August 16, 2011 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

Notice is hereby given that an urgent single-source grant is awarded to Survivors of Torture, International (SOTI), San Diego, CA. The grant will support direct services to persons who have experienced trauma or torture prior to their arrival in the United States. The grant will serve San Diego County, which is the area that has received the greatest number of Iraqi refugee arrivals, as well as a high percentage of other refugees and asylum-seekers. The grantee, SOTI, will provide comprehensive rehabilitative services to Iraqi and other survivors of torture, who are in need of specialized services that will enable these survivors to regain their health and independence and rebuild productive lives. In addition to provision of direct services, SOTI will train other area service providers to more effectively serve this population. SOTI will also focus on sustaining collaborations among providers serving this population. According to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), in FY 2009, twenty-eight percent of the country's asylum-seekers came to California for resettlement. In 2010, a total of 3,663 refugees were resettled in San Diego. At least 159,550 refugees, asylees, and asylum-seekers in San Diego have come from areas where torture may be practiced. San Diego's numbers include an influx in Iraqi refugees, as one in four Iraqi refugees has resettled in California, with the vast majority resettling in San Diego. SOTI is the only program in San Diego County that provides medical affidavits for torture survivors to use in claiming asylum. They have also reported an 84 percent increase in client intakes during fiscal years (FYs) 2009 and 2010. As a result, an urgent need exists for specialized services for individuals in San Diego who have suffered torture prior to their arrival in the United States. SOTI is well positioned to provide medical, psychological, social, and legal services to Iraqis who have suffered torture and are relocated in the San Diego area. SOTI has developed a large network of pro bono service providers and possesses the clinical and programmatic expertise to serve survivors of torture. For Further Information Contact: Ronald Munia, Director, Division of Community Resettlement, Office of Refugee Resettlement, 901 D Street, SW., Washington, DC 20047. Telephone: 202-401-4559. E-mail: Ronald.Munia@acf.hhs.gov.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is issuing a final rule to require the filing of a premarket approval application (PMA) or a notice of completion of a product development protocol (PDP) for the following three class III preamendments devices: Ventricular bypass (assist) device; pacemaker repair or replacement material; and female condom. The Agency has summarized its findings regarding the degree of risk of illness or injury designed to be eliminated or reduced by requiring the devices to meet the statute's approval requirements and the benefits to the public from the use of the devices. This action implements certain statutory requirements.

We, the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSM), are announcing receipt of three proposed amendments to the Texas regulatory program under the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 (SMCRA or the Act). Texas at its own initiative submitted three separate amendments to its program: SATS Nos. TX-061-FOR, TX-062-FOR, and TX-063-FOR. Texas proposes revisions in TX-061-FOR by adding language that no longer requires an operation with only reclamation activities ongoing to renew their mining permit, to clarify the requirement to maintain public liability insurance for sites where the permit is not renewed because the only activities ongoing are reclamation, and to clarify midterm review times for sites where the permit is not renewed because the only ongoing activities are reclamation. Texas proposes revisions in TX-062- FOR by adding a new definition for ``Previously mined land,'' adding new language on the effects of previous mining violations from operations on previously mined lands in relation to permit application denials, and adding new language explaining performance standards for revegetation liability timeframes for coal mining and reclamation operations. Texas proposes revisions in TX-063-FOR by adding a new definition for ``Director;'' deleting old language, and adding new language clarifying the review periods for new permits, renewals, and significant revisions. Texas intends to revise its program to improve operational efficiency. This document provides the times and locations that the Texas program and proposed amendments to that program are available for public inspection, the comment period during which you may submit written comments on these amendments, and the procedures that we will follow for the public hearing, if one is requested.