May 2011 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

In compliance with the requirements of section 3506(c)(2)(a) of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104-13), the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (Commission) is soliciting public comment on the specific aspects of the information collection described below.

In compliance with the requirements of section 3506(c)(2)(a) of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104-13), the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (Commission) is soliciting public comment on the specific aspects of the information collection described below.

In this Notice of Inquiry, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (Commission) seeks comment on the scope and implementation of its transmission incentives regulations and policies under Order No. 679. It has been nearly five years since the Commission promulgated rules to implement the directives of section 1241 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (EPAct 2005), which added a new section 219 to the Federal Power Act (FPA). In the past five years, the Commission has received over 75 applications for transmission incentives. The requested incentives have been varied, and the demonstrations supporting the incentives applications have likewise been varied. During this time, the electric industry has continued to evolve, and the Commission has issued corresponding regulations, policy statements, and case-by-case determinations. Given the changes in the electric industry, the Commission's experience to date applying Order No. 679, and the ongoing need to ensure that our incentives regulations and policies are encouraging the development of transmission infrastructure in a manner consistent with FPA sections 219 and 205 and 206, the Commission now issues this Notice of Inquiry.

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 Form 1041-N U.S. Income Tax Return for Electing Alaska Native Settlement Trusts.

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 Dollar-Value LIFO Regulations; Inventory Price Index Computation Method.

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)). Currently, the IRS is soliciting comments concerning Form 8050, Direct Deposit of Corporate Tax Refund.

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)). Currently, the IRS is soliciting comments concerning information collection requirements related to Revenue Procedure 99-17, Mark to Market Election for Commodities Dealers and Securities and Commodities Traders.

Rural Development's Rural Utilities Service (RUS) and its predecessor, the Rural Electrification Administration, (REA) have played a leading role in helping rural America gain access to advanced telecommunications systems, equipment and services. The List of Materials historically has been a very useful tool in assuring product quality and reliability. However, Rural Development is taking a fundamentally new approach to advancing state-of-the-art telecommunications technologies, consistent with our commitment to high quality rural service and the efficient use of taxpayer dollars.

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)). Currently, the IRS is soliciting comments concerning Form 8302, Direct Deposit or Refund of $1 Million or More.

As authorized by 46 U.S.C. 12121, the Secretary of Transportation, as represented by the Maritime Administration (MARAD), is authorized to grant waivers of the U.S.-build requirement of the coastwise laws under certain circumstances. A request for such a waiver has been received by MARAD. The vessel, and a brief description of the proposed service, is listed below. The complete application is given in DOT docket MARAD-2011-0069 at https://www.regulations.gov. Interested parties may comment on the effect this action may have on U.S. vessel builders or businesses in the U.S. that use U.S.-flag vessels. If MARAD determines, in accordance with 46 U.S.C. 12121 and MARAD's regulations at 46 CFR part 388 (68 FR 23084, April 30, 2003), that the issuance of the waiver will have an unduly adverse effect on a U.S.-vessel builder or a business that uses U.S.-flag vessels in that business, a waiver will not be granted. Comments should refer to the docket number of this notice and the vessel name in order for MARAD to properly consider the comments. Comments should also state the commenter's interest in the waiver application, and address the waiver criteria given in Sec. 388.4 of MARAD's regulations at 46 CFR part 388.

We are amending the regulations to establish a new category of regulated articles in the regulations governing the importation of nursery stock, also known as plants for planting. This category will list taxa of plants for planting whose importation is not authorized pending pest risk analysis. If scientific evidence indicates that a taxon of plants for planting is a quarantine pest or a host of a quarantine pest, we will publish a notice that will announce our determination that the taxon is a quarantine pest or a host of a quarantine pest, cite the scientific evidence we considered in making this determination, and give the public an opportunity to comment on our determination. If we receive no comments that change our determination, the taxon will subsequently be added to the new category. We will allow any person to petition for a pest risk analysis to be conducted to consider whether to remove a taxon that has been added to the new category. After the pest risk analysis is completed, we will remove the taxon from the category and allow its importation subject to general requirements, allow its importation subject to specific restrictions, or prohibit its importation. We will consider applications for permits to import small quantities of germplasm from taxa whose importation is not authorized pending pest risk analysis, for experimental or scientific purposes under controlled conditions. This new category will allow us to take prompt action on evidence that the importation of a taxon of plants for planting poses a risk while continuing to allow for public participation in the process.

In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as amended, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has prepared a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Sigurd to Red Butte No. 2-345 Kilovolt (kV) Transmission Line Project (Project) and by this notice is announcing the opening of a 45 day public comment period.

This notice provides information regarding the Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) approval of the Buy American waiver requested by the Deschutes River Conservancy (DRC) to purchase foreign-produced ductile iron flanges also known as bolt rings used to connect high- density polyethylene (HDPE) and polyvinyl chloride (PVC) pipe as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) grant for Three Sisters Irrigation District (TSID) Phase IIIMain Canal piping project located in Sisters, Oregon. These ductile iron flanges are not available in the United States and are necessary for the construction of the TSID project and associated construction schedule. The DRC and TSID engineers conducted market research for the domestic ductile iron flange production industry and determined there is currently no domestic availability for ductile iron flanges for use with HDPE and PVC pipe.

This Notice identifies unutilized, underutilized, excess, and surplus Federal property reviewed by HUD for suitability for possible use to assist the homeless.