April 15, 2011 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Attorney General finds it necessary to revise the Department of Justice's ``Procedures for the Administration of section 5 of the Voting Rights Act of 1965.'' The revisions are needed to clarify the scope of section 5 review based on recent amendments to section 5, make technical clarifications and updates, and provide better guidance to covered jurisdictions and interested members of the public concerning current Department practices. Proposed revised Procedures were published for comment on June 11, 2010, and a 60-day comment period was provided.

In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as amended, and the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976, as amended, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Elko District Office has prepared a Final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Newmont Mining Corporation's proposed Genesis Project and by this notice is announcing its availability.

Under 49 U.S.C. 10502, the Board revokes the class exemption as it pertains to the trackage rights described in Docket No. FD 34554 (Sub-No. 14) \1\ to permit the trackage rights to expire on or about December 18, 2011, in accordance with the agreement of the parties,\2\ subject to the employee protective conditions set forth in Oregon Short Line RailroadAbandonment Portion Goshen Branch Between Firth and Ammon, in Bingham and Bonneville Counties, Idaho, 360 I.C.C. 91 (1979).

The Department of the Treasury, as part of its effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, invites the general public and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on proposed and/or continuing information collections, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 104-13 (44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)). The IRS is soliciting comments concerning information collection requirements related to changes with respect to prizes and awards and employee achievement awards.

This establishes, amends, suspends, or revokes Standard Instrument Approach Procedures (SIAPs) and associated Takeoff Minimums and Obstacle Departure Procedures for operations at certain airports. These regulatory actions are needed because of the adoption of new or revised criteria, or because of changes occurring in the National Airspace System, such as the commissioning of new navigational facilities, adding new obstacles, or changing air traffic requirements. These changes are designed to provide safe and efficient use of the navigable airspace and to promote safe flight operations under instrument flight rules at the affected airports.

This final rule amends Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation's regulation on Benefits Payable in Terminated Single-Employer Plans to prescribe interest assumptions under the regulation for valuation dates in May 2011. PBGC's regulation on Benefits Payable in Terminated Single-Employer Plans prescribes actuarial assumptionsincluding interest assumptionsfor paying plan benefits under terminating single-employer plans covered by title IV of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974.

The Department of the Treasury, 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 proposed and/or continuing information collections, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 104-13(44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)). The IRS is soliciting comments concerning information collection requirements related to manufacturers excise taxes on sporting goods and firearms and other administrative provisions of special application to manufacturers and retailers excise taxes.

On January 4, 2010, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (January 2010 NOPR) to establish new test procedures for walk-in coolers and walk-in freezers (WICF or walk- ins). On September 9, 2010, DOE issued a supplemental notice of proposed rulemaking (September 2010 SNOPR) to propose changes to the test procedures that it proposed in the NOPR. Those proposed rulemakings serve as the basis for today's action. DOE is issuing a final rule that establishes new test procedures for measuring the energy efficiency of certain walk-in cooler and walk-in freezer components including panels, doors, and refrigeration systems. These test procedures will be mandatory for product testing to demonstrate compliance with energy standards that DOE is establishing in a separate, but concurrent rulemaking, and for representations starting 180 days after publication. This final rule incorporates by reference industry test procedures that, along with calculations established in the rule, can be used to measure the energy consumption or performance characteristics of certain components of walk-in coolers and walk-in freezers. Additionally, the final rule clarifies the definitions of ``Display door,'' ``Display panel,'' ``Door,'' ``Envelope,'' ``K- factor,'' ``Panel,'' ``Refrigerated,'' ``Refrigeration system,'' ``U- factor,'' ``Automatic door opener/closer,'' ``Core region,'' ``Edge region,'' ``Surface area,'' ``Rating condition,'' and ``Percent time off'' as applicable to walk-in coolers and walk-in freezers.

This final rule makes revisions to the Medicare Advantage (MA) program (Part C) and Prescription Drug Benefit Program (Part D) to implement provisions specified in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010 (collectively referred to as the Affordable Care Act) (ACA) and make other changes to the regulations based on our experience in the administration of the Part C and Part D programs. These latter revisions clarify various program participation requirements; make changes to strengthen beneficiary protections; strengthen our ability to identify strong applicants for Part C and Part D program participation and remove consistently poor performers; and make other clarifications and technical changes.