January 10, 2013 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

On December 7, 2012, in accordance with section 113(g) of the Clean Air Act, as amended (``CAA'' or the ``Act''), the EPA published a notice in the Federal Register of a proposed consent decree to address a lawsuit filed by Sierra Club in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia: Sierra Club v. Jackson, No. 1:08-cv-00424 RWR (D. DC). Sierra Club filed a complaint alleging that the EPA failed to meet its obligations under section 112(e)(1)(E) of the CAA to promulgate emission standards for hazardous air pollutant emissions from brick and structural clay products manufacturing facilities and clay ceramics manufacturing facilities located at major sources by November 15, 2000. The proposed consent decree establishes deadlines for the EPA's proposed and final actions for meeting these obligations. This notice extends the comment period on the proposed consent decree until January 14, 2013.

The Department of Commerce (``Department'') preliminarily determines that xanthan gum from Austria is being, or is likely to be, sold in the United States at less than fair value (``LTFV''), as provided in section 733 of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended (``the Act''). The period of investigation (``POI'') is April 1, 2011, through March 31, 2012. The estimated weighted-average dumping margin of sales at LTFV is shown in the ``Preliminary Determination'' section of this notice. The final determination will be issued 135 days after publication of this preliminary determination in the Federal Register.

Nominations are being sought for an appointment by the Secretary of Commerce to fill one vacancy on the Marine Fisheries Advisory Committee (MAFAC or Committee) beginning in the spring of 2013. MAFAC is the only Federal advisory committee with the responsibility to advise the Secretary of Commerce (Secretary) on all matters concerning living marine resources that are the responsibility of the Department of Commerce. The Committee makes recommendations to the Secretary to assist in the development and implementation of Departmental regulations, policies and programs critical to the mission and goals of the NMFS. NMFS seeks to restore the geographic balance of the Committee created by recent vacancies and encourages candidates from the Hawaii region to apply, although nominations from all interested and qualified parties will be accepted. Nominees should possess demonstrable expertise in a field related to the management of living marine resources and be able to fulfill the time commitments required for two annual meetings. Individuals serve for a term of three years for no more than two consecutive terms if re-appointed.

In accordance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act, Public Law 92-463, as amended, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) announces a meeting of the Astrophysics Subcommittee of the NASA Advisory Council (NAC). This Subcommittee reports to the Science Committee of the NAC. The meeting will be held via teleconference and WebEx for the purpose of soliciting, from the scientific community and other persons, scientific and technical information relevant to program planning.

The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) implemented a pilot program (Extended Missing Parts Pilot Program) in which an applicant, under certain conditions, can request a twelve- month time period to pay the search fee, the examination fee, any excess claim fees, and the surcharge (for the late submission of the search fee and the examination fee) in a nonprovisional application. The Extended Missing Parts Pilot Program benefits applicants by permitting additional time to determine if patent protection should be soughtat a relatively low costand by permitting applicants to focus efforts on commercialization during this period. The Extended Missing Parts Pilot Program benefits the USPTO and the public by adding publications to the body of prior art, and by removing from the USPTO's workload those nonprovisional applications for which applicants later decide not to pursue examination. The USPTO is extending the Extended Missing Parts Pilot Program until December 31, 2013, to better gauge whether the Extended Missing Parts Program offers sufficient benefits to the patent community for it to be made permanent.

This notice sets forth the schedule and summary agenda for a teleconference call of the President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST), and describes the functions of the Council. Notice of this meeting is required under the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA), 5 U.S.C., App 2. The purpose of this teleconference call is to discuss PCAST's Climate and Energy letter report.

Notice is hereby given that the U.S. International Trade Commission has received a complaint entitled Certain Robotic Toys and Components Thereof, DN 2930; the Commission is soliciting comments on any public interest issues raised by the complaint or complainant's filing under section 210.8(b) of the Commission's Rules of Practice and Procedure (19 CFR 210.8(b)).

This document proposes several minor amendments to Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 119 to revise the formatting and replace a missing footnote in Table II. FMVSS No. 119 was amended in a final rule published on June 26, 2003 as part of a comprehensive upgrade of several FMVSSs to improve tire safety, as required by the Transportation Recall Enhancement, Accountability, and Documentation (TREAD) Act of 2000. The agency believes that this proposed revision is appropriate to correct minor oversights made in the June 2003 final rule for FMVSS No. 119.

Notice of telephonic prehearing conference for the case: In the Matter of BABY MATTERS LLC, CPSC Docket No.13-1.

This notice lists the projects approved by rule by the Susquehanna River Basin Commission during the period set forth in ``DATES.''

The proposed information collection requirement described below will be 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. The information is being collected by telephone and on-site interviews to assess program design, implementation, inputs and outcomes at the local level. This is the second wave of interviews for the same study and has the same structure.