.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing numeric nutrient water quality criteria to protect aquatic life in lakes and flowing waters, including canals, within the State of Florida and proposing regulations to establish a framework for Florida to develop ``restoration standards'' for impaired waters. On January 14, 2009, EPA made a determination under section 303(c)(4)(B) of the Clean Water Act (``CWA'' or ``the Act'') that numeric nutrient water quality criteria for lakes and flowing waters and for estuaries and coastal waters are necessary for the State of Florida to meet the requirements of CWA section 303(c). Section 303(c)(4) of the CWA requires the Administrator to promptly prepare and publish proposed regulations setting forth new or revised water quality standards (``WQS'' or ``standards'') when the Administrator, or an authorized delegate of the Administrator, determines that such new or revised WQS are necessary to meet requirements of the Act. This proposed rule fulfills EPA's obligation under section 303(c)(4) of the CWA to promptly propose criteria for Florida's lakes and flowing waters.

An open meeting of the Taxpayer Advocacy Panel Joint Committee will be conducted. The Taxpayer Advocacy Panel is soliciting public comment, ideas, and suggestions on improving customer service at the Internal Revenue Service.

An open meeting of the Taxpayer Advocacy Panel Earned Income Tax Credit Project Committee will be conducted. The Taxpayer Advocacy Panel is soliciting public comments, ideas and suggestions on improving customer service at the Internal Revenue Service.