September 24, 2010 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The EPA is hereby granting a waiver of the Buy American requirements of ARRA Section 1605 under the authority of Section 1605(b)(1) [inconsistent with the public interest] to the Town of Bristol, Rhode Island (Town) for the utilization and installation of two influent and two effluent sluice gates for the facility's two final clarifiers as part of a larger overall wastewater treatment plant upgrade project. This is a project specific waiver and only applies to the use of the specified product for the ARRA project being proposed. Any other ARRA recipient that wishes to use the same product must apply for a separate waiver based on project specific circumstances. The Town had been assured by the manufacturer that the sluice gates would be made in a facility in Massachusetts. However, the manufacturer informed the Town of Bristol in writing on July 8, 2010 that due to an internal miscommunication, the sluice gates that were delivered to the site for installation were actually manufactured in Canada, and not in Massachusetts. The manufacturer has offered to provide these sluice gates at no charge other than the cost for freight and field service. Re-ordering the sluice gates and having them manufactured in the Massachusetts facility would delay the upgrade work to the final clarifiers by at least three months. Unfortunately, the existing final clarifier equipment is failing, and given that existing wastewater flows at the wastewater treatment plant are at seasonal lows, the most opportune time to install the sluice gates would be during the July and August time frame. Based upon information submitted by the Town's consulting engineer, EPA has concluded that requiring the installation of domestic manufactured sluice gates, which would extend the time frame by at least three months, would be inconsistent with the public interest, and that a waiver of the Buy American provisions is justified. The Regional Administrator is making this determination based on the review and recommendations of the Municipal Assistance Unit. The Assistant Administrator of the Office of Administration and Resources Management has concurred on this decision to make an exception to the requirements of Section 1605(a) of ARRA. This action allows the installation of the foreign manufactured influent and effluent sluice gates, as specified in its July 8, 2010 request.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is announcing the public release of the 2010 version of the Causal Analysis/Diagnosis Decision Information System (CADDIS). This Web site was developed to help scientists find, develop, organize, and use environmental information to improve causal assessments of biological impairment. The CADDIS Web site was developed and prepared by EPA's National Center for Environmental Assessment (NCEA), in the Office of Research and Development (ORD), and is available at https://www.epa.gov/caddis.

The FAA is correcting the notification of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approval of information collection requirements contained in the ``Re-Registration and Renewal of Aircraft Registration'' final rule. The final rule was published on July 20, 2010. The notification of OMB approval of information collection was published on August 30, 2010. This document corrects the OMB approval expiration date referenced in the August 30, 2010, notification.

EPA is proposing to grant a petition submitted by Eastman Chemical Company-Texas Operations (Eastman) to exclude (or delist) certain solid wastes generated by its Longview, Texas, facility from the lists of hazardous wastes. EPA used the Delisting Risk Assessment Software (DRAS) Version 3.0 in the evaluation of the impact of the petitioned waste on human health and the environment.

The U.S. Office of Personnel Management is issuing a proposed rule that would redefine the geographic boundaries of the Shreveport, LA; Texarkana, TX; Milwaukee, WI; and Southwestern Wisconsin appropriated fund Federal Wage System (FWS) wage areas. The proposed rule would redefine Upshur County, TX, from the Texarkana wage area to the Shreveport wage area and Oconto County, WI, from the Southwestern Wisconsin wage area to the Milwaukee wage area. These changes are based on recent consensus recommendations of the Federal Prevailing Rate Advisory Committee to best match the counties proposed for redefinition to a nearby FWS survey area. No other changes are proposed for the Shreveport, Texarkana, Milwaukee, and Southwestern Wisconsin FWS wage areas.

Pursuant to Section 102(2)(C) of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969, as amended, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) will prepare an Integrated Feasibility Report/Environmental Impact Statement (FR/EIS) for proposed ecosystem restoration and flood risk management in the Skokomish River Basin which empties into Hood Canal, near Shelton, Washington. The Skokomish Indian Tribe and Mason County are the non-Federal sponsors for the project. The Skokomish River General Investigation (GI) Feasibility Study for the Skokomish River Basin is being conducted under the authority of Section 209 of the Flood Control Act of 1962 (Pub. L. 87-874). The Skokomish River channel has been filling with sediment for several decades, resulting in frequent flooding and decreasing natural ecosystem structures, functions, and processes necessary to support critical fish and wildlife habitat throughout the Skokomish River Basin. Increased sediment load, reduced flows, and encroachment of the floodplain by man-made structures are leading to continued degradation of natural ecosystem functions and habitat. The degraded riverine and estuarine aquatic habitat has caused a decline in the population of critical fish and wildlife species, including multiple ESA listed species. Additionally, the channel capacity of the Skokomish River varies significantly. Limited channel capacity causes floodwater to leave the banks at various locations, ultimately causing frequent flooding of local roads, two state highways, agricultural fields, residences, and other structures. The Skokomish River GI is a basin-wide study; however, work by others, constrain the limit of Corps' involvement to actions primarily in the lower Skokomish River Valley. Problems, opportunities, and objectives will be examined within the context of the entire watershed. Recognizing the relationships between the upper and lower watershed will ensure a comprehensive study overview. The purpose of the FR/EIS and feasibility study is to evaluate if there is a federal interest in aquatic ecosystem restoration and flood risk management in the Skokomish River Basin.

The Federal Communications Commission, as part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork burden invites the general public and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on the following information collection(s), as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995, 44 U.S.C. 3501 - 3520. Comments are requested concerning: (a) whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the Commission, including whether the information shall have practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the Commission's burden estimate; (c) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information collected; (d) ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on the respondents, including the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology, and (e) ways to further reduce the information collection burden on small business concerns with fewer than 25 employees. The FCC may not conduct or sponsor a collection of information unless it displays a currently valid control number. No person shall be subject to any penalty for failing to comply with a collection of information subject to the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) that does not display a currently valid OMB control number.

This action adds services to the Procurement List that will be provided by nonprofit agencies employing persons who are blind or have other severe disabilities.

The Committee is proposing to add the services to the Procurement List that will be furnished by the nonprofit agencies employing persons who are blind or have other severe disabilities. Comments Must Be Received on or Before: 10/25/2010.

The Federal Communications Commission, as part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork burden invites the general public and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on the following information collection(s), as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995, 44 U.S.C. 3501 - 3520. Comments are requested concerning: (a) whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the Commission, including whether the information shall have practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the Commission's burden estimate; (c) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information collected; (d) ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on the respondents, including the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology, and (e) ways to further reduce the information collection burden for small business concerns with fewer than 25 employees. The FCC may not conduct or sponsor a collection of information unless it displays a currently valid control number. No person shall be subject to any penalty for failing to comply with a collection of information subject to the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) that does not display a currently valid OMB control number.

We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Koito Industries, Ltd., seats and seating systems approved under TSO-C39b, TSO-C39c, or TSO-C127a. This proposed AD would require determining if affected seats and seating systems and their components are compliant with certain FAA regulations, and removing those seats, seating systems, and their components from the affected fleet that are shown to be unsafe. This proposed AD results from a determination that the affected seats and seating systems may not meet certain flammability and strength criteria. Failure to meet strength criteria could result in injuries to the flightcrew and passengers during emergency landing conditions. In the event of an in-flight or post-emergency landing fire, failure to meet flammability criteria could result in an accelerated propagation of fire. We are proposing this AD to prevent accelerated fires and injuries to the flightcrew and passengers.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Detroit District, is issuing this Notice of Intent (NOI) to prepare a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for flood risk management measures along the North Branch Ecorse Creek (NBEC) in Wayne County, MI. The Draft EIS is being prepared in conjunction with a General Reevaluation Report (GRR) of the NBEC to reevaluate the feasibility of providing flood risk management measures. The GRR/EIS is being completed in partnership with Wayne County, MI. The Draft EIS will address potential environmental impacts of the construction, operation, and maintenance of a number of structural and non-structural alternatives that will be evaluated as part of the GRR study.