December 27, 2012 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The U.S. Office of Government Ethics (OGE) is publishing this first round notice and seeking comment on the twelve executive branch OGE model certificates and model documents for qualified trusts. OGE intends to submit these forms to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval of a three-year extension under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. chapter 35). OGE is proposing minor changes to update these forms.

The Towing Safety Advisory Committee (TSAC) will meet via teleconference to review and discuss draft recommendations from TSAC subcommittees on assigned tasks listed in the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section below. The committee will also discuss potential new tasks related to development of manning policy for towing vessels operating on international and domestic waters, information transfer between vessels using the automatic identification system (AIS), and plans to improve Coast Guard Form 2692 for reporting a marine accident, injury or death. This meeting will be open to the public.

In compliance with section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Office of the Secretary (OS), Department of Health and Human Services, announces plans to submit an Information Collection Request (ICR), described below, to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). The ICR is for extending the use of the approved information collection assigned OMB control number 0990-0308, which expires on June 30, 2013. Prior to submitting that ICR to OMB, OS seeks comments from the public regarding the burden estimate, below, or any other aspect of the ICR.

The Farm Credit Administration (FCA or Agency), through the FCA Board (Board), issued a final rule amending its regulations for Farm Credit System banks and associations to require disclosure of pension benefit and supplemental retirement plans and a discussion of the link between senior officer compensation and performance. In accordance with the law, the effective date of the final rule is 30 days from the date of publication in the Federal Register during which either or both Houses of Congress are in session.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. chapter 3501 et seq.), ED is proposing an extension of an existing information collection of a previously approved collection.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) will conduct a survey via the internet of Producer Price Index (PPI) data users. The survey is necessary to: Identify PPI data users, see how they use our data, and note areas of potential improvement to better meet our customer's needs. BLS last conducted a survey of PPI data users in late 1976 through early 1977. Since that time, numerous new time series data have been introduced with the goal of fulfilling the needs of data users. This survey will help us determine if we are meeting those goals, highlight areas for improvement to existing data series, and identify areas for future expansion.

The Department of Labor (DOL) is submitting the Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA) sponsored information collection request (ICR) titled, ``Establishing Creditable Coverage Under Group Health Plans,'' to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval for continued use in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.).

This document amends the Commission's rules to correct grammatical, typographical, and display errors in the United States Table of Frequency Allocations (U.S. Table) and also remove inconsistencies between the non-Federal Table of Frequency Allocations (non-Federal Table) and parts 15 and 90 of the Commission's rules.

The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) has amended its regulations governing size and eligibility for the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs. This rule implements provisions of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2012. The rule addresses ownership, control and affiliation for participants in the SBIR and STTR programs. This includes participants that are majority-owned by multiple venture capital operating companies, private equity firms or hedge funds.

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Airbus Model A330-300 series airplanes and Model A340-200 and -300 series airplanes. This AD was prompted by reports that, during a flight test, several spoiler servo-controls (SSCs) did not remain locked in the retracted position (hydraulic locking function) after manual depressurization of the corresponding hydraulic circuit. Loss of that locking functionwhich is ensured by a blocking valvewas caused by an internal leak from a sheared seal on the blocking valve. This AD requires inspecting to determine if certain SSCs are installed, performing an operational test of any affected SSC, and replacing if necessary. We are issuing this AD to prevent loss of the hydraulic locking function during take-off and go-around phases, which, in combination with malfunction of one engine, could result in reduced controllability of the airplane.