January 14, 2011 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

This notice is to designate Certifying Officers to carry out functions under the Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) program under chapter 2 of title II of the Trade Act of 1974, as amended (19 U.S.C. 2271 et seq.), and the implementing regulations at 29 CFR part 90. Background: The TAA program operates under the Trade Act of 1974, as amended, to provide assistance to domestic workers adversely affected in their employment by certain types of foreign trade. The Trade and Globalization Adjustment Assistance Act of 2009 amended the Trade Act of 1974, expanded TAA coverage to more workers and firms, including workers and firms in the service sector; made benefits available to workers whose jobs have been off-shored to any country, as opposed to only covering certain shifts in production; and improved workers' training opportunities and opportunities for health insurance coverage. The new law also included additional funding for employment services and case management, extended income support, increased funding for training, and provided for earlier access to training. Workers become eligible for program benefits only if the worker group is certified under the Act as eligible to apply for adjustment assistance. From time to time the agency issues an Order designating or redesignating officials of the agency authorized to act as Certifying Officers, responsible for reviewing and signing adjustment assistance determinations. This also is done when current Certifying Officials retire or leave and/or when there is a need to designate new Certifying Officials. Employment and Training Order No. 1-11 was issued to revise the listing of officials designated as Certifying Officers, superseding the previous Order. The Employment and Training Order No. 1-11 is published below.

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 American Housing Survey (AHS) provides a periodic measure of the size and composition of the country's housing inventory. Title 12, United States Code, Sections 1701Z-1, 1701Z- 2(g), and 1710Z-10a mandate the collection of this information. Like the previous surveys, the 2011 AHS collects data on subjects such as the amount and types of changes in the inventory, the physical condition of the inventory, the characteristics of the occupants, housing costs, the persons eligible for and beneficiaries of assisted housing, and the number and characteristics of vacancies. The 2011 AHS will collect additional data on potential health and safety hazards in the home and modifications made to assist occupants living with disabilities. Selected neighborhood and journey to work questions will not be collected in the 2011 survey and the mortgage questions will be redesigned. There is no AHS-Metropolitan Sample in the 2011 survey. But, a supplemental sample of housing units will be selected for 30 metropolitan areas. The supplemental sample will be combined with existing sample in these areas in order to produce metropolitan estimates using the National data. Policy analysts, program managers, budget analysts, and Congressional staff use AHS data to advise executive and legislative branches about housing conditions and the suitability of public policy initiatives. Academic researchers and private organizations also use AHS data in efforts of specific interest and concern to their respective communities. The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) needs the AHS data for two important uses. 1. With the data, policy analysts can monitor the interaction among housing needs, demand and supply, as well as changes in housing conditions and costs, to aid in the development of housing policies and the design of housing programs appropriate for different target groups, such as first-time home buyers and the elderly. 2. With the data, HUD can evaluate, monitor, and design HUD programs to improve efficiency and effectiveness.

The FAA is issuing this notice to advise the public of a meeting of RTCA Special Committee 159: Global Positioning System (GPS).

The Bureau of the Census (Census Bureau) is giving notice of a meeting of the 2010 Census Advisory Committee. The Committee will address advisory committee restructuring issues and recommendations for the coming decade. Last-minute changes to the agenda are possible, which could prevent giving advance notification of schedule changes.

This action proposes to amend Class E airspace at Pueblo Memorial Airport, Pueblo, CO. Additional controlled airspace is necessary to facilitate vectoring of Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) traffic from en route airspace to Pueblo Memorial Airport. The FAA is proposing this action to enhance the safety and management of aircraft operations at the airport.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announces that it is reviewing a proposed noise compatibility program that was submitted for San Diego International Airport under the provisions of 49 U.S.C. 47501 et seq. (the Aviation Safety and Noise Abatement Act, hereinafter referred to as ``the Act'') and 14 CFR part 150 by the San Diego County Regional Airport Authority, San Diego County, California. This program was submitted subsequent to a determination by FAA that associated noise exposure maps submitted under 14 CFR Part 150 for San Diego International Airport were in compliance with applicable requirements, effective November 10, 2009, 74 FR 66400-66401. The proposed noise compatibility program will be approved or disapproved on or before July 3, 2011.

The Wireless Telecommunications Bureau (Bureau) seeks comments on the operation and effectiveness of the Commission's rules relating to hearing aid compatibility of wireless handsets. On the basis of the evaluation, the Bureau will consider whether to recommend to the Commission both rule revisions and non-regulatory measures to ensure that persons with hearing loss will continue to have broad access to evolving modes of wireless communication.

The OCC, as part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, invites the general public and other Federal agencies to comment on a continuing information collection, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. An agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a respondent is not required to respond to, an information collection unless it displays a currently valid Office of Management and Budget (OMB) control number. The OCC is soliciting comment concerning its information collection titled ``Loans in Areas Having Special Flood Hazards.''

NMFS is soliciting applications for American Samoa pelagic longline limited entry permits. At least seven permits of various class sizes will be available for 2011. This notice announces the availability of permits and solicits applications for the permits.

NMFS has issued permit 13675 to Fishery Foundation of California [Responsible Party: Karen L. Burr], 8698 Elk Grove Blvd., Suite 3, Elk Grove, CA 95624; and permits 14685 and 14688 to Natural Resource Scientists, Incorporated [Responsible Party: Dave A. Vogel], P.O. Box 1210, Red Bluff, CA 96080; for purposes of scientific research.

In response to requests by interested parties, the Department of Commerce (the Department) is conducting an administrative review of the antidumping duty order on honey from Argentina. The review covers imports of subject merchandise from three firms (see ``Background'' section of this notice for further explanation). The period of review (POR) is December 1, 2008, through November 30, 2009. We preliminarily determine that sales of honey from Argentina have not been made below normal value (NV) by TransHoney S.A. (TransHoney), Compania Inversora Platense S.A. (CIPSA), or Patagonik S.A. (Patagonik) during the POR. If these preliminary results are adopted in our final results of administrative review, we will issue appropriate assessment instructions to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP). Interested parties are invited to comment on these preliminary results. Parties who submit argument in this review are requested to submit with the argument: (1) A statement of the issues; (2) a brief summary of the argument; and (3) a table of authorities.

The Office of Management (OM), Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), is announcing an opportunity for public comment on the proposed collection of certain information by the agency. Under the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995, Federal agencies are required to publish notice in the Federal Register concerning each proposed collection of information, including each extension of a currently approved collection, and allow 60 days for public comment in response to the notice. This notice solicits comments on the information needed to evaluate bidder's qualification and to support claims for price adjustment due to delay in construction caused by severe weather.

The Office of Management (OM), Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), is announcing an opportunity for public comment on the proposed collection of certain information by the agency. Under the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995, Federal agencies are required to publish notice in the Federal Register concerning each proposed collection of information, including each extension of a currently approved collection, and allow 60 days for public comment in response to the notice. This notice solicits comments on information needed to administer contracts.

The Office of Management (OM), Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), is announcing an opportunity for public comment on the proposed collection of certain information by the agency. Under the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995, Federal agencies are required to publish notice in the Federal Register concerning each proposed collection of information, including each extension of a currently approved collection, and allow 60 days for public comment in response to the notice. This notice solicits comments on the information needed to evaluate quotations received and to determine which quotation offers the best value in terms of price and other factors.

The Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA), Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), is announcing an opportunity for public comment on the proposed collection of certain information by the agency. Under the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995, Federal agencies are required to publish notice in the Federal Register concerning each proposed collection of information, including each proposed extension of a currently approved collection, and allow 60 days for public comment in response to this notice. This notice solicits comments for information needed to determine a claimant's eligibility to reinstate government life insurance.

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501-3521), this notice announces that the Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA), Department of Veterans Affairs, will submit the collection of information abstracted below to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and comment. The PRA submission describes the nature of the information collection and its expected cost and burden; it includes the actual data collection instrument.

The Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA), Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), is announcing an opportunity for public comment on the proposed collection of certain information by the agency. Under the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995, Federal agencies are required to publish notice in the Federal Register concerning each proposed collection of information, including each proposed extension of a currently approved collection and allow 60 days for public comment in response to the notice. This notice solicits comments on information needed to determine a claimant's who stood in relation of parents to a deceased veteran eligibility for death benefits.

The Surface Transportation Board will receive comments and hold a public hearing to explore the current state of competition in the railroad industry and possible policy alternatives to facilitate more competition, where appropriate. The Board is seeking written comments prior to the hearing addressing the legal, factual, and policy matters described below.