June 22, 2011 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

EPA is proposing changes to the calculation and monitoring provisions in the Electronics Manufacturing portion (Subpart I) of the Mandatory Greenhouse Gas Reporting Rule for the ``largest'' semiconductor manufacturing facilities (i.e., those that fabricate devices on wafers measuring 300 millimeters or less in diameter and that have an annual manufacturing capacity of greater than 10,500 square meters). More specifically, for reporting years 2011 and 2012 this action proposes to allow the largest semiconductor facilities the option to calculate emissions using default emission factors already contained in Subpart I, instead of recipe-specific utilization and by- product formation rates (recipe-specific emission factors) for the plasma etching process type. These proposed changes are in response to a request for reconsideration of specific provisions submitted by the Semiconductor Industry Association. This action would only apply to the initial years of compliance while the Agency continues to better understand industry's concerns with Subpart I and considers longer-term alternative options.

In response to requests from petitioner Aqualon Company, a unit of Hercules Incorporated and a U.S. manufacturer of purified carboxymethylcellulose, and Akzo Nobel Functional Chemicals B.V., the Department of Commerce (the Department) is conducting an administrative review of the antidumping duty order on purified carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) from the Netherlands. This administrative review covers imports of subject merchandise produced and exported by Akzo Nobel Functional Chemicals B.V. during the period of review (POR) of July 1, 2009, through June 30, 2010. We preliminarily determine that sales of subject merchandise by Akzo Nobel Functional Chemicals B.V. were made at less than normal value during the period of review. 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.

On April 26, 2011, the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) published a Federal Register notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM). This NPRM proposes revising regulations implementing the affirmative action provisions of the Vietnam Era Veterans' Readjustment Assistance Act of 1974, as amended. This document extends the comment period for the proposed rule for fourteen (14) days. If you have already commented on the proposed rule you do not need to resubmit your comment. OFCCP will consider all comments received from the date of publication of the proposed rule through the close of the extended comment period.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is taking Direct Final action on a minor change to the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) hazardous waste manifest regulations that affects those entities that print the hazardous waste manifest form in accordance with EPA's Federal printing specifications. Specifically, this action amends the current printing specification regulation to indicate that red ink, as well as other distinct colors, or other methods to distinguish the copy distribution notations from the rest of the printed form and data entries are permissible. This change will afford authorized manifest form printers greater flexibility in complying with the Federal printing specifications.

On April 18, 2011, EPA released the external peer review draft human health assessment titled ``Toxicological Review of Methanol (Non- Cancer): In Support of Summary Information on the Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS)'' (EPA/635/R-11/001) for public comment. The public comment period ended June 17, 2011. EPA is releasing an addendum to the draft Toxicological Review of Methanol (Non-Cancer) and announcing a 14-day public comment period for the addendum. The purpose of this addendum is to provide the public with several recent studies that were published between the initial release of the methanol assessment in January 2010 and the recent re-release of the non-cancer portion of that assessment in April 2011. Due to the unusual step of placing the methanol assessment on hold (as described in the April 18, 2011 Federal Register Notice), and the length of time that elapsed since the initial release of the assessment, EPA decided to issue the addendum addressing additional studies. Description and analyses of these studies are included as an addendum to the draft Toxicological Review that is now available on EPA's Web site (see below for details). The draft Toxicological Review and the draft addendum were prepared by the National Center for Environmental Assessment (NCEA) within the EPA Office of Research and Development (ORD). EPA is releasing the draft addendum solely for the purpose of pre-dissemination peer review and public comment under applicable information quality guidelines. This draft assessment has not been formally disseminated by EPA. It does not represent and should not be construed to represent any Agency policy or determination. EPA is also announcing that Eastern Research Group, Inc. (ERG), an EPA contractor for external scientific peer review, will convene an independent panel of experts and organize and conduct an external peer review workshop to review the draft Toxicological Review of Methanol (Non-Cancer), including the addendum. ERG invites the public to register to attend this workshop as observers. In addition, ERG invites the public to give brief oral comments and/or provide written comments at the workshop regarding the draft assessment under review. Space is limited, and reservations will be accepted on a first-come, first- served basis. In preparing a final report, EPA will consider the ERG report of the comments and recommendations from the external peer review workshop and any written public comments that EPA receives in accordance with the April 18, 2011, Notice and this Notice.

This notice amends the notice of a major disaster declaration for the State of Illinois (FEMA-1991-DR), dated June 7, 2011, and related determinations.

Comments are requested on the proposed Base (1% annual-chance) Flood Elevations (BFEs) and proposed BFE modifications for the communities listed in the table below. The purpose of this proposed rule is to seek general information and comment regarding the proposed regulatory flood elevations for the reach described by the downstream and upstream locations in the table below. The BFEs and modified BFEs are a part of the floodplain management measures that the community is required either to adopt or to show evidence of having in effect in order to qualify or remain qualified for participation in the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). In addition, these elevations, once finalized, will be used by insurance agents and others to calculate appropriate flood insurance premium rates for new buildings and the contents in those buildings.

On September 13, 2010, the Secretary of Health and Human Services (the Secretary) published in the Federal Register a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) proposing changes to the regulations governing the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program (VICP). Specifically, the Secretary proposed revisions to the Vaccine Injury Table (Table) to create distinct listings for hepatitis A, trivalent influenza, meningococcal, and human papillomavirus vaccines. The Secretary is now making this amendment to the Table by final rule; it is technical in nature. The four categories of vaccines described in this final rule are already covered vaccines under the VICP (starting in 2004) and are currently listed in a placeholder category (box XIII) in the Table. This final rule will list these vaccines as separate categories on the Table, with no associated injuries noted at this time, in order to help the public identify clearly that these vaccines are covered by the VICP. The changes implemented here are authorized by section 2114(e) of the Public Health Service Act (the Act).

The Audio Division grants a Petition for Rule Making issued at the request of RF Services, Inc., licensee of a new FM station at Rocksprings, Texas, that requests the deletion of vacant Channel 234A at Brackettville to accommodate the hybrid application, which requests the substitution of Channel 234C3 for Channel 235C3 at Rocksprings, Texas, reallotment of Channel 234C3 from Rocksprings, to Brackettville, Texas, and modification of the new FM station authorization. See File No. BNPH-20091019AFF.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), proposed in an earlier document to establish annual hunting regulations for certain migratory game birds for the 2011-12 hunting season. This supplement to the proposed rule provides the regulatory schedule, announces the Service Migratory Bird Regulations Committee and Flyway Council meetings, and provides Flyway Council recommendations resulting from their March meetings.

The Acting Director, Information Collection Clearance Division, Privacy, Information and Records Management Services, Office of Management, invites comments on the submission for OMB review as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104-13).

The U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) offers the general public and other Federal agencies the opportunity to comment on a revised information collection request (ICR) 3206-0219, USAJOBS. As required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, (Pub. L. 104-13, 44 U.S.C. chapter 35) as amended by the Clinger-Cohen Act (Pub. L. 104- 106), OPM is soliciting comments for this collection. In particular, we invite comments that: 1. Evaluate whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including whether the information will have practical utility; 2. Evaluate the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of the proposed collection of information, including the validity of the methodology and assumptions used; 3. Enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and 4. Minimize the burden of the collection of information on those who are to respond, including through the use of appropriate automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or other forms of information technology, e.g., permitting electronic submissions of responses.

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is publishing for comment a notice of receipt of a petition for rulemaking, dated April 18, 2011, which was filed with the NRC by Annette User on behalf of GE Osmonics, Inc (the petitioner). The petition was docketed by the NRC on April 20, 2011, and has been assigned Docket No. PRM-30-65. The petitioner requests that the NRC amend its regulations regarding the commercial distribution of byproduct material to allow recipients of exempt quantities of polymer (polycarbonate or polyester) track etch (PCTE) membranes that have been irradiated with mixed fission products (MFP) to commercially redistribute the material without a license.

The Coast Guard proposes to remove, add, and consolidate special local regulations and establish permanent safety zones for annual recurring marine events as well as establish a permanent security zone in the Coast Guard Sector Long Island Sound Captain of the Port (COTP) Zone. When these special local regulations or safety zones are activated and subject to enforcement, this rule would restrict vessels from portions of water areas during these annual recurring events. The revised special local regulations and safety zones would expedite public notification of events, and ensure the protection of the maritime public and event participants from the hazards associated with these annual recurring events.