January 2011 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The California Air Resources Board (CARB) has notified EPA that it has adopted amendments to its passenger vehicle greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions program. These amendments were formally adopted by CARB's Board in September 2009 and February 2010. By letter dated June 28, 2010, CARB submitted a request seeking EPA's confirmation that these amendments are within-the-scope of the waiver of preemption issued by EPA under section 209(b) of the Clean Air Act on June 30, 2009. This notice announces that EPA has tentatively scheduled a public hearing and is accepting written comment on California's request.

A number of regulations applicable to the Federal National Mortgage Association and the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (collectively, the Enterprises), and the Federal Home Loan Banks (Banks), contain specific references to, or requirements based on, credit ratings issued by credit rating organizations registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission as nationally recognized statistical rating organizations (NRSROs). Section 939A of the recently enacted Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (Dodd-Frank Act) provides Federal agencies with one-year to review regulations that require the use of an assessment of the credit- worthiness of a security or money market instrument and any references to, or requirements in, such regulations regarding credit ratings, and to remove such references or requirements. In this advance notice of proposed rulemaking (ANPR), the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) describes the relevant regulations affected by this provision of the Dodd-Frank Act and requests comments on potential alternatives to the use of credit ratings in these regulations.

The Export-Import Bank of the United States (``Ex-Im Bank'') is the official export credit agency of the United States. Its mission is to create and sustain U.S. jobs by financing U.S. exports through direct loans, guarantees, insurance and working capital credits. By neutralizing the effect of export credit support offered by foreign governments and by absorbing credit risks that the private sector will not accept, Ex-Im Bank enables U.S. exporters to compete fairly in foreign markets on the basis of price and product. Under the Export Credit Insurance policies, coverage is provided for export sales to one or many different buyers. In the event that a buyer defaults on a transaction insured by Ex- Im Bank the insured exporter or lender may seek payment by the submission of a claim. This collection of information is necessary, pursuant to 12 U.S.C. 635(a)(1), to determine if such claim complies with the terms and conditions of the relevant insurance policy. This form can be reviewed at https://www.exim.gov/pub/pending/ EIB10_03.pdf.

The Export-Import Bank of the United States (``Ex-Im Bank'') is the official export credit agency of the United States. Its mission is to create and sustain U.S. jobs by financing U.S. exports through direct loans, guarantees, insurance and working capital credits. By neutralizing the effect of export credit support offered by foreign governments and by absorbing credit risks that the private sector will not accept, Ex-Im Bank enables U.S. exporters to compete fairly in foreign markets on the basis of price and product. Under the Medium Term Guarantee Program, Ex-Im Bank provides guarantees of principal and interest on floating or fixed-rate loans by eligible lenders to credit worthy buyers of US goods and services. The guarantee covers the repayment risks on the foreign buyer's debt obligations. Ex-Im Bank guarantees that, in the event of a payment default by the borrower, it will repay the lender the outstanding principal and interest on the loan. In the event that a borrower defaults on a transaction guaranteed by Ex-Im Bank the guaranteed lender may seek payment by the submission of a claim. This collection of information is necessary, pursuant to 12 USC 635(a)(1), to determine if such claim complies with the terms and conditions of the relevant guarantee agreement. This form can be reviewed https://www.exim.gov\pub\pending\EIB10 05.pdf

The Federal Emergency Management Agency, as part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, invites the general public and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on a proposed revision of a currently approved information collection. In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this Notice seeks comments concerning the collection of data from citizens living in the Immediate Response Zones and Protection Action Zones surrounding stockpile sites.

This notice announces a meeting of the Environmental Management Site-Specific Advisory Board (EM SSAB), Nevada. The Federal Advisory Committee Act (Pub. L. 92-463, 86 Stat. 770) requires that public notice of this meeting be announced in the Federal Register.

In accordance with Section 743 of Division C of the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2010 (Pub. L. 111-117), Department of Energy is publishing this notice to advise the public of the availability of the FY 2010 Service Contract inventory. This inventory provides information on service contract actions over $25,000 that were made in FY 2010. The information is organized by function to show how contracted resources are distributed throughout the agency. The inventory has been developed in accordance with guidance issued on November 5, 2010 by the Office of Management and Budget's Office of Federal Procurement Policy (OFPP). OFPP's guidance is available at https://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/omb/procurement /memo/ service-contract-inventories-guidance-11052010.pdf. Department of Energy has posted its inventory and a summary of the inventory at the following link: https://www.management.energy.gov/policy_guidance/ competitive_sourcing.htm.

The Surface Transportation Board seeks written public comments and evidence on the average per-pound replacement value for household goods that are lost or damaged while in the care of a moving company.

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 March 2, 2011.

Pursuant to the authorities in the Federal Advisory Committee Act (Pub. L. 92-463) and under the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act of 2000 (Pub. L. 106-393) the Kootenai National Forest's Lincoln County Resource Advisory Committee will meet on Wednesday, February 15, 2011 at 6 p.m. at the Forest Supervisor's Office in Libby, Montana for a business meeting. The meeting is open to the public.

In accordance with the Santa Rosa and San Jacinto Mountains National Monument Act of 2000 and the Federal Advisory Committee Act of 1972, the U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service (Forest Service) Santa Rosa and San Jacinto Mountains National Monument Advisory Committee (MAC) will meet as indicated below.

The Secretary of Labor has determined that the renewal of a national advisory committee on apprenticeship is necessary and in the public interest. The Department of Labor will renew the ACA Charter with revisions. The revisions are not intended to change the purpose or the Committee's original intent. The revisions are intended as a routine updating of the Department's strategic goals and existing procedures. The Charter for the ACA expired on January 15, 2011.

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.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is announcing that, as required by the Federal Advisory Committee Act, the Agency has filed with the Library of Congress the annual reports of those FDA advisory committees that held closed meetings during fiscal year 2010.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is announcing the availability of a draft document entitled ``Guidance for Industry: Pre- Storage Leukocyte Reduction of Whole Blood and Blood Components Intended for Transfusion'' dated January 2011. The draft guidance document provides blood establishments with recommendations for pre- storage leukocyte reduction of Whole Blood and blood components intended for transfusion, including recommendations for validation and quality control monitoring of the leukocyte reduction process. This second draft guidance document incorporates revisions after reviewing comments on the January 2001 draft. This draft guidance replaces the draft guidance of the same title dated January 2001. This draft guidance, when finalized, will supersede the FDA memorandum issued on May 29, 1996, entitled ``Recommendations and Licensure Requirements for Leukocyte- Reduced Blood Products.''

Notice is hereby given that the U.S. International Trade Commission has determined that no violation of section 337 occurred in the above-captioned investigation.