April 2013 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Western Area Power Administration (Western) extends, on an interim basis, the existing Washoe Project formula rate through September 30, 2017. The existing Non-Firm Power Formula Rate Schedule SNF-7 expires on July 31, 2013. The formula rate will be in effect until the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) places the formula rate into effect on a final basis or until it is replaced by another rate.

As directed by the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is preparing a Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Ruby Pipeline Project to respond to the court's direction and provide a revised cumulative-effects analysis under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).

We (the USGS) will ask the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to approve the information collection request (ICR) described below. This collection consists of 1 form. As required by the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995, and as part of our continuing efforts to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, we invite the general public and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on this ICR. This collection is scheduled to expire on September 30, 2013.

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.), this notice announces that the Information Collection Request (ICR) abstracted below has been forwarded to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for extension of currently approved collections. The ICR describes the nature of the information collection and its expected burden. The Federal Register Notice with a 60-day comment period soliciting comments on the following collection of information was published on February 13, 2013 (74 FR 59018). No comments were received.

The Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) has submitted a public information collection request (ICR) entitled Process and Impact Evaluation of the Minnesota Reading Corps for review and approval in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 104-13, (44 U.S.C. Chapter 35). Copies of this ICR, with applicable supporting documentation, may be obtained by calling the Corporation for National and Community Service, Scott Richardson, at (202) 606-6903 or email to srichardson@cns.gov. Individuals who use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TTY-TDD) may call 1-800-833- 3722 between 8:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday through Friday.

The FDIC is proposing guidance on safe and sound banking practices and consumer protection in connection with deposit advance credit products.

The Tuolumne-Mariposa Counties Resource Advisory Committee will meet on May 6, 2013, (alternate dates May 13, 2013 or May 20, 2013), at the City of Sonora Fire Department, in Sonora, California. The purpose of the meeting is to reprioritize projects due to expected decreases to Title II RAC funding.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission (Commission or CPSC) has received a petition requesting an exception from the 100 ppm lead content limit under section 101(b) of the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008 (CPSIA), as amended by Public Law 112-28 from BIC USA Inc. (BIC). We invite written comments concerning the petition.

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is amending its regulations to add provisions allowing the BLM to temporarily segregate from the operation of the public land laws, by publication of a Federal Register notice, public lands included in a pending wind or solar energy generation right-of-way (ROW) application, and public lands that the BLM identifies for potential future wind or solar energy generation right-of-way applications under applicable legal requirements. The purpose of such segregation is to promote the orderly administration of the public lands. Lands segregated under this rule will not be subject to appropriation under the public land laws, including location under the Mining Law of 1872 (Mining Law), for up to two years from the date of publication of notice under this rule, subject to valid existing rights, but would remain open under the Mineral Leasing Act of 1920 (MLA) and the Materials Act of 1947 (Materials Act).

Notice is hereby given that the Office of Research Integrity (ORI) has taken final action in the following case: Matthew Poore, Advanced Liquid Logic Inc.: Based on the report of an inquiry conducted by Advanced Liquid Logic Inc. (Liquid Logic), the Respondent's admission, and additional analysis conducted by ORI, ORI found that Mr. Matthew Poore, former Technician, Liquid Logic, engaged in research misconduct in research supported by National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), National Institutes of Health (NIH), contract HHSN272200900030C. ORI found that the Respondent engaged in research misconduct by falsifying data that were included in one (1) presentation and one (1) report to NIAID and in laboratory records at Liquid Logic. ORI finds that Respondent knowingly and intentionally falsified reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) results by reporting the results from previous experiments as the actual results, when the experiments had not been performed. Specifically: In Liquid Logic laboratory documents, the Respondent falsified the RT-PCR results of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) viral loads in whole blood patient samples by falsely changing previous results for two (2) samples from negative to positive and one (1) sample from positive to negative. The latter falsified sample result, changed from HIV positive to negative, was included in an April 1-June 30, 2012, quarterly report and a July 12, 2012, presentation to NIAID. In Liquid Logic laboratory documents, the Respondent falsified the RT-PCR whole blood lysis results of testing samples as 100 and 200 HIV viral copies per milliliter, when the experiments were not performed by the Respondent. These falsified results were included in an April 1-June 30, 2012, quarterly report to NIAID. In Liquid Logic laboratory documents, the Respondent falsified the graphs of RT-PCR results of the Escherichia coli bacteriophage MS2, an internal control, viral loads for three (3) clinical samples, when the results were actually from prior experiments of two (2) controls and one (1) unrelated clinical sample. The Respondent falsified the MS2 graphs in an effort to conceal that RT-PCR experiments of the clinical samples had not been performed. Mr. Poore has entered into a Voluntary Settlement Agreement and has voluntarily agreed for a period of three (3) years, beginning on April 1, 2013: (1) To have his research supervised; Respondent agreed that prior to the submission of an application for U.S. Public Health Service (PHS) support for a research project on which his participation is proposed and prior to his participation in any capacity on PHS- supported research, Respondent shall ensure that a plan for supervision of his duties is submitted to ORI for approval; the supervision plan must be designed to ensure the scientific integrity of his research contribution; he agreed that he shall not participate in any PHS- supported research until such a supervision plan is submitted to and approved by ORI; Respondent agreed to maintain responsibility for compliance with the agreed upon supervision plan; and (2) To exclude himself voluntarily from serving in any advisory capacity to PHS including, but not limited to, service on any PHS advisory committee, board, and/or peer review committee, or as a consultant.

As stipulated by the Federal Advisory Committee Act, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is hereby giving notice that the Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Advisory Committee (CFSAC) will hold a meeting. The meeting will be open to the public.