October 30, 2012 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

On October 23, 2012 at 77 FR 64820 HUD published an information collection notice entitled ``Indian Housing Block Grants Program Reporting''. The following information is a correction to the previous notice publish October 23, 2012. The proposed information collection requirement described below has been submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act. The Department is soliciting public comments on the subject proposal. Indian tribes, Alaska Natives, Native Hawaiians, or tribally designated housing entities that receive IHBG funds are required annually to submit HUD-52737 that consists of two components: the Indian Housing Plan (IHP) component and the Annual Performance Report (APR) component. The IHP is required by Section 102 of the Native American Housing Assistance and Self-Determination Act (NAHASDA) and describes the eligible IHBG-funded, affordable housing activities the recipient plans to conduct for the benefit of low and moderate income tribal members and identifies the intended outcomes and outputs for the upcoming 12- month year. The recipient submits the IHP at least 75 days prior to the beginning of its 12-month program year. HUD conducts a limited review of the IHP to determine that the planned activities are in compliance with NAHASDA requirements, as defined at 24 CFR Part 1000. At the end of the 12-month period, the recipient submits the APR that is required by Section 404 of NAHASDA and describes (1) the use of grant funds during the prior 12-month period; (2) the actual outcomes and outputs achieved; (3) program accomplishments; and (4) jobs supported by IHBG-funded activities. HUD uses the information in the APR to review the recipient's progress in implementing the IHP, verify whether the activities are eligible and to determine if the recipient has the capacity to continue implementing the activities described in the IHP in a timely manner. The information in the APR also will be used to provide Congress, stakeholders, and other interested parties with information on how the IHBG funds are being used to meet affordable housing needs within Native American communities. The IHP/APR is currently available in a Word version. With this submission HUD intends to make available a revised Word version, an Excel version, and a version on HUD's Energy and Performance Information Center (EPIC) Web site. All three versions of the IHP/APR request the same information and a recipient may elect to submit to HUD either the Word, Excel, or EPIC versions; however, the Excel and EPIC versions are preferred because of their automated capabilities and reduced burden. The Word, Excel, and EPIC versions differ from the current version of HUD-52737 with the elimination of Line 1 (Planned Grant-Based Budget for Eligible Programs) in Section 5 (Budgets) because collection of this information served no valid purpose. Participants in the IHBG program are responsible for notifying HUD of changes to the Formula Current Assisted Stock (FCAS) component of the IHBG formula. HUD is notified of changes in the FCAS through a Formula Response Form (HUD-4117), as defined at 24 CFR 1000.302. A tribe, TDHE, or HUD may challenge the data from the U.S. Decennial Census or provide an alternative source of data by submitting the Guidelines for Challenging U.S. Decennial Census Data Document (HUD- 4119). Census challenges are due March 30th of each fiscal year, as defined at 24 CFR 1000.336. This information collection is required of participants in the IHBG program to demonstrate compliance with eligibility and other requirements of NAHASDA; provision of correction or challenge documentation of the formula calculation; and provision of data for HUD's annual report to Congress. The information gathered will be used to allocate funds under the IHBG program. The quality assurance of data reported is a very important issue in maintaining HUD's databases used to monitor participant's proposed plans, accomplishments, determine program compliance, and to ensure fair and equitable allocations. In some cases, the FCAS information addressing the conveyances and conversions of units has resulted in the recouping of funds. The information collected will allow HUD to accurately audit the program.

On October 22, 2012, the Department of Commerce published notice in the Federal Register of a negative final determination of subsidies in connection with the subject investigation (77 FR 64471). Accordingly, pursuant to section 207.40(a) of the Commission's Rules of Practice and Procedure (19 CFR 207.40(a)), the countervailing duty investigation concerning circular welded carbon-quality steel pipe from Vietnam (investigation No. 701-TA-485 (Final)) is terminated.

Pursuant to section 181 of the Trade Act of 1974, as amended (19 U.S.C. 2241), the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) is required to publish annually the Reports on Sanitary and Phytosanitary and Technical Barriers to Trade. With this notice, the Trade Policy Staff Committee (TPSC) is requesting interested persons to submit comments to assist it in identifying significant sanitary and phytosanitary and standards-related barriers to U.S. exports of goods for inclusion in these two reports. These reports were published as the 2012 Report on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures (2012 SPS Report) and the 2012 Report on Technical Barriers to Trade (2012 TBT Report) respectively. The TPSC invites written comments from the public on issues that USTR should examine in preparing the SPS and TBT Reports.

The EPA is making four separate and independent air quality determinations for two areas in New Hampshire. First, EPA is determining that the Portsmouth-Dover-Rochester, New Hampshire serious one-hour ozone nonattainment area met the applicable deadline of November 15, 1999, for attaining the revoked one-hour National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS) for ozone. Second, EPA is determining that the Portsmouth-Dover-Rochester area has attained the one-hour ozone standard since 1999, and continues to attain the standard. Third, with respect to the Manchester, New Hampshire marginal one-hour ozone nonattainment area, EPA is determining that the area attained the one- hour ozone NAAQS by the applicable deadline of November 15, 1993. Fourth, with respect to the Manchester area, EPA is determining that the area has attained the one-hour ozone NAAQS since 1993, and continues to attain the standard.

Take notice that the Commission staff is issuing a memorandum setting forth certain minor revisions to the Commission's Natural Gas Pipeline regulations that may be appropriate to remove reporting requirements that may no longer serve their intended purpose. The memorandum was issued pursuant to the Nov. 8, 2011 Plan for Retrospective Analysis of Existing Rules prepared in response to Executive Order 13579, which requested independent regulatory agencies issue plans for periodic retrospective analysis of their existing regulations. The Staff Memorandum is being placed in the record in the above- referenced administrative docket. The Staff Memorandum will also be available on the Commission's Web site at https://www.ferc.gov.

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Bombardier, Inc. Model DHC-8-400 series airplanes. This AD was prompted by cases of on-ground failure of the screw cap or end cap of hydraulic accumulators on other airplane models, resulting in high-energy impact damage to adjacent systems and structure. This AD requires inspecting for a part number and replacing the affected parking brake hydraulic accumulator, and relocating the parking brake accumulator, on the subject airplanes. We are issuing this AD to prevent failure of the screw caps and/or end caps of the parking brake hydraulic accumulator, which could result in damage to the airplane's primary structures, with potential adverse effect on the airplane's controllability.

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain The Boeing Company Model 777-200LR and -300ER series airplanes. This AD requires reviewing the airplane's maintenance records for each rudder power control unit (PCU) to identify the condition of its related reaction link assembly, and replacing the rudder PCU and its related reaction link assembly if necessary. This AD was prompted by a report of an abnormal airframe vibration in the aft fuselage during flight. We are issuing this AD to prevent excessive freeplay in the rudder control surface, which could cause rudder vibration, and result in structural damage severe enough to prevent continued safe flight and landing.

In accordance with Executive Order 13563, ``Improving Regulation and Regulatory Review,'' the Maritime Administration (MarAd) solicited public comment concerning clarification of its regulations pertaining to seamen's claims, administrative action taken against MarAd, and litigation pertaining to such matters. No comments were received as a result of the agency's solicitation. By this rulemaking, MarAd is updating and modernizing the existing regulations and adopting a procedural process to more effectively address claims arising under the Suits in Admiralty Act, the Admiralty Extension Act and the Clarification Act. The existing regulations implement the Clarification Act. The newly added regulations implement a process to resolve administrative claims arising under the Admiralty Extension Act, and both the Suits in Admiralty Act and the Public Vessels Act, respectively.