June 2010 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

This rule amends the procedures governing NOAA's administrative proceedings for the assessment of civil penalties; suspension, revocation, modification, or denial of permits; issuance and use of written warnings; and release or forfeiture of seized property. The principal change removes the requirement that an Administrative Law Judge state good reason(s) for departing from the civil penalty or permit sanction assessed by NOAA in its charging document. This revision eliminates any presumption in favor of the civil penalty or permit sanction assessed by NOAA. The other change corrects a clerical error in a citation to rules pertaining to protective orders issued by Administrative Law Judges.

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) proposes to sell three parcels of public land totaling approximately 243.82 acres in Tehama County, California. The sale will be subject to the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (FLPMA), and BLM land sale and mineral conveyance regulations. The sales will be conducted as a competitive bid auction in which interested bidders must submit written sealed bids equal to, or greater than, the appraised fair market value of the land. Bidders who submit written sealed bids will have the opportunity to increase their bids in a silent auction to be held after BLM opens all written sealed bids.

The Coast Guard will enforce Lights on the Lake Fireworks Display safety zone for South Lake Tahoe, from 8:30 a.m. on July 1, 2010 through 10 p.m. on July 4, 2010 in position 38[deg]57'56'' N, 119[deg]57'21'' W (NAD83). This action is necessary to control vessel traffic and to ensure the safety of event participants and spectators. During the enforcement period, unauthorized persons or vessels are prohibited from entering into, transiting through, or anchoring in the safety zone, unless authorized by the Patrol Commander (PATCOM).

The Director, Information Collection Clearance Division, Regulatory Information Management Services, Office of Management, invites comments on the proposed information collection requests as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps), in conjunction with the California Natural Resources Agency, is preparing an EIS/EIR for the Salton Sea Species Conservation Habitat (SCH) Project. The Corps is considering the Natural Resources Agency's application for a Department of the Army permit under section 404 of the Clean Water Act to construct habitat configured in a series of interconnected shallow ponds within the current footprint of the Salton Sea. Preliminary evaluations of potential siting areas indicate that ponds could be constructed at either the north or south ends of the Salton Sea, or in both areas. The SCH Project would be created as the Sea recedes by constructing dikes below the elevation of -228 feet mean sea level (msl) using material excavated from the sea bed. Rivers, which have better water quality than agricultural drain water, would provide the source of water for the ponds. The Project size at total build-out is currently expected to be approximately 2,400 acres, which may be constructed over a period of several years depending on land availability and cost. The final project size may vary depending on the outcome of the alternatives development process. Habitat ponds would vary in size, with several ponds constructed in each phase depending on land availability. Habitat would continue to be constructed in phases in subsequent years as the Sea recedes until the targeted acreage of habitat was constructed. The habitat would be designed with varying ranges of salinity in order to maximize biological productivity and minimize adverse effects associated with water quality. It is anticipated that the SCH Project would begin construction in late 2011 or early 2012.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, invite the public to comment on the following applications to conduct certain activities with endangered species. With some exceptions, the Endangered Species Act (ESA) prohibits activities with listed species unless a Federal permit is issued that allows such activities. The ESA requires that we invite public comment before issuing these permits.

In this Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission proposes to revise certain financial reporting forms required to be filed by natural gas companies (FERC Form Nos. 2, 2-A, and 3-Q) to include functionalized fuel data on pages 521a through 521d of those forms, and to include on those forms the amount of fuel waived, discounted or reduced as part of a negotiated rate agreement. We also propose to revise page 520 accordingly.

This notice sets forth the schedule and summary agenda for a partially closed meeting of the President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST), and describes the functions of the Council. Notice of this meeting is required under the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA), 5 U.S.C., App.

Pursuant to provisions under the Federal Advisory Committee Act, 5 U.S.C. App., the Under Secretary of Commerce for International Trade announces the establishment of the Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Advisory Committee (the Committee) by the Secretary of Commerce. The Committee shall advise the Secretary regarding the development and administration of programs and policies to expand the competitiveness of the U.S. renewable energy and energy efficiency sectors, including programs and policies to expand U.S. exports of goods and services related to renewable energy and energy efficiency in accordance with applicable United States regulations. This notice also requests nominations for membership.

The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council's (MAFMC) Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC) and Summer Flounder, Scup, Black Sea Bass, and Bluefish Monitoring Committee's will hold a public meeting via webinar.