2010 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

This is a Notice of the Presidential declaration of a major disaster for public assistance only for the Territory of the U.S. Virgin Islands (FEMA-1949-DR), dated 11/24/ 2010. Incident: Severe storms, flooding, rockslides, and mudslides associated with Tropical Storm Tomas. Incident Period: 11/08/2010 through 11/12/2010. Effective Date: 11/24/2010. Physical Loan Application Deadline Date: 01/24/2011. Economic Injury (EIDL) Loan Application Deadline Date: 08/24/2011.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is announcing the availability of a document entitled ``Guidance for Industry: Use of Serological Tests To Reduce the Risk of Transmission of Trypanosoma cruzi Infection in Whole Blood and Blood Components Intended for Transfusion'' dated December 2010. The guidance document notifies establishments that manufacture whole blood and blood components intended for transfusion about FDA approvals of biologics license applications for serological test systems for the detection of antibodies to Trypanosoma cruzi. These tests are intended for use as donor screening tests to reduce the risk of transmission of T. cruzi infection by detecting antibodies to T. cruzi in plasma and serum samples from individual human donors. The guidance document does not apply to the collection of source plasma. Also, the guidance does not apply to establishments that make eligibility determinations for donors of human cells, tissues, and cellular and tissue-based products (HCT/ Ps). The guidance announced in this document finalizes the draft guidance entitled ``Guidance for Industry: Use of Serological Tests To Reduce the Risk of Transmission of Trypanosoma cruzi Infection in Whole Blood and Blood Components for Transfusion and Human Cells, Tissues, and Cellular and Tissue-Based Products (HCT/Ps)'' dated March 2009. The recommendations for HCT/P donor screening and testing for T. cruzi antibodies contained in the draft guidance are not being finalized at this time because FDA believes additional discussion is warranted. Elsewhere in this issue of the Federal Register, FDA is publishing a 30-day notice announcing that the proposed collection of information for the guidance has been submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and clearance under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.

This notice of waiver concerns two petitions for waiver submitted to the FAA by Space Exploration Technologies Corp. (SpaceX): A petition to waive the requirement that a waiver petition be submitted at least sixty days before the proposed effective date; and a petition to waive the restriction that the combined risk to the public from the launch and reentry of a reentry vehicle not exceed an expected average number of 0.00003 casualties (Ec

Pursuant to Public Law 106-148, the NCGMP Advisory Committee will hold an audio conference call on Wednesday, January 26, 2011, from 1 p.m.-3 p.m. Eastern Standard Time. The Committee will hear updates on progress of the NCGMP toward fulfilling the purposes of the National Geological Mapping Act of 1992; the Federal, State, and education components of the NCGMP; and the National Geological and Geophysical Data Preservation Program.

The Gallatin National Forest's Gallatin County Resource Advisory Committee will meet in Bozeman, Montana. The committee is meeting as authorized under the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act (Pub. L. 110-343) and in compliance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act. The purpose is of the meeting is to determine parameters and timeframes for the first round of projects and Public Comments.

The Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) is issuing its final guidance on categorical exclusions. This guidance provides methods for substantiating categorical exclusions, clarifies the process for establishing categorical exclusions, outlines how agencies should engage the public when establishing and using categorical exclusions, describes how agencies can document the use of categorical exclusions, and recommends periodic agency review of existing categorical exclusions. A categorical exclusion is a category of actions that a Federal agency determines does not normally result in individually or cumulatively significant environmental effects. This guidance clarifies the rules for establishing, applying, and revising categorical exclusions. It applies to categorical exclusions established by Federal agencies in accordance with CEQ regulations for implementing the procedural provisions of the National Environmental Policy Act. The guidance was developed to assist agencies in making their implementation of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) more transparent and efficient.

The Commodity Futures Trading Commission (``Commission'' or ``CFTC'') is proposing rules to implement new statutory provisions enacted by Title VII of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act. These proposed rules apply to the whistleblowers incentives and protection of section 748. The proposed rules establish a whistleblower program that enables the Commission to pay an award, under regulations prescribed by the Commission and subject to certain limitations, to eligible whistleblowers who voluntarily provide the Commission with original information about a violation of the Commodity Exchange Act that leads to the successful enforcement of a covered judicial or administrative action, or a related action. The proposed rules also provide public notice of section 748's prohibition on retaliation by employers against individuals that provide the Commission with information about potential violations.

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 valid OMB control number.

NMFS is extending the comment period for the proposed rule to implement the 2011-2012 Biennial Specifications and Management Measures; Amendment 16-5; and Amendment 23 to the Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery Management Plan (PCGFMP). The comment period is being extended to provide additional opportunity for public comment.

NMFS announces its intent to issue Exempted Fishing Permits (EFPs), Scientific Research Permits (SRPs), Display Permits, Letters of Acknowledgment (LOAs), and Chartering Permits for the collection of Atlantic Highly Migratory Species (HMS) in 2011. In general, EFPs and related permits would authorize collection of a limited number of tunas, swordfish, billfishes, and sharks from Federal waters in the Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean Sea, and Gulf of Mexico for the purposes of scientific data collection and public display. Chartering permits allow the collection of HMS on the high seas or in the Exclusive Economic Zone of other nations. Generally, these permits will be valid from the date of issuance through December 31, 2011, unless otherwise specified, subject to the terms and conditions of individual permits.

The Department of Education (the Department), in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA) (44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)), provides the general public and Federal agencies with an opportunity to comment on proposed and continuing collections of information. This helps the Department assess the impact of its information collection requirements and minimize the reporting burden on the public and helps the public understand the Department's information collection requirements and provide the requested data in the desired format. 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.

This final rule makes inseason adjustments to commercial and tribal fishery management measures for several groundfish species taken in the U.S. exclusive economic zone (EEZ) off the coasts of Washington, Oregon, and California. These actions, which are authorized by the Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery Management Plan (FMP), are intended to allow fisheries to access more abundant groundfish stocks while protecting overfished and depleted stocks.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is announcing the availability of a document entitled ``Guidance for Industry: Recommendations for Blood Establishments: Training of Back-Up Personnel, Assessment of Blood Donor Suitability and Reporting Certain Changes to an Approved Application'' dated November 2010. The guidance document provides recommendations to blood establishments for training of back-up personnel, assessment of blood donor suitability, and how to report certain changes to an approved license application to FDA. The guidance announced in this document finalizes the draft guidance entitled ``Draft Guidance for Industry: Recommendations for the Assessment of Blood Donor Suitability, Blood Product Safety, and Preservation of the Blood Supply in Response to Pandemic (H1N1) 2009 Virus'' dated November 2009. The guidance announced in this document also is superseding certain recommendations in two previous guidances, the guidance document entitled ``Guidance for Industry: Changes to an Approved Application: Biological Products: Human Blood and Blood Components Intended for Transfusion or for Further Manufacture'' dated July 2001 and the guidance document entitled ``Guidance for Industry: Streamlining the Donor Interview Process: Recommendations for Self- Administered Questionnaires'' dated July 2003.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is announcing that a proposed collection of information has been submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and clearance under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.

On April 1, 2010, the Department of Commerce (the Department) initiated the second sunset review of the countervailing duty (CVD) order on certain hot-rolled flat-rolled carbon-quality steel products (hot-rolled steel) from Brazil, pursuant to section 751(c) of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended (the Act). On the basis of a notice of intent to participate and an adequate substantive response filed on behalf of the domestic interested parties,\1\ and adequate responses from Usinas Siderurgicas de Minas Gerais and Companhia Siderurgica Paulista (USIMINAS/COSIPA) \2\ and Companhia Siderurgica Nacional (CSN), producers of hot-rolled steel, and the Government of Brazil (GOB), the Department determined to conduct a full sunset review of this CVD order pursuant to section 751(c) of the Act and 19 CFR 351.218(e)(2). As a result of our analysis, the Department finds that revocation of the CVD order would likely lead to continuance or recurrence of a countervailable subsidy.

The Advisory Committee on Earthquake Hazards Reduction (ACEHR or Committee), will hold a meeting via conference call on Tuesday, December 21, 2010 from 1 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time (EDT). The primary purpose of this meeting is to develop recommendations for public release on the upcoming New Madrid Bicentennial events. Interested members of the public will be able to participate in the meeting from remote locations by calling into a central phone number.