September 18, 2012 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

A natural re-emergence of smallpox is not deemed possible, but if it were to occur as a result of a terrorist or deliberate event, it would be a potentially devastating threat to public health worldwide and would constitute a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC) under the International Health Regulations (IHR) (2005). A case of smallpox detected by a member state requires notification to World Health Organization (WHO) as soon as possible, and any confirmed smallpox case would generate an immediate global public health response. WHO must rely on fast and reliable laboratory diagnostic capacity worldwide to be able to identify a re-emergence of smallpox, particularly in countries where systemic orthopoxvirus infections such as monkeypox, vaccinia virus infection or cowpox, and other non-pox viral rash illnesses, such as chicken pox, may cause clinical diagnostic confusion. Over the past 10 years, clinical virology laboratory diagnostics has been evolving and increasingly rely on molecular techniques. This is also true with laboratory diagnoses of poxvirus infections. Precise and consistent identification of orthopoxviruses, in particular variola viruses, is now achievable using such molecular techniques as real-time Polymerase Chain Reaction (unlike earlier techniques that may have relied on direct virus isolation and identification). WHO must be alerted when there is a potential or actual smallpox infection. Early detection and confirmation of smallpox cannot rely solely on the two WHO Collaborating Centres for smallpox and other poxvirus infections. In order to facilitate and support a prompt and effective response to mitigate the spread of the disease, these two Centres should be supported by a worldwide network of reliable laboratories able to perform PCR and real-time PCR diagnostics enabling initial detection and identification of smallpox events. Additionally, the U.S. Government supports the development of other medical products, including vaccines and drugs, for use within the U.S. upon verification of a smallpox case. The U.S. government, through the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (ASPR), has successfully developed vaccine products, and is actively engaged in the development of several drug candidates for smallpox therapies, which require access to the Variola virus to satisfy regulatory requirements for product approvals.

The Assistant Regional Administrator for Sustainable Fisheries, Northeast Region, NMFS (Assistant Regional Administrator), has made a preliminary determination that an Exempted Fishing Permit (EFP) application submitted by the Nature Conservancy contains all of the required information and warrants further consideration. The EFP would exempt participating vessels from minimum fish size and possession limits of Atlantic halibut. Regulations under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act require publication of this notification to provide interested parties the opportunity to comment on EFP applications.

We, NMFS, announce the availability of new information that may identify a previously unrecognized population of false killer whales in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands (NWHI). This new information may be relevant to the final determination of whether the Hawaiian insular false killer whale (Pseudorca crassidens) is a distinct population segment (DPS) that qualifies for listing under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (ESA). We intend to take this new information into consideration as we make our final listing determination on the Hawaiian insular false killer whale. We are reopening the public comment period on the November 17, 2010, proposed rule to list the Hawaiian insular false killer whale DPS as endangered throughout its range under the ESA. We are reopening the comment period for an additional 15 days for the limited purpose of allowing interested parties to comment on the new information listed below and whether it affects the determination that the insular false killer whale is a DPS that is eligible for ESA listing. Please note that comments previously submitted should not be resubmitted.

The Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection (Bureau), as part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, invites the general public and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on a proposed information collection, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. The Bureau is soliciting comments concerning its proposed information collection titled, ``Pentagon Federal Credit Card Agreement Simplification Survey.'' The proposed collection has been submitted to the Office of Management and Budget for review and approval. A copy of the submission, including copies of the proposed collection and supporting documentation, may be obtained by contacting the agency contact listed below.

This notice amends the notice of a major disaster declaration for the State of Mississippi (FEMA-4081-DR), dated August 29, 2012, and related determinations.

This notice amends the notice of a major disaster declaration for the State of Louisiana (FEMA-4080-DR), dated August 29, 2012, and related determinations.

This notice amends the notice of a major disaster declaration for the State of Mississippi (FEMA-4081-DR), dated August 29, 2012, and related determinations.

This notice amends the notice of an emergency declaration for the State of Louisiana (FEMA-3347-EM), dated August 27, 2012, and related determinations.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is announcing an extension of the public comment period associated with the Notice entitled ``Request for Comment on Letters Seeking a Waiver of the Renewable Fuel Standard'' that was published in the Federal Register on August 30, 2012. EPA has received several requests for an extension of the comment period and, in response, has decided to allow an additional fifteen days, to October 11, 2012, for the submission of public comment.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published a document in the Federal Register of September 11, 2012, announcing a public meeting listening session and a request for public comments. The document contained an incorrect URL link for the pubic to use to register for the meeting.

This notice amends the notice of a major disaster declaration for the State of Louisiana (FEMA-4080-DR), dated August 29, 2012, and related determinations.

Pursuant to United States Code, Title 31, section 5135(b)(8)(C), the United States Mint announces the Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee (CCAC) public meeting scheduled for September 21, 2012. Date: September 21, 2012. Time: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Location: Conference Room A, United States Mint, 801 9th Street NW., Washington, DC 20220. Subject: Review and consideration of candidate designs for the reverse of the 2013 Native American $1 Coin, the proposed theme for the reverse of the 2014 and 2015 Native American $1 Coins, and additional tribal candidate designs for the Code Talkers Congressional Gold Medals; discussion of the theme for the 2014 Civil Rights Act of 1964 Commemorative Coin; and review and approval of the CCAC 2011 Annual Report. Interested persons should call the CCAC HOTLINE at (202) 354-7502 for the latest update on meeting time and room location. In accordance with 31 U.S.C. 5135, the CCAC: [ssquf] Advises the Secretary of the Treasury on any theme or design proposals relating to circulating coinage, bullion coinage, Congressional Gold Medals, and national and other medals. [ssquf] Advises the Secretary of the Treasury with regard to the events, persons, or places to be commemorated by the issuance of commemorative coins in each of the five calendar years succeeding the year in which a commemorative coin designation is made. [ssquf] Makes recommendations with respect to the mintage level for any commemorative coin recommended.

We are superseding an existing airworthiness directive (AD) for all Airbus Model A330-243, -341, -342 and -343 airplanes. That AD currently requires modifying certain cowl assemblies of the left- and right-hand thrust reversers. This new AD requires removing certain C- duct assemblies of the left- and right-hand thrust reversers from service at certain designated life limits, and also adds airplanes to the applicability. This AD was prompted by new life limits on certain thrust reverser C-duct assemblies. We are issuing this AD to prevent fatigue cracking of the hinges integrated into the 12 o'clock beam of the thrust reversers, which could result in separation of a thrust reverser from the airplane, and consequent reduced controllability of the airplane.

This rule concerns the Federal Voting Assistance Program (FVAP). It provides direction and guidance to the Department of Defense and other Federal departments and agencies in establishing voting assistance programs for citizens covered by the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (UOCAVA) as modified by the Military and Overseas Voter Empowerment Act. The 2012 election cycle starts with the January 10, 2012 New Hampshire Presidential Preference Primary and continues through the November 6, 2012 General Election. This 2012 election schedule requires that the policies and procedures set forth in the rule must be in place to ensure that citizens voting under UOCAVA are fully guided and supported through established voting assistance programs within the Federal departments and agencies. Therefore, this rule is being established as an interim final rule to allow promulgation of appropriate direction and guidance prior to completion of a public comment period.

This notice announces the next meeting of the National Technical Information Service Advisory Board (the Advisory Board), which advises the Secretary of Commerce and the Director of the National Technical Information Service (NTIS) on policies and operations of the Service.

The Bureau of Reclamation intends to submit a request for renewal (with revisions) of an existing approved information collection to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB): Forms to Determine Compliance by Certain Landholders, 43 CFR part 426, OMB Control Number: 1006-0023.