October 25, 2011 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Department of Labor (DOL or Department) is committed to Environmental Justice (EJ). President Obama has renewed agencies' environmental justice planning by reinvigorating Executive Order 12898 (EO 12898), which tasked several Federal agencies with making environmental justice part of their mission. The agencies were directed to do so by identifying and addressing, as appropriate, the disproportionately high and adverse human health or environmental effects of their programs, policies, and activities on minority and low-income populations. In August 2011, agencies listed in EO 12898 signed a Memorandum of Understanding (EJ MOU), which, among other things, commits agencies to develop a final Environmental Justice Strategy. The purpose of this notice is to invite public comment on how the Department of Labor can address environmental justice through its programs, policies, regulations or reporting requirements.

Under title II of the Social Security Act (Act), there will be a 3.6 percent cost-of-living increase in Social Security benefits effective December 2011. As a result of this increase, the following items will increase for 2012: (1) The maximum Federal Supplemental Security Income (SSI) monthly benefit amounts for 2012 under title XVI of the Act will be $698 for an eligible individual, $1,048 for an eligible individual with an eligible spouse, and $350 for an essential person; (2) The special benefit amount under title VIII of the Act for certain World War II veterans will be $523.50 for 2012; (3) The student earned income exclusion under title XVI of the Act will be $1,700 per month in 2012, but not more than $6,840 for all of 2012; (4) The dollar fee limit for services performed as a representative payee will be $38 per month ($75 per month in the case of a beneficiary who is disabled and has an alcoholism or drug addiction condition that leaves him or her incapable of managing benefits) in 2012; and (5) The dollar limit on the administrative-cost assessment charged to attorneys representing claimants will be $86 in 2012. The national average wage index for 2010 is $41,673.83. This index affects the following amounts: (1) The Old-Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance (OASDI) contribution and benefit base will be $110,100 for remuneration paid in 2012 and self-employment income earned in taxable years beginning in 2012; (2) The monthly exempt amounts under the OASDI retirement earnings test for taxable years ending in calendar year 2012 will be $1,220, for years prior to the year in which a person attains his or her Normal Retirement Age (NRA) and $3,240, for the year in which a person attains his or her NRA; (3) The dollar amounts (``bend points'') used in the primary insurance amount (PIA) benefit formula for workers who become eligible for benefits, or who die before becoming eligible, in 2012 will be $767 and $4,624; (4) The bend points used in the formula for computing maximum family benefits for workers who become eligible for benefits, or who die before becoming eligible, in 2012 will be $980, $1,415, and $1,845; (5) The amount of taxable earnings a person must have to be credited with a quarter of coverage in 2012 will be $1,130; (6) The ``old-law'' contribution and benefit base under title II of the Act will be $81,900 for 2012; (7) The monthly amount deemed to constitute substantial gainful activity for statutorily blind individuals in 2012 will be $1,690, and the corresponding amount for non-blind disabled persons will be $1,010; (8) The earnings threshold establishing a month as a part of a trial work period will be $720 for 2012; and (9) Coverage thresholds for 2012 will be $1,800 for domestic workers and $1,500 for election officials and election workers.

This is an amendment of the Presidential declaration of a major disaster for the State of North Carolina (FEMA-4019-DR), dated 08/31/2011. Incident: Hurricane Irene. Incident Period: 08/25/2011 through 09/01/2011. Effective Date: 10/17/2011. Physical Loan Application Deadline Date: 11/30/2011. EIDL Loan Application Deadline Date: 05/31/2012.

In accordance with 5 U.S.C. 4314(c)(4), the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), Department of Commerce (DOC), announce the appointment of those individuals who have been selected to serve as members of NTIA's Performance Review Board. The Performance Review Board is responsible for (1) reviewing performance appraisals and rating of Senior Executive Service (SES) members and (2) making recommendations to the appointing authority on other performance management issues, such as pay adjustments, bonuses and Presidential Rank Awards for SES members. The appointment of these members to the Performance Review Board will be for a period of twenty- four (24) months.

We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for the products listed above. This proposed AD would require repetitive detailed inspections for discrepancies of the horizontal stabilizer ballscrew assembly; repetitive lubrication of the horizontal stabilizer trim control system; repetitive measurements for discrepancies of the ballscrew to ballnut freeplay; and corrective actions if necessary. This proposed AD was prompted by a report of extensive corrosion of the ballscrew of the drive mechanism of the horizontal stabilizer trim actuator. We are proposing this AD to prevent undetected failure of the primary and secondary load paths for the ballscrew in the horizontal stabilizer, which could lead to loss of control of the horizontal stabilizer and consequent loss of control of the airplane.

This is an amendment of the Presidential declaration of a major disaster for Public Assistance Only for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania (FEMA-4030-DR), dated 10/07/2011. Incident: Tropical Storm Lee. Incident Period: 09/03/2011 through 10/15/2011. Effective Date: 10/15/2011. Physical Loan Application Deadline Date: 12/06/2011. Economic Injury (EIDL) Loan Application Deadline Date: 07/09/2012.

This is an amendment of the Presidential declaration of a major disaster for Public Assistance Only for the State of Texas (FEMA4029DR), dated 09/21/2011. Incident: Wildfires. Incident Period: 08/30/2011 and continuing. Effective Date: 10/13/2011. Physical Loan Application Deadline Date: 11/21/2011. Economic Injury (EIDL) Loan Application Deadline Date: 06/21/2012.

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC), as part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork burdens, invites the general public and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on the following information collection(s), as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501-3520), Public Law 104-13. Comments are requested concerning: (a) Whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the Commission, including whether the information shall have practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the Commission's burden estimate; (c) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information collected; (d) ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on the respondents, including the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology; (e) ways to further reduce the information collection burden on small business concerns with fewer than 25 employees. The FCC may not conduct or sponsor a collection of information unless it displays a currently valid Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Control Number. No person shall be subject to any penalty for failing to comply with a collection of information subject to the PRA that does not display a valid Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Control Number.

As part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork burden and as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501-3520), the Federal Communications Commission invites the general public and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on the following information collection(s). Comments are requested concerning: (a) Whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the Commission, including whether the information shall have practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the Commission's burden estimate; (c) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information collected; (d) ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on the respondents, including the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology; and (e) ways to further reduce the information burden for small business concerns with fewer than 25 employees. The FCC may not conduct or sponsor a collection of information unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number. No person shall be subject to any penalty for failing to comply with a collection of information subject to the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) that does not display a valid OMB control number.

In accordance with section 2330a of Title 10 United States Code as amended by the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008 (NDAA 08) Section 807, the Director of Procurement USSOCOM and the Office of the Director, Defense Procurement and Acquisition Policy, Office of Strategic Sourcing (DPAP/SS) will make available to the public the first inventory of activities performed pursuant to contracts for services. The inventory will be published to the USSOCOM public portal Web site at the following location: https://www.socom.mil/ sordac/Documents/USSOCOMFY10ServicesInventoryList.pdf.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), notify the public that we are reopening the comment period on the May 22, 2003, proposed rule to remove the plant Frankenia johnstonii (Johnston's frankenia) from the List of Endangered and Threatened Plants (List) under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). Comments submitted during the 2003 comment period will be considered and do not need to be resubmitted now. However, we invite comments on the new information presented in this announcement relevant to our consideration of the status of F. johnstonii. We encourage those who may have commented previously to submit additional comments, if appropriate, in light of this new information. We are also making available for public review the Draft Post-Delisting Monitoring Plan for F. johnstonii.

This action modifies Seattle, WA Class B airspace to ensure the containment of large turbine-powered aircraft operating to and from the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. The FAA is taking this action to enhance safety, improve the flow of air traffic, and reduce the potential for midair collision in the Seattle, WA terminal area.

This rule 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.

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Airbus Model A310 series airplanes; Model A300 B4-600, B4-600R, and F4- 600R series airplanes; and Model C4-605R variant F airplanes (collectively called A300-600 series airplanes). This AD results from mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) originated by an aviation authority of another country to identify and correct an unsafe condition on an aviation product. The MCAI describes the unsafe condition as: