May 21, 2012 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

This notice proposes a statement of policy regarding the application of the Federal Transit Administration's Buy America rules to procurements for the overhaul and rebuilding of rolling stock, and seeks comment from all interested parties.

This final rule revises the Department of Justice regulations implementing the Americans with Disabilities Act to extend until January 31, 2013, the compliance date for the application of sections 242 and 1009 of the 2010 Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Standards for Accessible Design for existing pools and spas.

We are reopening the comment period for our proposed rule that would amend the regulations that govern the importation of animals and animal products to revise the conditions for the importation of live bovines and products derived from bovines with regard to bovine spongiform encephalopathy. This action will allow interested persons additional time to prepare and submit comments.

On May 3, 2012, The Department of the Interior (Interior) published a Federal Register Notice (77 FR 26315) announcing the May 18 publication of the United States Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative Stakeholder Assessment and Multi-Stakeholder Group Options. In that notice, Interior announced it would also initiate a public comment period regarding the Assessment, starting May 18, to include public listening sessions, a webinar and a workshop, the details of which would be provided on the Interior Web site and in this Federal Register Notice.

We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all BAE SYSTEMS (Operations) Limited Model 4101 airplanes. This proposed AD was prompted by reports that the fire extinguisher in the toilet vanity unit needs to be mounted vertically rather than horizontally. This proposed AD would require inspecting to determine if a certain fire extinguisher bottle is installed, and repositioning the affected fire extinguisher bottle to the vertical position. We are proposing this AD to detect and correct the orientation of the fire extinguisher bottle in the toilet vanity unit to the vertical position, which if not corrected, could result in a toilet waste bin fire spreading, and consequent damage to the airplane and injury to its occupants.

On April 18, 2012, we, NMFS, published a proposed rule in the Federal Register to restructure the funding and deployment system for observers in North Pacific groundfish and halibut fisheries via Amendment 86 to the Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area (BSAI FMP) and Amendment 76 to the Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA FMP). The public comment period for the subject proposed rule closes on June 18, 2012. We will hold a public hearing in Seattle, WA, to receive oral and written comments on the proposed regulations during the public comment period.

The Coast Guard proposes to modify the operating schedule that governs the Meridian and Bigbee Railroad (MNBR) swing span bridge across the Alabama River at Selma, Dallas County, Alabama. Due to the infrequent requirement to open the bridge for the passage of vessels, the owner has requested a change allowing the bridge to open only on signal if at least 24-hours advanced notification is given.

Notice is hereby given that a permit has been issued to Robin Baird, Ph.D., Cascadia Research, 218\1/2\ W. 4th Avenue, Olympia, WA 98501, to conduct research on marine mammals in the Atlantic Ocean.

This proposed action would delay or revise several portions of the Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery Trawl Rationalization Program (program) regulations. These changes are necessary to enable the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) to implement new regulations for the program to comply with a court order requiring NMFS to reconsider the initial allocation of Pacific whiting (whiting) to the shorebased Individual Fishing Quota (IFQ) fishery and the at-sea mothership fishery. The proposed rule would affect the transfer of Quota Share (QS) and Incidental Bycatch Quota (IBQ) between QS accounts in the shorebased individual IFQ fishery, and severability in the mothership fishery, both of which would be delayed until NMFS can implement any necessary new regulations in those areas required by the court's order.

We, NMFS, intend to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), related to the Makah Indian Tribe's (Tribe) request that we authorize treaty right hunting of eastern North Pacific gray whales in usual and accustomed fishing grounds off the coast of Washington State. This notice briefly describes the background of the Makah Tribe's request for waiver, terminates a prior draft EIS (DEIS), and identifies and requests comments on a set of new potential alternatives currently under consideration.

Notice is hereby given that Stephen John Trumble, Ph.D., Baylor University, 101 Bagby Ave., Waco, TX 76706, has applied in due form for a permit to import, export, and receive marine mammal parts for scientific research.

The Advisory Committee on Rules of Bankruptcy Procedure will hold a two-day meeting. The meeting will be open to public observation but not participation.

The Coast Guard will enforce the safety zones for annual fireworks events in the Captain of the Port Detroit zone from 9:45 p.m. on May 25, 2012 through 11:15 p.m. on September 2, 2012. This action is necessary and intended to ensure safety of life on the navigable waters immediately prior to, during, and immediately after fireworks events. During the aforementioned period, the Coast Guard will enforce restrictions upon, and control movement of, vessels in a specified area immediately prior to, during, and immediately after fireworks events. During the enforcement period, no person or vessel may enter the safety zone without permission of the Captain of the Port.

To meet OMB and Congressional reporting requirements, this request for a new information collection clearance will allow ECA/P/V, as part of the English Language Evaluation, to conduct surveys of participants in the ETA Program, E-Teacher Scholarship program, and the English Language Specialist Program. Participants are those who went on the programs between the years of 2004 and 2009. Collecting this data will help ECA/P/V assess the impact the programs have had on the respective participants, as well as the effectiveness of these programs in meeting their goals. Title of Information Collection: English Language Evaluation: Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship (ETA) Program Survey. OMB Control Number: None. Type of Request: New Collection. Originating Office: Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, Office of Policy and Evaluation, Evaluation Division (ECA/P/ V). Form Number: SV2011-0031. Respondents: U.S. participants of the ETA program from 2004-2009. Estimated Number of Respondents: 2,350 annually. Estimated Number of Responses: 2,350 annually. Average Hours per Response: 40 minutes. Total Estimated Burden: 1,567 hours annually. Frequency: One time. Obligation to Respond: Voluntary. Title of Information Collection: English Language Evaluation: English Language Specialist Program Survey. OMB Control Number: None. Type of Request: New Collection. Originating Office: Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, Office of Policy and Evaluation, Evaluation Division (ECA/P/ V). Form Number: SV2011-0032. Respondents: U.S. Participants of the English Language Specialist Program from 2004-2009. Estimated Number of Respondents: 250 annually. Estimated Number of Responses: 250 annually. Average Hours per Response: 40 minutes. Total Estimated Burden: 167 hours annually. Frequency: One time. Obligation to Respond: Voluntary. Title of Information Collection: English Language Evaluation: E-Teacher Scholarship Program Survey. OMB Control Number: None. Type of Request: New Collection. Originating Office: Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, Office of Policy and Evaluation, Evaluation Division (ECA/P/ V). Form Number: SV2011-0033. Respondents: International participants of the E-Teacher Scholarship Program from 2004-2009. Estimated Number of Respondents: 800 annually. Estimated Number of Responses: 800 annually. Average Hours per Response: 40 minutes. Total Estimated Burden: 533 hours annually. Frequency: One time. Obligation to Respond: Voluntary.

The Department of State is seeking Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approval for the information collection described below. The purpose of this notice is to allow 60 days for public comment in the Federal Register preceding submission to OMB. We are conducting this process in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. Title of Information Collection: Supplemental Registration for the Diversity Immigrant Visa Program. OMB Control Number: 1405-0098. Type of Request: Extension. Originating Office: CA/VO/L/R. Form Number: DSP-0122. Respondents: Diversity Visa applicants. Estimated Number of Respondents: 60,000. Estimated Number of Responses: 60,000. Average Hours per Response: 30 minutes. Total Estimated Burden: 30,000 hours. Frequency: Once per application. Obligation to Respond: Required to obtain benefit.