2010 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

Summary of Application: Applicant, American Capital, Ltd. requests an order approving a proposal to grant certain stock options to directors who are not also employees or officers of the applicant (the ``Non-employee Directors'') under its 2009 Stock Option Plan (the ``Plan'').

In accordance with Section 122(I) of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act, as amended (``CERCLA''), 42 U.S.C. 9622(I), notice is hereby given of a proposed administrative settlement for recovery of past response costs concerning the Gilberts/Kedzie Site in the Village of Gilberts, Illinois with the following settling parties: Glen J. Kedzie, Big Timber Landscape Company, Inc., and GTCS Corp. (the settling parties). The settlement requires the settling parties to pay $3,000.00 to the Hazardous Substance Superfund and additional payments when the Site is sold. The settlement includes a covenant not to sue the settling parties pursuant to Section 107(a) of CERCLA, 42 U.S.C. 9607(a). For thirty (30) days following the date of publication of this notice, the Agency will receive written comments relating to the settlement. The Agency will consider all comments received and may modify or withdraw its consent to the settlement if comments received disclose facts or considerations which indicate that the settlement is inappropriate, improper, or inadequate. The Agency's response to any comments received will be available for public inspection at the U.S. EPA Record Center, Room 714 U.S. EPA, 77 West Jackson Boulevard, Chicago, Illinois.

The State of Rhode Island has applied to EPA for final authorization of certain changes to its hazardous waste program under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA). EPA determined that these changes satisfy all requirements needed to qualify for final authorization and recently authorized all but one of the State's changes through an immediate final rule. However, EPA also stated in that rule that it would address the authorization of the state's requirements regarding EPA's Zinc Fertilizer Rule in a separate final rule (following the proposed rule) as it anticipated possible adverse comments that would oppose the Federal authorization of Rhode Island for this particular rule. There was, in fact, an adverse comment filed objecting to EPA authorizing Rhode Island for the Zinc Fertilizer Rule. Today's action responds to that comment but does not agree with it and, thus, finalizes the Agency's decision to authorize Rhode Island for EPA's Zinc Fertilizer Rule. In addition, the comment also objected to EPA authorizing Rhode Island for the Burden Reduction Initiative. Accordingly, EPA is partially withdrawing the immediate final rule insofar as it authorized Rhode Island for the Burden Reduction Initiative. However, EPA is now responding to the comment and again not agreeing with it and, thus, today's action also authorizes Rhode Island for the Burden Reduction Initiative. No objections were filed to EPA regarding authorizing the other revisions submitted by Rhode Island. Accordingly, the immediate final rule is not being withdrawn as to these other revisions, which will continue to be authorized pursuant to the immediate final rule.

The EPA is announcing a public hearing to be held for the proposed ``Rule to Implement the 1997 8-Hour Ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standard: New Source Review Anti-Backsliding Provisions for Former 1-Hour Ozone Standard'' which published in the Federal Register on August 24, 2010. The hearing will be held on Tuesday, October 12, 2010, in Washington, DC.

The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) is considering pro-business strategies for incentivizing the development and widespread distribution of technologies that address humanitarian needs. One proposal being considered is a fast-track ex parte reexamination voucher pilot program to create incentives for technologies and licensing behavior that address humanitarian needs. Because patents under reexamination are often the most commercially significant patents, a fast-track reexamination proceeding would allow patent owners to more readily and less expensively affirm the validity of their patents. Therefore, the opportunity to utilize a voucher for a fast-track reexamination proceeding could provide a valuable incentive for entities to pursue humanitarian technologies or licensing. The USPTO is requesting comments from the public regarding this proposal as well as other incentive proposals set forth in this notice.

Under the provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. Chapter 35), GSA will be submitting to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) a request to review and approve a new information collection requirement regarding the agency's Supplier Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions Inventory pilot. Public comments are particularly invited on: Whether this collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of functions of the Supplier GHG Emissions Inventory pilot, and whether it will have practical utility; whether our estimate of the public burden of this collection of information is accurate, and based on valid assumptions and methodology; ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and ways in which we can minimize the burden of the collection of information on those who are to respond, through the use of appropriate technological collection techniques or other forms of information technology.

This action proposes to establish Class E Airspace at Crewe, VA, to accommodate the additional airspace needed for the Standard Instrument Approach Procedures (SIAPs) developed for Crewe Municipal Airport. This action would enhance the safety and airspace management of Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) operations at the airport.

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) will file the plat of survey of the lands described below in the BLM Montana State Office, Billings, Montana, on October 20, 2010.

On August 23, 2010, the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) issued an exposure draft of proposed revisions to Government Auditing Standards (GAGAS) (also known as the Yellow Book). To help ensure that the standards continue to meet the needs of the audit community and the public it serves, the Acting Comptroller General of the United States appointed the Advisory Council on Government Auditing Standards to review the standards and recommend necessary changes. The Advisory Council includes experts in financial and performance auditing drawn from all levels of government, private enterprise, public accounting, and academia. This exposure draft of the standards includes the Advisory Council's suggestions for proposed changes. We are currently requesting public comments on the proposed revisions in the exposure draft. The proposed 2010 revision to GAGAS will be the sixth revision since the standards were first issued in 1972. The 2010 Yellow Book exposure draft seeks to emphasize the critical role of high quality government audits in achieving credibility and accountability in government. The proposed changes contained in the 2010 Exposure Draft update GAGAS to reflect major developments in the accountability and audit profession and emphasize specific considerations applicable to the government environment. In addition, this proposed revision modernizes GAGAS, with updates to reflect major developments in the accountability and audit environment, including a conceptual framework approach for independence. Clarifications have also been made throughout the standards.

On August 24, 2010, GNP Rly, Inc. (GNP), a Class III rail carrier, filed a petition under 49 U.S.C. 10502 for exemption from the provisions of 49 U.S.C. 10902 to acquire and resume rail service over 2 segments of railbanked railroad right-of-way (ROW) totaling 9.1 miles, consisting of: (1) A ROW extending from milepost 0.0, at Woodinville, Wash., to approximately milepost 7.30 at Redmond, Wash. (Redmond Spur); and (2) a ROW extending from milepost 23.8 to milepost 22.0, at or near Woodinville (Woodinville Subdivision).\1\ The petition for exemption was filed concurrently with GNP's petition to vacate in part the NITUs issued for the Redmond Spur and a longer segment of the Woodinville Subdivision (extending from milepost 23.8 to milepost 11.25). Those NITUs permitted railbanking/interim trail use negotiations under the Trails Act, 16 U.S.C. 1247(d). The Board seeks comments from interested persons on GNP's request to resume rail service and partially vacate the NITUs.

In compliance with the requirements of section 3507 of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, 44 U.S.C. 3507, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (Commission or FERC) has submitted the information collection described below to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review of the information collection requirements. Any interested person may file comments directly with OMB and should address a copy of those comments to the Commission as explained below. The Commission issued a Notice in the Federal Register (75 FR 34107, 6/ 16/2010) requesting public comments. FERC received no comments on the FERC-547 and has made this notation in its submission to OMB.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone on the waters of Lake Sammamish, WA for the Composite Laminate Specialties (CLS) Fall Championship Hydroplane Race. This action is necessary to ensure public safety from the intrinsic dangers associated with high- speed races while ensuring unencumbered access for rescue personnel in the event of an emergency. During the enforcement period, no person or vessel will be allowed to enter the safety zone without the permission of the Captain of the Port or Designated Representative.