January 18, 2012 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

EPA is proposing to simplify an existing provision in our marine diesel engine program that is intended to encourage owners of Great Lakes steamships to repower those steamships with cleaner marine diesel engines. The simplified program would automatically permit the use of residual fuel, through December 31, 2025, in a steamship if it has been repowered with a certified Tier 2 or later marine diesel engine, provided the steamship was operated exclusively on the Great Lakes and was in service on October 30, 2009. Steamships are powered by old, inefficient steam boilers. Voluntary replacement of these boilers with modern fuel-efficient marine diesel engines would result in reductions of particulate matter and sulfur oxides, even while the replacement diesel engines are operated on higher sulfur residual fuel, and would provide human health and welfare benefits for the people who live in the Great Lakes region. Conversion to new diesel engines would also result in considerable carbon dioxide reductions and fuel savings. In the ``Rules and Regulations'' section of this Federal Register, we are making this modification to the Great Lakes steamship incentive program as a direct final rule without a prior proposed rule. If we receive no adverse comment, we will not take further action on this proposed rule.

EPA is taking direct final action to approve revisions to the Antelope Valley Air Quality Management District (AVAQMD) and Imperial County Air Pollution Control District (ICAPCD) portions of the California State Implementation Plan (SIP). These revisions concern oxides of nitrogen (NOX) emissions from stationary gas turbines. We are approving local rules that regulate these emission sources under the Clean Air Act as amended in 1990 (CAA or the Act).

The Small Communities Advisory Subcommittee (SCAS) will meet via teleconference on Monday, February 6, 2012, 1 p.m.-2 p.m. (ET). The Subcommittee will discuss sustainable communities, drinking water regulations and other issues and recommendations to the Administrator regarding environmental issues affecting small communities. This is an open meeting and all interested persons are invited to participate. The Subcommittee will hear comments from the public between 1:40 p.m.-2 p.m. on Monday, February 6, 2012. Individuals or organizations wishing to address the Committee will be allowed a maximum of five minutes to present their point of view. Also, written comments should be submitted electronically to davis.catherinem@epa.gov. Please contact the Designated Federal Officer (DFO) at the number listed below to schedule a time on the agenda. Time will be allotted on a first-come first-serve basis, and the total period for comments may be extended if the number of requests for appearances requires it. The Local Government Advisory Committee (LGAC) will meet via teleconference on Monday, February 6, 2012, 2 p.m.-3 p.m. (ET). The Committee will discuss the recommendations of the LGAC Workgroups and the SCAS. This is an open meeting and all interested persons are invited to participate. The Committee will hear comments from the public between 2:40 p.m.-3 p.m. (ET) on Monday, February 6, 2012. Individuals or organizations wishing to address the Committee will be allowed a maximum of five minutes to present their point of view. Also, written comments should be submitted electronically to eargle.frances@epa.gov. Please contact the Designated Federal Officer (DFO) at the number listed below to schedule a time on the agenda. Time will be allotted on a first-come first-serve basis, and the total period for comments may be extended if the number of requests for appearances requires it. Dates and Addresses: The Small Communities Advisory Subcommittee meeting will be held by teleconference on Monday, February 6, 2012, 1 p.m.-2 p.m. (ET). The Local Government Advisory Committee meeting will be held by teleconference on Monday, February 6, 2012, 2 p.m.-3 p.m. (ET). Meeting summaries will be available after the meetings online at https://www.epa.gov/ocir/scas and can be obtained by written request to the DFO.

EPA has received a specific exemption request from the Oregon Department of Agriculture to use the pesticide fenoxaprop-p-ethyl (CAS No. 148-79-8) to treat up to 40,000 acres of grasses grown for seed to control weeds. The applicant proposes a use which is supported by the Interregional (IR)-4 program and has been requested in 5 or more previous years, and a petition for tolerance has not yet been submitted to the Agency. In accordance with the requirements of Title 40 of the Code of Federal regulations (40 CFR 166.24(a)(7)), EPA is soliciting public comment before making the decision whether or not to grant the exemption.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is advising the public that a draft Programmatic Environmental Assessment (PEA) for Low Energy X-Ray Inspection Systems (LEXRIS) at CBP operational areas has been prepared and is available for public review. The draft PEA analyzes the potential environmental impacts due to the deployment and use of LEXRIS. CBP seeks public comment on the draft PEA. CBP will consider comments before issuing a final PEA.

The Department of Labor (Department), as part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, conducts a preclearance consultation program to provide the general public and federal agencies with an opportunity to comment on proposed and/or continuing collections of information in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA 95) [44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)]. This program helps to ensure that requested data can be provided in the desired format, reporting burden (time and financial resources) is minimized, collection instruments are clearly understood, and the impact of collection requirements on respondents can be properly assessed. Currently, ETA is soliciting comments concerning the extension of data collection on its Guam Military Base Realignment Contractors Recruitment Standards, which expire April 30, 2012. This information collection follows an emergency review that was conducted in accordance with the PRA 95 and 5 CFR 1320.13. The submission for Office of Management and Budget (OMB) emergency review was approved on October 19, 2011. A copy of the proposed information collection request can be obtained either by: (1) Accessing the RegInfo.gov Web site at https:// www.reginfo.gov/public/do/ PRAViewDocument?refnbr= 201108-1205-007, or (2) by contacting the office listed below in the addresses section of this notice.

Pursuant to Delegation Order Nos. 00-037.00, effective December 6, 2001, and 00-001.00C, effective January 31, 2007, the Deputy Secretary has approved and placed into effect on an interim basis Rate Order No. SWPA-63, which increases the power rates for the Integrated System pursuant to the Integrated System Rate Schedules which supersede the existing rate schedules.

The Western Area Power Administration (Western), a power marketing administration within the Department of Energy (DOE), is proposing an adjustment to the Boulder Canyon Project (BCP) electric service base charge and rates. The current base charge and rates expire September 30, 2012, under Rate Schedule BCP-F8. The existing base charge is being adjusted to ensure it includes all annual costs including operation, maintenance, replacements, interest expense, and to repay investment obligations within the required period. The proposed base charge will provide sufficient revenue to cover all annual costs and to repay investment obligations within the allowable period. A detailed rate package that identifies the reasons for the base charge and rates adjustment will be available in March 2012. The proposed base charge and rates are scheduled to become effective October 1, 2012, and will remain in effect through September 30, 2013. This Federal Register notice initiates the formal process for the proposed base charge and rates.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is amending the filing notice for a food additive petition filed by the U.S. Pharmacopeial Convention requesting that the food additive regulations that incorporate by reference food-grade specifications from prior editions of the Food Chemicals Codex (FCC) be amended to incorporate by reference food-grade specifications from the FCC, 7th Edition.

The Department of Labor (Department), as part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, conducts a preclearance consultation program to provide the general public and Federal agencies with an opportunity to comment on proposed and/or continuing collections of information in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA95) [44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)]. This program helps to ensure that requested data can be provided in the desired format, reporting burden (time and financial resources) is minimized, collection instruments are clearly understood, and the impact of collection requirements on respondents can be properly assessed. Currently, ETA is soliciting comments on a new information collection for the Job Corps Process Study (Process Study). A copy of the proposed information collection request can be obtained by contacting the office listed below in the addresses section of this notice.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary security zone on the Detroit River, Detroit, Michigan. This zone is intended to restrict vessels from a portion of the Detroit River in order to ensure the safety and security of participants, visitors, and public officials at the 24th Annual North American International Auto Show (NAIAS), which is being held at Cobo Hall in downtown Detroit, MI. Vessels and persons may not enter this security zone without permission of the Captain of the Port Detroit or the COTP on-scene representative.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary Special Local Regulation in the Corpus Christi Bayfront area within the Corpus Christi, TX Captain of the Port Zone. This Special Local Regulation will restrict vessels from portions of the Corpus Christi Bayfront area during the HITS Triathlon on February 18th and 19th, 2012. This Special Local Regulation is necessary to ensure the safety of HITS Triathlon participants and protect them from the hazard of vessel traffic in the area.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is announcing an opportunity for public comment on the proposed collection of certain information by the Agency. Under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (the PRA), Federal Agencies are required to publish notice in the Federal Register concerning each proposed collection of information, including each proposed extension of an existing collection of information, and to allow 60 days for public comment in response to the notice. This notice solicits comments on the information collection provisions of the Notification Procedure for Substances Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) and new Form FDA 3667, which may be submitted electronically via the Electronic Submission Gateway (ESG).

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, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995. An agency may not conduct or sponsor a collection of information unless it displays a currently valid 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 control number. 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 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 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.

An open meeting of the Taxpayer Advocacy Panel Toll-Free Project Committee will be conducted. The Taxpayer Advocacy Panel is soliciting public comments, ideas and suggestions on improving customer service at the Internal Revenue Service.