May 2, 2011 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

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 deduct insurance premiums from policyholder's bank account.

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 on information needed to determine a veteran's eligibility or reinstatement for Government Life insurance.

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501-3521), this notice announces that the Office of General Counsel (OGC), Department of Veterans Affairs, has submitted 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 revision 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 for educational benefits.

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 on information needed to determine the insured's eligibility to reinstate or change government life insurance.

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 authorize deduction from a beneficiary's compensation check.

In this notice, EPA is notifying the public of its finding that the nitrogen oxides (NOX) motor vehicle emissions budgets (MVEBs) in the Hickory-Morganton-Lenoir, North Carolina area (hereafter referred to as the ``Hickory Area'') maintenance plan for the 1997 annual PM2.5 standard, submitted on December 18, 2009, and supplemented on December 22, 2010, by the North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources (NCDENR) are adequate for transportation conformity purposes. EPA is also making an insignificance finding for direct fine particulate (PM2.5) through the transportation conformity adequacy process for the Hickory Area. The Hickory Area is comprised of the entire county of Catawba in North Carolina. On March 2, 1999, the District of Columbia Circuit Court ruled that submitted state implementation plans (SIPs) cannot be used for transportation conformity determinations until EPA has affirmatively found them adequate. As a result of EPA's finding, the Hickory Area must use the NOX MVEBs from the submitted maintenance plan and supplement for the Hickory Area for future conformity determinations. Additionally, as a result of this finding, the Hickory Area is not required to perform a regional emissions analysis for direct PM2.5 in future PM2.5 transportation conformity determinations for the 1997 annual PM2.5 standard.

This Amendment to Agreement and Covenant Not to Sue (``Amendment'') amends the 2002 Agreement and Covenant Not To Sue, Docket CERCLA-10-2002-0034 (``Original Agreement''), entered into by and between the United States on behalf of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (``EPA'') and Pacific Wood Preserving of Oregon (``PWPO''). In accordance with the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act, 42 U.S.C. 9601 et seq. (``CERCLA''), notice is hereby given of the proposed Agreement between the EPA and PWPO, subject to the final review and approval of the EPA and the U.S. Department of Justice. The 2002 Original Agreement with PWPO provided a covenant not to sue for response costs at the Taylor Lumber and Treating Site, which PWPO was acquiring, in exchange for several obligations related to site operation and a commitment not to use certain hazardous products, including pentachlorophenol, at the Site. This Amendment removes the restriction on pentachlorophenol use and extends PWPO's commitment to collect and treat groundwater and maintain the asphalt cap until January 31, 2022, or for as long as PWPO owns or operates on the Property, whichever is later. This Amendment includes additional commitments including submittal of annual environmental audit reports; implementation of institutional controls; payment of EPA future oversight costs; and, a revised Statement of Work for future work to be performed by PWPO.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (the Corps) are publishing for public comment proposed guidance that describes how the agencies will identify waters protected by the Federal Water Pollution Control Act Amendments of 1972 (Clean Water Act or CWA or Act) and implement the Supreme Court's decisions on this topic (i.e., Solid Waste Agency of Northern Cook County v. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (SWANCC) (531 U.S. 159 (2001)) and Rapanos v. United States (547 U.S. 715 (2006)) (Rapanos)). The agencies believe that under this proposed guidance the number of waters identified as protected by the Clean Water Act will increase compared to current practice and this improvement will aid in protecting the Nation's public health and aquatic resources. The proposed guidance is consistent with the principles established by the Supreme Court cases and is supported by the agencies' scientific understanding of how waterbodies and watersheds function. In addition, the agencies believe that when the revised guidance is finalized and goes into effect, it will improve CWA program predictability and clarity regarding the scope of ``waters of the United States'' protected under the Act and that this improvement will have benefits for both the government and regulated parties. When finalized, this guidance would supersede previously issued guidance on this matter. This guidance will apply to all CWA programs, including section 303 water quality standards, section 311 oil spill prevention and response, section 401 water quality certification, section 402 National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permits, and section 404 permits for discharges of dredged or fill material. The agencies seek public comment on all aspects of the proposed guidance, including interpretations and scientific underpinnings. In addition to this guidance, the agencies expect to propose revisions of existing regulations to further clarify which waters are subject to CWA jurisdiction, consistent with the Supreme Court's decisions. Public comment on any such revisions will be requested at the time they are proposed.

Under the Federal Advisory Committee Act, Public Law 92463, EPA gives notice of a public meeting of the National Advisory Council for Environmental Policy and Technology (NACEPT). NACEPT provides advice to the EPA Administrator on a broad range of environmental policy, technology, and management issues. NACEPT represents diverse interests from academia, industry, non-governmental organizations, and local, State, and tribal governments. The purpose of this meeting is to: (1) Discuss NACEPT's second advice letter on EPA workforce issues, and (2) continue developing recommendations on the need for innovative technologies to identify, measure, and reduce environmental risks faced by vulnerable populations. A copy of the agenda for the meeting will be posted at https://www.epa.gov/ofacmo/nacept/cal-nacept.htm.

The U.S. International Trade Commission is adopting a rule amendment revising a certain provision of the agency's rule for investigations and related proceedings under section 337 of the Tariff Act of 1930. The Supplement to the Strategic Human Capital Plan 2009- 2013 issued by the Commission on January 18, 2011, provides that the Office of Unfair Import Investigations (``OUII'') will not participate in a subset of Section 337 cases and will participate selectively in another subset of cases. In order to better allocate its resources, OUII may have to assign attorneys to investigations on an issue by issue basis. The rule amendment will allow OUII the flexibility to reassign attorneys to cases as necessary without having to publish notices announcing the change in the Federal Register. The new rule will have no substantive effect on Commission practice in conducting Section 337 investigations.

We, the Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce the availability of our draft comprehensive conservation plan and environmental assessment (Draft CCP/EA) for Cabo Rojo National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) for public review and comment. In the Draft CCP/EA, we describe the alternative we propose to use to manage this refuge for the 15 years following approval of the final CCP.

In accordance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act, the Bureau of Reclamation announces that the Colorado River Basin Salinity Control Advisory Council (Council) will meet as detailed below. The meeting of the Council is open to the public.

The Caribbean Fishery Management Council's Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC) will hold a meeting.

The Glen Canyon Dam Adaptive Management Work Group (AMWG) makes recommendations to the Secretary of the Interior concerning Glen Canyon Dam operations and other management actions to protect resources downstream of Glen Canyon Dam, consistent with the Grand Canyon Protection Act. The AMWG meets two to three times a year.

This notice contains a summary of a petition seeking relief from specified requirements of 14 CFR. The purpose of this notice is to improve the public's awareness of, and participation in, this aspect of FAA's regulatory activities. Neither publication of this notice nor the inclusion or omission of information in the summary is intended to affect the legal status of the petition or its final disposition.